When the South China Sea makes the headlines, it’s usually portrayed as a modern geopolitical flashpoint — with Chinese warships, U.S. patrols, and angry statements from Southeast Asian governments. Similarly, Taiwan is often framed as a “democracy under threat” by an authoritarian neighbor.

But the deeper story is rarely told. To fully understand China’s claims, one has to go back centuries, dig into layers of colonial history, Chinese nationalism, economic ambition, and strategic calculations.

The struggle is not simply about maritime borders or island sovereignty — it’s about identity, security, and global power.

1. The South China Sea: Geography, History, and the “Nine-Dash Line”

The South China Sea is not just a body of water — it’s a crossroads. Stretching across 3.5 million square kilometers, it links the Pacific and Indian Oceans, making it one of the busiest maritime routes in the world. One-third of global trade passes through it, including oil and liquefied natural gas shipments critical to East Asia’s energy security. Beneath its waters lie vast reserves of oil, natural gas, and rich fishing grounds that millions depend on for food.

China’s claim to nearly all of the South China Sea rests on what it calls the “Nine-Dash Line,” a map first published by the Republic of China in 1947 (before the Communist takeover). This sweeping U-shaped boundary cuts deep into the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. To Beijing, the Nine-Dash Line reflects centuries of Chinese fishermen, traders, and naval expeditions in the area. To its neighbors, it looks like an audacious land grab.

2. Historical Roots: From Imperial China to Colonial Powers

China’s Traditional View

For imperial China, the South China Sea was considered part of its “southern frontier.” Ancient Chinese texts describe voyages to the Paracel and Spratly Islands as early as the Han dynasty (2nd century BCE). Chinese navigators mapped the waters, and Ming dynasty records mention garrisons and tribute missions linked to these islands. Though not “ownership” in the modern sense, China saw the region as part of its maritime sphere.

Colonial Disruption

The arrival of European colonial powers in Asia — Portugal, Spain, Britain, France, and later Japan — disrupted this traditional order. Western international law redefined territorial sovereignty based on occupation and treaties, which disadvantaged non-Western states. When France colonized Indochina, it planted flags on islands China had long considered part of its domain. Japan seized control of the Spratlys and Paracels during World War II. These foreign claims humiliated China and fueled its determination to “reclaim lost territories.”

3. Taiwan: More Than Just an Island

Taiwan is not simply a piece of land off China’s coast — it embodies a century of Chinese trauma and rivalry. Historically, Taiwan was inhabited by Austronesian peoples, colonized by the Dutch, then incorporated into the Qing Empire in the 17th century. After China’s defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War (1895), Taiwan was ceded to Japan. It remained under Japanese rule for 50 years, modernized but also colonized.

When Japan lost World War II, Taiwan was returned to China. But just four years later, the Chinese Civil War erupted between the Communists (Mao Zedong) and Nationalists (Chiang Kai-shek). In 1949, Mao declared the People’s Republic of China (PRC), while Chiang fled to Taiwan with his defeated forces, setting up the Republic of China (ROC) government in exile. Both sides claimed to be the “real” China.

For Beijing, Taiwan’s existence as a separate political entity is not just a territorial issue — it’s a symbol of unfinished business from the civil war. Accepting Taiwan’s independence would mean admitting the Communist revolution never fully triumphed. That’s why Beijing insists “reunification” is inevitable.

4. Why the South China Sea Matters So Much to Beijing

Strategic Security

China’s coastline has historically been vulnerable to foreign invasion — from British gunboats in the Opium Wars to Japanese naval domination in the 20th century. Today, U.S. aircraft carriers patrol near China’s shores. By militarizing the South China Sea with artificial islands, runways, and missile systems, Beijing aims to push U.S. forces farther away and secure a defensive buffer zone.

Energy and Resources

China is the world’s largest energy importer. Controlling the South China Sea reduces reliance on sea lanes controlled by others (especially the U.S. Navy). The seabed is also believed to contain billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas — potential lifelines for China’s growing economy.

Nationalism

For the Chinese public, the South China Sea is tied to national pride and memories of “a century of humiliation” under Western and Japanese imperialism. The government uses these memories to justify its claims, portraying the dispute not as expansionism but as restoring historical rights.

5. Taiwan: The Crown Jewel in China’s Strategy

If the South China Sea is about resources and security, Taiwan is about legitimacy and prestige. Taiwan represents:

• Geostrategic Position: Sitting in the “First Island Chain,” Taiwan controls access to the Pacific. If under Beijing’s control, China’s navy could project power farther into the ocean. If allied with the U.S., Taiwan acts as a barrier containing China.

• Economic Importance: Taiwan is home to the world’s most advanced semiconductor industry (TSMC), which powers everything from smartphones to fighter jets. For China, gaining this technology would be transformative.

• National Reunification: For the Communist Party, Taiwan’s return would seal its historic mission. Failure to achieve this risks undermining the Party’s legitimacy, especially as nationalism is a key pillar of its rule.

6. The Modern Geopolitical Battle

U.S. Involvement

The United States officially follows a “One China” policy (recognizing Beijing as the sole government of China) but maintains strong unofficial ties with Taiwan, selling it advanced weapons and pledging to help it defend itself. In the South China Sea, Washington conducts “freedom of navigation” operations to challenge China’s expansive claims.

Regional Pushback

Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia have clashed with China over fishing rights and oil exploration. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s Nine-Dash Line has no legal basis under international law. Beijing rejected the ruling outright.

The Escalating Risk

The combination of nationalism, military buildup, and U.S.-China rivalry makes the South China Sea and Taiwan some of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world today. A miscalculation — a collision at sea, a missile test gone wrong, or a crisis in Taiwan — could spark a major conflict.

7. What They Don’t Teach You

Most mainstream discussions reduce the issue to China being “aggressive” or the U.S. defending “freedom.” What they don’t teach you is the deeper context:

• China’s claims are rooted not just in ambition but in centuries of humiliation, colonialism, and insecurity.

• The South China Sea dispute is as much about survival and pride as it is about oil or fish.

• Taiwan is not merely a democracy under threat but the unresolved outcome of China’s civil war.

• Western colonialism and Japanese imperialism helped create the very disputes we see today.

• For China, controlling these regions is about rewriting history and ensuring that it is never again vulnerable to foreign domination.

Conclusion

The South China Sea and Taiwan represent more than contested territories. They are mirrors reflecting China’s past humiliations, present ambitions, and future anxieties. For Beijing, the struggle is existential: reclaim what was once lost, secure what is vital, and assert itself as a global power. For its neighbors and rivals, it’s a dangerous game that could destabilize the world.

What they don’t teach you is that this isn’t simply about maps or islands. It’s about how history, identity, and geopolitics intertwine — and how the unfinished business of the past continues to shape the storms of the present.