Running head: SOUTH CHINA

SEA
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SOUTH CHINA SEA: A Venue of cold war between China and The

US

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

SIR Hussain Shaheed Soharwardi

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018
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ABSTRACT:

The South China is a division of the Pacific Ocean which holds borders with

Philippines, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and other smaller states. While all of these states

claim sovereignty to the South China Sea, China has 80% hold of the South China Sea and has

overpowered the other small claimant states, starting island-build up programs and a

modernization of military to tackle any challenger which has sparked the interest of the west such

as the United States to interfere in the matter and has led to the basis of a cold war between these

states economically and military based giving rise to tense global affairs.
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SOUTH CHINA SEA: A Venue of cold war between China and US

Chapter # 1

1.1 Introduction

The South China Sea (SCS) is a division of the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of around

3,500,000 square kilometers (1,400,000 sq mi). It borders from Karimata and Malacca Straits to

the Strait of Taiwan also bordering Indonesia in the north and Vietnam in the east. (kampfer, 1986)

The South China Sea is home to more than 250 islands which are distributed across the vast

territory it occupies, these archipelagos are under sovereignty claims from several countries and

have resulted in distress across the borders it touches. The Parcels, Pratas, Scarborough island

shoal and Sparatly are the largest ones to which all of the neighboring South East Asian countries

lay claim, most importantly to the fishing waters and exclusive economic zone. These waters are

home to one third of the global maritime traffic, untapped oil and natural gas reserves and military

buildup. This has subsequently led to distress on competing for sovereignty over the South China

Sea by various nations.(H.W.Wilson, 2018)

The South China Sea and its islands were first discovered by China, and since it has been in a

strong position to claim sovereignty and jurisdiction over its warm waters. The Peoples republic

of China and Republic of China both lay claim and compete for the sovereignty of the South China

Sea. In Recent Years imperialists tried to colonize and break the South China Sea by using their

advanced military technology, but Chinese Sovereignty has never been challenged. This has led to

the South China Sea dispute amongst countries that lay claim to it.

(LI, 2017)
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The South China Sea which the Republic of China and Peoples republic of China lay claims to

were demarcated in 1947 by 11 dotted lines which present a “U” shape on the map when plotted,

the two dotted lines were later removed on behalf of the Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, reducing the

total number of the lines from 11 to a total of 9 when plotted on the map.

This dispute has led to a distress amongst the countries, while no progress in resolving this issue

can be seen. In 2004 HU JINTOU after becoming the central military commission chairman

focused on naval military modernization so that China can boost and enhance its powers and

sovereignty over the South China Sea against strong superpower competitors such as the United

States and United Kingdom, safeguarding maritime. Since 2004 China has been in constant

involvement in improving its navy and enhancing its capability for conducting operations beyond

China’s near-seas. This military advancement and naval modernization has sent powerful signals

to the states and countries that try to lay claim to the South China Sea. (O’Rourke, 2018)

XI JINPING after taking power in the late 2012 has also backed and asserted the countries claims

to the South China Sea more enthusiastically and embarking an island building campaign. On July

2018, WU SHENGLI China’s naval chief addressed the U.S naval chief that China is no place to

stop its campaign for the sovereignty of the South China Sea and will never give up its efforts on

island building efforts.(Hannah Beech, 2018)

The South China Sea is trade route to hundreds of navigating oil tankers which are more than other

neighboring naval routes also connecting the Indian Ocean to the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

The South China Sea being rich in natural resources have led to the attention of various different

competitors from around the world to compete for the sovereignty of these warm waters.

The South China Sea is one of the most important areas of Oceans in the world which is

impressively rich in Natural resources, which has an estimated of around 11 billion barrels of oil,
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190 trillion feet of natural gas and has an incredible 10 % of worlds fisheries, it is also home to 30

% of the global shipping trade which is received by the rapidly developing countries and

population centers. This is very important for China in improving its economy and to become and

maintain its position as a first world country in the 21’st century.(Atlas, 2017)

The South China Sea is of major importance to the economy of China and its people, the marine

life and fishing is of very importance for the livelihood of the people of China, while tension arises

in the South China Sea and China being the Major user of these warm waters with other trade

partners, it must formulate a strategy to maintain power of trade over the South China

Sea.(Ravindran, 2012)

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The South China Sea has been subjected to dispute for a long period of time from countries it

borders. China being the Major power in the area has laid a powerful claim to the South China Sea

defending its claim on historical backgrounds. It has been in the eye of many journals, articles,

news reports, and the international media.

The South China Sea is of major importance to China for its economic growth and for the

livelihood of its people, which has resulted in the modernization of China’s Military and

modernization of Navy. The UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on Law of Seas) has also

played a vital role in trying to resolve the dispute of the South China Sea.

The research briefly describes China and its involvement and the reasons for its keenness towards

the trade route and valuable resources present in the South China Sea which are vital for its

economic and military growth and also focuses on how China is using it to keep the US and other

capitalists at bay.
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1.3 Objectives

To study China’s military and naval modernization and its impacts on the dispute

To analyze the intentions of China on the extractions of the resources present in South China Sea

to counter US influence in the region

1.4 Research Questions

What is the nature of the South China Sea dispute between China and the United States

1.5 Theoretical Framework

The research offers and provides different point of views regarding the disputes in the South China

Sea. The military advancement and Navy modernization has led to the attentions of the

international media and community. Also covering various prospective about the rise in tension in

the area due to the influence of the west and the claimant states , due to the incredible amount of

resources present in the South China Sea and it being one of the most globally important trade

routes in the world.

It also focuses on China’s involvement in the South China Sea and how it utilizes the resources

found in the South China Sea for its economic and military growth, and how it is modernizing its

navy and military to keep US and other claimant states at bay. China mainly claims the South

eregion.

1.6 Significance and Justification

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The South China Sea dispute has been named as one of the most deadly disputes of Asia and has

caused tensions and distress across borders. It involves the interest from China in the region due

to the rich resources present in the South China Sea and the economically vital trade route form

which China is benefiting from. US is one of the major problems for China in gaining sovereignty

over the South China Sea , while US back the claimant states such as Philippines , Vietnam and

Brunei. This research mainly focuses on the economic importance of the region, the involvement

of China , US and claimant states , the policies of US and China regarding the South China Sea

and the naval and military modernization of China.

