Abstract:

For the past two decades, the multilateral territorial dispute in the South China Sea has escalated. There were prerequisites for this dispute to escalate into an open armed conflict. This conflict can become a threat not only to regional, but also to global security, given the involvement of two leading world powers, the United States and China, in it. According to Resolution by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in July 2016, the People’s Republic of China was denied “historic ownership” of the South China Sea and Chinese claims to about 80% of the sea were found to be invalid[1]. Beijing harshly rejected not only the court verdict, but also the very jurisdiction of the court in this matter. China continued active construction of artificial islands in the sea, including those in the exclusive economic zone of other states, creating small military bases, airfields, warehouses and communication centers on the islands.

[1] R. Ridderhof, The South China Sea Arbitration (12 July 2016) PCA Case No. 2013-19, Peace Palace Library, 12 July 2016, https://peacepalacelibrary.nl/blog/2016/south-china-sea-arbitration-12-july-2016-pca-case-no-2013-19, 21.04.2022.