South China Sea is a portion of Pacific Ocean running enclosing land area from Singapore to the canal of Taiwan. Its area is approximately 3,500,000 square kilometers. South China Sea area carries a significant role to the countries enclosing it. For instance, over 35% of the world’s shipping transportation through water takes place on it. It is believed to have seabed with oil and gas reserves. To add on, the region within the sea contains abundant fish that are of immense source of revenue for the countries surrounding it. The countries enclosing it include China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
The islands of South China Sea are subjected to completion over sovereignty by many countries leading them remaining almost uninhabited. These overlapping claims experienced in the sea over land potentials and the adjacent water to the sea hikes the diplomatic pressures and potentially laying a basis for a future military clash. Of all the countries surrounding the sea, China is the most egregious assailant. It takes advantage of its military position to bully and intimidate its smaller neighboring countries, behavior that is highly reputed by the United States. The likelihood of conflict in the South China Sea is evident3. Almost all the countries enclosing the sea have competed defensive and jurisdictional laments, particularly over privileges of exploiting the region’s possible broad reserves of oil and gas.
Freedom of navigation also rises a controversial issue, especially between China and the United States over the provision of United State military the freedom of operating in China’s 200 mile economic zone. These tensions are being shaped by the cropping anxiety about the strengthening of China’s military power and its area requirements. For instance, China has gone aboard on a considerable rejuvenation of its nautical paramilitary forces as well as marine potentials that would push U.S forces into a region of risk if involved in a conflict, thus doing away with the U.S navy in the Western Pacific.
Because of growing magnitude of the affiliation between China and U.S, and the Pacific region at large, to the worldwide economy, the United States has the responsibility of preventing any dispute that may lead to economic halt in the South China Sea from growing militarily.
To avoid the chances of the countries within the South China Sea having a military clash, United State under the leadership of president Obama have deployed its military army to the areas surrounding the water. In addition, Obama thought it useful to have his military army at the coasts of South China Sea for they will ensure peaceful shipping transiting that plays a crucial role worldwide. Although United State tends to have the best military forces worldwide, the spontaneous rising of power of China grants it a great challenge. For instance, China’s deliberate and systematic behaviors in South China Sea reflect its hostile actions against not only countries surrounding the sea, but also other countries with interest to the region, including the United States.
The prevention of the Filipino anglers from fishing in the South China Sea creates a serious future halt towards the negotiations. In addition, the cutting of the economic ties with the Philippines leads to crippling of the economy of Philippine. This led to the Filipino presidential spokesperson to quest for United States military support, a decision that brought the military forces from the two countries together. With the improved military ties with Manila, U.S was able to access Filipino ports and airfields granting the opportunity of refueling and servicing its warships and planes. In addition, the visiting of America by Mr. Galvez expounded the relationship that coexisted between the two countries. The relationship was father stressed by John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesperson who declared the relation of the two countries to be military expounding oriented.
Vietnam being one of the earliest close allies of the United State, budding of their relation again could magnificently aid the United Sate overpower China. On the other hand, Vietnam required the United States support in order to compete against their rivals, China. The seeking of assistance from the United States portrayed the sound relation that coexisted between U.S and Vietnam. However, the two nations tend to have different interests despite their good relation. For example, while the U.S aimed at ensuring good relation with Vietnam in order to access its ports for warship, Vietnam on the other side quested for the removal of restrictions on arm sales imposed by the U.S.
Singapore being one of the minority countries at the South China Sea, suffered a lot from intimidation by China. Since it has good military relation with the United State, it requested for the intervention of the US in stabilizing the regional movements along the sea. The cooperation between the two countries on defense and security issues increased significantly after laying some agreements. This is evident from the announcement made concerning the allowing the United State station their US Navy Ships in Singapore in 2012. This decision granted the U.S the opportunity of simmering the disputes that coexisted on the South China Sea.