After vast research of documents, articles, journals and various books gives a suggestion on how

this dispute can be solved effectively.

1.7 Research Methodology

The sources that will be needed for this research will be secondary and the data will be qualitative

research and it will include data from articles, research papers, journals, books and magazines.

1.8 Literature Review

Throughout the years the South China Sea has been under immense media attention from around

the world due to the increasing tensions due to the dispute going on between China, US and other

claimant countries. I have studied and gathered work from many scholars, journalists and writers

to back my statements.
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AbriKampfer in 1986 in his book limits of Oceans and Seas describes the geographical

limits of the South China Sea explaining it as a division of the Pacific Ocean which covers an area

of around 3,500,000 square kilometers, stretching from Karimata and Malacca Straights to the

Straight of Taiwan which also borders North of Indonesia and east of Vietnam.(kampfer, 1986)

H.W Wilson on his work in the Reference Shelf: The South China Sea Conflict explains a

brief overview of the South China Sea and the archipelago’s present in the region and the countries

that lay claim to it, and the influence of China on the region. Also giving an insight on the resources

such as oil and gas reserves present in the region for whose sovereignty has caused distress and

dispute amongst the region leading to the modernization of military and navy by

China.(H.W.Wilson, 2018)

Professor Guoqiang LI form his Journal of Modern Chinese History ( origins of the South

China Sea) tells us about the history of the South China Sea and the involvement of the Peoples

Republic of China and the Republic of China and the disputes amongst the claimant states.(LI,

2017)

Ronald O’Rourke a veteran navy expert and specialist in naval affairs talks about the

modernization of the navy due to the influence of west in the South China Sea and to safeguard

maritime. (O’Rourke, 2018)

Hannah Beech a journalist, writer, and reporter for the New York Times covered the story

for President XI JINPING and his aggression towards the island-building campaign in the South

China Sea.(Hannah Beech, 2018)

Vox Atlas a short film documentary explains briefly about the natural resources present in

the South China Sea ( Gas and oil ) , also explaining the shipping trade and economic importance

of the region.(Atlas, 2017)

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Madhu Sudan Ravindran a journalist and a writer, in the journal “ China’s potential for

economic coercion in the south China Sea disputes” talks about the importance of the South China

Sea and its resources for China and its impact on its economy.(Ravindran, 2012)

1.9 Scheme of the Study

Chapter 1: Introduction

In the first chapter I gave a brief introduction of the ongoing dispute and its background. The

claimant states and China’s interest to it. After this the questions and objectives were stated

followed by theory and research methodology and a review of literature in the end.

Chapter 2: History of China in Relation to South China Sea

This Chapter will include the historical background in reference to the South China Sea and China

and to shed light on China’s historical claims for the sovereignty of the region.

Chapter 3: South China Sea a Golden Goose and the Remonstrance from US

The third chapter will explain briefly the resources present in the South China Sea and its economic

impact on China, the economic battle going on due to the South China Sea and the challenges it

faces from US.

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Chapter 4: Modernization of Chinas Military in South China Sea and Response

from West

This Chapter will explain the modernization of military and navy and the island buildup program

and the response of the west.

Chapter 5: Conclusion

This Chapter will include conclusions and suggestions to resolve the ongoing dispute in a peaceful

manner.

History of China in relation to the South China Sea

Chapter # 2

The South China Sea a division of the Pacific Ocean which is under claim of many parties

including Brunei, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and most importantly the major

superpower in the region China. The maritime zone overlapping each other’s and the demarcation

of the nine dotted lines by China has led to dispute and distress amongst the parties and the South

China Sea.

China claims the South China Sea over historical and philosophical grounds which are ignored by

the international community which has led to the aggression from countries such as United States,

France and United Kingdom.

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The South China Sea is of immense historical importance and has been discussed from around the

4th Century BC in various texts which include texts like Yizhosu, ZuoZhuan&Guoyu.

During this time the government administration called the islands present in the South China Sea

as the three mysterious groups of islands.

The Regions Earliest Trade and the Development of Maritime Silk Road

The Chinese Kingdom of Nanyue or the southern Yue are mainly responsible for the first marine

trade that occurred across the South China Sea. Lasting for almost a century stretching to the Qin

Dynasty until its imminent collapse at the hands of the Han Dynasty while the Nanyue resisted

and extended its region to which is now known as Vietnam.

Nanyue’s capital Panyu which in the modern day is called Guangzhou was located on the Pearl

River and was famous for its intelligent ship making techniques, modern technology and an

enhanced ship building industry that promoted voyaging, fishing, and expeditions.

Archeological findings from the tombs of the emperors which included texts and beads and poems

and other artifacts that belonged to various other countries and kingdoms shows that the early

Chinese had already established a trade route from China to Persia through the South China Sea.

This trade between the Persians, Indians, and other various countries subsequently led and

developed into the “Maritime Silk Road” this was in addition to the “Silk Road” which was an

inland trade route which emerged in the Han Dynasty.

The Maritime Silk Road proved to be an important part for the economy of the state and it began

from the south west coastal areas of China which include Guangzhou region and Vietnam which

then followed a path and extended to the far Indochina though Straits of Malacca.
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After the 2nd Century the “Maritime Silk Road” became immensely popular between traders and

international trade markets while it started to flourish while the people and investors profitied

largely from the merchants that were passing by the Maritime Silk Road by providing them with

food, shelter, water and other resources. The Maritime Silk Road thus began to expand its services

to many different international traders that bought in many different products which were not

readily available before.(Lee, 2012)

South China Sea, Trade and its influence on China 1400-1600

The Tributary trade system was made by China and the maritime trade becoming more organized.

