Topic: 2024-The Situatin in the South China Sea
Country: United States of America
Delegate Name: Alayna Mack
Topic: The Situation in the South China Sea
Representing: US
Delegate: Alayna Mack
School: Francis W Parker
Within the South China Sea (SCS), every country has their own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZs), which is recognized by international law. Despite this, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) created the Nine Dash Line, an area much larger than their EEZ that reached into other countries’ EEZs and claimed they had sovereignty over it. According to The Hague, the PRC can not claim the rights to other countries’ EEZs. The PRC refused to acknowledge this and threatened military action in 1974 by deploying military jets and weapons the SCS
The safety of the South China Sea is vastly important to the US for a multitude of reasons. Firstoff, the Philippines, an ally of the US, has also laid claim to areas of the SCS. If any sort of naval conflict were to break out between the PRC and the Philippines, the US would be obligated to act due to a mutual defense treaty. Secondly, the SCS is a major transit point for goods and impacts a country’s economy. Each year, more than 3 trillion dollars worth of goods and 64% of total worldwide goods are transported through the SCS. Therefore the PRC’s control over the SCS could greatly affect the global economy and American economic interests. Lastly, it would greatly benefit the US to pursue Freedom of Navigation operations, which allows the US access to seas globally and prevents unlawful restriction. The US already monitors the SCS in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) using the US Navy and Airforce. UNCLOS does protect the PRC’s right to the resources within their EEZs but it does not protect their right to dictate who enters and exits the territory. The US vessels aim to prove this to China while moving through their EEZ. The PRC is the one who often violates the UNCLOS international law by attacking civilian ships within the nine dash line. Not only has the PRC violated UNCLOS in zones outside of their EEZ but they have violated UNCLOS within the EEZ of the Philippines by interfering with the fishing vessels operating within the Philippines EEZ.
The US lays no claims towards the South China Seas. By working with other countries around the SCS, who also lay claim to parts of the SCS, they prevent China from seizing full control, protecting the American interests and the other countries around the SCS interests. In July of 2024, the US signed a $500 million agreement with the Philippines, providing them with more modernized military equipment. The US is not the only country to show its support for the Philippines economically. Japan has also expressed support by selling military equipment to the Philippines. China has repeatedly clashed with the Philippines recently. Last year, the Philippines reported the PRC of using a military grade laser. In August of this year, two Chinese jets dropped flares in the pathway of a Philippines plane performing routine patrol. The US condomed these actions. As of now, the US will continue to prepare for a larger conflict while publicly backing the Philippines. It would be within the interest of the US to settle this conflict peacefully while using UNCLOS International Law.
