China’s Actions in the South China Sea —artificial islands, international geopolitics, maritime boundary delimitation and use of force.

Legalities of China’s Actions in the South China Sea under International Law — to what extent is China carving influence in the South China Sea through maritime boundary delimitation, artificial islands, international geopolitics and use of force?

Background

The South China Sea is a marginal sea part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing around 3,500,000 square kilometres (1,400,00 square miles) . The body of water is of significant strategic value for a number of far-reaching economic, social and geopolitical reasons. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that roughly 80 percent of global trade by volume and 70 percent by value is transported by sea. Of that volume, 60 percent of maritime trade passes through Asia, with the South China Sea carrying an estimated one-third of global shipping . To appreciate the tremendous importance of this area, the global trade travelled through the South China Sea was estimated to be over $3.3 trillion in 2016, a relatively significant portion of the global…