Contestation of global influence Flashcards
Russia’s actions in the Arctic Circle.
It is believed that the Arctic Circle contains 30% of the world’s undiscovered gas reserves, however, no one country has a claim to the entire Arctic Circle instead it is contested by many countries. Russia has expressed its interest in extending its claim of the Arctic Circle by conducting military exercises as well as placing outposts along the Arctic Circle - one of these, Barentsburg, has been used to show how Russia’s history should extend its exclusive economic zone further into the Arctic Circle.
What is an exclusive economic zone?
This is a region 200 nautical miles from a country’s territorial sea. A country has complete jurisdiction over all human and physical resources in its exclusive economic zone.
China’s actions in the South China Sea.
Ships passing through the South China Sea carry over $5 trillion in trade per year. The South China Sea produces an estimated 12% of global fishing catch , worth $21bn per year and employing 3.7 million people. China estimates that the region contains 125 billion barrels of oil and 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
This has influenced Chinese policies such as building islands in the South China Sea and occupying the Spratly and Paracel islands to extend its claim over the South China Sea. they have also claimed a “ nine-dash line” due to historical claims to the area. This encircles 80% of the South China Sea by area. Chinese occupation of the Spratly and Paracel islands violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as China accesses resources in the EEZ of other countries.
China has shown their intentions to maintain influence over the South China Sea. in 1974 the Chinese seized the Paracel islands from Vietnam and killed more than 70 Vietnamese troops. They have interfered with Indonesian petroleum and fishing.
The South China Sea is also of direct strategic and economic interest to the USA due to the sea line of communication and vast volumes of trade flowing through it - USA does not want Chinese influence over this.
What is a sphere of influence?
A physical region over which a country believes it has economic, military, cultural or political rights.
