The South China Sea is home to territorial disputes aplenty among many countries within the region, with the region’s past being filled with conflict regarding borders and authority over the area. Most recently, China has demanded exclusive economic and military rights over the region, leading to yet another debate over the area’s future. Now for the delegates of GA1, a discussion is taking place, trying to devise a solution to the South China Sea crisis.
Even before lobbying and resolution-making had begun, the council was chaotic. Singapore and China vied for allies while forming blocs, while Singapore went so far as to proclaim that a delegate could either stand with China or with the United Nations. Perhaps setting the tone for what would become a hotly contested debate?
Singapore's bloc
A bloc led by the delegate of Singapore has taken a quick majority, with most of the delegates within GA1 taking a stance to stand their ground in the face of Chinese expansionism.
Surprisingly, The United States and Russia have both joined this bloc. Russia is seemingly moving against its ally, China, to help counter Chinese assertions regarding its control in the area. Moreover, the bloc aims to push back on China’s nine-dash line, which has been ruled as encroaching on the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Furthermore, the resolution endorses ASEAN’s policies in the region and aims to provide a conclusive code of conduct regarding the South China Sea.
All in all, it seems that Singapore’s bloc is cooking up a resolution aimed squarely at undermining China.
China's bloc
On the other side of the coin, China and her allies in the council, with the notable exclusion of Russia, have begun drafting a resolution to uphold their own claims in the area.
The resolution is aimed directly at debunking territorial claims regarding who holds authority in the region and seeks to overturn the previously rejected ruling at the South China Sea arbitration. Furthermore, China declares that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) does not apply to them.
In short, China seeks to assert its proclaimed control over the region and protect its interests in the South China Sea with the help of their allies
It seems likely that the Singapore bloc could dominate the council’s debate, and as it stands, it seems that for tomorrow’s debate, the world could watch on as China’s influence crumbles. As for who will take China’s place as the major power in the region, a successor has yet to arise from the opposition.
It looks like GA1 has set the stage for a showdown tomorrow, with long lasting impacts for all countries with a stake in the region, with the world’s balance looking to tip one way or the other with the council’s ruling.
