The assessment of environment protection cooperation in the South China Sea

Abstract

Located in a strategic position and geopolitics significance, the South China Sea is rich of biodiversity so it has abundance of fish stock to sustain food security among people in the coastal area. Since the increase of urbanization along the coastal area, pollution becomes inevitable. The South China Sea is also a hot-spot in the world because it is claimed either in part or in whole by six states namely China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippine and Brunei. In addition, the hot-spot and climate change phenomena exacerbate environment degradation. This article asses cooperation among parties to address environment protection in the South China Sea since 1990’s. Using historical perspective and qualitative approach and also utilizing primary and secondary sources, this article finds that cooperation carried out by several parties both informally and formally has not been maximized. However, this cooperation is able to become a confidence building measure to ease tensions and enable as an entry-point for political solution.