South China Sea: China’s Theatre For Hegemonic Ambitions?
An analysis of any -or all- of China’s decisions and announcements over the past two years points to the same argument: China is working to establish itself as a global superpower with no competitors. From China’s well-known territorial claims in the South China Sea to its military and technological advancements, the country has invested heavily towards cementing its position as an international force to be reckoned with.
Adding to China’s ever-expanding power is its position in global trade markets. At present, China is the number one trade partner for as many 125 countries- a fact that ensures that China’s bilateral ties and defense arrangements with or around these states continue to be protected. And a direct implication of these trade alliances is that when so many states’ economies depend directly on China, they are less likely to challenge China’s political decisions; a fact that Beijing has undoubtedly used to its advantage. The history of politics stands testament to the fact that power and economics go hand in hand, and by that line of reasoning, it is clear to see why China’s military muscle-flexing has become all-the-more pronounced in recent times.
China Optimizes Optics
If there is one thing that China indisputably does better than many other states, it is this: Beijing understands and works optics and public opinion with great effectiveness in the pursuit of its political and defense agendas. Even as security experts point out that China’s military capacity still trails behind that of the United States, the amount of time and resources that China spends on publicizing its military growth ensures that both the domestic audience and the international one are constantly reminded that China is becoming increasingly more powerful by the day.
In September this year, China organized a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and China’s victory over Japan. Held on September 03, 2015, in Beijing, the parade has been interpreted to be as much of a public relations exercise as it was a commemorative event. By showcasing China’s arsenal of defense systems, weapons, military equipment and combat-ready vehicles, Beijing sent out a clear message to the world and the local audience: China’s military might is on the up and up.
That China is flexing its military muscles, and unabashedly so, is no secret. However, the more pressing issue here is what motivates China to do so: is China’s military posturing limited to singular cases where it hopes to achieve a specific end for a specific reason (case in point, the South China Sea) or do all these seemingly-isolated incidents point towards a greater pursuit for ultimate power (once again evidenced by the case of the South China Sea)?
China-Australia Dialogue Focuses On Regional And Global Issues
China recently participated in the yearly Australia-China High-Level Dialogue organized in Sydney. As per the Chatham House regulations, media coverage of the discussions is allowed but the press is not allowed to attribute comments to specific speakers and sources. The 2015 Dialogue, while essentially focused on Australia-China relations, shed some much-needed light on how China intends to leverage its military might.
The event is a state-run enterprise that facilitates interaction between officials as well as industry leaders, opinion gatekeepers, media persons and academicians from both countries. This year has brought with it “an unprecedented level of co-operation,” as noted by a Chinese delegate and the dialogue celebrated the Australian-Chinese free trade agreement to be implemented next month.
Both the Chinese and Australian representatives reaffirmed their commitment to positive bilateral ties between their countries and the overarching commitment to peaceful conflict resolution in the region. When the topic of the South China Sea and China’s activities in the region were raised, a Beijing delegate drew parallels between China’s claims in the South China Sea and Australia’s assertions regarding Darwin. By doing so, the Chinese delegation asserted that just as Australia’s claims regarding the city of Darwin are natural, and as such, irrefutable, China right to the South China Sea cannot be contested. Even as the appeal behind China’s rationale of choice is obvious, security experts point to a flaw in the argument: the city of Darwin falls within Australia’s geographical boundaries and is not claimed by any other state.
Australia’s interest in gauging China’s ambitions vis-à-vis the South China Sea is understandable: as much as two-thirds of Australia’s annual export is conducted via the South China Sea. The sea is at the heart of global trade and so, even countries that are not directly involved in the dispute or within its immediate sphere of impact are concerned by the growing instability in the region.
Anything Goes For China’s “Core Interests”
During the Australia-China dialogue, Beijing’s representatives shared that while China is committed to maintaining peace and solving disputes peacefully, it will use its armed forces to protect its “core interests,” if need be. According to China, its core interests are non-negotiable and Beijing maintains the state’s rise to use force if these interests are challenged or threatened.
China has considered both Tibet and Taiwan as “core interests” for a long time now, and Beijing added the South China Sea to the list in 2010. The South China Sea dispute currently involves Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The six disputants have competing claims to the South China Sea and the conflict has resulted in much uneasiness and insecurity in the region.
China has always maintained that it will use any means necessary to ensure that its core interests are not compromised and the recent mention of the same with respect to the South China Sea at the Australia-China dialogue confirms suspicions that the conflict may take a violent turn if allowed to continue unresolved.
Security In The South China Sea And The Greater Asia-Pacific
A member of the Australian delegation is reported to have posed the event’s most pressing question to the Chinese team: “What kind of strategic culture is the lodestone for the future – will it be based on international law and norms, or the rule of power?”
The Australian speaker voiced the opinion that the South China Sea dispute- its various dimensions, development, strategies employed therein and its ultimate conclusion- will act as a blueprint for other similar disputes and security on a greater scale. As such, poor handling will have “profound” implications that may well threaten security in the Asia-Pacific.
China insists that it remains committed to ideals of international peace and cooperation, however this sentiment has been challenged by its rapid militarization and aggressive approach to the South China Sea. Given that China is easily the most powerful state involved in the dispute, both in terms of finances and military capacity, it would behoove Beijing to set a positive example by adopting a more pacifist role in the matter.
The Australian speaker suggested that China should work with the ASEAN member states to develop a “code of conduct” for the South China Sea. The collective includes ten countries and all the South China Sea disputants with the exception of Taiwan.
In 2002, ASEAN and China announced their interest in working together to formulate a framework for the South China Sea; however, there have
No comments:
Post a Comment