China wants unfettered access for its PLAN in the entire SCS, which borders with many ASEAN EEZs.

EEZ is mainly for economic purposes of the respective country. Military Voyage at normal times cannot be interfered by the EEZ owner country, as we have seen recently when USN sailed through Indian EEZ, and this was published as a Press Release by Pentagon. Therefore it shall be applicable for PLAN in ASEAN EEZ as well, since same international law cannot be applied differently for different countries. US didn’t believe in UNCLOS, hence US is not a signatory to this, but it uses this judgement to intervene in Chinese affairs.

Currently the UNCLOS judgement winner PH is surrounded by Chinese fishing vessels, but they are too close to each other to believe if they really are fishing. This seems to remind PH that China is very near to PH and US may not be with PH all the time to protect PH. Entire ASEAN countries are closely working with China on trade and economy and part of RCEP and BRI. Hence, China is not economically a threat to these countries. So, choose between growth, prosperity and destruction.

US is still a formidable power in Asia-Pacific (or Indo-Pacific), and ASEAN countries do not want to take sides. When US is suppressed in the region, the SCS issue will die down with that. China continue to build and enhance its military might in SCS and become a protectorate to protect the ASEAN and its investments in those countries.

EEZ and Fishing… ?

Chinese trawlers might drift away from SCS and start exploring the shores of Cuba, and Venezuela and Gulf of Mexico. Of course, Freedom of Navigation.

Addendum:

None of the 10 ASEAN countries are strong enough to counter China militarily and moreover, China is their largest trading partner. Therefore, their concern is not on Military establishment in Paracel islands or other islets in SCS. The main concern for ASEAN Countries is Fishing Rights and Exclusive Economic Zone limits in SCS.

Chinese Fishing trawlers are roaming across the entire SCS as if their own sea, intervening into territorial waters, which irritates the local fishermen of the respective countries. Not only that, ASEAN countries themselves have counter claims on those nine-dash-line territories, and sometimes capturing of boats and shooting of intruding fishermen happens among ASEAN nations.

Hence, ASEAN has their own differential claims on the SCS islets, and China has nine-dash-line claim on SCS, which includes all those islets in SCS. China has managed to install its military facilities in the islands of SCS, rejecting the objections from few ASEAN nations and US.

What’s there going forward?

Philippines have got UNCLOS ruling on SCS in its favour, and the UNCLOS non-signatory US is prodding Philippines to retaliate on China. But Duertte is underplaying the UNCLOS ruling against China, considering the chinese military supremacy and economic gains from China.

ASEAN is promoting Code-of-Conduct (CoC) practices and promised to be concluded and signed among ASEAN and China by 2021. This Code of Conduct is about conducting business and fishing in SCS and maintaining border jurisdiction of ASEAN Nations, but not interfering in the Military presence of China in SCS.

Outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was trying to influence ASEAN nations and align them against China before election. He received only a lukewarm response.

With the RCEP sealed between ASEAN+China, Japan, Korea, Australia and NZ, during the pandemic & uncertain economic future, ASEAN is now well under the armpit of China. China is promoting BRI and all ASEAN states are in full agreement with the aims of BRI and also the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC) which aims to seamlessly connect ASEAN countries with sustainable infrastructure. China is hoping to resolve the territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force.

As long as China doesn’t threaten the borders of the ASEAN nations and fishing & EEZ economic rights within SCS, they may not bother about Militarization of SCS by China, in fact it is required to protect the upcoming MPAC 2025 Master Plan, which is going to benefit all of ASEAN Nations.