Mains 2016 : South China Sea dispute and India

Context:

China has rejected the ruling of an international tribunal at The Hague which says – China has no legal basis for its claims on the South China Sea.

Background, The story so far:

• The SCS is a busy international waterway, one of the main arteries of global economy and trade. China claims more than 85% of it.
• More than $5 trillion of world trade ships pass through the SCS every year.The SCS is also resource rich, with numerous offshore oil and gas blocks.
• There are a few hundred small islands in the SCS, a part of the Pacific Ocean. Some of the main ones are Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands and Scarborough Shoal, the bone of contention between China and the Philippines.
• China claims most of these islands as its own.Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.
• China buttresses its claims by citing 2,000 years of history when the two island chains were regarded as its integral parts.
• Philippines raised the dispute with China to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (at The Hague), saying China’s claims violated Philippines’ sovereignty under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• Meanwhile, China has been building some artificial islands, which besides being detrimental to the ecology of the region, is also in the disputed territory.
• The result of this arbitration was announced on July 12, 2016, with the panel saying China had no “historic rights” over the SCS.

 India’s interest in SCS:

• Almost 55 per cent of India’s trade with the Asia Pacific transits through the SCS.
• India’s interest in this region is a component of its ‘Look East Policy’, driven by;
  • Its need to secure resources,
  • Protect Sea Lanes of Communication vital for trade, and
  • Engage with nations with which it has cultural and historical strategic ties.
• India has commercial interest in the region. Vietnam has offered India seven oil blocksin its territory of SCS. Also it has signed defense deals with India.
• India has signed energy deals with Brunei too.
• The South China Sea provides a pathway to greater economic integration with Asia Pacific.

India’s stand on South China Sea dispute (also on PCA’s decision):

• India supports freedom of navigation and over flight and unimpeded commerce, based on the principle of international law as reflected notably in UNCLOS.
  • India opposes China’s claim over nine dash line. It is also opposed to China’s aggression in South China Sea.
• India believes that involved states should resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force.
• India also disagrees with United States’ interpretation of maritime law and the freedoms enjoyed by foreign warships in littoral spaces.
• It does not concur with US’ attempts at claiming a “right to uninterrupted passage” in coastal (territorial or EEZ) waters without prior permission of subject state.

What should India do?

• Trade relation with countries should be vigorously pursued and it should be expanded in defense cooperation also, which has started happening.
• Links with the ASEAN countries both individually and collectively should also receive due attention.
• Close relations with the US, without antagonizing China, as well as with Japan and Australia are imperative.
• The supply of frigates to The Philippines should be pursued. Supply of BrahMos and Varunastra to Vietnam should also be pursued.
• India has close economic and trade links with all these countries and enhancing military trade with them needs to be seen in the light of the focus on “Make in India” making Indian arms competitive globally.

Conclusion:

India should continue efforts to vigorously safe-guard its interests in that vital region.It is a growing economy with vital trade routes passing through the region. Thus freedom of navigation and over flight are of vital interest to India.

India’s growing capacity in the military and economic sphere has brought even the United States to vouch for India as a stabilizer in the region. Hence, there is a justified expectation of countries in the region that India, as a benign emerging power, should play its role in enhancing safety and security of the Global Commons. However, India has to carefully respond to situations in South China Sea as it is not isolated from other issues like India’s NSG membership, Belt Road Initiative, String of Pearls etc.

This Article is a part of ForumIAS Mains 2016 Initiative. For a list of all articles that will be published on ForumIAS Portal for Mains visit https://forumias.com/portal/mains2016