ABSTRACT
There are many good reasons to doubt the relevance of comparing the Arctic Ocean with the South China Sea. The first that springs automatically to mind is that the Arctic Ocean is cold and ice-covered, whereas the South China Sea is warm and tropical. The natural conditions prevailing in the South China Sea on the other hand result in what the author has described as exceptionally favourable conditions for a fertile marine ecosystem. Despite the major differences between the Arctic Ocean and the South China Sea, it is interesting to note that major countries in the region, when trying to expand their control over these vast water expanses, turned to similar types of juridical instruments in order to do so. China does not have at present undisputed possession of the insular features in the South China Sea in order to try to gain advantage from its 9-dotted line.