All the dynasties Yuan, Ming, Song had already build strong trading techniques of large scale

trading and ship building skills while China becoming a major part of the trade making it

irreplaceable in the South China Sea. While authors and writers wrote about China in their journals

and books specially shedding light to this period that the activity of the ports of China in this time

period cannot be compared to any European countries because China’s involvement in trade and

its eagerness and aggression towards holding its irreplaceable position in the South China Sea

could not be matched by any country. China benefited from the maritime trade and China’s

economy rocketed day by day paving way for China to becoming a major power in the region as

well as making and embarking a strong mark to the rest of the world.

The tributary system was present before even but it was developed later on which also included

government policies which were government sponsored profit trading systems which were

introduced. Private trading was also promoted in this time which was also profit oriented.
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All of this effected China very effectively it purposed as the stepping stones to becoming one of

the most prolific and influential countries that could compete on any grounds may it be trading,

military or competeing with other European countries on economic basis.

During the early 1500’s the Ming Dynasty proposed the “Sea ban” which included that there was

a ban on any private maritime activities. This ban meant that the foreigner sea voyagers that wished

to enter the South China Sea and offer trade though this route they would have to be done by a

proper channel and process via the tribute system.

This also meant that the private coastal merchants were also banned and forbidden from sea faring

, this policy imposed hardships on many of the coastal communities and the trades using the South

China Sea which prohibited the private trading and encouraging the government sponsored trading

and expeditions instead.

Zheng appointed by the Emperor along with a huge fleet and an army and was given directions to

control the trading in the South China Sea on behalf of China.

Zheng applied a 3 way policy to have impact on the world and its traders he used to trade the

Chinese culture by providing the lunar calendar and some transcripts of Chinese poems which

subsequently resulted in a boost in the popularity of China and its culture. Second he being a

devoted religious and a man of God made several temples along his route promoting the Chinese

religion and finally his work on international relations was one of the major cause that China’s

economy boosted though this time period.

During the Early 1500’s to the Late 1600’s the hold that China had accomplished on the South

China Sea due to its hard work in the field of trade to capture the market and to make claims over

these warm waters was a major turning point for China to step up in terms of economy and to
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become a more stabilized state and a major power in this region so that their superiority in this

region could not be challenged by any other.(Lee, 2012)

Sino-Japanese war (1894-1895) & Japans expansion into the South China Sea

Japan were always a neighboring rival to China. Here lies a very sophisticated historical

framework which can be used to explain the expansion of Japan into the South China Sea. At the

end of the Tokugawa period (1867) the west started pressurizing Japan and other kingdoms of Asia

very effectively on political grounds. Japan had already claimed independence successfully aswell

as its territorial integrity by generating different policies Japan had emerged as a successful major

power in the region. Japan on becoming a regional superpower and having built up a strong

economy were thinking to overpower their weaker neighbors and only needed a push which the

western super powers provided.

Japan had now developed a modern and strong army as well as a very strong navy that could

compete with almost every first world super powers so the Japanese were in a very favorable

position to expand its colonizes while it established a powerful navy along the Eurasian coast in

the Eastern region of Asia.

While China was trying to work on its economy and improve its military and navy and expand its

trade routes and work on maintaining its superior hold on the South China Sea, Japan on the other

hand was working on military modernization and navy modernization and was an emerging

superpower in the region with competing neighbors China who were always a threat to their

sovereignty, Japan had been pressurized by the western European Powers,

And subsequently the inevitable happened and the Sino-Japanese war was started which lasted for

about 1 year from 1894-1895 during which both the countries suffered tremendous losses while
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Japan emerged Victorious in the end and had occupied a strong hold on some parts of the South

China Sea weakening the superiority of China in the South China Sea and had an influence in

Korea, and had occupation of Penghu, Taiwan and Liadong Peninsula.(Verlag, 2008)

Second Sino-Japanese war (1937-1945) & China reclaiming its territories from Japan

After the first Sino-Japanese war Japan had occupied and colonized a number of states won from

China and had already started influencing its power over the South China Sea, to which the Chinese

were not very happy about, tensions rose day by day by the presence of Japan in the South and its

influence on the South China Sea where at first China held superiority for decades the Chinese

were waiting for an opportunity to take back the states that Japan had occupied during the first

Sino-Japanese War and to push back the Japanese back to the East where they rightfully belonged

so that China could regain its total unchallenged sovereignty over the South China Sea. This led

to the Second Sino-Japanese war (1937-1945) which also led to the Second World War and was

called as the largest Asian war of 20th Century. China started fighting Japan for its territories and

for the dominance in the South China Sea while it was being aided by the United States and the

Soviet Union.

This war was specially a result of a very long awaited policy and planning of Japan to expand its

influence both military and politically into the South China Sea to have a secured access to the raw

materials and natural resources present in the South China Sea as well as boosting its economy.

Japan was once again on the verge of victory and was once again occupying Chinese territory but

on December 7, 1941 Japan planned an attack on the US Pearl Harbor which was the major turning

point in the war.

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The US and China joined hands even more firmly and went aggressively towards Japan while

China fought for the South China Sea and its territories, the US was keen on avenging Pearl

Harbor, and landing 2 nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to which Japan surrendered and

had to give up all the territories it had occupied in Sino-Japanese first and the second and they

were also pushed back to the east and cleaning the South China Sea once again for China.

This also led to China becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and

also was awarded with VETO power. This war in China is most commonly referred to as the “War

of Resistance against Japan”.(Horner, 2003)

Modern Day Dispute on the South China Sea its effect on China and the Influence of West

China has been the major regional power to have power over the South China Sea and it claims

the South China Sea on historical backgrounds while other states also lay claim to the South China

Sea such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei etc. This has led to the dispute among all the claimant

states and has caused distress across the South China Sea.

China backs its claims by the nine dotted line that are “U” shaped and covers all most more than

60% of the South China Sea.

This has led to the China’s Military modernization and Navy modernization and has stated an

Island-buildup program.

The island build up program is a program in which China is trying to build artificial islands which

can be used for military and economic purposes also these will also be used to defend the South

China Sea from other claimant states and Western super powers from interfering in the Matters of

the South China Sea.

