By Maj Gen PK Chakravorty
07 Jun , 2016
Reclamation of lands in the South China Sea has been an ongoing process by various countries. China initiated the process by building a full-ledged air base on Woody Islands which forms a part of the Paracel Group of Islands. In 2003, Malaysia reclaimed land in Swallow Reef enabling a 1368-metre runway to be constructed which enabled cargo, surveillance and fighter aircraft to operate. Vietnam followed in quick succession by constructing a 550-metre runway on Big Spratly Islands which are being utilised by cargo and surveillance aircraft.
China realises the strategic value of islands and would use these gainfully to control shipping and to counter any naval posturing by the US…
The South China Sea encompasses an area of about 1.4 million square miles. The area has immense geo-strategic significance as one-third of the world’s shipping utilises these waters and is reported to be holding proven oil and gas reserves beneath its seabed. It is located in close proximity to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia. The Sea contains over 250 small islands, atolls, cays, shoals, reefs and sandbars which have no inhabitants. Many of these are submerged during high tide. The main archipelagos are Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, Pratas Islands, the Macclesfield Bank and the Scarborough Shoal. There are several claimants to these islands. In 1974, China craftily annexed the Paracel islands; both China and Taiwan claim the entire Sea to belong to them. The Nine Dash (or Dotted) line virtually overlaps with other countries in the region. Broadly, the competing claims comprise as stated below:
Paracel Islands held by China, disputed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Spratly Islands are disputed between China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Philippines.
Scarborough Shoal is disputed between Philippines, China and Taiwan
Natuna Islands between Indonesia, China and Taiwan.
Other minor disputes are over the Gulf of Thailand, the Strait of Johore and the Strait of Singapore.
China has been wanting to resolve issues bilaterally whereas all other countries that belong to ASEAN seek a Code of Conduct. Furthermore, China had military stand-offs with Vietnam and Philippines. Currently, Philippines has approached a UN tribunal with regards to its dispute with China.
In recent months, China’s reclamation of islands has dramatically increased…
Chinese Reclamation of Islands
Reclamation of lands in the South China Sea has been an ongoing process by various countries. China initiated the process by building a full-ledged air base on Woody Islands which forms a part of the Paracel Group of Islands. In 2003, Malaysia reclaimed land in Swallow Reef enabling a 1368-metre runway to be constructed which enabled cargo, surveillance and fighter aircraft to operate. Vietnam followed in quick succession by constructing a 550-metre runway on Big Spratly Islands which are being utilised by cargo and surveillance aircraft.
The year 2006 saw Taiwan construct a runway 1195-metre on Itu Iba Island capable of handling cargo, surveillance and fighter aircraft. In 2014, Philippines constructed a 1400-metre airfield at Thitu Island in 2014 capable of handling cargo, surveillance and fighter aircraft.
In recent months, China’s reclamation of islands has dramatically increased. It has reclaimed 2,900 acres of landmass across a string of islands in the Spratly Group. The construction is focussed on Gaven Reef, Johnson South Reef, Fiery Cross Reef and Hughes Reef. The islands are big enough to erect buildings house equipment and have a big runway on Fiery Cross Reef. At some sites, China has excavated deep channels and has built new berthing areas to allow access for larger ships that could be used to assert territorial claims. In May 2015, it was reported by the Wall Street Journal that China had placed two mobile artillery units on Johnson Reef.
Implications
The Chinese are extremely clear about their maritime territorial claims. With Sasha in the Paracel islands already developed in 2012 as the Headquarters and a military base for the entire region, China would like to develop the reefs as bases in the Spratly Group of Islands to enable it to undertake force projection in the area. President Xi Jinping has been constantly referring to the ‘Chinese dream’.
The Chinese dream comprises primarily of two ingredients – Strength and Wealth. Both these characteristics find their manifestations in the South China Sea. The area has fish, oil and other minerals. Optimised exploitation of these resources will enable China to enhance its Comprehensive National Power.
China does not give up easily and would resist any attempt to disturb its claims…
As a dominant military power, China realises the strategic value of islands and would use these gainfully to control shipping as also to counter any naval posturing by the Aircraft Battle Groups of the United States. The ASEAN states have been told by China not to raise the issues in international fora and to talk to China directly. China claims sovereignty over the area and any shipping through these areas must not enter the territorial limits of 12 nautical miles from these islands.
