India and South China Sea: Initiation of Quad

D. Purushothaman

D. Purushothaman Assistant Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India

Keywords: South China Sea (SCS), United Nation Convention on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS), Coalition of Democracies, String of Pearls, Permanent Court of Arbitration

Abstract

There was much unrest between a large number of coastal countries with China's assertive and unilateral policy of claiming legitimacy by declaring the SCS as an unquestionable area in its sovereignty. In addition, China continues to pull its muscles and initiate so many unilateral measures, such as turning Spratly Island into a naval and military air base, creating a large number of conflicts across the region. Instead of fighting unilaterally, the United States is known for forming an alliance in most of the world crisis, and the US policymaker tries to forge a democratic coalition to stop China's ambitious expansionary territories.