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OSR Journal of Student Research

Volume 4 Article 1

2016

Artificial in the South Sea

Aaron Holmes California State University, San Bernardino

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Recommended Citation Holmes, Aaron (2016) "Artificial Islands in the ," OSR Journal of Student Research: Vol. 4 , Article 1. Available at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/osr/vol4/iss1/1

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of Student Research at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in OSR Journal of Student Research by an authorized editor of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Holmes: Artificial Islands in the South China Sea

Artificial Islands in the South China Sea

AARON HOLMES, Class of 2017, National Security Studies Mentor: Normal Meek, Professor, Geography & Environmental Studies

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to understand the value and implications of artificial islands constructed by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea. Qualitative analysis was used with the available literature, sources, and treaties of the topics concerned. The paper concludes that the PRC gains many benefits primarily within the realm of energy security and explores what effects they may

KEYWORDS: China, South China Sea, , Artificial Islands

INTRODUCTION , all of the countries with claims in the Artificial islands in the South China Sea South China Sea have ratified UNCLOS. help the People's Republic of China (PRC) However, many nations in the region claim bolster their energy security, national security, sovereignty over islands and reefs within the EEZ and territorial claims. The Spratly Islands in the of other nations. For example, Brunei's EEZ South China Sea are one of the most contested covers Louisa Reef, part of the Spratly Islands. regions in because of the energy, However, Louisa Reef is claimed by as international trade, and strategic concerns of the part of its territory. countries involved. Rigorous geological surveys are required to solve such territorial disputes, but they are BACKGROUND often lacking. An important feature of UNCLOS The South China Sea is located southeast is that land features that are underwater at high of mainland China (Hossain, 2013). It is bounded tide cannot be considered for determining by to the west, Taiwan to the north east, territorial waters. A possible interpretation is that the to the east, and Malaysia, if 99% of a reef is underwater at high tide, but a Indonesia, and Brunei to the south. Also to the small part manages to stay above water even south are the straits of Malacca, Sundra, and during the highest tide of the year, then it could Lombok. Within the South China Sea are many be considered an . If so, then it could be islands. At least three island groups, the Spratly claimed as sovereign territory and be used to Islands, the Paracels, and , are establish territorial waters and an EEZ. of geopolitical significance. Therefore, aerial or satellite imagery is often The Spratly Islands are one of several insufficient and geological surveys that were island groups in the South China Sea. They are performed during the highest tide of the year are composed of several hundred small islands and required. However, detailed surveys to determine reefs. The exact number is difficult to determine. if any part is above sea level at high tide are often Some sources say about 100, while others say unavailable. about 600. The majority of features in the Spratly The South China Sea and the islands Islands are reefs which are submerged at high within are some of the most contested areas in the tide. world. Almost every country bordering the South The United Nations Convention of the China Sea has competing territorial claims in the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) grants each nation an region, with the PRC's being one of the largest. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical The PRC's claim is known as the 'U-shaped line' miles from their shore or up to 350 nautical miles and covers almost the entirety of the South China of the continental shelf. With the exception of Sea, well beyond 200 nautical miles from China's

