South China Sea Dispute

📌 Background & Key Features

India’s position: Not a claimant, but consistently calls for peaceful dispute resolution, freedom of navigation/overflight, and adherence to UNCLOS — seen by China as tacit support for rival claimants (Vietnam, Philippines).
Growing India role: BrahMos exports to Vietnam and the Philippines (see Part 3.1), naval exercises, and reiterated support for the 2016 Arbitral Award all signal deepening Indian involvement in regional maritime security without formal alliance commitments.

Key ruling	2016 UNCLOS Arbitral Award (Philippines v. China) — rejected China’s ‘nine-dash line’ claim
India’s stake	Freedom of navigation, ONGC Videsh exploration blocks (with Vietnam), Act East connectivity

May-June 2026: The Philippines and Vietnam upgraded ties to an "enhanced strategic partnership" (To Lam’s June 2026 Manila visit); the US Coast Guard for the first time formally joined a Philippine patrol near Scarborough Shoal (May 2026), while China’s coast guard patrolled simultaneously — heightening confrontation risk.
Asia-Pacific military spending rose 8.1% in 2025 to $681 billion (SIPRI), reflecting the broader security build-up connected to South China Sea tensions.

Key ruling: 2016 UNCLOS Arbitral Award (Philippines v. China) — rejected China’s ‘nine-dash line’ claim
India’s stake: Freedom of navigation, ONGC Videsh exploration blocks (with Vietnam), Act East connectivity

Year	Question	Marks
2016	South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment.	12.5