The South China Sea Dispute: UNCLOS and Territorial Integrity

International Laws Involved: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

The territorial disputes in the South China Sea underline the complexities of maritime law and sovereignty claims. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides a framework for maritime entitlements and dispute resolution. Following an arbitration ruling in 2016 that favored the Philippines against China's expansive claims, the application of UNCLOS represents a critical avenue for enforcing international maritime law. China's non-compliance with the ruling raises pressing questions about accountability and adherence to international legal norms in territorial disputes.