India, March 17 -- The South China Sea (SCS) has once again come into focus following sudden skirmishes between the coast guard vessels of the Philippines and China last week. The ongoing assertion by the Philippines of territorial claims over the Spratly Islands and China's outright refusal to acknowledge these claims lie at the heart of the current crisis.

This dispute has deep historical roots, with China asserting its rights over the entire SCS, a claim that other countries involved simply reject. The contentious issue of control over sea waters and its resources has long strained relations between China and the other claimants.

Since 2009, during Hu Jintao's presidency of China, the country has steadily intensified its efforts to s...