BALANCING MARITIME SECURITY AND SOVEREIGNTY CLAIMS: THE INTERPLAY OF LAW AND MEDIA IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

<p>Abstract<br>The South China Sea (SCS) is a strategic area of conflict where sovereignty, security and,<br>strategic stories intertwine to make the region insecure. This paper aims at analyzing the roles<br>that law, media, and security play in the SCS disputes dynamics. Thus, although the enforcement<br>is governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it remains<br>rather week: for instance, China rejected the 2016 arbitration which declared its nine-dash line<br>unlawful. State-controlled and digital media are weaponized to promote legal stories and<br>propaganda alongside disinformation in a way that shapes security perceptions. On the other<br>hand, factors like militarization, poaching and degradation of the environment act as a source of<br>conflict therefore escalating the conflict and showing that there is a need to engage in conflict<br>resolution. This paper analyses the reaction of both regional and global actors, including<br>ASEAN, the US, and China, as well as assesses the outcomes of the existing frameworks and<br>programs. The study underscores the role of media in constructing and reinforcing sovereignty<br>claims, shaping public opinion, and influencing policymaking in navigating the disputes of SCS.<br>Based on the analysis, policy suggestions have been made such as building ASEAN’s capability,<br>increasing the implementation of UNCLOS, promoting security cooperation, and combating fake<br>news. This paper demonstrates how legal, media, and security approaches can be combined to<br>respond to the multifaceted nature of the SCS and develop a sustainable system for creating a<br>rules-based order at sea. The results, therefore, corroborate the need for regional integration and<br>creativity in the management of the South’s conflicts.<br>Keywords: South China Sea, Maritime Security, International Law, Media, Lawfare</p>