A Study Of Vietnamese And The Philippines’ Maritime Claims And Behavior In South China Sea

Vietnam and Philippines have long coveted Chinese sovereignty of the South China Sea islands. Since the fifties of the last century, Vietnam and the Philippines had repeatedly infringed Chinese Nansha and Xisha Islands, exploiting oil and plundering fishery resources in the South China Sea with multinational company, thereby strengthening their pursuit of illegal interests in the South China Sea and reinforcing their status on the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Vietnam and the Philippines also strengthen the construction of sea power, to form a strategic deterrent force, in order to resist Chinese right-defending action in the South China sea.The reasons that Vietnam and the Philippines encroached on islands and reefs in the South China Sea and strengthened their military presence in the South China Sea area, are mainly based on the important strategic value and rich resources of the South China Sea, and the objective needs of the extension of the strategic depth. And, there are international factors, for example, the adoption of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides a legal basis for Vietnam and the Philippines in the "moral" occupation of reefs in the South China Sea; the strategic adjustments of the United States, Japan, Russia and other outside powers provide an opportunity for Vietnam and the Philippines in claims to the sea power of the South China Sea. The aggressive over-pursuit of the sea power in the South China Sea of Vietnam and the Philippines has intensified nationalist sentiment of the Sino-Vietnam and Sino-Philippines. The relations between the United States, the Vietnam and Philippines supporter, and China therefore have become complex and sensitive. Vietnam and the Philippines pressure China via ASEAN, which seriously impacts the relationship between China and ASEAN. Moreover, Vietnam and the Philippines strengthening the military power have also changed the pattern of the Southeast Asia, triggered security dilemma of the countries, and also exacerbated the tensions in the region.In the face of Vietnam and the Philippines’aggressive claims on sea power, China should resolutely safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and positively develop Chinese sea power in the South China Sea, to safeguard the national defense security of China; moreover, it is important to take precautions against the tendency of geo-strategic union between Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea, actively coordinate the relationship with the United States and other foreign powers, and keep friendly cooperation with other ASEAN countries, to avoid multilateral intervention in the South China Sea issue.