1 / 18

Spratly islands in the south china sea

For a Mexican Morena

guest74455
Download Presentation

Spratly islands in the south china sea

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Spratly Islands and Developing Nations By Paulo Branquinho and Hunter Wang

  2. What are they? The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea(the largest in the world covering 1,148,500 square miles) Carries roughly a third of the world's shipping and accounts for a tenth of the world's fish catch-about $5.3 trillion of global trade passes through the South China Sea each year

  3. Why are they important? Hydrocarbons - Estimated that the Spratly area holds oil and natural gas reserves of 17.7 billion tons (1.60 × 1010 kg), as compared to the 13 billion tons (1.17 × 1010 kg) held by Kuwait, placing it as the fourth largest reserve bed in the world. The Hydrocarbon deposits have been valued at 26.3 Trillion US dollars as of 2012. “The Philippines is like a blind beggar sitting on a mountain of gold. Within the country’s 200-mile (EEZ) are potential recoverable hydrocarbon deposits worth an estimated US$26.3 trillion. More than enough to lift the country from the centuries long morass of poverty and underdevelopment” Commercial fishing Commercial shipping

  4. China’s claim • Aside from earlier historical claim. China issued an official map in 1947 claiming that it had sovereignty over the region

  5. Taiwan’s claim Taiwan share similar claim due to historical reasons Taiwan is the furthest country away from the area yet it owns the largest island, the only one that has fresh water

  6. Vietnam’s claim • Vietnam disputes Chinese’s historical claim, stating that  it has actively ruled over both the Paracels and the Spratlys since the 17th Century 

  7. Philippines’ claim • Philippines uses geographic proximity to the Spratly as its main reason • Recently renamed the South China Sea to West Philippines Sea

  8. Malaysia and Brunei  • Both nations claim that under UNCLOS, the Spratly falls under its exclusive economic zone

  9. What each country claim

  10. What actually happens

  11. International Law • UNCLOS • Established to a full extent in 1982. • Territorial water: 12 nautical miles (Right to innocent passage for civilian passage, transit passage for military vessel) • Contiguous zone: 12 nautical miles aka hot pursuit area (Right to enforce laws such as customs/immigration) • Exclusive economic zone (EEZ): 200 nautical miles (starting from the edge of territorial water)

  12. Recent Confrontations China stepped up its activities regarding its claims to the South China Sea and the Spratly Islands, It warned Exxon Mobile and BP to stop exploring for oil and gas in offshore areas near Vietnam. Vietnamese fishing vessels have been seized and their crews have been detained for fishing in disputed waters In May 2011, Chinese patrol boats attacked and cut the cable of Vietnamese oil exploration ships near Spratly islands. The incidence sparked several anti-China protests in Vietnam

  13. Foreign Policies of Developing Nations Philippines is siding with the U.S. since it has close zero naval capacities (Japanese provided some vessels) 80% oil going to Japan passes through the region Vietnam is basically on its own. It has been buying quality weapons from Russia. Eg. Kilo Class submarine Every country aside from China, is relying on the pressure and assistance of the international community once war erupts Philippines and Vietnam granted oil exploration contracts to U.S. companies

  14. China’s Policies Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said, “China enjoys indisputable sovereign rights on the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters…China is a big country and other countries are small countries and that’s just a fact.” Beijing uses a "talk and take" strategy Motive of averting superpower encirclement has also influenced Chinese strategy Recouping China's honor and dignity after a "century of humiliation"

  15. Possible Endings Conflict leading to war Mutual Cooperation Standoff remains

  16. Discussion Do you think countries not from this region should be involved in the Spratly islands dispute? How do you think this is going to end? Is this the biggest current global issue that may possibly lead to WW3? Who do you think suffers the most?

More Related