Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo
The Working Paper argues that the maritime disputes over the South China Sea are characterised by a strategic and diplomatic status quo. China does so far not have the necessary power projection to impose naval hegemony in the South China Sea. None of the ASEAN claimants can rely on sufficient naval...
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2016
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/87942 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/39827 |
| _version_ | 1811681039664283648 |
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| author | Emmers, Ralf |
| author2 | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies |
| author_facet | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Emmers, Ralf |
| author_sort | Emmers, Ralf |
| collection | NTU |
| description | The Working Paper argues that the maritime disputes over the South China Sea are characterised by a strategic and diplomatic status quo. China does so far not have the necessary power projection to impose naval hegemony in the South China Sea. None of the ASEAN claimants can rely on sufficient naval power or an external military alliance to impose their claims in the Spratly Islands. A similar situation of status quo exists on the diplomatic front. China and the ASEAN countries have been negotiating for years to conclude a code of conduct for the South China Sea. The 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea is based on a multilateral dimension as well as on a convergence of views on the need to peacefully manage the dispute. While a step in the right direction, the declaration is only an interim political agreement and it is still to be seen whether the parties will sign a detailed and binding code of conduct for the South China Sea. The Working Paper starts by reviewing the nature of the maritime disputes. It then describes the security environment in the South China Sea by examining the changing strategic conditions of the disputes. Its final section discusses the long diplomatic road toward the 2002 Declaration. The Working Paper concludes that the South China Sea has remained primarily a political rather than a military issue thanks to China’s desire to accommodate the Southeast Asian countries and the limited naval capabilities available to the different claimants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:34:37Z |
| format | Working Paper |
| id | ntu-10356/87942 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:34:37Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/879422020-11-01T08:42:12Z Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo Emmers, Ralf S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science The Working Paper argues that the maritime disputes over the South China Sea are characterised by a strategic and diplomatic status quo. China does so far not have the necessary power projection to impose naval hegemony in the South China Sea. None of the ASEAN claimants can rely on sufficient naval power or an external military alliance to impose their claims in the Spratly Islands. A similar situation of status quo exists on the diplomatic front. China and the ASEAN countries have been negotiating for years to conclude a code of conduct for the South China Sea. The 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea is based on a multilateral dimension as well as on a convergence of views on the need to peacefully manage the dispute. While a step in the right direction, the declaration is only an interim political agreement and it is still to be seen whether the parties will sign a detailed and binding code of conduct for the South China Sea. The Working Paper starts by reviewing the nature of the maritime disputes. It then describes the security environment in the South China Sea by examining the changing strategic conditions of the disputes. Its final section discusses the long diplomatic road toward the 2002 Declaration. The Working Paper concludes that the South China Sea has remained primarily a political rather than a military issue thanks to China’s desire to accommodate the Southeast Asian countries and the limited naval capabilities available to the different claimants. 2016-01-29T03:32:19Z 2019-12-06T16:52:36Z 2016-01-29T03:32:19Z 2019-12-06T16:52:36Z 2005 Working Paper Emmers, R. (2005). Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo. (RSIS Working Paper, No. 087). Singapore: Nanyang Technological University. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/87942 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/39827 en RSIS Commentaries, 087-05 Nanyang Technological University 27 p. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science Emmers, Ralf Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo |
| title | Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo |
| title_full | Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo |
| title_fullStr | Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo |
| title_short | Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea: Strategic and Diplomatic Status Quo |
| title_sort | maritime disputes in the south china sea strategic and diplomatic status quo |
| topic | DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/87942 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/39827 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emmersralf maritimedisputesinthesouthchinaseastrategicanddiplomaticstatusquo |