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The nine dashed line dates back to 1947 where it was first demarcated it was originally 11 dotted

lines but later on was changed to a total of nine, it gives a structure of “U” shape .

While UNCLOS has stated in 2016 that China has no right that it implements historical rights to

the sea and it also stated that China had no hard evidence on which it would defend its historical

claim to the South China Sea.

In 2018 a Royal Navy Destroyer was seen roaming around the area of the South China Sea which

China claims and it was confronted by heavy exchange of words as well as a warning navy exercise

towards the destroyer.

In 2018 While US is also putting pressure on China and it has already joined forces with France

and the United Kingdom to oppress China in the South China Sea. Naval vessels alone of the US

Navy have been sailed 8 times in a span of 18 months which is a new high also flying 2 B-52

Bombers over the waters.

US is backing up the smaller claimant states and have already started joint military exercises with

the Philippines.

Australia also passing ships to the smaller states to commence joint military exercises. While

France is also involved in threatening China near the islands it has held up.
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South China Sea a Golden Goose and the Remonstrance from US

Chapter # 3

The South China Sea is of very importance to China and its people because of the extremely rich

nature of resources present in the South China Sea to which the Chinese people and China have a

historical claim to along with other claimant states along the border line, while the US is in constant

disapproval of the claim of China and its presence in the South China Sea and is doing everything

in its power to pressurize China one way or the other. (Pham, 2017)

The Golden Goose of Asia: South China Sea

The South China Sea is extremely important for China and its survival as an economic leader and

to maintain its position in the world. It is valued very high and contains a significant amount of

resources that is essential for China’s economy. (Ponce, 2012)

It is also known for its trade route being the second largest link of trade in the world. While 50%

of the merchant fleet of the whole world globally passes through these straights and this links in

total giving an economy boost to the countries holding these straights for their economy especially

China. (Mcdowel, 2011)

Estimates have been made for the resources of the South China Sea and how much of the natural

resources is present in the South China Sea while experts of the Energy Commission of the United

States of America suggests that the South China contains about 190 trillion (cubic feet) of natural

reserves of the natural gas in the South China Sea, And contains around 11 billion barrels of

protected oil reserves that are actually proven by reserves which are scattered all over the margins

and borders of the South China Sea. (Amti, 2018)

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The survey by the United States Geological committee conducted a vast survey in 2012 and has

said that there could be even more natural gas and oil present in the South China Sea with numbers

of 160 trillion cubic feet reserves of natural gas and oil barrels of up to 12 billion in number still

un-discovered in the South China Sea (Amti, 2018)

The estimate of China’s resources the oil and gas reserves that are present in the South China Sea

are 10 times more than the United States hydrocarbon value when compares. China is now totaling

an estimate of about 300-344 billion barrels worth of oil present in the South China Sea and

approximately 40-70 trillion cubic feet of gas (natural) present in the South China Sea which is the

main reason for the dispute amongst the countries and the interest of the United States of America.

(Corr, 2018)

The South China Sea is also very important place for fishing and hold up to 10 % of the world’s

fisheries and is due to this very factor China has become one of the largest fish exporter in the

modern day world. China has been in power of these warm waters for a long period of time and

the only thing keeping China interested in the South China Sea are the valuable resources present

in the South China Sea which are of immense importance to the people of China and its economy

to hold its position as an economic giant and to maintain its world affairs for which China has

fought very hard to achieve. (Østhagen, 2017)

Enterprise, Economy & The South China Sea

The South China Sea is of major importance both economically and geographically while China

claims to have historical claim over the South China Sea; it is having good positive effects on the
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economy of China and has already pushed its status from a low developing country to an economic

giant. (Hsieh, 2018)

The maritime trade through the Silk Road was practiced long before but the Chinese never let go

of their hold on the South China Sea thorough out the dynasties. The trading system was always

under the hold of China. The South China Sea thus played an important economic part in inclining

the economy of China. Except the trading systems China also benefitted from the trillion dollars

worth resources present in the South China Sea (Sudan, 2012)

The UNCTAD has roughly given an estimate on how much trade is being done in the South China

Sea which is roughly 80% of the world’s global trade which is by volume and by value the trade

that is done is approximately 70% which is traded via the South China Sea. It also mentioned that

the trade that passes the maritime is 60% and is actually equal to one-third of the whole of the

worlds trading or global trading. Thus the South China is very critical for China for its economy.

(Hoffmann, 2017)

The maritime trade has given a great boost to the economy China which passes mainly from the

South China Sea and has inclined the economy in 2009 by $2.7 trillion dollars which helped push

the economy even further and in 2010 it reached as high as $3.5 trillion dollars which immediately

was a good sign for the economy of China and in the early 2011 it reached a staggering $5.3 trillion

dollars worth of trade that passed through the South China Sea maritime trade route. (Asariotis,

2017)

The percentage of the South China Sea trade that was surveyed in 2016 shows that 21.9% of the

world’s trade (global) is done by China and the main trading route for this is the South China Sea

which has given rise to the economic structure of China and is the reason China is an economic

giant nowadays. The economy has thus rocketed because of the South China Sea, by giving the
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people of China a golden trade route and providing them with fisheries it has also given the people

of China a job opportunity which in return has increased the economy even further with the trading

business flourishing and the fishery business on its peak has uplifted the economy which was once

not very good and was struggling and was a slow paced, slow growing economy. (Wang, 2015)

While this enterprise is of huge success and it is the backbone of China’s leading role as an

economic giant, there are other countries that want their share in the South China Sea. Such as

Vietnam, Vietnam has joined forces with Repsol of Spain, the Mubadala of the Abu Dhabi and

Vietnams own state owned company for energy the PetroVietnam which jointly formed a program

and an initiative called the “ Red Emperor Development” the plan was forged in order to achieve

drilling in the South China Sea which was expected to be drilled in the April of 2018 and it was

promised that the oil and gas would be run for atleast 30 years. While the government of Vietnam

denies any claims of its project to be suspended and neither it has entertained any claims of

cancellation of the program. The program that is initiated by Vietnam jointly with other investors,

is on its territory of the South China Sea and is legal under the International law. But China does

not see it this way. (Hayton, 2018)

