The South China Sea dispute involves overlapping maritime and territorial claims by which of the following countries listed below?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests awareness of international relations and geography, specifically the South China Sea dispute. The South China Sea is a strategically important water body with overlapping maritime and island claims by several countries. Exams often ask which countries are directly involved in the main territorial disputes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The dispute is over islands, reefs, and maritime zones in the South China Sea.
• The countries named in the options are China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
• We must identify which of these are well known for having direct claims in the contested areas.

Concept / Approach:
The main claimants in the South China Sea dispute include China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Indonesia is a major regional state but its main dispute with China is around the Natuna Sea, which is adjacent to but not usually counted as part of the core island disputes. Therefore, among the listed countries, China, Vietnam and Malaysia are clear claimants.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that China claims a large area through the so called nine dash line, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several Southeast Asian states.Step 2: Vietnam has competing claims over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, directly opposing Chinese claims.Step 3: Malaysia has asserted claims over part of the Spratly Islands and adjacent maritime zones, making it a direct participant in the dispute.Step 4: Indonesia does patrol and protest Chinese activities near the Natuna Islands, but it traditionally does not present itself as a claimant to the core disputed island groups of the South China Sea.Step 5: Therefore, the combination that best captures the dispute among the given options is China, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way is to recall common maps used in textbooks and news reports that show overlapping claims. These maps clearly show China, Vietnam and Malaysia as claimants in the Spratly area, while Indonesia appears mostly near the Natuna region, not as a principal claimant inside the heart of the disputed sea.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A limits the dispute to China and Indonesia, which is inaccurate because Vietnam and others are central claimants while Indonesia is more peripheral.
Option B lists only China and Vietnam, leaving out Malaysia, which has declared claims over some of the same islands.
Option D lists Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia but omits China, which is in fact the most prominent claimant and therefore this combination cannot be correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may mistakenly treat any maritime disagreement with China as part of the South China Sea dispute and include Indonesia by default. It is important to distinguish between countries that are core claimants to disputed islands and those whose disputes are only at the edges of their exclusive economic zones.

Final Answer:
The South China Sea dispute involves overlapping claims by China, Vietnam and Malaysia among the options given.