Superpowers- Enquiry Q3

Question 1

What is the cause of the dispute in the South China Sea

Answer 1

smaller islands in the south china sea exist which, according to UN maritime law, could entitle any country that claims sovereignty over them to the 200KM of sea surrounding them (SEZ)
China is demanding a greater proportion of the land in order to gain ownership over sub-sea resources for their personal exploitation

Question 2

What countries are involved in the conflict over the South China Sea

Answer 2

China
Taiwan
Vietnam
Philippines 
Indonesia
Malaysia 
Japan

Question 3

why is the territory in the south china sea so valuable

Answer 3

rich in natural resources

hub of naval trading activity

Question 4

what is china’s claim in the south china sea

Answer 4

ancient dynistic claims over smaller islands
creation of artificial islands on coral reefs which act as military bases
the nine dash line

Question 5

what is the philippines claim in the south china sea

Answer 5

geographical proximity to the spratly islands

Question 6

why is the USA involved in the conflict for the south china sea

Answer 6

became involved post ww2 after the defeat of imperial japan
have a large military and trading presence in the region which gives them a vested interest
though not supporting tiawanese independence, 1979 taiwan relations act requires them to provide defensive assistence

Question 7

what is taiwan’s claim to the south china sea

Answer 7

china’s dynastic claim is rooted in a claim from the landmass of taiwan which was under imperial control at the time- thus they are exterting this claim as an independant state

Question 8

what is vietnam’s claim in the south china sea

Answer 8

china only began trying to exert sovereignty in the 1940s, vietnam has actively ruled over the paracels and spratlys since the 17th century

Question 9

what is japan’s claim in the south china sea

Answer 9

japan was given sovereignty in the 1951 san francisco treaty and the okinawa reversion agreement

Question 10

how much trade passes through the south china sea annuelly

Answer 10

$5.3 trillion worth of goods

Question 11

what is NATO

Answer 11

military alliance founded in 1949, encompassing 28 member states who collectively account for the majority of the worlds firepower and nuclear weapons
mutual defence agreement contingent on nuclear deterrent

Question 12

what is ANZUS

Answer 12

USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Phillipines collectively deterring attack from north korea and china predominantly

Question 13

what is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Answer 13

1996- China, Russia, Kazkhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
military, economic and security alliance

Question 14

what are the implications of the Russian Western Border conflict for people and the physical environment?

Answer 14

Giving leverage for blackmain from richer states
military action in Ukraine and Crimea causing destrucion of the natural environment
30 000 NATO officers on standby

Question 15

what are the implications of the South China Sea conflict for people and the natural environment?

Answer 15

Large scale destruction of coral reefs

threat of military action from china inhibiting other countries abilities to exert their control and trade

escalation putting $5.3 trillion of trade at risk as well as 40% of LNG stores

Local fishermen being targetted by threats and attacks

Question 16

define global shift

Answer 16

The global shift is the movement of economic activity from MEDCs initially to NICs and more recently to LEDCs (especially in Asia and Latin America). Initially in the 1960s this was a movement of manufacturing activity, but since the 1990s, service activity has been involved.

Question 17

how does india threaten the superpower status of china

Answer 17

India has drastically improved it’s diplomatic relations with surrounding countries - Afghanistan’s largest aid donar

State controlled economy has largely privitised allowing funds to be invested in infrastructure, education + health

growing middle class

Question 18

trade between china and africa stats

Answer 18

China is africa’s largest trading partner- in 2015 it totalled over $160 billion

Question 19

how china and india are exerting their geopolitical influence

Answer 19

reform of global governance

in 1999 they joined the G20, which had a more economic focus than the original G7

Question 20

what is the BRICS New Development Bank

Answer 20

aim of mobilising funding for infrastructure and sustainable development
the BRIC countries all have an equal share with no veto powers
it has loaned $10.2 billion with good international credit rating

Question 21

why is there a rivalry in asia for influence over africa

Answer 21

access to natural resources and new markets

54 votes at the UN which the continent control

Question 22

what are the implications of the belt and road initiative for geopolitical stability

Answer 22

1/4 of wold GDP across 71 countries included in initiative (1/2 of global population)
threatens traditional superpower status
“debt trap diplomacy” to extract stategic concessions such as silence on human rights violations and terretorial disputes

Question 23

what are the main sources of tension in the middle east

Answer 23

Religious conflict between Sunni and Shia srcts
Conflict over claims on natural resources
high youth unemployment and poor education
weak democracy
historical border disputes

Question 24

what is the arab spring

Answer 24

widespread discontent with autocratic rule, economic hardship and corruption lead to protest in December 2010

Regimes forced to announce reform in government after demonstrations resulting in over 300 deaths

Question 25

what challenges do tensions in the middle east present for current and emerging superpowers

Answer 25

terrorism
potential allignment with problematic groups
conflicting alliances causing a rise in tensions
conflict in oil industry has global implications

Question 26

what conflict is occuring in Israel

Answer 26

Israel and Palestine competing for sovereignty

Israel supported by the USA, Palestine supported by Arab States

Question 27

current problems in Afghanistan

Answer 27

soviet involvement and potential concealment of terrorist groups cause conflict with the west

Question 28

why is the future of superpower status is so uncertain

Answer 28

personality leadership
disparity between ideology of generations
single-mindedness threatens the interdependent system

Question 29

US Military personnel stats

Answer 29

800 global military bases
costs tax payer 70-100 billion per year
285 000 troops in Korea

Question 30

what is russia doing in the arctic circle

Answer 30

surveys suggest that 30% of undiscovered natural gas is likely in the arctic
russia used a submarine to put a flag in the ice and “claim” it which caused tension with Canada who claim a proportion of the resources
tensions likely to increase as ice melts and fuel becomes harder to find

Question 31

counterfeit goods stat

Answer 31

counterfeit goods are worth 2.5% of global imports $460 billion per year

Question 32

define intellectual property

Answer 32

Intellectual property is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The most well-known types are copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Question 33

how has counterfeiting damaged chinese reputation

Answer 33

TNCs reluctant to invest in china, as profits will likely be reduced by counterfeiting

lack of action by authorities on intellectual property issues suggests the government is unlikely to cooperate with international law

countries are unlikely to make trade deals if they ffel that china do not play by the rules

Question 34

how does the patent favour TNC’s over small businesses

Answer 34

TNC’s can afford to spend vast sums on hundreds of patents

TNC’s often purchase patents without actually creating the product just to block other companies

Question 35

which country applies for the most patents annuelly

Answer 35

China