What Is The Nine-Dash Line Dispute And Does It Affect India?

The Nine-Dash Line is a demarcation line used by China to assert its extensive claims over the majority of the South China Sea, a vital maritime region rich in resources and strategic shipping lanes. This claim overlaps with the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian countries, leading to one of the most complex maritime disputes in the world.

What Is The Nine-Dash Line Dispute?

Origins and Claims:

China’s Nine-Dash Line, first officially published in 1947, encompasses about 90% of the South China Sea, overlapping claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. China bases its claim on historical maps and assertions of “historic rights,” which are disputed by other claimant states and the international community.

Legal Controversies:

• The dispute gained international attention when the Philippines brought a case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under UNCLOS in 2013.
• In 2016, the PCA ruled against China’s Nine-Dash Line claims, stating they have no legal basis under UNCLOS. China rejected the ruling and continues to enforce its claims.

Military and Infrastructure Activities:

China has undertaken extensive island-building, militarization, and deployment of naval assets in the disputed waters, heightening tensions.

Does The Nine-Dash Line Dispute Affect India?

Strategic and Security Concerns:

• Although India is not a claimant, it views the South China Sea dispute as critical to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
• India depends heavily on sea lines of communication (SLOCs) that pass through the South China Sea, vital for energy imports and trade.
• Chinese assertiveness threatens freedom of navigation, which India advocates as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.

Diplomatic and Multilateral Engagements:

• India actively supports a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and has called for peaceful resolution of disputes respecting international law, especially UNCLOS.
• India participates in regional forums like the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), emphasizing maritime security cooperation.

Military Presence and Partnerships:

India has increased naval deployments in the region and strengthened strategic partnerships with ASEAN countries, the US, Japan, and Australia to counterbalance China’s influence.

Example

In 2020, India’s Navy conducted joint maritime exercises with the US, Japan, and Australia (the Quad countries) in the Indo-Pacific region, demonstrating commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and a stable maritime order, indirectly addressing challenges posed by China’s South China Sea claims.