China has officially given out warning to the international energy companies that if they persued

any other programs in Vietnam then their business in China would highly be at stake the companies

such as BP and the Chevron were the companies that backed out and the Chinese military used

force against the Vietnamese oil survey ships that were involved in damaging China’s underwater

cables. (House, 2018)

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The Battle For Oil: China and US Head to Head

A long battle has been going on for years for the sovereignty of the South China Sea and to

dominate the warm waters which can be used to uplift their economy. While China is pressurized

by the claimant states that neighbor China in addition to that it is also in competition and under

severe pressure from the United States of America. (Kalman, 2016)

This is due to the discovery of huge oil reserves in addition to the massive gas reserves that were

found in the South China Sea that are 10 times more than the resources of the United States. The

discovery of these reserves has led to the attention of the international media and has attracted

attention of international importance. (Janvier, 2016)

This has not only caused disputed between the claimant states of Asia but also United States, the

dispute can be classified in 3 ways starting from the: EEZ or the Economic Exclusivity Zones these

are areas for each country that has a border to the South China Sea and to the territorial waters.

The second point can be broken down to the legal rights to explore and to exploit the the oil and

natural gas reserves that are present in the South China Sea. The third issue can be broken down

to the commercial warm water traffic globally or internationally and the warships movement in

the United Nations demarcated “International waters”. (kampfer, 1986)

Now international law dictates that every country that is bordered with water has the right to claim

12 nautical miles worth of land from its coast and mark it as its territory and it can further claim

and extended 200 nautical miles for EEZ so that it can carry out programs and activities such as

fishing or drilling. While China has violated this international law, in 2016 a court and an

international tribunal gave out a statement that ruled totally against China and released a statement

saying that China had no basis legally for the claim’s that it has made regarding the South China
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Sea. The decision was sent off legally and was binded but no force has been used against China’s

illegal claim to the throne of the South China Sea. (Saiidi, 2018)

While the United States government is much more focused on North Korea and the tensions that

have risen in northeast Asia, China in this summer (2018) has made impressive progress in getting

its hold even stronger and establishing a de facto control on most parts of the South China Sea. So

the United States is pushing and supporting the claimant states and pressurizing them to force

China out of the South China Sea and retreat back to its legal area of operation under the

international law but China is not keen on moving and giving away the South China Sea at any

cost and can even turn to military options if provoked or if it felt threatened. (Bray, 2017)

After the victory in the Second World War United States of America has announced its self as a

global leader for international law. And values the laws that the international courts have put forth,

and if someone does not obey those laws, the United States of America takes strict actions against

it, same is the case with China and the South China Sea. The international order and law is based

on the strategy of the United States that discusses a Free-Trade system, a hub of military alliance’s,

and multilateral cooperation between countries and the usage of this international law to solve

global problems. And if these laws and rules are challenged, this means challenging the United

States of America. (Valencia, 2018)

The military of China is commencing military drills more often now at their home base and in the

South China Sea, While the United States of America is backing up and pressurizing the small

claimant states to the throne of the South China Sea, China feels that it is being constrained and

humiliated by the international law that ruled against them, and to their historical claims to the

South China Sea. While Beijing wants the international law makers to respect them in this issue
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and to turn this decision in their favor just as the United States of America did when it was rising

and still do whenever there is a decision of interest. (Valencia, 2018)

The Trade War: China And United States

China and the United States of America are undergoing an economic down-lifting Trade war that

is seriously damaging the economic values of both the countries and have given rise to military

level tensions. The President of the United States Donald Trump has started a trade war so that it

could pressurize China of its illegal hold of the South China Sea and the abuse of the international

law that it broke. (Eckhouse, 2018)

In January of 2018 the United States of America imposed high end tariffs on the import of the

Solar Panels, many of which are produced in China. In July 6 of 2018 the president of the United

States Donald Trump Specifically targeted President Xi Jinping and China by introducing tariffs

of 25% on $34 billion dollars of worth goods that are basically manufactured and produced in

China. (wei, 2018)

In response to the tariff that was imposed and introduced by the President of the United States

Donald Trump, the President of China Xi Jinping has also imposed equally high end tariffs on the

products that are made in the United States and which are imported from the United States of

America. In mid of August 2018 $16 billion dollar worth of more tariff was imposed on Chinese

products with China responding equally in response to the additional tariffs imposed by the

President of United States. (Wang F. , 2018)

In September 24 a $200 billion dollar worth of more tariff was imposed on the goods that were

imported from China, in which China also imposed $60 billion dollar worth of tariff on goods from

the United States. While the President of the United States has said in a speech that this trade war
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is imposed basically to improve the intellectual property of the United States of America and that

it will help in reducing the trade deficit of United States trade with China. (Cheng, 2018)

The United States of America is backing up their trade war with the “Section 1 of the trade act of

1974” which states that and prevents any uneven and unfair trade practices and illegal theft of the

intellectual property that in return gives the President of the United States the authority that it can

impose a hefty fine and can take actions against the partner in trading that is unfairly damaging

the economy of the United States of America and is also harming the business of the United States

of America. In 2017 the President of the United States of America had already issue a brief

statement of how China was involved in theft of intellectual property and how it was damaging

the United States in business and economy and had cost the United States approximately $226-

603 billion dollars per anum. (Alterman, 2018)

China’s economy has hit a hard rock due to the ongoing trade war between China and the United

States, after its economy has shown the slowest In almost a decade, the stock market of Asia has

been left stunned while the consumers and the investors are in fear of a very slow economic growth.

