N. B. LEBEDEVA, Candidate of Historical Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences Key words: India, China, Asia Pacific, South China Sea, ASEAN, Disputed Territories, Navy Every year, the South China Sea (SCM) is becoming increasingly important as a strategic outlet from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, a source of large oil and gas reserves and a route for their transportation from the Middle East. Because of these factors, since about 2008, conflicting strategic, economic and energy interests of many countries have been drawn into a tight knot here, and as a result, long-standing territorial disputes and conflicts at the seemingly regional level have become global. India, which has embarked on the path of becoming a world Power, cannot stand aloof from them. AS PART OF THE COURSE "LOOK TO THE EAST" In terms of geostrategy, the South China Sea occupies a key location, providing control not only over Southeast Asia, but also over South and East Asia. At the same time, it has a special status due to the peculiarities of its semi-closed configuration. If we follow the UN Maritime Convention of 1982, the rights of closely located coastal countries to transport and economic use of the South China Sea are complex and confusing. In particular, the borders of free economic zones (FEZs) that they set are often superimposed on each other, which is why interstate disputes are inevitable. As well as disputes concerning large hydrocarbon reserves in the sea area 1. Back in 2008, the US Energy Information Administration estimated oil reserves in the KZHM at 213 billion. bbl. This (according to BP's Statistical Review of July 24, 2013) exceeds the proven reserves of most countries, excluding Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. According to Chinese experts, gas reserves in the waters of the so - called disputed islands amount to 25 billion cubic meters, and oil-at least 265 billion cubic meters. bbl. The numbers are impressive, but apparently not conclusive. In a ... Read more