It has deep ties with the military, which still dominates key parts of the government, and is a major player in the economy. The most important and least tangible stake in the South China Sea concerns the preservation (or not) of a regional rules-based order supported by U.S. power. Vietnam already flies modern Russian fighter jets and is expecting delivery this year of its sixth and final Kilo-class submarinesubmarines so quiet that the U.S. Navy refers to them as black holes. If the Chinese Navy wants to have its way in the South China Sea, it will have to dedicate resources to tracking those subs, a task with which the PLAN has limited experience. Strategic Landscape of the South China Sea: While geopolitics indicates geographical relations with politics, there is another importance which is strategic. Other claimant states welcome U.S. involvement precisely because Washington does not favor one claimants territorial ambitions over those of the others. China's Art of Strategic Incrementalism in the South China Sea The South China Sea is a strategic body of water bordering Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and China. Chinas military modernization has included structural reforms establishing a Joint Operations Command and five new theatre commands (Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western and Central). Therefore, the US plays a key role in influencing the resolution of the SCS disputes. South China Sea and possible options. Japan and South Korea will face a perilous new reality with China in control of the seaborne lifeline of both countries. Figure 4 shows the overlapping sovereignty claims in the SCS, with Chinas claims according to the 9 dash line doctrine in red. . Chinas island outposts will increase this advantage as Chinese aircraft, ships, and paramilitary vessels will be able to rest and resupply in the southern portion of the South China Sea. The United States sent a carrier battle group there as well. The United States will continue to stand with our allies and partners to uphold the order that we helped build, Pencesaid. The two major power of the world i.e. Because of its location, this sea is extremely strategic because it connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Malacca). Not only Vietnam is the strongest opponent of the Chinese nine-dash line claim in the region, Vietnam's sustained economic growth has pushed it to emerge as an important player in the South East Asia, which China perceives is not in its interests. Narendra Modis Act East policy has resulted in an acceleration of burgeoning India-ASEAN ties and Indias position on the South China Sea territorial disputes essentially mirrors that of the United States. Rough Waters Ahead for Vietnam-China Relations To counter Chinas efforts to control the South China Sea, the United States needs a sustainable strategy to bolster its own capabilities, work more effectively with capable allies and partners, and strengthen the regional order. The annual Cobra Gold exercise is Asias largest multilateral military exercise. Generally, oil and minerals move north, and food and manufactured goods move south. In 2010, the US declared its freedom of navigation in the SCS to be a national interest in response to Chinas increasingly assertive posture. With a new Southeast Asian strategic alignment taking shape as described, geography makes Indonesia and Malaysiaespecially due to its Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneothe regions key swing states. The USSJohn C. Stennistied up there for a few days in April. Whomever is elected to be the next American president, that person would be wise to have in place a Plan B should the TPP fail to pass the Senate this year (such a Plan B is admittedly unlikely, given that both major candidates would bear responsibility for its failure in the first place). China is working hard to bring under its control the water, islands, rocks and reefs that sit within its imaginary nine-dash line. But the South China Sea has been dangerously overfished. India and Vietnam, while acknowledging the strategic importance of the SCS and their volatile position when it comes to China's rising power, are edging closer toward each other. The United States can stand firm on its principles and deter China from undermining the regional order while maintaining a productive relationship. Improved governance will lead to stronger economies over the long term and dampen the influence of Chinese dirty money. Geopolitical and Strategic Landscape of South China Sea 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW This segment will address American interests. Thats why the United States has urged countries to resolve maritime claim disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law. Sun Tzu Explains China's Shaping Operations in the South China Sea. The South China Sea contains some of the world's most important shipping lanes. In addition to far flung island territories (formerly occupied by Japan) in the South Pacific, the United States had a substantial military garrison in Japan and close ties with South Korea and the Philippines a former colony. Expanding U.S. access to Vietnamese facilities as described above could eventually render access to Thai facilities somewhat redundant, further