THE BACKGROUND OF THE DISPUTES OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ISLANDS
THE BACKGROUND OF THE DISPUTES OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ISLANDS

Summary/Abstract: In the light of the official statements made by the capitals of its coastal states, there is probably not a single centimetre of free space left in this sea, to which a claim has not been issued. In some parts of the sea, the claims of three, four of even five states overlap, creating a truly Gordian knot. The significance of the South China Sea causes that if the dispute over the archipelagos is not settled by implementing peaceful methods and means, at the negotiation table, East Asia region is likely to become a potential source of destabilisation and conflict whose size, in respect to the location and the number of parties directly or indirectly engaged in the dispute might turn out to be extremely hazardous.

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