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| Sailors on board Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh maintain their shooting skills while on patrol in the South China Sea. Photo: US Navy Photo, Lt. Frederick Martin | FlickrCC. |
China and its neighbors Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines
are involved in territorial disputes over the East and South China Seas. As
China begins to assert its power in the area, the United States and its
regional allies grow more concerned about armed conflict. The area has
strategic importance to the economy of the Asia-Pacific region, and increased
instability might damage economic growth.
Understanding these complex disputes is made easier by the
work of organizations like the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). It draws on
the experience of its members to provide non-partisan guidance and insight.
Members include Zoë Baird, President, The Markle Foundation; Bill
Ford, General Atlantic Chief Executive Officer; and Margaret Warner, Senior
Correspondent, PBS NewsHour.
The territorial disputes between China and its neighbors have
been an issue for centuries. They can be traced back to the Russian and
Japanese War of 1894. China’s growth as an international and regional economic
power has empowered their government to take greater risks in preserving their
authority. Their territorial claims are perceived threats to the current status
quo.
The CFR is dedicated to providing resources that will
elevate and inform the public debate on issues important to our burgeoning
world culture. High-level discussions with world leaders, US government
officials, CEOs, policy analysts, and others provide insight and understanding.
As a nonpartisan think tank, the CFR is dedicated to educating citizens so that
they have a better understanding of issues the US and other countries are
currently facing.
The resources provided by the CFR become increasingly
important when there are territorial disputes involving several countries.
China has adopted an aggressive stance regarding their expansion into the East
and South China Sea. “We are strongly committed to safeguarding the country’s
sovereignty and security and defending our territorial integrity,” said Chinese
President Xi
Jingping.
The recent rebuke issued by an international tribunal in The
Hague in response to China’s behavior in the South China Sea will further complicate
this dispute. China has been constructing artificial islands in the South China
Sea based on their claim to sovereignty of these waters. The tribunal rejected
China’s claim, which was brought by the Philippines. They said that China had
caused irreparable harm to the marine environment and endangered the shipping
and fishing industries.
The next steps in this territorial dispute are complex and
may include some type international arbitration. We are fortunate to have the
resources of the CFR to help improve our
understanding of these complex and dynamic issues.
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