The Yuan since January 2017 has ended lower than the United States, and the economy in China

is growing very slow than it was expected and the growths are not expected high and are expected

atleast 6.6 % but China still meets the per anum growth of economy of a 6.5 percent. (Winchester,

2018)

The Asian stock market had a little increase and retained some of the damage done in previous

weeks of 2018, the Shanghai composite index which ended the week with a high of 2.6 % after it

closed at the lowest in the previous weeks since 2014 where it closed trade at 2.9 % While the

economy grew at 1.6 percentage on a quarter by quarter basis. (Winchester, 2018)

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Thursday, April 5, 2018 the president of the United States of America Donald Trump in his speech

after the unfair retaliation of China he suggested that the United States can persue this trade war

even further and can and will impose $100 billion dollar worth of additional tariffs and would

specifically identify the products on which the tariffs would be imposed and will specifically and

mainly target those products that are produced and manufactured in China. (Hancock, 2018)

In September 26, 2018 the President of the United States of America issued a statement that China

was interfering in their mid-term election and the only evidence that the president provided for his

statement were the advertisements that were designed and made in such a way that would look like

articles and showed no keenness of ending the trade war between the United States of America

and China. (Koty, 2018)

Modernization of China in South China Sea & response from West

Chapter # 4
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China is now improving and is under progress of modernization of its military and the navy and

has started the Island-build up program in the South China Sea, This has sent waves of concerns

throughout the west and the neighboring countries which has led to improving and re-modeling

their defense plans to tackle China’s growing military proficiency. (Bajoria, 2005)

Modernization of Peoples Liberation Army

The modernization of China’s military has been started back in the 1990’s, eighteen years ago

experts say that China’s military was not top of the line military and just had some basic training

and nothing superior, but over the past 20 years China has spent billions of dollars on its military

and training and have completely changed the overall picture of the Chinese military. In 2008

China reported that its defense budget was $61 billion dollar while this was marked false by the

United States Pentagon report and issued a statement to the government of the United States that

the total defense budget of China in 2007 was something in between $97 billion dollars and $137

billion dollars. (Marcus, 2018)

Spending a lot of money on the military has led to the development of a more sophisticated and

organized army, with a highly intelligent submarine vessels and a fleet, a modernized air force that

is stocked with the modern technological Russian war planes, and the technical strides that have

improved the ballistic missile arsenal of China with state of the art radar, surveillance and

monitoring system. (Bajoria, 2005)

China is continuously releasing statements and is showing the world that the modernization of its

army is a peaceful program and is not intended to cause any type of dispute and harm to any other

country. A statement released by the government of China says that China will never use it military

in the expansion of its territorial area by force. While China releases statements like these, this has
SOUTH CHINA
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sparked outrage and tensions across its neighboring countries which are in concern over China’s

military advantage over them. (Barrow, 2018)

The modernization of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is mainly done so that it can advance

the Beijing’s interest in security and so that I can have a strong enough army that the interests can’t

be challenged by any other country and that it can guard and hold its sovereignty claims of the

borders and the maritime waters and the South China Sea. (Hodson, 2017)

The guns and structures that are under strategic improvement and those that are being fielded by

using China’s navy—including intermediate-variety ballistic missiles, bombers with lengthy-

range precision strike competencies, and guided nuclear missile attack submarines—are meant to

provide China the functionality to strike objectives similarly from shore, together with Guam, and

doubtlessly complicate U.S. Responses to crises concerning China in the Indo-Pacific. China will

hold to modernize strategic air and sea raise abilities, so one can enable China’s army to behavior

expeditionary operations. The persevered manufacturing of the Chinese army’s amphibious raise

ships and the air pressure’s heavy elevate delivery plane will growth China’s capability to supply

troops abroad and to behavior expeditionary operations beyond the first island chain, humanitarian

help operations, and the noncombatant evacuation operations. (Grevatt, 2015)

The Progress of China and its technical capabilities are super - from ultra-lengthy-range traditional

ballistic missiles to the un-parallel 5th generation fighter jets. in 2017 the primary hull of China's

modern day warship - the Type fifty five cruiser - turned into positioned into the water. Its

competencies could give any Nato military fleet to think before provoking it. China is operating

on its 2nd plane service. It is revamping its army command structure to give genuine joint

headquarters involving all of the key services. In phrases of artillery, air defense and land assault

it has guns that out-range something the United States can deploy. (Holder, 2018)
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In April of 2018 China’s first domestically built air craft carrier rowed the warm waters in its 69th

anniversary of the founding of the China’s navy, and it rowed from the port city of Dalian which

is located on the Bohai Sea, while China’s domestically built air craft carrier rowed a little inch,

United States, India & Japan felt the burn. These are the 3 major enemies of the China and are

constantly involved in provoking and creating tensions amongst China and other nations and are

constantly trying to somehow down lift the economy of China and to get their hands on the South

China Sea to which China has a very strong hold on. (Myers, 2018)

The Reason behind Military Modernization and the Involvement of Artificial

Intelligence (A.I)

From being a low valued rebel force 90 years ago to a superpower’s back bone with high tech

military equipment, China has come a long way since the wars, and is further marching on to the

beat of President Xi Jinping. China has always felt threatened by his neighbors and the west,

especially Japan and the United States which we have seen in the two Sino-Japanese war and the

ongoing trade war and tensions between the United States of America. China had no other option

but to modernize its military in order to safeguard its borders and lands and to stop the neighboring

countries and the west from taking over the South China Sea from China. (Chan, 2017)

The South China Sea has been of economic importance to China in uplifting its economy and is

the main reason behind the modernization of the people’s liberation army so that it can hold its

sovereignty over this warm water that is of massive importance for it and its economy.

(H.W.Wilson, 2018)
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China is now turning to Artificial Intelligence as well so it can tackle its rival the United States of

America in that competition as well because the United Sates of America is also growing very

high with artificial intelligence and has introduced artificial intelligence in their military activities

and drills are being carried out to test the competency and the perfect usage of the artificial

intelligence. The Chinese leadership now understands that if it is thinking of challenging the

United States of America than it must also compete with the United States of America in artificial

intelligence aswell. China now ranks the second highest in Artificial intelligence ranking and

patent applications with a count of almost 15,745 dated to 2016.

