Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
(nghiencuubiendong.vn)
(bloomberg.com)
Background
The South China Sea is an extremely important region in terms of geopolitics for a
number of reasons.
Trade
More than half of the world's annual merchant fleet tonnage passes through the Straits
of Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok, with the majority continuing on into the South
China Sea. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Malacca leading into the South China
Sea is more than three times greater than Suez Canal traffic, and well over five times
more than the Panama Canal.
(Center for Naval Analyses and the Institute for National Strategic Studies,
globalsecurity.org)
Resources
Thought to be rich in natural resources such as oil and natural gas, it is estimated that
the South China Sea may contain 7.5 billion barrels (1.1 billion tonnes) of oil by the
US, but China claims the area may contain 17.7 billion tonnes of oil (cf. 13 billion
tonnes in Kuwait). The real wealth of the area, according to the US Energy
Information Administration (EIA), may well be the natural gas reserves, thought to
estimate 900 trillion cubic feet (25 trillion cubic metres); the same as the proven
reserves of Qatar.
Asias robust economic growth has boosted demand for energy in the region. The EIA
has estimated that oil consumption in developing Asian countries is expected to rise
by 2.7% p.a. from 14.8 million barrels/day (2004) to nearly 29.8 million barrels/day
by 2030. China is expected to account for almost half of this growth.
Fishing
There are also profuse fishing opportunities within the area. It is believed that in 1988,
the South China Sea accounted for 8% of the world fishing catches, and this figure
has only grown. According to studies made by the Philippines Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, this body of water holds one third of the entire
world's marine biodiversity, thereby making it a very important area for the
ecosystem.
Territorial claims
China, Taiwan, The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei all have made
competing claims of territories in the South China Sea. Both China and Taiwan claim
almost the entire region as their own; a claim that overlaps virtually every other
country in the region.
(www.voanews.com)
The most active in staking their claims have been China and Vietnam. Before 1974,
China and South Vietnam each controlled part of the Paracel Islands, but after a brief
conflict in which 18 soldiers were killed, China has controlled the entire Paracel
archipelago. In March 1988, the Spratly Islands were the site of a naval clash in which
over 70 Vietnamese sailors were killed. The Philippines has also been involved in a
number of minor skirmishes with Chinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian forces. Naval
clashes are still regular today.
History of claims
In 1947, China issued a map detailing its claim. It showed the two archipelagos of
Spratly and Paracel falling entirely within its territory. Taiwan has mirrored the claim
as it considers itself the Republic of China. The key part of the claim is the Ninedotted line. This is the demarcation used by the Chinese government of 1949 to show
the maximum extent of its claim, and is literally nine dashes roughly outlining the
alleged area of sovereignty.
Present disputes
Whilst clashes between naval vessels of claimants are regularly reported, microdisputes are dealt with diplomatically for the most part. The Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) has emerged as an important forum for dialogue amongst
South China Sea claimants, despite not including China and Taiwan. ASEAN
members, especially Malaysia, are very keen to avoid armed conflict in the region.
China has preferred to resolve competing claims bi-laterally, while ASEAN countries
prefer multi-lateral talks, believing that they are disadvantaged in bi-lateral
negotiations with the much larger China and that because many countries claim the
same territory only multilateral talks could effectively resolve the competing claims.
However, recent attitude shifts in Chinas foreign policy have altered the situation in
the last 2 years. In July 2010, in Vietnam, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called
for the Peoples Republic of China to resolve the territorial dispute. China responded
by demanding the US keep out of the issue. This came at a time when both countries
have been engaging in naval exercises in a show of force to the opposing side, which
increased tensions in the region. Chinese foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, said that
Vietnam's invitation to the United States to mediate was "an attack on China".
The US Department of Defence released a statement on August 18 2010 where it
opposed the use of force to resolve the dispute, and accused China of assertive
behaviour.
The situation has taken a drastic turn since mid-2011 though, and escalation is feared
by the international community. A timeline of major events since March 2011 is as
follows.
March
4th Two Chinese patrol boats allegedly threaten to ram a Philippine survey ship.
May
20th Chinese fighter jets allegedly harass members of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines near Spratly Islands.
21st Chinese Defence Minister General Liang Guanglie visits Manila for talks.
26th Vietnamese ship operating on its claimed continental shelf has its seismic
cables cut by Chinese patrol boats.
June
5th Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Liang tells Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
China is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
9th China warns Vietnam and the Philippines that any exploration in the Spratly area
without its consent is a violation of its jurisdiction and sovereignty. This is in
response to large anti-China protests in both countries.
Chinese patrol boats cut seismic cables on Vietnamese ships on Vietnameseclaimed continental shelf. China claim that its fishing boats were chased away by
armed Vietnamese ships
13th Vietnam holds routine live-fire drills 25 miles off central Quang Nam
province. Beijing denounces the exercises as a military show of force.
August
10th China officially launches its first aircraft carrier, developed from the Soviet-era
Ukrainian ship Varyag. It is a powerful military signal in the region.
September
18th India and Vietnam sign a 3 year oil sector deal to explore areas in the South
China Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu, without referring to
India by name, stated as follows: China enjoys indisputable sovereignty over the
South China Sea. China's stand is based on historical facts and international law. We
hope that the relevant countries respect China's position and refrain from taking
unilateral action to complicate and expand the issue. As for oil and gas exploration
activities, our consistent position is that we are opposed to any country engaging in oil
and gas exploration and development activities in waters under China's jurisdiction.
We hope the foreign countries do not get involved in South China Sea dispute.
An influential Chinese Communist Party-run newspaper has warned that every
means possible should be used to stop Indias Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC) engaging in exploration projects in the South China Sea.
21st Japan holds discussions with Philippine diplomats on resolving territorial
disputes in the South China Sea. A permanent working group to tackle Asian
maritime concerns is proposed between the two countries.
October
12th China and Vietnam sign agreement to settle maritime disputes. The two
countries agreed to promote maritime cooperation in marine environmental
protection, scientific research, search and rescue, and disaster reduction and
prevention. The two also agree to meet twice a year to resolve any issues.
18th 3,000 U.S. and Filipino marines start two weeks of annual military drills in the
Philippines that include a hostile beach assault exercise near the disputed Spratly
Islands.
19th Filipino warship BRP Rizal accidentally collides with and severs towing
cable of Chinese fishing vessel in disputed waters. The fishing vessel abandoned the
23 unmanned dinghies it was towing, which were retrieved by the Philippine warship
and brought back to its naval base on the island of Palawan. Manila has declined any
formal apology.
After the Osama Bin Laden incident in Pakistan, US-Pakistan relations have taken a
steep dive, resulting in stronger Sino-Pakistan relations; Pakistan has asked China to
build a naval base in its waters. All this spells weakening influence in the region at
this critical time.
In addition, alarmed members of ASEAN look to the US for support which may drag
the US in to the conflict, especially given that the live-fire drills by Vietnam and the
Philippines in disputed waters was done with the aid of the US.
Reference
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/spratly-ship.htm
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27449991/South-China-Sea-Energy-Data-Statistics-And
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110415-331204/PHruns-to-UN-to-protest-Chinas-9-dash-line-Spratlys-claim
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/asia.html
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_historical_perspecti
ve.htm
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/LG29Ad03.html