the South China Sea

largely; mostly

a lot / a majority

opinion, assertion, contention

maintain, argue, claim

area, district, particular geographic region

(government) sovereignty (of a nation: the state of making laws and controlling resources without the coercion of other nations.)

a land, a large place / a country in general, a region / a country as in a nation, a state / the office of emperor, the crown; affairs of state / a province of ancient Japan

self-assertion

infringement of sovereignty