The South China Sea dispute is an important conflict which highlights the irredentist behaviour of the dragon
That China is an expansionist power is in little doubt.
Since the 1950s the Chinese Communist Party has been claiming others’ territory as its own.
That explains their illegal conquest of Tibet in 1956 and their evil designs against Taiwan.
However, a more pressing conflict that needs the world, particularly India’s attention is the South China Sea dispute.
This dispute has been going on for some time now and it is only in the last few years that China’s claims in the strategic waterway has become far more assertive.
What is the South China Sea?
The South China Sea is a strategic waterway located to the south of China.
It is a part of the Indo-Pacific region and is considered to be a part of what is known as the Pacific Rim of Fire.
The South China is rich in biodiversity and its conservation is regarded as essential by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
Why is it Important?
This is the moot point.
South China Sea is one of the world’s busiest waterways. Over a third of the world’s trade passes through this strategic waterway.
On top of that some 6% of the world’s fisheries reserves are found here.
The South China Sea is also a hotbed of mineral resources like lithium, beryllium, silicon and critical earth minerals.
These are used in a number of essential industries like IT, automobiles, chemicals etc.
Further in terms of military strategy it serves as a ‘chokepoint’.
It means that if the PLA Navy feels it can enforce a naval blockade, bringing global trade to a grinding halt.
What is the Dispute?
China has claimed almost the entire South China Sea region as its own.
It has started building artificial military atolls known as the Paracel & Spratly islands in this region and has throughly militarised it.
Robert D.Kaplan in The Asia’s Cauldron has highlighted the depth of the problem. He has argued that it has been the brainchild of Xi Jingping ever since he assumed power in 2013.
In these asserting these claims the dragon has ruffled feathers of Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines and Indonesia.
What can India do?
India as a strong naval power can send its warships, particularly the carrier strike group spearheaded by INS Vikrant to enforce freedom of navigation.
Since her ties with China is already strained India can ask China to observe strictly the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on the South China Sea dispute.
The South China Sea dispute is an important conflict, Bharat must intervene in this strategic dispute.