ABSTRACT
The South China Sea maritime dispute has, in recent years, escalated in intensity, unsettling the region and disturbing external powers whose trade and oil lifelines. China, however, has been increasingly prepared to enforce its claim by resorting to assertive action in what it regards as 'Chinese waters', while denouncing the claims of others as 'illegal'. These Chinese actions may have far-reaching consequences for regional stability, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) claimants, as well as external powers such as the US and Japan, are affected. The activities of local fishermen or the discovery of Chinese artefacts may indicate contact with the area, but a claim to administrative jurisdiction by the centre of empire in Beijing is another matter. When the Chinese use historical presence as a justification for their claim, the historical records point to a picture that differs significantly from the official interpretation upon which Beijing now insists.