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southern shores. While this claim seems to be in construction of six artificial islands in the Spratly contradiction to UNCLOS, the PRC is making a Islands, and a seventh in 2015. The islands were claim by historic title. Article 15 of UNCLOS constructed on contested reefs in the Spratly makes mention of “historic title” but does not go Islands held by China. The artificial islands into detail. appear to be made from dredged . A paper The possibility for oil and shipping written in 2010 by a group of Chinese engineers routes are two primary motivations for the examines the engineering aspects of calcareous contention in the South China Sea. Many sand. (Calcareous sand comes from old coral and countries in and around the South China Sea are shells. It is very common on and around the reefs increasing the amount of oil they are importing of the Spratly Islands.) They specifically looked owing to rising energy demand. In the 1990s, the at , one of the most developed region's oil output plateaued and since then the artificial islands to date. From their research, they region has become a net importer of oil. Current determined that traditional pile driving was reserves of oil, approximately 13 billion barrels, ineffective in calcareous sand. Through would sustain the current demand for only experimentation, they discovered the most stable fourteen years. Access to untapped oil deposits method to support structures with calcareous sand beneath the South China Sea is a key aspect of the were square plates on top of compacted, dry sand. countries’ competing claims. Unfortunately, the The PRC's stated reason for the creation untapped resources would not be enough to meet of artificial islands and the facilities on them are demands for the region, but only offset or delay to provide services to civilian ships in the South the need for additional imports. With rising China Sea. In April 2015, Ambassador Cui energy demand, and regional reserves becoming Tiankai, stated that the purposes of the artificial depleted, securing shipping routes for energy islands are mainly to provide shelter for ships, become increasingly vital to the strategic interests navigation aid, search and rescue, weather of countries in the region. observation, and others. He also stated, “Of course there will be defense facilities. This is only CONSTRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL natural and necessary and they are purely for ISLANDS defensive purposes.” As of May 2015, there are seven artificial islands created by the PRC. The seven artificial BENEFITS OF ARTICIFICAL ISLANDS islands were created on , Fiery The PRC built the artificial islands to Cross Reef, Gaven Reef, , Johnson bolster energy security, national security, and Reef, and . Land territorial claims. Artificial islands allow the reclamation began in summer of 2014 for six of People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to the artificial islands. on station supplies and equipment in the South Mischief Reef began in early 2015, and has been China Sea to better protect oil shipments and to the fastest growing of the seven projects. defend the mainland. Also, artificial islands Mischief Reef and Fiery Cross Reef are the cannot be used to make territorial claims, but they largest at over 900,000 square meters each. Many can be used to make existing territorial claims of the artificial islands have various support difficult to dispute. facilities and equipment such as radar, Artificial islands in the South China Sea communication, surveillance, helipads, defensive also help promote Chinese national security by towers, and anti-aircraft guns. Fiery Cross Reef protecting their energy security. Energy security even has a 3,000 meter runway and there may be is a major issue in the PRC and is invariably a second one on Subi Reef. The New York Times linked with national security. Since 1993, the reported two mobile artillery vehicles on one of PRC has been an oil importing nation. In 2011, the islands, but did not identify which island. approximately 54.8% of the PRC's oil The artificial islands created by the PRC consumption was imported. Approximately 75% are most likely calcareous sand dredged up from of imported oil (or about 40% of total consumed the ocean floor near the island and compacted on oil) is shipped through the Strait of Malacca and top of the island. Starting in 2014, the PRC began the South China Sea. Therefore, whoever controls

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the Strait of Malacca, or can block it, can threaten is within the Philippine's 200 nautical mile EEZ. the PRC's oil supply. The “Malacca Dilemma” as The Philippines has one of the weakest militaries it is called in the PRC, may be one of the in the region and does not have the resources to motivations behind building the artificial islands challenge the PRC directly. As an example of in the South China Sea. The 3,000 meter runway their weak military strength, the Philippine Navy on Fiery Cross Reef allows almost any PRC grounded a WWII era ship, the Sierra Madre, into airplane to land on the island. Because of this to serve as shelter for runway, the PRC now has refueling and supply garrison troops. Without a strong military to capabilities to reach the southern end of the South counter the PRC, the Philippines will have to China Sea. Therefore, the artificial islands give search for outside help. the PRC the capability to strike against anyone The Philippines are likely to continue to who threatens the Strait of Malacca. seek resolution through legal channels, but with In addition to strengthening energy little to no success. In 2013, The Philippines security, the PRC is adding another ring of attempted to resolve territorial disputes with the security to protect the mainland. Historically, PRC through arbitration at The Hague. The PRC China promoted national security by establishing declined arbitration. Annex VII, article 9 of buffer zones around central areas of national UNCLOS does not bar proceeding if a party fails interest. From 1840 to 1945, Chinese security and to show. The Philippines has continued with the sovereignty were compromised by its lack of arbitration but each time the PRC declines. It maritime power. Building supply and support seems likely that the PRC will continue to facilities on the artificial islands allows PLAN to stonewall the Philippine's legal complaints unless fight further away from the PRC mainland. By a stronger force can compel the PRC to cooperate. extending their capabilities over the South China The Philippines will also continue to seek Sea, the PRC has enhanced security for the closer ties to the . The US and the mainland. Philippines have been allies since the 1951 The artificial islands cannot be used to Mutual Defense Treaty. This year, the US sent make new territorial claims but instead strengthen 6,000 troops to the Philippines to perform in existing Chinese claims in the South China Sea. annual joint military exercises with the Armed Like reefs that are under water at high tide, Forces of the Philippines (AFP). This was more artificial islands cannot be used to determine than twice the number of troops from last year. territorial waters or an EEZ under UNCLOS. At With the US's pivot to Asia, we are likely to see most, they are only allowed a 500 meter safety more cooperation between the US and the zone. When determining territorial claims, what Philippines. matters is the original status of the reef or island, not what it was made into. Piling compacted sand IMPLICATIONS-VIETNAM onto a reef makes determining the original status Vietnam is likely to engage in an nearly impossible. Therefore, future disputes artificial island arms building race with the PRC. based on geological surveys would work in the Land reclamation at sea was actually started by PRC's favor by eliminating any evidence against Vietnam. However, their construction is much them. However, UNCLOS also requires that due smaller in terms of scale and speed compared to notice must be given for the construction of the PRC's artificial islands. Given the history of artificial islands, which China did not do. animosity between the two countries, Vietnam may accelerate their land reclamation activities in IMPLICATIONS-PHILIPPINES response to the PRC's. The Philippines is likely to continue The seven artificial islands made by the searching for outside help to regain territorial PRC so far are not the only land reclamation claims. The Philippines have the most to lose. activities performed in the South China Sea. The Losing access to resources in the South China Sea two islands held by Vietnam, Sand Cay and West could damage the Filipino economy. All seven of Reef, have increased in size. Land reclamation on the PRC's artificial islands are within the Sand Cay island started in 2011 and work on Philippine's claimed territory, and Mischief Reef West Reef started in 2012. Both predate the land

