Diplomatic Posturing and the Power Game in Southeast Asia
- 2021年04月26日 04:00:00
- テクノロジー
- JCN Newswire
In response to the question of China's domestic legislation and its invention of historic claims and their role in China's foreign policy, Dr Nagy answered that with China's re-emergence as the dominant economy in the region, China has widened its claims on features in the South China Sea and islands in the East China Sea, many through domestic legislation and the invention of historic claims as tools to achieve foreign policy objectives. The effectiveness of domestic legislation by China in terms of securing its claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea is however debatable. Many such claims are not recognized by international bodies and courts such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration. One such claim in the South China Sea was ruled not legal by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in July 2016, in a case drawn upon by the Philippines.
China is using domestic legislation to expand its exclusive economic zones by creating municipalities at the edge of the South China Sea which gives a legal foundation to the exclusive economic zones. The impact of China's legislation is however small. A parallel can be drawn comparing control through domestic legislation between the Chinese claims in the South China Sea and the Japanese controlled Senkaku Islands. Japan has controlled the Senkaku Islands for over a century and there is continuity in that control via coast guard and environmental management, mostly and mainly through domestic legislation and international partnership;no such continuity of control with regard to the Chinese claim exists on the ground in the South China Sea.
The invention of historic claims by China as a tool for foreign policy is even more debatable and problematic. To analyze this, one must turn back the pages of history and search for signs of claims of sovereignty by China over the island territories in the South China Sea;no such claim can be found. Bill Hayton in his book "Invention of China", writes in detail how during the Ching (Qing) Dynasty, China showed no interest in the island formations in the South China Sea, whether the islands neighbouring Indonesia, Vietnam or the Philippines. China in the past has never set any claim of any of the island territories and thus the invention of historic claim is not only debatable but problematic as well. The UNCLOS treaty signed by 117 states which sets the 200-mile limit for Exclusive Economic Zones gives these countries a claim over the island formations in the South China Sea. UNCLOS however is not ratified by the US, which gives it a loose footing to enforce any such claims on China. This is despite the US conducting operations within the scope of the law.
Dr Nagy briefly touched on the role of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and individual cooperation in establishing regional stability, and in his viewpoint, ASEAN could play a significant role in resolving territorial issues in Southeast Asia, but it is a loose association of nations and doesn't have the legal capacity to challenge and enforce its decisions on China. Hitherto, it has till now not played any decisive role. At the 2014 ASEAN Summit, a consensus was developed for a joint statement with regard to territorial disputes, however, Cambodia succumbed to influence from China, making a joint statement impossible. This fracturing of ASEAN unity and division of opinion is mainly achieved through aid and pledges to promote development;an example of how China uses its economic influence to shape the behaviour of neighbouring states.
With most of the ASEAN states not claimants in the SCS disputes, China has a free hand in manipulating the decision-making capability of ASEAN. The ASEAN members hold mixed views about China;some members perceive China as an economic opportunity and think that China is critical for the development of ASEAN member states, while others see China as a state having dominating and hegemonic interests in the region, thus the relationship of China and ASEAN will always be important but challenging. The main problem is the power asymmetry between China and the Southeast Asian nations. These nations seek strategic autonomy to resolve the South China Sea issues peacefully and effectively. The pattern we are seeing, at an individual level, is to bring an extra-regional power to the region to enhance the human capital and other capabilities so that they can push back unilaterally against some of the more assertive behaviour of China. This becomes more important for ensuring that the economic, political and national security interests of smaller nations are met and secured.
Dr Nagy then addressed the need to establish and maintain partnerships and the formation of Quad-like groups in restoring stability and balance in Southeast Asia and particularly the South China Sea, as Japan has been the most active in establishing strategic partnerships, by providing coast guard vessels, maritime domain awareness, and human capital to support individual members and enhance ASEAN's integration. Japan's role is even more important when it comes to the Chinese maritime militia (fishermen boat strategy), whereby the militia tries to instigate escalations that allow China to build an image seen as being defensive. The militia is used to build pressure on the states and in the case of the Philippines, China has already occupied some features in the South China Sea using these militia forces. The militia moves in and out of sovereign national waters, where every movement is planned in building a Lawfare strategy, as in the case of the Senkaku islands.
The US needs to designate a dedicated naval fleet for the South China Sea, so it has a constant presence 365 days a year. This would limit the influence of China in the region, restore the symmetry of trade relations to some extent and stop the undue exploitation of smaller states by the People's Republic of China. Naval cooperation and joint exercises in the South China Sea challenge China in particular when French and Canadian navies are involved. Quad and Quad-plus like cooperation is the way forward, however, this could lead to catastrophe if maritime management systems and communications channels are not established. China has to adjust to the presence of an extra-regional power in the South China Sea, and the US and allies have to work to keep China's assertive behaviour at bay while avoiding accidental conflict.
