No easing of tension in the South China Sea
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Developments in the South China Sea are not moving in the right direction. China installing the HQ-9 surface-to-air missile system and radar in the Paracel Islands and creating an artificial islet in the Spratlys has increased tension in the region.
Arrivals and departures of Chinese military aircraft have further aggravated the situation. A Chinese newspaper last week said the country must prepare for “military confrontation” in the sea.
China is conducting naval exercises with its fishing fleets to boost defence and avoid their seizure by foreign forces. Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims, but recently a new dispute has arisen between China and Indonesia over the Natuna Islands’ territorial and economic-zone waters. Several incidents have occurred there between Chinese fishing vessels and Indonesian patrol vessels.
China’s contentious nine-dash line has soured feelings between China and Southeast Asia. The line completely ignores the legitimate claims of the coastal states under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which China ratified with certain reservations. China is also claiming 12 nautical miles of territorial waters around its artificial island, which is not recognised by UNCLOS. This has become a bone of contention with the United States.
Asean last month delivered a strongly worded statement of concern over China’s activities, only to withdraw the words 24 hours later, saying each member-nation would issue its own statement. It will be difficult for all 10 members to do so and far easier for the claimant states to take a unified stand. Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia have long-standing economic and trade ties with China, which has invested heavily in their development. Hence, China still has leverage.
Yesterday’s Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the Philippines’ claim will not ease tensions. China does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction and will not abide by its decision.
One important question now is whether the other Asean claimant states will resort to the court. Whatever the answer, an air of dangerous uncertainty prevails in the South China Sea.
Rear Admiral K Thanabalasingam (Retired)
First Malaysian Chief of Navy
(From The Star/ANN)
