Under the Dragon's Wing: A Strategic Approach to China's Militarization Efforts of its Artificial Islands in the South China Sea
Abstract
In recent months, there have been multiple reports about increased activity by the Chinese government in the South China Sea (SCS). These reports include Chinese construction of artificial islands on top of reefs in the disputed Spratly island chain. By adding weapons systems and constructing airfields capable of landing any military aircraft in their inventory, the tension between China and its neighboring nations has slowly increased. But with no territorial claims in the region, what cause for concern does the United States Government (USG) have regarding China's land reclamation and militarization efforts in the SCS? What means does the USG have available to enforce the international legal requirements set forth in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)? What impact does China's advanced Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) network have on U.S. joint force operations in the SCS? What options exist in order to assist and reassure our partners in the region? These and other questions will be addressed in order to assess the best use of the military as an instrument of national power in order to challenge the Chinese militarization of artificial islands in the SCS.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 09, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1038848
Entities
People
- Justin L. Reddick
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College