.. APOCALYPTIC BATTLE
Learn why Croatian analyst believes that in this sea could start a global apocalyptic battle
Author: Z.Stupar
Date: Monday, June 9, 2014. At 10:58
Date: Monday, June 9, 2014. At 10:58
According to the World Bank, the sea hides at least seven billion barrels of oil and 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Croatian geostrategic analyst Davor Domazet Loso last week marked the South China Sea as the main point of gravity of the current global events. There is no doubt that in this area, "intersect" political, strategic and, above all, the economic interests of many nations including those largest ones.
Brunei, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, are directly involved. Why is this so? About this geographically very distant point average Croat knows very little. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), an international think tank, recently published an analysis explaining the reasons why the great powers are crowding around this area.
Brunei, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, are directly involved. Why is this so? About this geographically very distant point average Croat knows very little. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), an international think tank, recently published an analysis explaining the reasons why the great powers are crowding around this area.
Where is the South China Sea?
Sea spans over 3.62 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, in the area of Singapore and the Malay passage to the Taiwan Strait, west of the Philippines, north of Indonesia and east of Vietnam. In a sea of hundreds of islands, and the over the greatest of six of them all major South Asian countries claim ownership. The islands are largely uninhabited and never had a local population, so a matter of historical sovereignty is very tricky. But the problem is not only islands - each country has an exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles from the coast of each country.
What is the line "9-dash"?
It is a controversial demarcation border line that China uses to claim rights on the territory and waters in the South China Sea. It was published in 2009. It covers almost the entire sea, and China has issued a new passport on which all that area is labeled as Chinese. Countries of ASEAN (association of ten countries of Southeast Asia) disputed its validity, but China claims that it is entitled to due to historical circumstances (expeditions, fishing, maritime patrol).
The line "nine dash" is plotted in green
What resources are in the game?
According to the World Bank, the sea hides at least seven billion barrels of oil and 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. In December 2012., China began digging in deep waters off the southern coast. Tensions escalated when the Indian state-owned company Oil and Natural Gas Corp. announced that it has partnered with PetroVietnam for exploitation of oil. In May of 2014., Chinese ships have fired water cannons at the Vietnamese fleet, which was allegedly approaching a large Chinese drilling site. Every now and then countries arrest foreign fishermen, by which they announce to other countries that they claim particular territory.
How it affects trade routes in the sea?
As many as 50 percent of the global tanker transport passes thru these waters, which is three times more traffic then the Suez Canal and five times more traffic that the Panama. So, it's about the busiest trading route in the world. More than half of the world's ten largest ports are situated in and around the sea.
What about the army?
In the region there has been an increase in militarization due the Chinese growth. Vietnam and Malaysia have strengthened their armies trading with countries such as Russia and India. Philippines have doubled its defense budget in 2011, and agreed to joint military exercises with the U.S. in the next five years. In April, the largest Philippine warship acquired from the U.S., was on the brink of conflict with Chinese reconnaissance ships after the crew attempted to arrest Chinese fishermen.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel ten days ago said that China's behavior destabilizes the region.
CFR says that many would like to see the U.S. to take bigger role in this turmoil. But China is a dangerous opponent.
CFR says that many would like to see the U.S. to take bigger role in this turmoil. But China is a dangerous opponent.
---
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments always welcome!