Topic: Territorial Dispute in the South China Sea
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Samuel Thorpe
School: Grand Rapids City High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Pakistan position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is very interested in disputes in the South China Sea. Pakistan has been involved in territorial disputes since our independence from India. The Pakistani delegation does not believe that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), provides enough foundation for mediation between contesting nations and handling sea claims correctly. The Pakistani delegation finds that the document does provide solid regulations to handle sea claims in the event of a dispute, but not in the event of a national sovereignty dispute. The Pakistan does not believe that the disputes in the South China Sea can be solved unless there is more regulation than just moral pressure to ensure compliance with a conciliation commission. Pakistan believes that territorial claims should be supported on a historical and population basis, like our claims to Jammu and Kashmir, among others. Pakistan believes that the territorial disputes in the South China Sea should be investigated on a historical and population basis by a third party, resulting in a binding settlement, not a moral obligation.
Pakistan believes that the best way to solve territorial disputes is through a disinterested third party with specific guidelines for determining which nation rightfully controls that territory. Trade and security of the region should also be considered, and territory should be controlled by the country, or countries that can protect and enforce law in the waters the best. Pakistan believes that China is the best country to protect the waters in the South China Sea, and has the best claim to the territory as well. Pakistan believes that a settlement of this sort cannot be achieved without some change to the UNCLOS.
