China is starting to assert it’s might not only economically but also militarily, particularly in what was geographically known as the South China Sea. With all it’s strength and power, countries that lay claim to the diminutive and scattered islands called the Spratleys can offer only token resistance to the imposing Chinese battleship stationed in the area. Long considered a potential flashpoint for it’s rich natural resources, the contested area (given many names by countries that lay claim to it) is a politically good opportunity for the Chinese government to showcase to the world it’s military prowess. The message is being served, not just to the opposing small and militarily defenseless countries but also to the other super powers particularly the U.S., Great Britain and Japan that China is a force to reckon with right now and moreso in the future.
The treaty finalized by the UNCLOS(United Nation’s Convention on the Law of the Sea) of which China was even a signatory is proving to be more of a wrangled diplomatic idea rather than a desired solution to the conflicting claims of neighbor countries. For years, they laboured to produce the said treaty at the expense of government coffers only to see in the end that some countries were not amenable to it. Gee whiz, even the US did not ratify the treaty!
Small countries will protest all they can for sure, but they have no strength to begin with and they know pretty well that they don’t stand a chance, so they will look up to the other superpowers. The superpowers though will take this one sitting down. We’re just not worth their time, energy and money. Southeast Asia after all is not the Middle East.
Tinkering With Ideas 