ABSTRACT
China has been regarded as the most crucial actor on the South China Sea issue for a number of reasons. First of all, barring interference by other external powers, China is the strongest among all claimant states. Beijing’s words and actions with regard to the South China Sea have a direct and more influential impact on the situation in the region. Second, China claims the largest area of the South China Sea, including the Paracels, the Spratlys, the Macclesfield Bank, and the Pratas. China’s claims overlap with those of all other disputant states. Third, although there have been numerous skirmishes among various parties in the South China Sea, major naval conflicts occurred between China and two of the other competing states, with Vietnam over the Paracels in 1974 and over the Spratlys in 1988, and with the Philippines over Mischief Reef in 1995.
