Source-This post on South China Sea has been created based on the article “Philippines and Vietnam agree to expand cooperation in South China Sea, which Beijing also claims” published in “The Hindu” on 30 January 2024.
Why in the news?
The Philippines and Vietnam have recently signed agreements to avoid incidents in the South China Sea and enhance cooperation between their coast guards.
About South China Sea
It is one of the world’s most important, strategic, and contentious bodies of water.
It is an arm of western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia.
Bordering states and territories
(clockwise from north): the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Features
1) It is connected by Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea.
2) It contains numerous shoals, reefs, atolls and islands. For example-The Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal.
UPSC Syllabus-Geography in news.
