Why in News? 

India has expressed concern over unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo in the South China Sea, highlighting the need to maintain peace and stability in the region. 

About the South China Sea 

• It is a semi-enclosed sea in the western Pacific Ocean. 
• Together with the East China Sea, it forms the larger China Sea. 
• The area is strategically important for global trade and military presence. 
• China claims the largest portion of the South China Sea, marked by the controversial "nine-dash line", which is not recognized by international law. 

Map: South China Sea