South
China Sea and Australia
The South China Sea disputes have
entered a dangerous new phase in the last several years. Alongside China’s
unprecedented construction and fortification of artificial features, incidents
at sea involving clashes between various combinations of fishermen, coast
guards and, occasionally, naval assets, are occurring on a routine basis. With
the nationalist credentials of authoritarian and democratically-elected
claimant governments at stake, the potential for miscalculation and escalation
(whether inadvertent or intended) is growing.
Australia’s aspirations for a viable
‘rules-based’ strategic order in the Indo-Pacific are under significant
pressure as regional powers contest the very nature and scope of these rules
via the disputes. Key Australian interests and relationships are being
tested.
Approximately two thirds of Australia’s exports
pass through the South China Sea and the island corridors north of Australia. Any internal or
external conflicts between countries can directly impact upon the prosperity of
Australia.
Australia’s position on the South China Sea remains
pragmatic, unchanged over the last few years.
Australia’s position adheres to the same
oft-repeated formulation: Australia urges claimants to act in accordance with
international law, to avoid coercive behaviour and unilateral actions, to
engage in dialogue and to reach a resolution through peaceful means. Australia
has also been consistent in asserting support for states’ rights under
international law to freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight. Australia
itself remains committed to regularly conducting maritime surveillance patrols
of the South China Sea, as it has done for over 30 years as part of Operation
Gateway, despite being routinely challenged by the Chinese Navy.
The argument as to whether Australia needs
to make a choice between its major economic partner, China, and its primary security
partner, the US, has been central to discussions about Australia’s security and
economic interests in recent years.
Australia’s national interests in the South
China Sea are defined as primarily economic and security related, that is,
economic in terms of Australian trade passing through the South China Sea, and
security related in terms of supporting a continued US presence in the Asia
Pacific as a stabilizing influence representing the existing, rules-based
global order.
The
prospects for the future development of economic relations between Australia
and ASEAN are very substantial but their realization will depend crucially on
the maintenance of stability and security in Southeast Asia and in Asia more
widely. Two issues in political and security relations have recently been of
particular concern for ASEAN and Australia—the contest for influence in the
South China Sea and the ongoing dangers from terrorism, highlighted in 2017 by
the five-month-long conflict in the Philippine city of Marawi.
In
relation to the South China Sea, the Australian Government has consistently
noted that Australia is not a claimant state and does not take sides in
relation to claims. Australia has emphasized the desirability of dialogue and
negotiation; opposes artificial modifications or militarization of islands or
features in the Sea; supports freedom of navigation and over-flight; and
supports a legally-binding code of conduct. Australia has reiterated its
approach at recent meetings of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit. The Australian
Government’s position was reaffirmed in its 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper (released
in November 2017).
Australia
and the South China Sea: debates and dilemmas
Australian
Foreign Policy White Paper
Australia’s
National Interest
ASEAN-Australia
(Special Summit, March 2018)
Jorge Emilio Núñez
Twitter:
@London1701
20th September 2018
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