By Laura Southgate
How might other South China Sea claimants responds to China’s maritime strategy?
China released its first white paper on military strategy at the end of last month. Issued by the State Council Information Office, the white paper outlines China’s strategy of “active defense,” and highlights four critical security domains: the ocean, outer space, cyberspace, and nuclear forces. For the states of Southeast Asia, China’s outlined military strategy for the ocean is going to be of particular interest, and is likely to elicit much concern. A number of regional states have been engaged in maritime territorial disputes with China.
In recent years, China has become more assertive in its claims that the whole South China Sea falls under its control. China’s white paper will have a number of implications for these regional states, and for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which to date has had little success in bringing an end to the maritime conflict. With ASEAN essentially moribund, the states of Southeast Asia will increasingly engage in both internal and external balancing to counter the Chinese threat. This will manifest itself in increased regional defense spending, and enhanced security commitments with external powers.
Read the full story at The Diplomat