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reclamation on any of the PRC islands. However, open shipping routes throughout the region, the they are much smaller compared to the PRC's US is supporting its own national security, islands, and land reclamation was performed economic access, and political influence. Ninety much more slowly. percent of the oil destined for US allies goes There is a long history of animosity through the Strait of Malacca and the South China between Vietnam and the PRC. In Vietnam's Sea. However, the PRC believes that the US is 2,500 years of history, Vietnam was invaded by attempting to expand its hegemonic influence in China (now People's Republic of China) the region and to keep the PRC out. Because of seventeen times. In more recent times, the PRC the competing interests of the US and the PRC, invaded the and took control of we are likely to see more incidents like the them from Vietnam in 1974. The islands are Cowpens incident. On 5 December 2013, a currently controlled by the PRC but still claimed PLAN ship deliberately crossed the path of the by Vietnam. Later in 1988, PRC forces took USS Cowpens. The USS Cowpens was forced to control of after killing maneuver to avoid colliding with the PLAN ship. approximately 70 Vietnamese sailors stationed on the island. In 2014, the PRC moved the CONCLUSION Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig into waters near the The seven artificial islands built by the Paracels sparking a standoff between Vietnamese PRC help protect their energy security, national and PRC coast guard vessels. PRC ships rammed security, and territorial claims in the South China and blasted water at Vietnamese ships. Sea. The islands give the PRC the capability to Many of the islands do not offer project power throughout the region, protect oil economic value, but have strategic value. The shipments and create a buffer for the mainland. Paracels for example, offer almost no economic They also reinforce existing territorial claims by value but instead give the PRC a first strike making precise scientific measurements of the capability against Vietnam by placing airstrips original features impossible. These islands also and facilities closer to the Vietnam mainland. have ramifications for the US and other countries With the enhanced strike capability the islands in the region, in terms of security, energy, and offer, Vietnam may attempt to balance the territorial claims. strategic advantage of the PRC's artificial islands with islands of their own. REFERENCES AMTI Leadership. “Keynote Speech by IMPLICATIONS-MALAYSIA & Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the International INDONESIA Conference on China-US Cooperation in The implications of the PRC's artificial Global Security Affairs.” Center for islands for Malaysia and Indonesia should have Strategic & International Studies. April 20, little effect on territorial claims but would more 2015.Accessed:2015/6/5 likely affect their energy policies. Territorial http://amti.csis.org/china-responds-a-speech- disputes for both countries are much smaller. by-amb-cui-tiankai/ Malaysia occupies only three islands at the “Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative: Island southern end of the Spratly Islands, but these Tracker.” Center for Strategic & three islands are claimed by Brunei. Indonesia International Studies. Accessed: 2015/6/5. does not claim any of the disputed islands. http://amti.csis.org/island-tracker/ Currently, Indonesia is an oil importer and Batongbacal, Jay. “Arbitration 101: Philippines Malaysia is expected to become an oil importer in v. China” Center for Strategic & the near future. This may influence Indonesia and International Studies. Jan. 21, 2015. Malaysia to compete with the PRC for energy, Accessed:2015/6/5.Http://amti.csis.org/arbit shipping routes, and energy security. ration-101-philippines-v-china/ “Chronological lists of ratification of, accessions IMPLICATIONS-UNITED STATES and successions to the convention and the The US is likely to experience more related agreement as at 3 October 2014.” brinksmanship from the PRC. By maintaining United

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