Phase IFoundation
Background
Overview
A major flashpoint in international relations, impacting regional stability, international law (UNCLOS), freedom of navigation, and the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, with direct implications for global trade and energy security.
The South China Sea is a strategically vital waterway rich in natural resources, subject to overlapping territorial and maritime claims by several countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. These disputes involve sovereignty over islands, reefs, and shoals, as well as maritime jurisdiction over surrounding waters and their resources.