In today’s globalized world, international trade is the crucial foundation upon which the entire world is reliant. A huge majority of that trade is carried out through maritime operations due to the relatively cheap costs as well as the vast volumes of goods which can be transported. Over the years, international maritime law has worked to secure the global interest of international trade by ensuring that major sea trading routes around the world are secured by instilling concepts like ‘free passage’, etc. However, despite these protections of international maritime law, there remains one major exception i.e., the South China sea. Despite being one of the most essential sea trade routes, the South China Sea remains a major flashpoint for potential naval confrontation or trade closure which can have serious ramifications on international trade and the global economy. The aim of this research paper is to critically analyze the background of the South China sea dispute, current developments, possible ramifications, as well as study the possible solutions to this major problem.
