China moves to expand its
reach By Antoaneta Bezlova
BEIJING - Even as it expands economic
cooperation with its wary Southeast Asian
neighbors, China's thirst for energy is compelling
it to resurrect territorial claims to
resources-rich spots in the region that have lain
dormant for years.
China's decision in
late 2007 to create a new city administration
responsible for the archipelagos of the Paracels
and Spratlys islands in the South China Sea may
not have made waves at home, but it sparked
tensions in the region and focused neighboring
countries' attention on the disputed territories.
Vietnam's two main cities of Hanoi and Ho
Chi Minh saw unprecedented street demonstrations
in December with several
hundred young people marching
round the Chinese Embassy and consulate with
banners proclaiming "Down with China!" and "Long
live Vietnam!".
In early January, a
reported conflict between Chinese and Vietnamese
fishing vessels in the international waters of the
Gulf of Tonkin drew protests from the Chinese
side. Chinese state media accused Vietnamese boats
of firing and attacking the Chinese fishermen.
And even before the waters of the South
China Sea calmed down, Taiwan announced that
President Chen Shui-bian plans to visit the
Spratlys islands, reinforcing Taiwan's claim to
these disputed territories.
The island
chains of Spratlys and Paracels have long been
flashpoints. While the oil-rich Spratlys are
claimed in full or part by China, Vietnam, the
Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, the
Paracels are claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.
The 1980s and early 1990s marked a period
of intense rivalry among Southeast Asian countries
as they began building airstrips, fishing ports,
lighthouses and sightseeing spots on the clusters
of islands and reefs. They also began developing
petroleum and gas resources in cooperation with
foreign oil companies.
China prides itself
for taking the lead in stabilizing this regional
corner by engaging in a policy of "befriending and
benefiting" its neighbors. In an effort to
strengthen ties with the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Beijing has
refrained from emphasizing territorial claims,
insisting instead that the region should be
developed together.
A 2002 breakthrough
agreement between China and ASEAN committed all
sides to resolving disputes in the South China Sea
peacefully. Two years later, China and the
Philippines agreed to exploit the oil and gas
riches of the region together and in 2005 the two
countries were joined by Vietnam in conducting a
survey of the South China Sea to probe its
reserves.
"China has always seen the
resolution of disputes in the South China Sea as a
process," says He Sheng, researcher with the China
Institute for International Relations. "We need to
start with objectives that are achievable and work
gradually towards resolving the more difficult
points. To achieve the goal of joint exploration
and joint development of the sea resources we need
more perseverance and trust."
The period
of relative calm came to an abrupt end though in
December when nationalistic street demonstrations,
said to have been green-lighted by the government,
erupted in Vietnam's main cities. Vietnam has been
historically wary of its big neighbor and in 1979
the two countries fought a brief border war.
The protests followed reports of China's
legislature ratifying plans for a huge new city
administration called Sansha with headquarters in
Hainan island to manage the three archipelagos of
Paracel, Spratly and Macclessfield Bank.
China - itself adept at orchestrating
"spontaneous" nationalistic demonstrations -
chided Vietnam over the protests but refused to
confirm reports of the planned upgrade of the
islands administration from Woody Island in the
Paracels to the new "county-level city" of Sansha
(an abbreviation of Xisha, Nansha and Zhongsha,
China's names for the archipelagos), part of
Hainan province.
An official Internet site
for Sansha city (www.sanshashi.com) however,
states its inception date as of November 2007. It
traces China's historical claims to the
archipelagos back to their alleged discovery by
the Chinese in the Qin Dynasty (around AD 200) and
claims China stationed imperial troops on the
Paracel Islands as early as 1045.
Last
week, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem
held a round of talks in Beijing in an effort to
put recent tensions behind. China did not waste
time reiterating its claims over the disputed
South China Sea islands.
"China has
indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea
islands and the surrounding waters," Chinese
foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a
regular press briefing Thursday. "Leaders from
both sides have agreed to settle the maritime
dispute through dialogue and consultation."
"In recent years, China has been more
assertive in all unresolved territorial disputes
with neighboring countries but I believe the
reason behind the decision for the creation of
Sansha is oil," says a foreign diplomat in
Beijing.
Since overtaking Japan as the
world's second largest oil consumer in 2003, China
has been closely scrutinized for its role in
global energy markets. The country's voracious
appetite for energy and commodities has been
blamed for pushing up prices around the world.
Last year China relied on imports for 50%
of its oil needs. While its oil imports amount to
just 9% of the total amount of oil traded
globally, the country's oil consumption is
projected to rise precipitously in coming years.
Chinese experts speak of the need for
Beijing to deploy "energy diplomacy" in order to
secure the country's continuing supplies of oil
and gas.
Head
Office: Unit B, 16/F, Li Dong Building, No. 9 Li Yuen Street East,
Central, Hong Kong Thailand Bureau:
11/13 Petchkasem Road,
Hua Hin, Prachuab Kirikhan, Thailand 77110
