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Although China has participated in UNCLOS discussions, it continues to disregard the regulations, asserting its claims under historical rights instead. This has led to ongoing tensions with neighboring countries like the Philippines and Vietnam, particularly as each nation seeks to exploit discovered resources in the South China Sea.
Escalation of Military Presence
Following the discovery of oil in the late 1960s, tensions escalated further. Countries began militarizing their claims by building bases and establishing military presence on the islands, leading to confrontations and conflicts over maritime boundaries.