Soundings Papers: The Case for Internationalising the South China Sea

The contemporary South China Sea (SCS) situation began with regional disagreements regarding the competing claims over islands and reefs by nations including China and five members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. All the claimants except Brunei have occupied features within their claimed areas and established military outposts or bases, and they have adopted domestic legislation related to each by name.