ABSTRACT
The waters of the South China Sea are crucial for several reasons: as part of history, ecology, maritime diversity, and, most importantly, the economic potential that they provide. In fact, resources such as fisheries have become a crucial part of trade and economics, as discussed in the previous chapter. Furthermore, several studies claim that this region has large quantities of unexplored oil and gas that can turn out to be a potential reason for cooperation or contestation amongst the SCS littorals. The chapter delves into the veracity of these claims by comparing several data sources; finds some bloated figures amongst different agencies; and also attempts to understand the reasons behind the same. It further explores the economic rationale as part of a larger strategy in the SCS. More than food and energy resources, as the findings show, it is the SLOCs through which these resources are transported that are the more significant area of security for the states, and the reason for the militarisation of the region.
