UPSC Mains 2014 GS Paper 2 Q16: model answer
With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.
What the question wants
Discuss India–China bilateral issues in the context of South China Sea disputes and the need for freedom of navigation.
How to structure it
In this context: link the South China Sea to bilateral issues.
- The South China Sea
- India's stakes there
- Bilateral issues
- India's approach
How to think it through
The question pairs a regional dispute with bilateral ties. India's stake: ONGC Videsh's blocks off Vietnam, trade through the sea, and the principle of UNCLOS. Bilateral issues: border, trade deficit, Pakistan, water, Indian Ocean. Show how each side sees the other's sea.
Model answer
In 2011 a Chinese warship radioed the Indian Navy's INS Airavat off Vietnam, telling it that it was entering Chinese waters. India's ship was on a friendly port call. The incident tied the South China Sea dispute directly to India–China relations.
The South China Sea
- China claims most of the sea through the 'nine-dash line'; Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei contest it.
- In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected China's claim in the Philippines' case under UNCLOS; China rejected the ruling.
- Island-building and militarisation since 2014.
India's stakes
- A large share of India's trade with East Asia passes through the sea.
- ONGC Videsh holds exploration blocks off Vietnam, which China objects to.
- India supports freedom of navigation and overflight under UNCLOS, a principle that also protects India in the Indian Ocean.
Bilateral issues
- Border: the undemarcated LAC; Depsang (2013), Doklam (2017), Galwan (2020); disengagement deals in 2024.
- Trade deficit: close to $100 billion in 2024–25.
- China–Pakistan axis and CPEC through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
- Indian Ocean: Chinese naval and research vessels.
- Global forums: China blocks India's NSG membership and, at times, UN terror listings.
India's approach
- Firmness on the border with talks.
- Act East partnerships with Vietnam (BrahMos for the Philippines, 2022), Indonesia and ASEAN.
- Quad and maritime exercises.
India's interest lies in a rules-based Indo-Pacific, where the same law that applies to the South China Sea applies to the Indian Ocean.
Draw: A map of the South China Sea with the nine-dash line, Vietnam's blocks and India's sea lanes.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
nine-dash line, UNCLOS 1982, PCA award 2016, FONOPs, INS Airavat 2011, ONGC Videsh Vietnam blocks, LAC, Galwan 2020, trade deficit, BrahMos to Philippines, Act East.
Where most answers lose marks
- Writing only on the South China Sea without India–China bilateral issues.
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22 Oct 2026Learn the concept
Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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