South China Sea is the dominant term used in English for the sea, and the name in most European languages is equivalent. This name is a result of early European interest in the sea as a route from Europe and South Asia to the trading opportunities of China.

Feb 1, 2025 · South China Sea, arm of the western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland. It is bounded on the northeast by the Taiwan Strait (by which it is connected to the East China Sea); on the east by Taiwan and the Philippines; on the southeast and south by Borneo, the southern limit of

Jul 7, 2023 · Overlapping claims in the South China Sea threaten to turn the region into a flashpoint of global concern.

Sep 17, 2024 · Explore how China’s claims over the South China Sea have antagonized competing countries and track the latest developments with CFR's Global Conflict Tracker.

Dec 25, 2024 · territorial disputes in the South China Sea, series of conflicts arising from the overlapping territorial claims of several countries that border the South China Sea. In recent decades China has been widely seen as the conflicts’ primary driver.

1 day ago · The South China Sea is the linchpin of modern Indo-Pacific relations. As the United States and China remain locked in a Great Power Competition, regional autonomy in the South China Sea has become a symbolic line in the sand—one which China is determined to cross and the United States is set on protecting. For both nations, the US Coast Guard—often an …

Oct 24, 2023 · Why does China claim almost the entire South China Sea? Beijing’s claim is embodied by its nine-dash line that an international court rejected more than seven years ago.

Oct 16, 2024 · Latest news on the South China Sea, including South China Sea conflict, South China Sea dispute, the Philippines, and China military updates.

Feb 4, 2025 · The United States has maintained an active military presence in the South China Sea, conducting regular Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) and joint military exercises with allies such as the Philippines, Japan, and Australia. These activities support Washington’s broader strategy of counterbalancing China’s influence and ensuring open maritime access.

Aug 21, 2023 · China Primer: South China Sea Disputes Overview Multiple Asian governments assert sovereignty over rocks, reefs, and other geographic features in the heavily trafficked South China Sea (SCS), with the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) arguably making the most assertive claims. The United States makes no

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea were a major topic, but its joint statement, the "Sunnylands Declaration", did not name the South China Sea, instead calling for "respect of each nation's sovereignty and for international law".

Oct 22, 2024 · The South China Sea is a crucial body of water in Southeast Asia. Its strategic location and abundant resources make it a focal point for many countries. The South China Sea covers approximately 3.5 million square kilometers, making it one of the largest seas in the world.

7 hours ago · The Beijing-based South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) reported that 79 sorties by American land-based RC-135 and P-8A reconnaissance aircraft were tracked over the South ...

5 days ago · TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A flurry of naval drills surrounding the Philippines involving the United States and its partners has prompted complaints from Beijing, which claims the entire South China Sea and accuses Manila of colluding with others to destabilize the region.. The U.S. 7th Fleet based in Japan said forces from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S. …

The expansion of the country's fleet and rapid militarization of artificial islands sends a clear message to China's rivals in the region -- the South China Sea is now firmly under its...

Jul 3, 2024 · Safeguarding freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is essential to protecting American prosperity and maintaining its leadership role in the global economy.

Tracing shorelines of sprawling, hard-to-govern archipelago nation-states to the south, the sea is bound to the north by China, whose contentious claims to more than 95 percent of the...

Jan 22, 2017 · The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean that extends from the Strait of Malacca in the southwest, to the Strait of Taiwan in the northeast. The littoral countries of the South China Sea are China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Jul 14, 2020 · The South China Sea, home to vital shipping lanes, has been a flashpoint for years, with several countries claiming ownership of its small islands and reefs and with it, access to resources.

Jun 27, 2018 · The People’s Liberation Army is aiming to become the dominant force in the Asia-Pacific, strengthening China’s hand toward Taiwan and international disputes in the South China Sea.

Feb 4, 2025 · In a statement on Tuesday, China's military accused the Philippines of joining patrols it said were organized by foreign countries to "undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea." China ...

Jan 14, 2022 · The over 500 coral reef species, a natural habitat for marine life and where fish larvae live as they mature, have suffered rapid levels of destruction in the South China Sea in recent years...

1 day ago · The presence of the Type 094 nuclear ballistic missile submarine marked a significant milestone, with the US defence department describing it as China’s “first credible sea-based nuclear ...

Jan 30, 2025 · Claimants in the South China Sea have created thousands of acres of artificial land to support their competing claims, causing irreparable damage to the marine habitat and leading to calls for international legal action against environmentally destructive practices.

1 day ago · The South China Sea is a crucial maritime region through which a significant amount of global trade passes and the US justifies the drills on the grounds they are conducted to deter aggressive ...

Oct 5, 2023 · Strategic Location: The South China Sea is bordered by China and Taiwan to the north, the Indo-Chinese peninsula (including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore) to the west, Indonesia and Brunei to the south, and the Philippines to the east (referred to as the West Philippine Sea).

Jan 23, 2025 · The Philippines won a landmark case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 that found China's sweeping claim of sovereignty in the South China Sea had no basis under international law. It ...

Oct 14, 2020 · The Philippines is to deploy maritime militia in the South China Sea amid tensions with China, but politicians in Manila are concerned about the impact on Philippine fishermen.

Oct 5, 2020 · China is already facing pressure over Taiwan and is pressing other disputed territorial claims, from the South China Sea to the Himalayas.