Thayer Consultancy

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Background Briefing: South China Sea: China Maps Its Claims Carlyle A. Thayer January 14, 2013

[client name deleted] China's Sinomaps Press has printed a map of China including all of the South China Sea. does China want to get from this map? Will Chinese warships enforce their "territorial rights" in all of the South China Sea in the near future? What is your assessment? ANSWER: The latest Sinomaps Press map showing the South China Sea as belonging to China is merely the latest attempt to claim indisputable sovereignty and historic rights. This map will reinforce to all Chinese the notion that the South China Sea belongs to China. The map does not change reality. China occupies only a few islands and rocks in the South China Sea. Both the Philippines and Vietnam are entitled to claim their 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone from their baselines drawn along their shores. All countries that occupy islands and rocks are entitled to claim maritime jurisdiction under international law. All signatories to UNCLOS are enjoined to cooperate and settle any jurisdictional dispute peacefully under international law. UNCLOS makes provision for a tribunal on the law of the sea to settle maritime jurisdictional disputes. The other claimants to the South China Sea Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei might reproduce this map with their own annotations showing their boundaries and stating they reject Chinese claims. China will not use its Peoples Liberation Army Navy warships to enforce territorial claims in the South China Sea. Chinas strategy is to use civilian paramilitary ships to do the same job, such as China Marine Surveillance (CMS) force vessels. Recently, China transferred some decommissioned warships to the CMS arguing they needed greater protection. I have called this tactic a wolf in sheeps clothing.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, South China Sea: China Maps Its Claims, Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, January 14, 2013.

Thayer Consultancy
ABN # 65 648 097 123

Background Briefing: South China Sea: China Maps Its Claims 2 Carlyle A. Thayer January 15, 2013

[client name deleted] China has printed for the first time the South China Sea islands on its new official maps in equal scale to that of the Chinese mainland. Can this be considered another Chinese provocation in the South China Sea? What is your assessment? ANSWER: Chinas new maps showing the islands in the South China Sea as part of China is just another step in Chinas assertion of its claims to indisputable sovereignty. Chinas map does not change reality. China does not occupy all of the islands and rocks in the South China Sea. The countries that do occupy these features Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia have solid grounds to argue their sovereignty over the land features and sovereign jurisdiction over the resources in the waters and sea bed surrounding these islands and rocks. Now that China has issued this map the other littoral states should lodge diplomatic protests with China. Littoral states could annotate the Chinese map outlining their own claims. Finally, the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) enjoins its signatories to exercise self-restraint. Chinas actions are not in the spirit of the DOC.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, South China Sea: China Maps Its Claims 2, Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, January 15, 2013.