The Chinese Leadership now holds artificial intelligence as top priority for national and military

arsenals. The President of China Xi Jinping has himself also highlighted the importance of the fast

advancements of the technologies in the form of Artificial intelligence and the robotics that are

being produced for the military and domestic use for the economic importance of China. In 2017

the premier Li Keqiang included the artificial intelligence in official government work reports and

in the history of China for the first time it was identified of its perceived importance. The

Communist Party of China also wants to make sure that the artificial intelligence will improve and

will grow in accordance to their interests and what they have planned for it so they can use it in

that order and can commence the plans that they have made for artificial intelligence and carry

their further on artificial intelligence and can per sue it for further generations so that they can also

benefit from the technology of tomorrow and will be used for a better social management as well.

The ministry also later in 2017 released a statement that Human like intelligence is being built and

progress on it development is going on which will soon be involved and will be introduced in the

military for modern warfare. (Kania, 2017)

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The Brave new world that the Chinese are offering is sending shock waves and chills throughout

the west and especially the United States, while the United States has been conducting researches

on artificial intelligence since the 1950’s, the dangers the United States predict is that the world

may lose a war against a country which has no borders for the bad and the dark side of the machine

learning and the aartificial intelligence, so while the government of the United States of America

is still thinking and not sosure wether that the artificial intelligence will give rise to the terminator

style form of artificial intelligence, the Chinese have moved way forward and have pressed ahead

that is strongly firming grounds and cementing the position of the communist party of China and

which in return is helping to maintain their postion in politics and be alive in the ongoing affairs

and soon releasing the technology and to revolutionize the military affairs as productively as was

the gunpowder and the airplanes. The leadership of the United States of America is also influenced

by intelligence companies such as Google, IBM and Apple, but when Google released a deep mind

technology that could defeat a world champion, in 2017 so Beijing’s game was provoked and they

started to improve their technology, after this the Peoples liberation army realized the possibilities

and the potentialities of the artificial intelligence that this technology can give China’s Liberation

army a very great edge on the battlefield. (Herman, 2018)

The Island-Buildup Program

China has been piling up bulks of sands very rapidly onto the reefs that are present in the South

China Sea. Giving rise to seven new artificially built islands which has made the situation even

more tensed and has sparked outrage from the neighboring claimant countries and especially the

west. While the international media has also not held back in confronting China of its rapidly
SOUTH CHINA
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growing artificial island built up program, and this has been the centre of attention and politics

since it has started. While China in the start denied the existence of any such program in which

they were building man made artificial islands but the United States of America issued one

statement after the other in challenging their denial about the island build up program. (Atlas,

2017)

In 2015 China very rapidly started to pump sand into the reefs that were present in the South China

Sea, after three years what first used to appear a submerged coral reef have now transformed into

big islands that are capable of hosting airways, run ways, building ports and runways. The satellite

images have shown a very vast increase of infrastructure, a huge chunk of land which appeared

and planes and ships that can be accommodated on these islands, which is basically used for

military development. The speed and the pace at which China is progressing with the island-built

up program have alarmed the attention of the neighboring countries that claim the South China

Sea, and the west especially the United States of America. While China has recently announced

officially that the island creation is soon to be in its final phase of completion and has constructed

port facilities and can facilitate military buildings and air strips on the island that is built. The

presence of China in the South China Sea is a major point of attention and has caused dispute

between China and United States and is one of the most prime topics between China and the United

States. The new artificial built islands are allowing China so that it can harness a portion that was

out of reach up till now. (Watkins, 2015)

Although there are many more places and fisheries that are spread across the South China Sea,

China’s efforts serve more so that it can fortify the historical territorial claims, and so that it can

help extract all the available resources that are present in the South China Sea. Though to the small
SOUTH CHINA
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area of the artificially built islands it cannot support large military units but it can hold sustained

air support and an efficient sea patrol of the islands and the South China Sea.

Many of the reefs have been transformed and have been destroyed so that it can pave way for the

building and the formation of new islands which also is causing very much damage to the eco

system . For China the most strategically important reef is the Fiery Cross reef and is new and

which hosts an airstrip that is long enough to easily allow the Chinese air force to land any plane

on the Fiery cross reef very easily ranging from the fighter jets to the strategically important

transport planes. The China’s reef hosted smaller planes from a very long time even before the

transformation and making of the new islands, so this is a plus point for China and can back up

this island built up program by simple issuing a statement saying that it is only expanding the

already built islands and are only modifying earlier facilities which is very similar to what other

countries have already done in the regions already. (Watkins, 2015)

While China is under progress of commencing its plan and trying to make new artificial islands in

the South China Sea, it is not easy because it faces of challenges and severe threats from

neighboring claimant countries and especially the west such as the United States as well as from

India and its most fierce rival Japan but this has not stopped China from its plan and has

safeguarded the shores and the coast and the islands program with high tech military support and

is on guard 24/7 so no one can interfere with their plans. While the United States estimates that it

has added 3200 acres of worth of land on seven different places, while china denies it and it also

denies that the defense protocol and the PLA that is present in the island is only there so there can

be freedom of navigation in the area. (Ross, 2017)

The Response of the United States on the Island Build up Program

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The island built up program is one of the final straws in the tensions between China and the United

States of America, while China is modernizing its military and building artificial islands that are

going to be used for military purposes, this on the views of the United States is a very great threat

to the security of the United States and they responding with full action against China, while the

ongoing trade war has been set up by the president of the United States Donald Trump to destroy

the rapidly growing economy of China, the military of the United States is holding drills and

sending out warships and battle planes and destroyers that are hovering above the held and claimed

territory of China to warn and threaten them and pressurize them even more. (Bajoria, 2005)

The Pentagon has issued statements about the tensions that has been caused by China’s island built

up program, Two warships destroyers of the United States Army have been sailing at 12 nautical

miles of the disputed islands of Paracel, this is the first time that the United States have used more

than one vessel so that it can show the strength and should dictate the right of free passage on the

international waters. The Chinese government has reacted very angrily on the statements that have

been released by the government of the United States of America and during a press conference

the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswomen Hua Chunying said that the United States was framing

China of militarizing the islands and why is the United States so very interested in the South China

Sea while it doesn’t even have no legal right there. (Starr, 2018)

While the United States is continuously sailing near the South China Sea with battleships and is

sending out bomber planes near the disputed areas where the Chinese are building the islands.