The Defence Secretary of the United States Ashton Carter has stated that the military will fly, sail and operate wherever permitted by international law. However, it remains unclear if the United States has ever actually flown or navigated within the territorial waters resulting in a response from Beijing. Tensions did escalate when a US warship did approach close to the islands; but the matter was defused.
Of course, the Philippines has taken the dispute to an arbitral tribunal in The Hague. The case was filed in 2013 in the Permanent Court of Arbitration, asserting its rights to exploit the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone that extends from the archipelago into the South China Sea. They brought their claim under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China claimed that, these being issues of sovereignty, the tribunal had no jurisdiction.
The agreement signed between India and Vietnam was met with stiff opposition from China…
The Tribunal has held that it has jurisdiction over key issues in the dispute. This has put China in a bind. China has stated that the judgement was null and void and any future judgements would have no effect. It would be hard to imagine that China would completely ignore any future judgement. International pressure to comply on any future judgement will be great. The United States has welcomed the decision and Germany has encouraged China to settle the dispute over maritime claims in international courts. Well, there is no cause for celebration as yet. The Tribunal has reserved judgement in seven of the 14 claims. It is an interesting case to watch and results may see others joining the fray. China does not give up easily and would resist any attempt to disturb its claims.
Impact on India
India’s Oil and Natural Gas Commission Videsh Limited (OVL) has been present in Vietnam for a reasonable period. They were involved in a major offshore oil and natural gas exploration in Block 06.1, located 370 km South East of Vung Tau with an area of 955 sq km. The exploration license was acquired in 1988 and commercial production began in 2003. Later in 2006, OVL acquired two more blocks in the South China Sea for oil exploration. These were Blocks 127 and 128. Drilling in Block 127 did not reveal any hydrocarbons and OVL decided to return both these locations to Vietnam. However, Vietnam persuaded OVL to continue drilling in Block 128 despite opposition from the Chinese explicitly stating that the area of Block 128 was within Vietnamese waters. On the insistence of Vietnam, India concluded an agreement for cooperation in hydrocarbons for a period of three years in 2011.
On July 22, 2011, an Indian naval amphibious assault ship, INS Airavat was on a friendly visit to Vietnam. The ship was repeatedly contacted at a distance of 45 nautical miles from the Vietnamese coast on an open radio channel by a vessel identifying itself as PLA Navy of China which warned the Indian ship that she was entering Chinese waters. The Indian Navy clarified that no ship or aircraft was visible from INS Airavat and the ship moved on without paying any heed to the cautionary warning.
There is a need for India to protect its assets in the event of Chinese aggressiveness…
India’s position was clarified by the Defence Minister who stated that ships of the Indian Navy would continue to go to South China Sea for training and our merchant ships would undertake trade. Furthermore, India clearly stated that she supported freedom of navigation in international waters including the South China Sea.
The agreement signed between India and Vietnam was met with stiff opposition from China who claimed that no exploration could be undertaken in areas over which China has sovereign rights. The Government of India correctly responded by stating that while China had concerns but India was going by the agreement signed with Vietnam. The Chinese claim was rejected by both India and Vietnam. As per the UN, the area of exploration belongs to Vietnam. India has firmly stated that ONGC will continue to explore for oil in the South China Sea. India has also clarified that the entire Indian Ocean Region (IOR) stretching from the East African coast to the South China Sea remains crucial to its foreign trade, energy and national security. Vietnam has remained steadfast on the issue and in July 2012, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed a law demarcating Vietnamese sea borders to include the Paracel and Spratly Islands.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister visited India in October 2014 and offered five additional oil blocks to India for exploration. India agreed to undertake exploration of two of these blocks. China has commented adversely on this aspect and the Chinese press in September 2015, advised India not to undertake drilling in the South China Sea. US President Barrack Obama visited India in January 2015. The Joint Statement signed between the US President and the Indian President mentions freedom of navigation in international waters.
Modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces to operate beyond the Strait of Malacca into the South China Sea is a necessity…
While it is good to make sound bites, there is a need for India to protect its assets in the event of Chinese aggressiveness. The Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force need to modernise and operate closely with the Vietnamese forces to combat an adverse situation. There is a need for both countries to strategically cooperate against any adverse situations created by the Chinese. Modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces to operate beyond the Strait of Malacca into the South China Sea is a necessity.
Conclusion
Reclamation of islands in the South China Sea and converting them into military airfields and shipping berths, is an aggressive stance by China to encroach upon the disputed islands of the South China Sea. Measures must be taken to openly discuss this issue with China to stop the process immediately.
© Copyright 2016 Indian Defence Review
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