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Places in News: South China Sea
Context:
Recently, China cautioned the United States against intervening in its maritime disputes with the Philippines, following a recent confrontation near a contested reef in the South China Sea.
About South China Sea:
Location and Boundaries:
- The South China Sea is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean bordering Southeast Asia.
- It is bounded to the northeast by the Taiwan Strait (linking it to the East China Sea), to the east by Taiwan and the Philippines, to the southeast and south by Borneo, the southern edge of the Gulf of Thailand, and the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, and to the west and north by the Asian mainland.
Geographical Characteristics:
- The eastern side of the basin features a sharp drop-off near the Philippine islands of Luzon and Palawan, forming the Palawan Trough.
- The northwest side includes a broad, shallow shelf including the Gulf of Tonkin, Taiwan Strait, and large islands like Hainan and Taiwan.
- To the south, the shelf narrows and connects with the Sunda Shelf, which spans between Borneo, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula. This shelf includes the southern South China Sea, Gulf of Thailand, and Java Sea.
Connections and Channels:
- The Taiwan Strait (north).
- The Luzon Strait (east) connects the South China Sea with the Pacific Ocean.
- Shallow channels are located along the Philippine island chain and between Borneo and Sumatra.
- The Strait of Malacca (west) is the main connection to the Indian Ocean.
Hydrology:
- Major rivers flowing into the South China Sea include the Pearl River (Xi River), the Red River, and the Mekong River.
Territorial Claims:
- China’s Nine-Dash Line: China’s claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
- Paracel Islands: China controls the entire Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.