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China’s rapid island reclamation
Washington is not a claimant to the contested Spratly/Nansha island territories, and it has repeatedly said it will stay neutral.
Yet it has been very vocal in criticising “the pace and scope of China’s land reclamation”, as US Secretary of State while visiting Beijing last weekend.
It is true that China’s has built up land in the Spratly/Nansha islands at a rapid pace – far more quickly than any other nation in the region has before.
In just one of the sites China is working on, it has expanded from a 380-square-metre platform to an island of 75,000 square metres in a matter of five months, according to .
However, why is it a problem now that China is doing it, when it wasn’t seen as a problem before?
The increased criticism and pressure from the US does not appear to be deterring the Chinese government. at the same press conference with Kerry that:
"The determination of the Chinese side to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock, and it is unshakeable."
Claims of defending freedom of navigation
is an old and widely recognised principle in international law, which means that ships flying the flag of any sovereign state shall not suffer interference from other states (unless there’s a legitimate legal reason to do so).
If there’s one country that cares the most about the freedom of navigation, not just in the South China Sea but also internationally, it is China.
That’s because China is now the in the world, and is conducted through shipping lanes in the South China Sea.
China not only needs to get its exports out to the world, but it also needs vital imports. For example, China imports huge amount of iron ore, coal and liquefied gas from Australia.
At one point, Australia accounted for as much as 70% of China’s . Any disturbance of the sea lanes will not only affect countries like Australia but also make it difficult for China to continue its construction of high-speed rail, bridges and ports.
It defies logic for Beijing to somehow disrupt peaceful shipping lines, because that will put itself in an undesirable situation, both for its exports and imports.
A clash of two superpowers
The Spratly/Nansha islands dispute is completely different from the situation.
China is reclaiming land and building infrastructure in its own territory, or at most, in disputed sea waters. Beijing is not grabbing a piece of land from another sovereign country.
So why is Washington so eager to flex its muscles to challenge the Chinese?
It’s really about the competition between an established super power and a rising one. The US talk of using its military in the South China Sea could be another attempt to contain the rise of China.
Through its “pivot to Asia” strategy, the US has reinforced its . It is increasing its military presence in and in . The US has also on , at the same time as the Philippines has .
All those factors may help explain why the US is threatening to escalate the tensions in the South China Sea, despite not having a strong case to intervene.
China’s actions in the South China Sea do not breach international law, as even US Assistant Secretary of State Russel acknowledged in a recent interview with :
"Reclamation isn’t necessarily a violation of international law, but it’s certainly violating the harmony, the feng shui, of South-East Asia, and it’s certainly violating China’s claim to be a good neighbour and a benign and non-threatening power."
China is violating the “feng shui” of South-East Asia? It’s hardly a compelling argument for US intervention in the South China Sea, especially when it has turned a blind eye to other nations' island building for so long.
China’s rapid island reclamation
Washington is not a claimant to the contested Spratly/Nansha island territories, and it has repeatedly said it will stay neutral.
Yet it has been very vocal in criticising “the pace and scope of China’s land reclamation”, as US Secretary of State while visiting Beijing last weekend.
It is true that China’s has built up land in the Spratly/Nansha islands at a rapid pace – far more quickly than any other nation in the region has before.
In just one of the sites China is working on, it has expanded from a 380-square-metre platform to an island of 75,000 square metres in a matter of five months, according to .
However, why is it a problem now that China is doing it, when it wasn’t seen as a problem before?
The increased criticism and pressure from the US does not appear to be deterring the Chinese government. at the same press conference with Kerry that:
"The determination of the Chinese side to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock, and it is unshakeable."
Claims of defending freedom of navigation
is an old and widely recognised principle in international law, which means that ships flying the flag of any sovereign state shall not suffer interference from other states (unless there’s a legitimate legal reason to do so).
If there’s one country that cares the most about the freedom of navigation, not just in the South China Sea but also internationally, it is China.
That’s because China is now the in the world, and is conducted through shipping lanes in the South China Sea.
China not only needs to get its exports out to the world, but it also needs vital imports. For example, China imports huge amount of iron ore, coal and liquefied gas from Australia.
At one point, Australia accounted for as much as 70% of China’s . Any disturbance of the sea lanes will not only affect countries like Australia but also make it difficult for China to continue its construction of high-speed rail, bridges and ports.
It defies logic for Beijing to somehow disrupt peaceful shipping lines, because that will put itself in an undesirable situation, both for its exports and imports.
A clash of two superpowers
The Spratly/Nansha islands dispute is completely different from the situation.
China is reclaiming land and building infrastructure in its own territory, or at most, in disputed sea waters. Beijing is not grabbing a piece of land from another sovereign country.
So why is Washington so eager to flex its muscles to challenge the Chinese?
It’s really about the competition between an established super power and a rising one. The US talk of using its military in the South China Sea could be another attempt to contain the rise of China.
Through its “pivot to Asia” strategy, the US has reinforced its . It is increasing its military presence in and in . The US has also on , at the same time as the Philippines has .
All those factors may help explain why the US is threatening to escalate the tensions in the South China Sea, despite not having a strong case to intervene.
China’s actions in the South China Sea do not breach international law, as even US Assistant Secretary of State Russel acknowledged in a recent interview with :
"Reclamation isn’t necessarily a violation of international law, but it’s certainly violating the harmony, the feng shui, of South-East Asia, and it’s certainly violating China’s claim to be a good neighbour and a benign and non-threatening power."
China is violating the “feng shui” of South-East Asia? It’s hardly a compelling argument for US intervention in the South China Sea, especially when it has turned a blind eye to other nations' island building for so long.
