China To Reinforce Territorial Claims in South China Sea, Despite Opposition

As China is in the midst of several maritime disputes with its neighbors, the country has announced that it is currently mapping the South China Sea (SCS) with the intended goal of oil and gas exploration, as well as to underline its territorial claims. Geographical surveys of the area are underway.

By creating this map, China can reinforce its jurisdiction claim in the SCS, and follow up with developing resources near the Nansha Islands. China claims the entire sea as its own; Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all oppose this claim however, and state their involvement in maritime territory.

According to the Times of India, the US has extended implied support to the small countries and stepped up its presence in the Pacific region, calling for peaceful resolution of the disputes. India's ONGC also drew Beijing's anger by taking up exploration in the blocks in SCS claimed by Vietnam.

An official Chinese document confirms that a group of 13 government agencies will continue their geographical surveying of the SCS and map out an area to declare China’s position throughout the territory. Allegedly, similar mapping work will also be carried out on the Diaoyu Islands and other important areas in the East China Sea, (ECS) when the time is right.