Most of the countries in South China Coast had an alliance with the U.S for them to gain from its military forces. For instance, majority of the U.S allies around the South China Sea highly depended on United State in the provision and maintenance of free trade. They also relied on the efforts of the United State military in maintaining safe and secure communication sea lines, and maintenance of the overall harmony and stability in the area. Both claimants and non-claimants recommended for the presence of the United States military in the South China Sea for it will provide a free environment for decision making without any practice of intimidation.
Among the major U.S, goals in Cambodia included a reduction of the threat of terrorism that emanated within Cambodia. For instance in 2005, the U.S protected Cambodia from the wrath of terrorists who were finding their way into Cambodia. However, in 2006 after holding some discussions and laying agreements, Cambodia army aided China, the rival of the United States in training and repairing military equipment. This decision led to the distancing of the relation that used to coexist between Cambodia and the U.S.
Currently, the United States have no formal military relation with China. For instance, there are no negotiations pertaining military quest or arm control in general. In addition, their security relationship does not exist, as it is required of the two-superpower countries in the world with the common interest. The most reason for the occurrence in difference between the two countries is the developing of the disagreements over the military confrontations. For instance, there was a change in the in the way the military solved confrontations. The two countries being no longer allies, depicts the possibility of future China-U.S conflict, and this is evident as per the threats given by China.
The military relation of the U.S with Thailand is promising. This from the steps taken by the U.S in advising the Thailand’s military. For instance, U.S. Security Organization came up with a military an advisory organization that aids Thailand in making decisions concerning missions.
The relationship of U.S and Taiwan has been booming for long and continues to grow, this from the statement made by Raymond Burghardt, a chairperson of the American Institute running in Taiwan. Irrespective on the claims made on Taiwan involving itself in hacking into U.S computers, Burghardt insisted on the existence of good military cooperation between U.S military and Taiwan military.
For long Malaysia and the U.S have had close relation. This is depicted from the statement made by the commanding general of the U.S army on the essence of increasing the friendship relation between Malaysia army and the U.S army. With such a strong relation, the U.S has the potential of having control of the decisions made by China.
Strategies of military
For U.S to manage to compact China, it decided to create good friendship atmosphere with the nations that enclosed South China Sea. For instance, it took part in assisting the disadvantaged countries such as Cambodia and Singapore economically. In addition, the U.S helped the minority countries that were looked down upon by China in terms of military support provision. The presence of its army at the shores of Pacific sea engrossed good relation with other countries that dependent entirely in carrying out free and fair trading at the coast. The presence of U.S army also led to the reduction of the constrictions imposed by China on other trading countries. In aiding the countries along the shores of pacific sea grow economically through, participation freely in fishing increased the friendship that coexisted among them leading to it having easy times in controlling the decisions made by the Chinese government.
Withdraw of the U.S army from Iraq created a good atmosphere for the advancement of the ASEAN relation. This is because the U.S eventually managed to have enough time with the ASEAN allies leading to sharing of ideas that could help combat the movement s made by the Chinese government. In 2012, Obama further declared that, with the reduction of constrictions imposed on the army while they were in Iraq, he would deploy more armies on the shores of pacific sea to help combat the incidents of insecurity that may arise and alter with trading activities that took place. In addition, Obama believed that in working together with ASEAN allies’ control of the rising of power of China would be easy.
U.S also manages to control the trading of arms. In doing so, it managed to counter the possibility of the incidents of oppositions from other growing nations. The laying of rules on the production and construction of arms also contributed significantly in the management of the efforts inputted by the China government in the military sector. Deployment of the U.S army at the shores of pacific sea also contributed significantly in the prevention of China from launching nuclear weapons.
In order to control the movements that took place within South China Sea, Obama decided to authorize the U.S naval vessels together with aircraft to use Australian buses in South China Sea. Such a decision could significantly aid the military personnel learn of the events that are of threat to security at a quick rate. In doing this, the United States will manage to strengthen its navy hence backing diplomatic and economic relation with other nations. In addition, the U.S has the responsibility of fostering growth of a healthy economic growth in order to manage the running of its navy.
