China’s apparent shift from the so-called ‘nine-dash line’ toward a new legal theory in its attempt to strengthen its claims in the South China Sea (SCS) could pose challenges for India.
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have also noticed the shift and consider it to be even more serious than the previous claim made by Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.
There are four island groups in the SCS region known as the “Four Sha” (four sand archipelagos). Beijing claims historical rights to these islands. The Chinese call them Dongsha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, Zhingsha Qundao, and Nansha Qundao. Internationally they are known as Pratas Islands, Parcel Islands, the Macclesfield Bank area, and Spratly Islands.
