13) issues with geopolitics + south china sea expansion

Geopolitics

= a combination of geographical and political factors affecting a country/area

... other countries are only able to respond or reify in a more constrained way

unequal power relations

enables some countries to drive global systems to their own advantage and to directly influence geopolitical events

G7

worlds biggest global economies

canada, france, italy, uk, japan, china, US

G20

group of 20 largest economies in the world

the G7 + Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, turkey, South Korea

OECD

= organisation of economic coordination and development

... 38 countries

influence

the countries with the biggest economies have the greatest influence and are likely to profit more from the economic decision made

... the smaller countries with developing economies don't have a voice in the decision and so are likely to get left behind

the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries account for...

- 3/5ths of the worlds GDP
- 3/4 of world trade
- over 90% of global official development assistance
- 1/2 the worlds energy consumption
- 18% of the worlds population

Chinese expansion in the South China Sea

South China Sea = home to vital shipping lanes, with claims on territories within the Indian and pacific ocean being disputed about for years

.... china has been creating new islands used as naval + aircraft bases and even a 6-hectare vegetable farm

=> these islands increase chinas assertiveness over the South China Sea as allows them to have some sort of arguable claim over his much of the sea they own

expansion into south china sea video summary
(careful with outdated/biased videos)

• 30% trade passes through here

• un convention on the law of the sea - each country is limited to a EEZ - exclusive economic zone

• EEZ - 200 nautical miles off coast of country - all resources/water belongs to them

• areas which are not included fall under UN maritime law - is known as international waters, owned by all

• sprotely islands = heart fo china sea

• claimed by multiple countries including china, vietnam, malaysia, phillipines

• aim of cliaming = would increase the EEZ of the country

• THE CABBAGE STRATEGY - china surrounded islands starting with AYUNGIN SHOAL with military ships to cut off other coutnries access - allows them to claim the island

issues of sovereignty and resource exploitation - South China Sea

the UNCLOS have a 200 nautical mile exclusion zone that each country can claim and with the creation of new islands, china's zone could supposedly increase

.... means that china would have access to trade routes that link to the rest of the world, allowing their economy to grow + them to dominate shipping lanes
=> limits the exports of other country

... problems with their increased naval and military presence threatens the US as islands can be used for aircrafts, missiles and ships
=> china now has worlds greatest feats in maritime engineering and military construction

stages of expansion into South China Sea

first stage = construction and populating islands
- resettling small fishing communities, building primary schools, bank, hospital, installing mobile communications, scheduled cruise stop
... making the islands "habitable"

second stage = establishing country level administrative districts and peoples governments on the islands so they can be recognised as Chinese territories/islands

problems with expansion in South China Sea

1. armed conflict between countries
= the us may fight back or create tension as they survey and observe Chinese operations with the threat of Chinese military overtaking the US

2. conflicts with trade routes
= outcompeting other countries with accessibility
.... Malaysia and Vietnamese, argue that china is building on their territory and feels threatened by the decreasing distance between their borders

3. us claim the construction of these islands is illegal
= increase tension and possible disputes over other economic arrangements

4. possibilities of a Cold War