This study examines the dynamics of British presence in the South China Sea (SCS) between 1600 and 1975 through the conceptual frameworks of Mare Clausum (closed sea) and Mare Liberum (free sea). Since the seventeenth century, the SCS has served as a contested maritime arena among Western powers, with Britain playing a significant role in shaping the narrative of trade route dominance and maritime claims. Rooted in the principle of Mare Liberum introduced by Hugo Grotius, Britain initially promoted freedom of maritime navigation to expand trade through the East India Company (EIC). However, this approach shifted during the nineteenth century as Britain began consolidating control over several strategic islands such as the Spratly Island and Amboyna Cay, applying the Mare Clausum principle through the registration of resource exploitation rights and flag-hoisting acts. The purpose of this study is to analyse how the Mare Clausum and Mare Liberum principles were applied within British maritime strategy, to assess the evolution of British approaches in response to geopolitical needs from the seventeenth to the mid-twentieth century, and to understand the colonial legacy’s implications for modern maritime sovereignty disputes in the SCS. The research employs a qualitative method based on the analysis of colonial archival documents, historical maps, and official reports. Findings reveal that Britain adopted a pragmatic strategy, adapting maritime principles according to the prevailing geopolitical context. Following the Second World War, Britain took a passive stance, maintaining its claims without provoking tension with regional powers such as Communist China and France. The study concludes that Britain’s presence in the SCS represented a synthesis between the Mare Liberum principle for economic gain and the Mare Clausum principle for strategic dominance, which subsequently shaped the colonial legacy underpinning contemporary maritime sovereignty disputes.
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