EU-ASEAN and South China Sea

Maritime territorial dispute, power rivalries and economic interests in the South China Sea

Symposium-Debate (**under "Chatham House" Rules)

Organizers and editorial partners: Asia Centre (France), Asia Pacific Media (France) and Egmont Institute (Belgium)

After a couple of relatively stable years in the South China Sea (SCS), tensions are flaring up again this year. We have witnessed the Vietnamese and Chinese deployments of oil rigs and ships, the sinking of a Philippine fishing boat reportedly by a Chinese vessel, and frequent and unprecedented operations conducted by the US and its allies. China has continued to build up military facilities on its artificial islands, and some domestic groups in Southeast Asian countries have protested against China’s influence.

Since July 1, 2019, China has adopted a new and aggressive strategy by sending its geological and ocean exploration vessels accompanied by an armada of coastguard ships and the maritime militia to Vietnam's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Washington remains firm on the freedom of navigation in the area. The EU has just signed an EU-Vietnam defense agreement, the first between Brussels and an ASEAN country. Brussels also asks for respect of international laws.

Why do these tensions, which are a priori regional, draw the attention of the major powers such as the United States, Russia, the India, Japan, the EU, France, the UK? What are the challenges faced by the EU and the international community in this area? Are these territory claims the emerging part of China's maritime strategy? What are the interests of EU and especially, of France, an Asia-Pacific maritime power? Where is the EU in the Indo-Pacific concept? What are the chances of resolving the South China Sea dispute? Wouldn't the best response to these conflicts be international law such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea?