Lowy Institute Paper: Australia's South China Sea Challenges

Summary

This Lowy Institute paper makes the following points:

• China asserts historical claims to territory in ASEAN States’ Exclusive Economic Zones  (EEZ) through a so-called ‘nine-dash line’ principle.
• The Philippines challenged and won these claims under a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Tribunal ruling.
• China rejects the ruling.
• Australia was one of the first to support the ruling, angering China.
• Under the UNCLOS ruling, a consistent South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) needs to be developed.
• Anything China agrees to with ASEAN is likely contra to Australia’s interests.
• Australia has some difficult decisions to make.
• If Australia supports ASEAN nations, it risks continuing to sour relations with China.
• The US is likely to pressure Australia to conduct freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) in the South China Sea, angering China.
• Australia needs to encourage Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam to uphold international law and conduct joint naval exercises in their EEZ’s.

For further reading on this topic, please note this papers extensive endnotes.

References

• June 2021 Reuters Philippine president spars with Pacquiao over South China Sea
• June 2021 USNI News Chinese Military Surveillance Ship, Aircraft Spotted at Contested South China Sea Reef
• May 2021 9News China has deep-sea purpose for claim over disputed sea

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