Growing Shadow of China | free PDF for UPSC, SSC & BANK

Table of Contents

Recent Events

Carl Vincent, an USA aircraft carrier made a port call at Da Nang,
Vietnam.
Big news
First time after 1975, US
military personnel landed
on Vietnamese soil.
Recent Events
USA does not have any
coherent strategy for South
China Sea (SCS)
China created and
militarised 7 artificial islands
in the SCS.
still does not seem to
have this region under his
radar.
5 years ago China began
pushing its borders far out
into SCS.
These developments carry far-reaching strategic
implications for the Indo-Pacific region and for the
international maritime order.
The biggest threat to maritime peace and security comes
from unilateralism.
China is violating international norms & rules.
Indo-Pacific is interconnected.
It was always knownthat if China had its way in the SouthChina Sea, it would turn its attention to the Indian Ocean and
the western Pacific.
An emboldenedChina has alsoclaimed to be a“near-Arctic state”and unveiled plansfor “PolarSilk Road”.
China is now using a super-dredger, dubbed as a
“magical island-building machine”.
Last year alone, China built permanent facilities on
2,90,000 square metres of newly reclaimed land,
according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

US distracted as ever, China’s land-reclamation frenzy in the
South China Sea still persists.
US Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the South
China Sea cannot make up for the absence of an American
strategy.
Freedom of navigation (FON) is a principle of customary international
law that ships flying the flag of any sovereign state shall not suffer
interference from other states, apart from the exceptions provided for
in international law.
FONOPS neither deter China nor reassure America’s regional
allies.
•• US distracted as ever, China’s land-reclamation frenzy in the
South China Sea still persists.
• US Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the South
China Sea cannot make up for the absence of an American
strategy.
• Freedom of navigation (FON) is a principle of customary international
law that ships flying the flag of any sovereign state shall not suffer
interference from other states, apart from the exceptions provided for
in international law.
FONOPS neither deter China nor reassure America’s regional
allies.
Countries bearing the brunt of China’s recidivism have been
left with difficult choices.left with difficult choices.
Japan, of course, has reversed a decade of declining
military outlays.
India has revived stalled naval modernisation.
Artificial islands: permanent aircraft carriers
Its potential role extends to the Indian Ocean and the
western Pacific.

First overseas military base at Djibouti
Deployment of warships around Gwadar port.
Acquisition of Hambantota port under a 99-year lease.
70% stake in Myanmar’s deep-water Kyaukpyu port.
Maldives: acquisition of several islets
During French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent New Delhivisit, France and India agreed to reciprocal access to eachother’s naval facilities.
This is similar to the US-India Logistics ExchangeMemorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). Quad members needs to start coordinating their approaches.
Like-minded states must work closely together to positivelyshape developments in the Indo-Pacific, including by ensuring that continued unilateralism is not cost-free.