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The Paradox of Economic Integration and Territorial Rivalry in the South China Sea

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Abstract

The contradiction between maturing economic interdependence and security dilemmas and political conflicts is a reflection of East Asian complexity. Despite relative stability since 2002 China-ASEAN DOC, there is a scramble for control of the islands in the South China Sea. In addition to UN laws, historical aspects need to also be considered in managing and resolving the disputes. International arbitration is one of the options, however, its success rests on all parties to abide by the verdict. Any judgment by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea will be non-binding, but if the verdict is unfavorable to China, it will merely achieve the goal of undermining China’s moral position. China’s Nine-Dash Line is an “archipelago ownership line” for securing the claimed territories.

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Notes

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© 2015 Liu Ming

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Ming, L. (2015). The Paradox of Economic Integration and Territorial Rivalry in the South China Sea. In: Togo, K., Naidu, G.V.C. (eds) Building Confidence in East Asia: Maritime Conflicts, Interdependence and Asian Identity Thinking. Palgrave Pivot, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137504654_3

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