Contested Skies and Waters: China’s Displays in the South China Sea

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The South China Sea is strategically important because it bears some of the most critical trade routes on Earth and boasts vast natural resources, both of which render it subject to territorial disputes. At the heart of these tensions lies China’s growing assertion of sovereignty over contested waters and airspace, often through military displays that challenge the claims of smaller nations like the Philippines. 

China’s increasing display of power in the region began in the early 2000s, marking a shift from a more passive stance to a more assertive approach. Military actions were not just about control over the sea but also about signaling China’s intent to project its power regionally and globally.

The South China Sea is one of the world’s most important maritime regions; an estimated $3 trillion in global trade passes through its waters annually. The area is also rich in natural resources, including major oil and gas reserves, making it a critical economic and geopolitical prize. The South China Sea serves as a conduit for naval and air traffic between China, the United States, Southeast Asian nations, and U.S. allies like Japan and Australia.

China’s strategic interest in the area, which lies along its southern periphery, is driven by both its economic and military ambitions. By asserting control over the South China Sea, Beijing hopes to secure both its economic interests and project power across Southeast Asia. 

China has staked its claim to the South China Sea, a region of great economic and geopolitical significance, along the contentious Nine-Dash Line. The Republic of China first established the line in 1947 but it now encompasses about 90% of the South China Sea and overlaps with the  exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of other bordering nations, including Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It is historically significant because, despite much debate, China maintains that it has historical rights to the seas due to ancient maritime operations.

Since the line affects both regional security and international commerce lines, it continues to be a source of geopolitical stress.Despite a ruling in 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalided China’s claims, Beijing still maintains  its aggressive stance vis-à-vis the waters that abut its southern coast, on which it has constructed several artificial islands and military installations. 

China’s militarization of the South China Sea has been a major escalation in their struggle  for regional dominance. Starting in 2013, China has poured money into fortifying the Spratly archipelago, converting them into military outposts. These bases are equipped with airstrips, radar systems, and surface-to-air missile batteries that have greatly enhanced China’s ability to exert power in the region. 

In 2016, China established  an Air Defense Identification Zone  over the South China Sea, requiring all foreign aircraft to identify themselves when entering the region. Neighboring countries have harshly criticized this initiative for infringing on their sovereignty and collective right to freedom of navigation. The Chinese government has justified its actions by claiming that to defend its territorial integrity, but these claims have been disputed by international jurists who have cited, among other legal precedents, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to condemn Beijing’s unlawful behavior. 

China has nevertheless continued to enlarge its military presence in the South China Sea. The establishment of military bases on artificial islands such as Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef has given China the capacity  to police air traffic in the region with its fighter jets. Between 2023 and 2025, China’s air force conducted many high-profile military drills in the South China Sea, including simulated missile attacks on targets throughout the area. These drills directly demonstrate China’s air superiority and ability to project power over contested airspace. 

In response, the Philippines has made significant efforts to bolster its own military capabilities. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has scrupulously  monitored and patrolled its western skies, deploying fighter jets like the FA-50PH, acquired from South Korea in 2015, to intercept Chinese aircraft that violate Filipino airspace. 

Manila has also sought to strengthen its mutual defense pacts , particularly that which was achieved with the United States after signing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2014. This accord has granted Washington   access to Filipino  military bases, facilitated joint military exercises and repositioned  American troops and equipment stationed in the Far East. U.S.–Filipino naval-combat drills often occur in the South China Sea to demonstrate America's ironclad commitment to defending the Philippines from foreign attack. 

The Philippines has also sought to end  its agon with China through diplomatic means. Manila has repeatedly called for multilateral negotiations, inviting other Pacific  powers such as Japan and Australia to participate in discussions regarding the future of the South China Sea. In doing so, the Philippines hopes  to counterbalance China’s tremendous military and economic influence in the region by building a coalition of countries that each desire  freedom of navigation and international law to govern our world order—not the kind of military force with which Beijing threatens its southern neighbors. 

This threat is far from an idle one, for airspace confrontations are frequent and rapidly increasing. In 2023, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs reported multiple incidents of Chinese military aircraft intercepting its  planes. Such incidents have sparked outrage throughout the archipelago and have raised concerns about the potential for accidental conflict in the region. 

One major case was when a Philippine military plane was forced to change course after being harassed by Chinese fighter jets near the Spratlys. These confrontations not only exacerbate tensions between the two nations but also reveal the broader risks of military escalation in the region. The air forces of both countries often operate in close proximity, increasing the likelihood of spontaneous skirmishing .  

Manila wants the international community to mediate the situation to prevent further escalation. The U.S has also evinced inquietude due to the behavior of the Chinese military; U.S. officials have made it clear that their nation will  come to the defense of the Philippines if its territorial integrity is ever threatened.

The nations immediately involved and all other countries in the world are profoundly affected by the ongoing tensions  in the South China Sea.  An interdiction of the commodities that move through that vital body of water would produce a devastating effect on the global economy. As the Chinese military adopts a more threatening posture, several Southeast Asian nations will likely follow suit, which could engender a regional arms race. 

As of recently, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has been a persistent priority for the United States and its Pacific allies, especially  Japan and Australia. Defending international law and responding to China's assertive claims, these nations have responded to China’s activities by holding more frequent air force drills and increasing their military budgets. The international community must take greater action in the South China Sea to address the root causes of the  tensions that will only continue to grow as time goes on.