The Historical Evolution Of The South China Sea Dispute Between China And The Philippines (1946-2016)

Review the history,the dispute between China and Southeast Asian countries over the sovereignty of the South China Sea is undoubtedly one of the most complicated and sensitive international hotspot issues in recent years.Due to the "South China Sea Arbitration",the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines once became the most prominent contradiction among all disputes in the South China Sea.The Philippines is not only one of the first countries to invade the South China Sea,but also the country that occupied the largest number of islands and reefs in the South China Sea besides Vietnam.The South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines has been developing for a long time.In different periods,with the changes of the international environment and the domestic political situation of the two countries,the disputes have shown different characteristics.From 1946 to the late 1960s,the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines began to emerge.During this period,the Philippine’s some leaders thought the Spratly islands are relatively close to the Philippines,this would pose a"security threat" to the Philippines,so,the Spratly Islands should belong to the Philippines.They tried to take over the Spratly Islands by private occupation.However,due to the lack of theoretical support and China’s solemn statement on the sovereignty of the South China Sea,the Philippine authorities did not take practical measures to occupy any islands and reefs in the South China Sea.The dispute between China and the Philippines began to emerge.In the 1970s and 1980s,the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines heated up.The discovery of oil resources in the South China Sea and the rise of an international maritime rights struggle have revived the Philippines’ ambitions.The Philippine government no longer conceals its intentions.It has used military force to forcibly occupy several islands and reefs of the Spratly islands and strengthened the development and consolidation of these islands and reefs.The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have been forced to take a series of measures to safeguard their rights in the South China Sea.However,under the influence of its own strength and the political environment at that time,the two sides of the Taiwan straits did not have a direct conflict with the Philippines,and the South China Sea dispute did not affect China-Philippines relations.From the 1990s to the early 2000s,the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines escalated.As its power has recovered,China has strengthened its rights in the South China Sea,which has alarmed the Philippines.The Philippines has provoked disputes in the waters around Mischief Reef and Huangyan Island,causing a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine forces.In addition,the Philippine is trying to push the disputes between the two countries to the international level.The factors affecting the disputes between the two countries are increasing and the contents are becoming more complex.The disputes between China and the Philippines have gradually become the most prominent among the disputes in the South China Sea.From 2009 to 2016,disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea gradually intensified.The United States,seeking a "return to the Asia Pacific",propped up Aquino Ⅲ and encouraged the Philippines to use the South China Sea dispute as a fulcrum against China.The dispute has shown a trend of complication and enlargement.At this time,the Philippines became the "puppet" of the United States against China,and the United States became the most important factor affecting the dispute.The South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines gradually turned into a game between China and the United States.This paper will use a large number of historical facts to analyze the historical context of the development and evolution of the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines,divide the dispute between the two countries into four stages according to time,and specifically analyze the forms of the dispute in different stages and the historical reasons behind them.And then concludes that the south China sea dispute between China and the Philippines has been continuously intensified in the development process of decades,but the existence of dialogue and communication makes the dispute between the two countries in a period of strategic relaxation.At present,the dispute between the two countries is in a period of relaxation.We should seize the opportunity to enhance communication between the two countries and make a breakthrough in the settlement of the dispute.