Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines control the South China Sea earlier

Your task is to find a way for the 3 countries (well...technically 2 but meh) to control their respective areas of the sea and their respective maritime areas. Assuming that their maritime areas barely overlap, could these 3 countries enforce their claims over the SCS, with little to no dispute before China stakes their claim on the region?
 
China would muscle its way in anyway. It wasn't as if the other claimants haven't tried to garrison the reefs. Vietnam (both South Vietnam and unified Vietnam) got the shortest end by having some seized by force. Any earlier and better enforcement would require a lot of help from the US or Soviets, depending on who the country's backers are.
 
The Republic of CHINA has the exact same territorial claims over the South China Sea as the PRC. The PRC actually inherited their claims from the ROC. If you want the three nations to control the South China Sea earlier, that just doesn't work because the ROC wants all of it.

The reason why is because these claims (for the two Chinas - I don't know about the Philippines or Vietnam) are rooted in decolonization movements (it's complicated lol). It's important for Chinese nationalists not just because of recent struggles (that's part of it), but because it's a symbol of ignoring Chinese sovereignty.

Besides, the ROC has Taiping Island, which gives them an Exclusive Economic Zone over much of the South China Sea according to international law, so they get most of the southern South China Sea.

But since when did the PRC care about international law that they don't acknowledge? :p
 
China would muscle its way in anyway. It wasn't as if the other claimants haven't tried to garrison the reefs. Vietnam (both South Vietnam and unified Vietnam) got the shortest end by having some seized by force. Any earlier and better enforcement would require a lot of help from the US or Soviets, depending on who the country's backers are.

I'm not sure about the Soviet, but the (South) VietNam saw the "help" of USA already. And well, things didn't go so well for them.

Back in 1974 (after USA and PRC "normalize" their relationship), PRC Navy sent a total of 4 warships (though they are more like minesweepers) to attack Paracel islands (being held by RVN - (South) VietNam). On the other side, RVN had 4 real warships (cruisers and destroyers) with better firepower and detection. The battle zone is also within range of their Air force.

And no plane took off that day (it appeared that it is a "request" from USA), and the RVN Navy was still f*cked (A combination of cowardice, friendly-fire and a lot more).

With regard to unified VietNam, from the late 70s, I think that the Soviet only helped by selling equipments and weapons, not directly join in the conflict.
 
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