Conflict at Sea

The South China Sea

Is an extremely important economic and strategic region to the international community. It contains 11-125 billion barrels of crude oil as well as hosting one third of global maritime transits. In recent years, it has become an area of conflict due to bordering states wanting to assert their sovereignty over it. As a result of Vietnamese and Chinese naval clashes and the shooting of a Vietnamese fisherman by the Philipino Coast Guard, the US has intervened with Freedom of Navigation exercises and ensured free trade. Militarized reefs and small artificial islands have been built by states such as China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam as an attempt to extend their influence. Obtaining control of the sea would mean dominating all trade in Southeast Asia as well as giving China another layer of protection to their nuclear submarine base. The international community (such as the International Court of Justice ) does not recognize China’s claims of sovereignty over the sea. Nevertheless, it has rapidly been developing and militarizing islands across the region.

Record of Chinese claims

The period of time extending from the Opium War and the Chinese Civil war goes by the name‘ the Century of Humiliation.’ China’s power declined once Hong Kong and Macao became foreign powers and it became determined to increase its influence through the possession of the sea (once the CCP was elected). In recent years, teh country has begun its campaign of land reclamation and wants to assert its authority in the area whilst forcing out other countries. The People’s Republic of China views the South China sea as their possessions and refuses negotiations with other member states.

Previous Disputes

The Imperial Japanese Navy occupied the majority of the Sea prior to the Second World War as a result of no state claiming sovereignty over it. But after its defeat, the terms of the San Francisco Treaty forced it to give up such control. The catalyst to such a conflict was the discovery of natural resources ( which could largely boost the economy ) and the growing strategic importance of the sea (one third of all global trade takes place there). Since the discovery of great amounts of oil, states have begun constructing and developing their possessions in the sea.

Artificial Islands

States have begun to build and militarize artificial islands in order to extend their influence in such a geoeconomic zone. Presently, China has built 3 islands and equipped them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser, and fighter jets. Similarly, Vietnam announced it will fortify its holdings and send 15,000 seamen and soldiers in the area. Since then, it has become a war hotspot and some experts claim it is the beginning of an arms race. This would not be the first time the world has seen major powers compete for control and military development.

Military Confrontations

Following the example the US has set in order to maintain the internationality of the waters, countries such as Germany, Japan, France, the UK and Australia have begun freedom of navigation exercises accompanied with constant aircraft surveillance. On the other hand, bordering countries with the sea have shown their determination to assert sovereignty in the area. As a consequence to the tensions in diplomatic relationships, the US naval warships have come dangerously close to PRC ships. An accident between the two could result in the outbreak of a war. China’s use of Salami Slicing tactics involves blockades of islands belonging from other states and seizing control of the.

Currently

China orders its military ships to harass foreign naval vessels in order to ensure Chinese sovereignty of the sea. The recent Chinese militarization of the big islands can only trigger the risk of a potential war unless international cooperation takes place.