Chinese military urges US to stop ‘provocative actions’ in South China Sea as USS John McCain enters disputed waters

The resource-rich South China Sea is a constant source of tension among South-Eastern Asian countries. The region is the subject of overlapping territorial and maritime claims by several states, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Apart from harboring vast natural resources, the region is also an important waterway, with trillions of dollars-worth in trade passing through it each year.

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Resources in the South China Sea

The South China Sea: What’s Really at Issue