Effect of the Decline Aquatic Protein Resources in the South China Sea on Regional Stability
Abstract
The efforts of the United States and the international community, both past and present, to challenge China's territorial claims in the South China Sea have not produced, and never will produce, any meaningful effect on China's behavior. This is because the current narrative - which centers on contesting the legal basis of China's territorial claims, a confrontation-based information warfare campaign, and active operations - fundamentally misunderstands China's motivations and focuses on a minor root cause for regional instability. This paper argues that the real threat to regional stability in the South China Sea is the decline of the aquatic protein resources in the area and that the United States should take the lead in re-focusing the international narrative on cooperation to preserve these resources - even to the extent of ceasing to contest China's territorial claims in the area. This paper further argues that the Port State Measures Agreement provides a framework for resource preservation through encouraging and leveraging China's willing participation in the agreement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 19, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1147639
Entities
People
- Joshua D. Weiss
Organizations
- Naval War College