The Abstracts of Vol.3,2017
Releasing Time：05.16.2017Source：亚非发展研究所英文
China-ASEAN Cooperation:Mechanisms,
Fruits and Prospect
Xu Bu
The year 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN） The China-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership began in 1991. With the 26-year concerted efforts of both sides, the China-ASEAN relations are now facing the vital development period of carrying on the past achievements and opening up a new future. Looking back over the past, the China-ASEAN cooperation mechanisms have been improving and the fruitful achievements of all areas have been achieved, which contributes greatly to the East Asian cooperation and plays a vital role in maintaining the peace, stability and prosperity of the region. Now the China-ASEAN relations are marching towards the mature period, the cooperation and development mechanisms are forming advantages, which are believed to bring vigor and opportunities to the China-ASEAN strategic cooperation in the future.
Marine Environment and Strategic
Position of Huangyan Island
Wang Ying
Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal), also named “ Democracy Reef”, has been part of the Chinese territory since the early Yuan Dynasty. It is vital in geo-strategic position to China. First, as the only area above the sea surface in northeast South China Sea (SCS), Huangyan Island is regarded as the gateway to the northeast SCS. Second, it serves as the hub of the semi-closed Asia-Pacific sea area to channel the wider seas. Third, it is located to the southern Taiwan Strait and is the access across the Pacific to SCS. Fourth, it is the midway from Xisha Islands to Luzon Island, from Nansha Islands to Taiwan, and to the Pacific through Bashi Channel. The sea around Huangyan Island is resourceful in sea-life, new energy and minerals, thus has huge economic value and broad prospect of development. Besides, Chinese ancient fishers had been taking fishing operations in the sea area, and the Chinese tradition of fishing in SCS and the East China Sea has been continuing through generations until now. Thus ,we need to defend the “heritage”, and moreover, to continue the exploration and development of the sea around Huangyan Island.
On the Security Issues of the Arctic
Route from the Perspective of China
Li AnminZhao Fulin
China will be a beneficiary party of the future openning of the Arctic sea line of communication, with more options of routes to the world economic centers like Europe and North America. Although the Arctic sea line is much more secure compared with other sea lines as it lacks of such threats like Somalia pirates, there are many other security threats existed, which need to be considered to deal with in advance if we want to take advantage of it.
“Strengthening the Nation through the Sea” and“Building up the Nation upon the Sea”:
A Comparison of Sea Power Thoughts betweenChina and Japan in the 21st Century
Hou Angyu
Since the beginning of the 21st century, it is becoming more and more obvious that the two powers of China and Japan exist side-by-side and within close proximity. The magnitude and speed of China´s “going-out to sea” and that of Japan´s normalization of its military independence are increasing at the same time. The interaction and collision at sea between the two nations are also becoming increasingly fierce. At the beginning of the 21st century, the national strategy designs for the sea power of both China and Japan are basically clear with a series of guiding outlines. China´s “strengthening the nation through the sea” and Japan´s “building up the nation upon the sea” are both titles of the respective countries strategic plans. Despite similarities, there are major differences between China and Japan´s national strategies regarding sea power in terms of factors including basic objectives, differences in land-vs-sea as the main economic engine of the respective countries, historical responsibility, and future ambitions. Due to these differences, “strengthening the nation through the sea” and “building up the nation upon the sea” will inevitably clash regarding the goal, the orientation and the governance system of sea power development. China´s “strengthening the nation through the sea” and Japan´s “building up the nation upon the sea” represent the collision of maritime ambitions between China and Japan The development of China cannot be independent from the world and vice versa. China´s road to “strengthening the nation through the sea” is one of peaceful development and China will not act as a challenger of the international system.
