Abstract
Since September 2013, China has transformed seven features in the disputed Spratlys into artificial islands. It is currently developing extensive military and civilian infrastructure on these reclaimed atolls. • Beijing has argued that it is acting within its sovereign rights and that the facilities will provide public goods for international shipping. It has rejected accusations that its actions have endangered freedom of navigation or regional stability.
Contrary to China’s claims, the primary purpose of the man-made islands is strategic, as they will allow the Chinese navy, coast guard and air force to maintain a continuous presence in the Spratly Islands and strengthen Beijing’s ability to enforce its territorial and jurisdictional claims across the South China Sea.
The Philippines has been a vocal critic of the reclamations and has accused China of violating its sovereign rights and seeking to exert de facto control of the waters within the so-called ‘nine-dash line’.
ASEAN has expressed ‘serious concerns’ over the reclamations and their potential to undermine peace and stability, its strongest statement to date on the South China Sea. Several Southeast Asian countries have called for ASEAN and China to expedite a Code of Conduct to reduce tensions.
The United States has accused Beijing of changing the status quo in the South China Sea, intensifying the militarization of the dispute, destabilizing the region, undermining international norms and rules and violating existing agreements with ASEAN. The reclamations have sparked a debate on how the US should respond and whether it should adopt measures that challenge or impose costs on Chinese actions in the maritime domain.
China’s reclamations are likely to heighten tensions between Beijing and the Southeast Asian claimants, principally the Philippines and Vietnam, and become a growing source of discord in Sino-US relations.
Read article here