South China Sea has now become one of the most contested areas in the world which have gathered

attention of big superpowers including the United States, France, Australia, India, Japan and many

others while China holds strong in building its islands on the South China Sea and maintaining its

sovereignty hold on the South China Sea from neighboring claimants and the west, while these
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other countries are trying to pressurize China and her efforts to stop the island build up program

and to weaken its hold on the South China Sea. Due to the tightened grip of China in the South

China Sea the United States Army have conducted several naval and air “Freedom of Navigation”

missions in the area close to the disputed islands and announcing that the area in which China lays

claim to is overlapping the rightful territory of the five neighbors and which constitutes the

international waters, and recently United States Navy’s two warships were seen sailing very close

to the islands of Paracel which is off the coast of Vietnam. (Brennan, 2018)

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a latest report has issued that for the year of

2019 the defense budget and has set the strongest response from the United States to the

problematic behavior that China is showing in the South China Sea. Even in this modern era the

lack of transparency has caused the international media and the researchers to solely rely on the

images that are being retrieved via satellites. Keeping in mind the evolution of China’s policy

towards the behavior of United States of America that is very assertive toward China, and also the

Conversation that is going on by the Untited States of America on the South China Sea. The

reports that have been issued and have been mandated by the NDAA can play its role as a vital

game changer if it is implemented perfectly at the right time, while taking hold of the narratives

can be of great importance to the United States so that it can again provoke the interest of the

people towards the disputes so that it can unite regional partners and can pressurize China in such

a way that it backs off the island build up program and weaken its sovereignty and its hold on the

South China Sea. (Haver, 2018)

Moreover the United States cannot pressurize China on its own, but the United States of America

would need the help of the neighboring countries and partners such as the Philippines so that it can

use these states that also lay claim to the South China Sea and through them they can pressurize
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and target China legally and produce more disputes and tensions for China. The United States of

America is doing everything in its grasp whether it be legally or forcefully to try to persuade other

countries to step forward against China and her claim for the South China Sea and to form alliances

with the claimant states to join the United States and to keep on pressurizing China (Haver, 2018)

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER # 5

South China Sea a division of the Pacific Ocean is one of the most competed area of Asia and has

been named the most disputed are in Asia, while being rich in resources such as oil, natural gas

and fisheries and a trade route. While the South China Sea dispute has been labeled as one of the

most dangerous disputes of Asia, which has in return turned to tensed situations between China
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and the United States of America. There are many ways that this dispute can end in favor of both

the countries, I suggest that if an international law is passed declaring that China can continue to

build islands on the South China Sea but can also free the warm waters for free navigation for any

country but with proper legal frame work and paper work while no military based vessels would

not be allowed to sail these waters to avoid military tensions between any country. Secondly I

suggest that the United States of America can change the political calculus in the warm waters (

SCS) and in order for it do so it must cut to the chase and should pursue a bilateral agreement with

China so that it can stabilize the security situation I think that this is the only way left and the only

way there is that can help to freeze and end the disputes that is going on in the South China Sea

between China and the United States of America and the claimant states that also lay claim to the

South China Sea. I suggest that there can also be other option to have an end to the on going

disputes in he South China Sea, the United States can also put their best effort in upholding the

international law and it can pursue to support the multilateral process that are diplomatic in nature.

It can also conduct join alliances between all the nations including China to reach a peace

agreement and to solve the on going disputes that is going on in the South China Sea which is

damaging the economy of all of the nations that are being involved in this dispute.

I think from the knowledge I have gained from the research prepared above If the dispute is not

resolved immediately it can lead to military confrontation of the states that lay claim to the South

China Sea and which will eventually drag the United States of America into the confrontation.

There are many ways in which the United States army can get involved in this military standoff,

if a military vessel of the United States army is clashed within the EEZ of China it will lead to a

military standoff between two major super powers China and United States of America, if there

starts a conflict and a dispute between the Philippines and China over potential natural gas reserves
SOUTH CHINA
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which will lead to the standoff between China and the Philippines and United States being the

supporter of the Philippines will eventually join in the military standoff between these two

claimant countries to the natural gas reserves of the South China Sea and if the dispute between

Vietnam and China is provoked over the seismic surveys and for the drilling of the oild and gas

projects in the South China Sea, there will be a military stand off between veitnam and China and

same in the case of the Philippines, Vietnams most powerful supporter being the United States

which has always provoked Vietnam to pressurize China, will eventually join and and there will

be a confrontation between these three countries which will eventually drag other nations aswell

and will be a complete superpower standoff but Vietnam and Philippines both know that a military

standoff with China will be a very foolish idea. I suggest that one way to avoid all this dispute and

the military standoff between these states and the west is that to keep aside the disputes and

historical claims to themselves and jointly develop the resources and use them equally and fairly

and if the international law becomes more strict and can be more strictly implemented if someone

does not obey the international law strict action should be taken against it so in the future no other

country can diss obey the international law and we all can avoid situations like these in the future.

I believe that if the South China Sea dispute is not come to a good conclusion immediately it can

severely damage the broader China-United States Relationship which is already in disturbance

with the trade war going on between the two countries which is implemented by the United States

of America so that it can pressurize China and try to stop it from building the artificial man made

islands on the reefs in the South China Sea.

I believe that the United States will always respond to the judgement of the Permanent Court of

Arbitration which in recent times have always ruled against the favor of the Peoples Republic of

China, and the United States of America if not by legal work it will use force which will be by
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calling all smaller claimant states to the throne and inviting them to form alliances with the United

States of America in order so that jointly they all can turn to China and can pressurize China

enough so that it can back off from the island build up program and can loosen its hold from the

South China Sea and cn pave way for the freedom of navigation of these waters.

I suggest that it is best for China to come to an agreement with the United States before their

economy is broken down and things go bad between the two superpowers so that it can avoid any

type of military standoff because they would not be wanting to risk everything that they have

worked so hard for to get here and let it all slip in just a matter of minutes with a confrontation

with the United States.

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