CHINA’S NEW “10 DASH LINE”

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ORDER OF PRESENTATION
• INTRODUCTION
• HISTORY
• CURRENT SITUATION / STATUS
• SUGGESTIVE ACTIONS
INTRODUCTION
The issue between the Philippines and China’s 10-dash line is
a complex and long-standing one. The 10-dash line is a set of
line segments on various maps that accompanied the claims of
the People’s Republic of China (PRC, "mainland China") and
the Republic of China (ROC, “Taiwan") in the South China
Sea. The line encompasses most of the South China Sea,
including areas that are also claimed by the Philippines,
Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries.
BLANK SLIDE
HISTORY OF CHINA'S CLAIM
China's claim dates to ancient times. However, it was not until
the 20th century that China began to actively assert its claims.
In 1947, the Republic of China (ROC) published a map of the
South China Sea with a nine-dashed line, which encompasses
most of the sea. The People's Republic of China (PRC)
adopted the nine-dashed line when it was founded in 1949.
HISTORY OF CHINA'S CLAIM
In the 1970s, China began to explore for oil and gas in the
South China Sea. This led to disputes with other countries in
the region, including Vietnam and the Philippines. In 1974,
China and Vietnam went to war over the Paracel Islands,
which are in the South China Sea.
HISTORY OF CHINA'S CLAIM
In the 1980s, China began to build artificial islands in the
South China Sea. This led to further disputes with other
countries in the region. In 1995, China and the Philippines
signed a treaty agreeing to resolve their disputes peacefully.
However, the treaty has not been effective in preventing
tensions between the two countries.
The Philippines has a long history of presence and occupation
in the West Philippine Sea. For example, the Spratly Islands,
which are in the West Philippine Sea, have been visited and
inhabited by Filipinos for centuries.

HISTORICAL BASIS OF PHILIPPINE

CLAIMS
The Philippines' claim to the West Philippine Sea is also based
on the principle of contiguity, which means that a state has
sovereignty over maritime areas that are adjacent to its
territory. The West Philippine Sea is located within 200
nautical miles of the Philippine archipelago, which is well
within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

HISTORICAL BASIS OF PHILIPPINE

CLAIMS
• The Philippines' claim to the West Philippine Sea is also based on the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
UNCLOS is the primary international treaty that governs maritime
matters.
• UNCLOS provides that states have sovereignty over their EEZs, which
are maritime areas that extend up to 200 nautical miles from a state's
coastline. The Philippines' EEZ includes the West Philippine Sea.
• UNCLOS also provides that states have sovereign rights over their
continental shelves, which are the underwater extensions of their
territory. The Philippines' continental shelf extends into the West
Philippine Sea.

LEGAL BASIS OF PHILIPPINE CLAIMS

CURRENT SITUATION
• In recent years, China has become increasingly assertive in its
claims to the South China Sea. China has built artificial islands
and military bases on reefs and shoals in the sea. China has also
harassed fishermen and other vessels from other countries.
• In 2013, the Philippines initiated arbitration proceedings against
China under UNCLOS over a range of issues, including China's
historic rights claims inside the nine-dash line. A tribunal of
arbitrators constituted under Annex VII of UNCLOS appointed
the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) as the registry to the
proceedings.
CURRENT SITUATION
• In 2016, a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled
that China's claims to the South China Sea were invalid in favor
of the Philippines.
• The tribunal found that China's 10-dash line claim was not based
on any legal basis and was therefore invalid. The tribunal also
ruled that China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights in
its EEZ by interfering with its fishing and oil and gas exploration
activities.
CURRENT SITUATION
• China has refused to accept the PCA ruling and continues to assert its
claims over the South China Sea. However, the PCA ruling is a
significant victory for the Philippines and its claims to the West
Philippine Sea
• China continues to increase the number of Chinese coast guard and
maritime militia vessels operating in the South China Sea, conducts
military exercises, builds new artificial islands and military bases, and
harasses/ intimidates fishermen and other vessels from other countries
operating in the South China Sea.
SUGGESTIVE ACTION/S
• File a new case against China with the Permanent Court of
Arbitration (PCA). The Philippines won a landmark arbitration
case against China in 2016, but China has refused to comply
with the ruling. A new case could focus on China's 10-dash line
and its legality under international law.
SUGGESTIVE ACTION/S
• Strengthen maritime law enforcement capabilities. This would
allow the Philippines to better respond to Chinese incursions into its
exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
• Strengthen alliances and partnerships with other countries,
including the United States, Japan, Australia, and ASEAN
members. This will help to deter China from taking further
aggressive actions.
SUGGESTIVE ACTION/S
• Work with other ASEAN countries to develop a Code of
Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). The COC has been
under negotiation for many years, but it has not yet been
finalized. A strong and effective COC could help to reduce
tensions and prevent conflict in the region.
• Increase its public diplomacy efforts to raise awareness of
the South China Sea issue and to build support for its
position among the international community.
THANK YOU!