United State should also promote security partnership. The sound association between the U.S and its associates at the South China Sea opt to be long lasting for United State to achieve its objectives.
For its success, United States opt to understand well China policies. This will dictate for the diplomatic and economic involvement supported by a strong U.S military and a cropping economy. In addition, the U.S opt to avoid military conflicts, but engage in diplomatic confrontation if need be.
U.S interest
The United States has the responsibility of solving the conflicts that take place at the South China Sea. Failure of the nations at South China Sea in following the international norms and regulations will result to America losing its interests globally. Ensuring lack of restrictions while navigating is also another crucial interest of the United States. According to Obama, freedom of military navigation at the South China Sea will enhance the provision of security to those individuals involved in trade via the shipping.
Protection of maritime interests is also one of the influential aspects that lead to U.S engraving much on the South China Sea. Through the deployment of the navy at the South China Sea, America is assured of raising enough revenue to help pay the navy in carrying out their roles. However, the rising of modern navies and unusual security, threats makes creates a barrier for the U.S in meeting its interests and will result to endangering the U.S national sanctuary interests. As from Rogers, ‘security at sea argument’, U.S has the responsibility of approving the Law of the Sea Convention.
The South China Sea has broad reserves for gas and oil, and U.S being one of the nations that depends entirely on the gas and oil in running its industrialized machines, it has to input much effort into controlling the running of the trade activities that take place at the South China Sea. The South China Sea has also a large fishing area with many fish that contribute immensely to the economic development of U.S, this contributes to the U.S involving in the trading activities with countries around South China Sea.
Future trends
A once maritime territorial conflicts involving China, Vietnam, and the other growing ASEAN states have high chances of becoming more distressing leading to hampering of the existence of harmony and stability in Western Pacific. This is because China for long has been looking down upon the interests of the disadvantaged nations without being quest.
The military support that the U.S gives to the ASEAN countries, contributes to the growing of the relationship between U.S and ASEAN countries leading to the U.S meeting its objectives. However, the relationship between these nations and the U.S will contribute immensely to the rise of conflicts between the ASEAN countries with China.
The input of many personnel at the South China Coast will also enhance the reduction of production of harmful arm tools such as nuclear bombs. This will also contribute immensely into solving solvable disputes between nations with differences. The presence of the U.S military personnel at the South China Sea will also contribute to the advancement of the trading activities.
Interview questions
Why the United States is, involve in conflict resolution in the South China Region
To be able to meet its functions as a superpower in the ensuring there is peace in the world among all the countries. The other reason is that the United States will be able to meet other interests apart from conflict resolution when it has control over China.
Does the United States have any other interests apart from conflict resolution in the South China Sea?
The United States has other interests in the South Asian China apart from conflict resolution. The Main interests apart from conflict resolution in the South china region is the realization of treading area, the access of resources in form of oil and a high amount of fish available in the area. This other interests can only be achieved when conflicts in the South China region hence the involvement of the United States in conflict resolution in the region.
What strategies are used in the solving of the conflicts?
Various strategies used in the resolution of the conflict include the deployment of the United States army at the shores of the South China to ensure the Lack of conflicts and the keeping of peace in the region. The other, measures used is to ensure there is good relation between the United States and the countries in the South China region. Trading is encouraged in the region as means to the improvement in the country’s economies, which aids in the improvement of the relations between the countries leading to conflict resolution.
Why Obama decided to deploy the army to South China after leaving Iraq?
China had dominated trade and resource utilization in the region through the denial of fishing to Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and other countries in the region. Obama decided to deploy the army to the necessity of improving conflicts resolution in the region and ensure equitable resource use to all the countries. China had blocked navigation in the area, which lead to the reduction in the profits and trade in the area.
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