Slow Siege of the Spratly Islands: China's South China Sea Strategy
Abstract
The Spratly Islands cover an area of the South China Sea of both strategic and economic importance. Six nations claim all or portions of the islands and have individually pursued economic development of the rich resources in the territory. These competing claims have also been the source of conflict. The most successful aggressors have been the Chinese, who claim all of the islands as sovereign territory and back their claims with their ever-modernizing People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N). In an effort to avoid further military clashes and peacefully resolve the conflicting claims, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) drafted a South China Sea Code of Conduct. Chinese representatives participated in the October 2000 Working Group that drafted the code, but China has not agreed to the code's current content. China's long-term intentions in the Spratlys and the South China Sea involves deep historical, cultural, political, economic and security issues. Because of these influences, China is unlikely to ever agree to a long-term resolution that cedes control of any Spratly Islands territory to another claimant state. While the Chinese may accept the security benefits of the current status quo, the United States cannot afford to neglect this issue.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 06, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA389080
Entities
People
- John T. Collins
Organizations
- United States Army War College