weakening the institutional support for the alliance in the United States. through South China Sea Port is 1400 kms long. Geostrategic importance of Bangladesh for the USA | South Asia Journal Thailand, of course, has been an important security partner for the United States. We will defend freedom of the seas and skies.. These straws-in-the-wind gained strategic context because the PRC had long published official maps showing a boundary encompassing almost the entire South China Sea the nine-dash line.. Any such assertion must rest on an understanding that critical U.S. national interests, including both economic and security interests, are at stake and at risk. The United States has been less successful in supporting local partners as they resist Chinese coercion. Notably, the paper identified Malaysia's maritime claims in the South China Sea as its top security concern. China has harassed U.S. Navy ships operating in the South China Sea, warned military flights to stay away from its artificial islands, and recently seized a U.S. drone operating in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. That included nearly 40 percent of Chinas total trade and 90 percent of petroleum imports by China, Japan, and South Korea and nearly 6 percent of total U.S. trade. In such a complex environment, it is important to have well-established, recognizable rules of international law. Hence, the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The United States now has the opportunity to secure for another generation the peace that has held in Asia for nearly four decades now. Security, Strategy, and Military Dynamics in South China Sea: Cross Importantly, American access to four airbases (with potentially more to be made available at a later date)especially those on Luzon and Palawanwill make U.S. air power resident in Southeast Asia. It is a rich source of hydrocarbons and natural resources. The growing size and capability of the Chinese air force, navy, and coast guard allow Beijing to consistently monitor and exercise de facto control over most of the South China Sea. China, however, must now balance its continental concerns, which remain complex, against its new dependence on the maritime domain. According to the U.S. State Department, it has been estimated that China is effectively blocking the development of $2.5 trillion worth of oil and gas resources in the South China Sea. Russia-Ukraine War Compels Japan to Reassess China Challenge, Shift South China Sea has geo-strategic, geo-politic and geo-economic importance due to half of the world trade passage and presence of precious resources of oil and gas. To facilitate capacity building, Washington should preserve regional defense relationships while recognizing that the ability of the United States to partner with frontline states depends on their cooperation and adherence to good governance and human rights. director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative at Peking . Geo-Strategic Importance of the South China Sea If Chinese coercion goes unchallenged by the United States, it will send a dangerous signal about the strength of the U.S. alliance system and lessen the appeal of the United States as a security partner. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), it carries one-third of global shipping, carrying trillions of dollars in trade, making it a significant geopolitical water body. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Figure 3 highlights the influenced areas. With the incoming administration likely to grapple early with South China Sea issues, the CSIS Southeast Asia Program, directed by Dr. Amy Searight, worked in collaboration with other Asia colleagues at CSISDr. The security assurances provided by the U.S. military presence coupled with the advent of regional institutions, notably ASEAN and the Asian Development Bank, nurtured that growth. Successful capacity building efforts will allow Southeast Asian states to better help themselves, bolstering deterrence against low-level Chinese coercion and allowing the U.S. military to focus more on deterring high-level contingencies. South China Sea - Economic aspects | Britannica 2014 The United States and the Philippines sign an enhanced defense pact, strengthening the U.S.-Filipino relationship. What evidence is there of increased projection of Maritime Power? The South China Sea - Some Fundamental Strategic Principles Tokyo and Manila agreed to a strategic partnership in 2011. A critical and early Chinese test of U.S. resolve is likely to come in the South China Sea, where Washington has struggled to respond effectively to assertive Chinese behavior. The sea-lanes that pass through the South China Sea are the busiest, most important, maritime waterways in the world. Enduring U.S. interestsfreedom of navigation and overflight, support for the rules-based international order, and the peaceful resolution of disputesare at risk in the region. U.S. policy in the South China Sea has been overly reliant on military options, which may not always be the most effective response. The strategic signal of an Indian presence in the South China Sea Harsh V. Pant India has wider stakes in South China Sea as nearly 55% of India's trade with the Indo-Pacific region passes through these waters.