Resources in South China Sea Might be Pushing China to Insist its Nine-Dash Line to Claim Islands

A row has been dividing South East Asian nations in the South China sea as China started building infrastructures in disputed islands. China insists their historically based claims by using their nine-dash line that neighboring countries including the Philippines find immaterial.

China insists that they have the historic and economic rights to the islands in the South China sea covered within their nine-dash line regardless whether the islands fall inside other country's 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone. China's adamant effort to claim ownership of disputed island had caused a great row in Asia with first world countries such as the U.S. forced to take side amid the row.

The Philippines is one of the firmest countries in defending the islands that the government says rightfully and legally belongs to them. Although China already confirmed their non-compliance with the International Tribunal ruling citing no legal basis for their nine-dash line claim, the Philippines is not about to give up its islands. Thus creating a more heated scenario for both countries.

"China had asked us to open ourselves for bilateral negotiations but outside, or disregard of, the arbitral ruling," Perfecto Yasay, Philippines' secretary of foreign affairs said in an interview published by BBC. "They said that if you insist on the ruling and discussing it along those lines, then we might be headed for a confrontation," Yasay added.

But why are the countries fighting over the small islands scattered in the South China Sea? First, the region is one of the most economically active passageways in Asia. The South China Sea is rich in Maritime resources according to a study conducted by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

While other studies suggest that the South China Sea is rich in oil, sea salt and other minerals such as ilmenite, monazite, zircon, cassiterite, arenaceous and quartz.

"The South China Sea contains significant proved and probable oil reserves, and countries in the region are eager to extract these. Particularly large quantities lie in the EEZs (exclusive economic zones) of Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. The East China Sea is also home to gas field, but the extend of its reserves are unknown," according to a statement by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

An international tribunal ruled that China's claims to the islands in the disputed areas have no legal basis, however, China is no way near in recognizing the ruling. The leaders of the nations involved in the row can only hope that the resources found in the area will be protected and that the inter-country rift could be resolved without waging a war between the world's most powerful nations that serve as allies to the smaller Asian countries involved.