South China Sea Disputes
International Relations
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
A major flashpoint in international relations, impacting regional stability, international law (UNCLOS), freedom of navigation, and the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, with direct implications for global trade and energy security.
The South China Sea is a strategically vital waterway rich in natural resources, subject to overlapping territorial and maritime claims by several countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. These disputes involve sovereignty over islands, reefs, and shoals, as well as maritime jurisdiction over surrounding waters and their resources.
Facts & tables
- Claimants
- China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
- Strategic Importance
- Major global shipping lane, rich fishing grounds, and potential oil and gas reserves.
- China's Claims
- Based on historical maps (Nine-Dash Line), asserting sovereignty over most of the sea, including features far from its mainland.
- International Law
- UNCLOS is the primary legal framework, but China's claims often conflict with it (e.g., 2016 PCA ruling against China).
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Law |
| Conceptual area | Maritime Security |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) | Issued ruling on scs disputes |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Multiple claimants (China, Vietnam, Phil, Mal, Bru, Tai).
- Strategic waterway, rich resources.
- China's 'Nine-Dash Line' claims.
- Conflicts with UNCLOS (2016 PCA ruling).
- Impacts freedom of navigation & regional stability.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Conceptual understanding, Statement-based questions |
| 2022 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
Timeline
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International Law
Conceptual area
-
Maritime Security
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2018
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Conceptual understanding, Statement-based questions
-
Prelims 2022
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
-
Iran's demands over the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent, Rubio tells Asian leaders
The South China Sea is a critical maritime region with overlapping territorial claims by multiple nations, notably China's expansive 'Nine-Dash Line' claims, leading to disputes over islands and resources, challenging international law and freedom of navigation.
See also
Past papers
2015–2025 · 7 questions
In the news
Iran's demands over the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent, Rubio tells Asian leaders
The South China Sea is a critical maritime region with overlapping territorial claims by multiple nations, notably China's expansive 'Nine-Dash Line' claims, leading to disputes over islands and resources, challenging international law and freedom of navigation.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.
Statement-II : Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement I is correct. The Sumed Pipeline is indeed a significant route for transporting oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf to Europe. It bypasses the Suez Canal, offering an alternative path for these resources. Statement II is also correct. The Sumed Pipeline physically connects the Red Sea (where oil and gas are loaded onto ships from the Persian Gulf) with the Mediterranean Sea, providing a direct route for them to reach European ports. The connection between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea established by the Sumed Pipeline directly explains its strategic importance for transporting oil and gas to Europe. Statement II provides the geographical context for how Statement I functions.
Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya. Statement 2 is Correct: People fleeing the civil war in South Sudan have been hosted in the Bidibidi settlement. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dadaab refugee complex is located in Kenya and houses refugees, including those who fled the civil war in Somalia. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.
Consider the following countries :
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. China
4. India
5. Japan
6. USA
Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN?
ASEAN has five free trade agreements (FTAs) with six Dialogue Partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, and Australia and New Zealand. All Parties have ratified the FTA Agreements. USA is not a dialogue partner of ASEAN. So, they don't share a free trade agreement.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
Consider the following countries -
1. China
2. France
3. India
4. Israel
5. Pakistan
Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) recognizes five states as nuclear-weapon states:
- The United States, - Russia, - The United Kingdom, - France,
- China (also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council). Four other states are known or believed to possess nuclear weapons India, Pakistan and North Korea have openly tested and declared that they possess nuclear weapons, while Israel has had a policy of opacity regarding its nuclear weapons program.
Show 2 more PYQs
India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal transport network aimed at boosting trade between India, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, using a combination of sea, rail, and road routes via Iran. The corridor connects Mumbai → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan → Russia → Europe, with access to Central Asia.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue which Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?
Senkaku Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Japan and China claim the uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Tiaoyu in China, as their own, but Japan has administered them since 1972.