U.S Naval Presence Increasing Tensions in the South China Sea

Over the last few weeks’ tensions between the People Republic of China and the United States has hit a new level in relations between the two superpowers. In the last week or so, the U.S has sent a naval destroyer USS Lassen within the Chinese claimed 12-mile exclusion zone of the Subi reef. 

The issue of contention with this act by the U.S and protest from the Chinese government is linked to the ongoing dispute over a number of small islands and reefs in the South China sea. China along with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan have been at loggerheads for many years and even decades over sovereignty of these islands and reefs. In recent years China have built man made islands and placed runways and other structures on them, claiming their right to do so, even though under international law these specks of land or reefs are in international waters.

A US State Department spokesmen John Kirby, has since the incident stated that the U.S navy was just exercising its rights of freedom of navigation in international water, as allowed under international law. The Chinese on the other hand viewed this as provocative and was not needed at such a time. I think that the action taken by the U.S maybe provocative and was seeking a reaction from the Chinese authorities, but was not in violation of international law or encroached the sovereignty of China. One U.S naval vessel passing by a group of man-made islands does not declare war or instigate increased tensions between the two superpowers, all that it seems to have done is show that the action of building artificial islands on undeclared reefs as provocative for a long term solution to the dispute.

With at times high tensions between a number of countries in the region all claiming territorial rights over many of the islands and reefs, with China having the largest claim, the ongoing dispute needs a solution found for the good of international peace and security. The waters in the South China sea are major trading routes with large amounts of ships passing these islands and reefs every day. So what needs to happen to prevent a major incident involving casualties is first, for China to halt the reclaiming and building of artificial islands and structures in the disputed area, and second, for all the countries involved to organise an international conference to find a compromise in regards to claims over the area. With the U.S stating that they will not back down, and will carry out further ‘rights to freedom of navigation’ in the South China sea, this could lead to military to military confrontation, if agreement over the islands and reefs are not found.                      

Will the new Chinese leaders carry on much the same as their predecessors?

Li Keqiang, the new Chinese Premier

Over the last few days, Beijing has held the annual National Peoples Congress, where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) outlined the agenda for the coming year. This years meeting was more unique than previous meetings, as both a new President and Premier, along with other top political posts were officially appointed. Xi Jinping now President and Li Keqiang the new Premier.  

At the end of the week long sitting of the National Congress, the new leaders, both Xi and Li spook on their policies and future direction of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). As expected, economic growth was a top issue emphasized by both leaders’ in their speeches to party members as well as the need to tackle internal corruption, where President Xi urged delegates to reject extravagance and fight corruption.

Apart from domestic issues, foreign policy was also mentioned by both leaders, especially the need to improve relations with the United States (US), with Premier Li, saying that "common interests far outweigh our differences." Although, Li talked about better relations with the US, he did reject the allocations that the Chinese government is behind the cyber attacks against US government agencies and companies. Furthermore, President Xi told the party faithful that the military needs to be in a better position to protect the national sovereignty and security of China.

A new era in leadership for China will unfortunately be much the same as the past; it is the same message over and over again with both President Xi and Premier Li have stated that continued economic growth will be the number one priority for the Communist party, which carries on from former President Hu Jintao’s polices aimed at economic development. So far from what both leaders have mentioned in their first speeches, tackling corruption will also be on the agenda, much like the rhetoric of their predecessors. Only time will tell if there will be much improvement in cracking down on corruption that is wide spread in China.

On the issue of foreign policy, both leaders are indicating that China will carry on an assertive approach to its security and national interest in line with its predecessors. I think China no longer want to be viewed as the dominant force bullying other regional nations, and renewed calling by the new leadership for better relations with the US. 

In my interpretation of what Premier Li said in his speech, that the US and China have more in common than they do have in differences, leads to an intention that China wants to cooperate with the US on regional security and stability, rather then be in conflict with them. 

Once again, only time will tell if this is just rhetoric or whether China really does want to be an active partner within the international community.