On the Institutional Building to Settle the
South China Sea Disputes through the“Dural-Track” Approach
Kong Qingjiang
While the conflict of interests between the countries surrounding the South China Sea is the source of the dispute, the external interventions, lack of common norms for conduct in the region and a dispute prevention mechanism contribute to the escalation of disputes from time to time. In 2014, China began the “Dural-Track” approach, which suggests that while all the countries in the region work together to take responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, disputes shall be left to the disputing countries to resolve. Claimants undertaking negotiation on the establishment of a dispute escalation prevention mechanism shall fall within Track I, while reaching consensus on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea shall be taken as a focus on Track II. The rise of China´s influence shall heed to earlier conclusion of the Code of Conduct among China and ASEAN member states, and an earlier negotiation among all the claimants for the establishment of a dispute escalation prevention mechanism among them for the purpose of laying down the foundation for the resolution of disputes and maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
An Analysis of Disputes Concerning theAttributes of Islands in the South China Sea
Arbitration Cases: Enlightenment of theUnity of Island Sovereignty in SCS
Fan Wenguang
Disputes regarding the attributes of islands have formed a major part of the South China Sea Arbitration Cases. These disputes involve two aspects: the legal attributes of the islands which are meant to define the islands’ maritime features such as land, rocks or land appearing only at low tide; and the territorial attributes, which refer to things like whether ‘land’ that is only visible during low-tide （low-tide elevations） can or cannot be considered ‘land’ for the purpose of territorial sovereignty.
The disputes in question cause two important legal issues: firstly, is the determination of the island´s legal attributes irrelevant to the question of sovereignty?secondly, can low-tide elevations where land is not continuously visible provide sufficient basis for territorial sovereignty? The first issue is concerned with whether the tribunal in question has jurisdiction over the disputes of an island´s attributes and maritime features, and if there is a legal basis for China´s “not accepting”, “not participating”, or “not recognizing” the rulings. The second issue concerns the unity of the South China Sea island´s sovereignty. This paper first analyses the root and intentions of the Philippines’ submissions, followed by discussion of the legal attributes of the islands and the territorial attributes of the islands. Finally, the paper puts forward the topic of the desired unity of all South China Sea islands sovereignty and explains it in regards to the relevant legal principles.
A Review of the Studies on the America´s
South China Sea Policy
Wang SenYang Guanghai
From the end of the Cold War, Chinese scholars began to comprehensively study the South China Sea issue.With the South China Sea issue becoming increasingly prominent on the international stage, Chinese domestic research was relatively weak until recently. The year 2009 can be seen as the turning point, since then China´s domestic research on the South China Sea has been significantly improved, leading to a large number of scholarly achievements. Meanwhile, western scholars have also expanded the scale of research to make abundant findings. Indeed, almost all current works on Sino-US relations, America´s East Asia strategy and Asia-Pacific strategy are referred to the South China Sea. This paper tries to grasp the academic development of America´s South China Sea policy.
Cam Ranh Bay and Vietnam´s Balancing Strategy in the South China Sea
Wang Zhen Xu Liang
Cam Ranh Bay is considered as the finest deepwater shelter in the South China Sea Since the withdrawal of Russia in 2002, Cam Ranh Bay has been transformed into the main base of Vietnam People´s Navy. At the same time, Cam Ranh´s economic development has made significant achievements. Cam Ranh International Port was established and unveiled in March, 2016 Many countries´ warships had visited this port by October, 2016, including China, US, Russia, France, India, Japan and Singapore. With the aid of Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam tries to promote military modernization and equidistant diplomacy in the South China Sea, highlighting its balancing strategy. While avoiding the situation complicated, China should take rebalancing actions to defend the sovereignty of the South China Sea. Firstly, China should enhance its military presence in the South China Sea to reduce strategic importance of Cam Ranh Bay. Secondly, China should contain the nationalism within Vietnam by comprehensive diplomatic, economic, and military approaches.
The Analysis of Fishery Disputes Settlement under
the Impact of Free Trade Agreement betweenChina and South Korea
Cai Yixi Zhang Yanqiang
“China and South Korea Fishery Agreement” is a temporary arrangement in order to maintain the normal operation of fishery management, considering that the permanent demarcation agreement has not yet been reached. While the agreement has been in effect since 2011, Illegal, Unreported, & Unregulated （IUU） fishing has caused an increase in the frequency of fishing disputes between China and South Korea. Sometimes, these incidents can escalate into violence. When the free trade agreement between China and South Korea comes into force, trade relations in the aquatic products sector will move from the status quo towards a more balanced competition. At that time, China and South Korea will inevitably pay closer attention to the issue of IUU fishing, and those practicing in it will face greater economic and legal risks. Based on the above, to resolve disputes between China and South Korea and protect fisherman´s livelihoods, China should adopt economic measures to prevent IUU behaviors, increase efforts to crack down on illegal fishing, and strengthen cooperation with South Korea to achieve more effective and mutually beneficial results.