Case study: 🇨🇳 activity in the S.🇨🇳🌊

Events

• 🇨🇳 has tried to claim prosperous international waters (Nine-Dash Line)

• 🇺🇸 and other countries have carried out patrols to prevent this

• In response, 🇨🇳 has been militarily surrounding small islands in the S.🇨🇳🌊 and has built up its navy to protect itself

Application to realism: IGOs and IL

• 🇺🇳 said 🇨🇳 was not complying with international law (UNCLOS says a country can only claim 200 nautical miles outside of its land border)

  • This was ignored by 🇨🇳

Application to realism: security dilemma and power

• 🇨🇳, 🇺🇸, 🇻🇳 and 🇵🇭 (and other countries that have claims to the Spratley islands) all have increased military presence in the region to retain power and influence

  • This has created a security dilemma

Application to realism: national interest

• 🇨🇳 is interested in the region as it gives it more power outside of its land borders

• 🇺🇸 and countries surrounding that area are also interested as this would threaten their national security and national interest