What's in the South China Sea?

What's in the South China Sea? Why are countries fighting over it? How important is it?
The South China Sea is a part of the Pacific Ocean, located south of China. Many countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, claim parts of this sea. It’s known by different names: "South China Sea" internationally, "East Sea" in Vietnam, and "West Philippine Sea" in the Philippines.
The South China Sea is rich in marine life. The sea has lots of fish because of nutrient-rich waters from land and water upwellings. It's heavily fished and provides a major source of food for Southeast Asia. Common catches include tuna, mackerel, croaker, anchovy, shrimp, and shellfish, most of which are consumed locally.
Large reserves of oil and natural gas are found under the sea floor, especially north of Borneo, east of the Malay Peninsula, and northwest of Palawan. The South China Sea also has some of the world's most important shipping lanes. Ships carrying oil, minerals, food, and manufactured goods pass through here. Some areas in the central South China Sea are marked "dangerous ground" on maps because they are not well explored, and because of territorial disputes over the Spratly Islands, which lie in an oil-rich area claimed by Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam, China, and Taiwan.
China wants control of these waters for their resources and trade routes, but other countries also claim parts of it. The United States has trade routes through the area worth hundreds of billions of dollars and is also involved. China has been building its navy and drawing a "nine-dash line" on maps to claim almost the entire sea, even building military bases on disputed islands. This has caused conflicts with other countries.
In 2016, an international court ruled that China’s claims were invalid, siding with the Philippines. But China continues to push its claims, causing tension. With many heavily armed countries involved, there’s a risk of conflict, but so far, the dispute has mostly stayed under the radar.
Understanding the South China Sea is important because its stability affects the whole world. What will happen next in this important and contested region? How will these nations resolve their differences? The future of this vital sea is something everyone should be watching.
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