- Dr Stephen R Nagy is a Senior Associate Professor at the Department of Politics and International Studies, International Christian University, Tokyo. He is a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation (APF) in Canada, a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and a Visiting Fellow at the Japan Institute for International Affairs (JIIA). He is currently working on 'Chinese Perceptions of Japan's Foreign Policy under PM Abe since 2012', and 'Middle Power Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific'. Follow Stephen on Twitter @nagystephen1.
- Nadir Ali Wani is currently Director of the Center for Peace and Justice, a research-based group in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He holds a Master's degree in Conflict Studies and International Relations from Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi, and has an abiding interest in the study of conflicts in South Asia with a particular interest in international politics to do with China, Islam and Kashmir.
- Jammu and Kashmir Centre for Peace and Justice (JKCPJ) is a youth-oriented, independent, multidisciplinary research organization. The Centre came into being in 2018, against the backdrop of global challenges upholding peace and social justice. The driving concern of the JKCPJ is bringing people together to accomplish things in an environment of trust, to strive for sustainable peace. Our mechanism transmits knowledge, hope, hard work, and successfully contributing to the development of humankind. Please visit https://jkcpj.org.
Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com
【横浜】スローイン妨害、少し触るだけで笛、質問には警告…激高のキューウェル監督、主審猛批判
何があった!?「エアコン」が想定外の壊れ具合!投稿者に話を聞いた
【C大阪】レオ・セアラ、13ゴール目も2戦連続ドローでブーイング「しょうがない」
河合優実&吉田美月喜、若手注目女優が劇場アニメ「ルックバック」で声優初挑戦
杉野遥亮、映画「風の奏の君へ」大谷監督のラブコールを拒否!?「すごくイヤで…」
【阪神】佐藤輝明2軍4戦連続打点&マルチ安打「頑張ります」課題の三塁守備は2度無難にこなす
【U23日本代表】出国延期の松木玖生は検査結果受け、2日に米国遠征出発予定
B’z稲葉浩志、7年ぶりの音楽番組出演で普段の朝食明かす 有働由美子「おしゃれ!」
長田成哉トライストーン退所 16年在籍「為すべき」方向決定まで「個人で活動」エールなど出演
カズ、JFL鈴鹿加入が決定的 横浜FCと鈴鹿の幹部がクラブ間で合意 7月から期限付き移籍
何があった!?「エアコン」が想定外の壊れ具合!投稿者に話を聞いた
柏原崇(45)現在を調べてみた結果、相変わらずかっこよすぎた!
大原櫻子、ガーシー暴露後初のSNS投稿に賛否の声「イメージ最悪になった」
「暴露します」松本人志飲み会参加セクシー女優「衝撃作」発売「言えなくてずっと溜めてた」
玉置浩二の妻、青田典子(53)の現在がとんでもない事になっていると話題に
漫才師の今くるよさん死去 膵がんのため
ユーチューバーもこう氏、元彼女・成海瑠奈について赤裸々告白
浜崎あゆみ、子供の写真公開に疑いの声止まず「よそのお宅の子供?」
大谷翔平被弾投手が悪態ついて退場処分!次打者フリーマンと対戦中に判定巡り塁審と口論
金正恩の妹・金与正関連のネタ投稿がTwitterで大量に出回る
何があった!?「エアコン」が想定外の壊れ具合!投稿者に話を聞いた
柏原崇(45)現在を調べてみた結果、相変わらずかっこよすぎた!
玉置浩二の妻、青田典子(53)の現在がとんでもない事になっていると話題に
ユーチューバーもこう氏、元彼女・成海瑠奈について赤裸々告白
元めちゃイケメンバーの三中元克(32)現在は何をしているのか調べてみた!
TikTokを賑わす「フエラムネごめんなサイダー味」がセブンイレブンで再販!じゅるるマスカットも買うなら今!
小倉優子、不自然な“二重ライン”にネット騒然「やっぱり整形?」
ガーシーが綾野剛のLINE公開でネット騒然「ショック」「すごいエンタメ」
岡本夏生(56)、1600日ぶりにブログを更新した現在が衝撃
大原櫻子、ガーシー暴露後初のSNS投稿に賛否の声「イメージ最悪になった」
何があった!?「エアコン」が想定外の壊れ具合!投稿者に話を聞いた
「ゴミ箱にお魚を捨てたら…!?」ここにあるのは分かっているにゃ!と言わんばかりに大興奮!
「どこのアイドルさんかと…」本田紗来、リボン着用の最新ショットが話題 姉望結の誕生日を祝福
【横浜】スローイン妨害、少し触るだけで笛、質問には警告…激高のキューウェル監督、主審猛批判
たべぷろ更新停止のお知らせ
杉野遥亮、映画「風の奏の君へ」大谷監督のラブコールを拒否!?「すごくイヤで…」
中西太さんの銅像の建立が決定 27年秋までに故郷の高松市に 西鉄ライオンズの黄金期を支える
犬が『へそ天』をするときに考えられる5つの心理 大胆なポーズでアピールする理由とは?
さんま「姉さん、元気で!」 天国のくるよさんしのび 駆け出し時代からほめ殺し
【ヤクルト】5連敗で交流戦未勝利 高津監督「らしさがない」「思い切ってやればいい」