Superpowers - EQ3 - 7.7 Flashcards
It is estimated that …% of the world’s remaining undiscovered oil and gas may be located under
the Arctic Ocean.
25%
……………. is making exploitation of Arctic resources more ………
- Receding polar ice
- logistically and economically viable
What does UNCLOS state about the artic
- countries can claim the
- right to exploit resources in an area up to 200 nautical miles beyond their coastline (an Exclusive Economic Zone)
who have competing EEZs in the Atriz
- Russia, the USA, Canada, Denmark (which owns Greenland), Iceland, Finland and Norway
Why is UNCLOS not providing sufficient protection to the artic
- Recent claims from Norway Canada, Denmark, USA and Russia all seek to extend their territorial claim and allow mining
- A new code of practice set out by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) would permit mining
What is the artic’s value in terms of minerals
- Rare minerals are also present, with US Geological Survey (USGS) evaluating the area as the world’s largest area of undeveloped rare earth minerals
Give an example of territorial disputes in the artic
- The Lomonosov ridge is an area of undersea mountains, Canada, Russia and Greenland all have claimed EEZ extensions, which are disputed by others, and lodged these with the UN (which ultimately rules on them)
- Since 2007, military patrols and activity have increased in the Arctic, as each country shows how interested it is in the area, and willing to defend its claims
What is the risk of resource exploitation in the artic
- Any attempt to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic could become a source of diplomatic if not actual conflict
- In addition, the risks of environmental disaster from oil spills is high in one of the few remaining pristine ecosystems on the planet also with a large indigenous population (Inuit)
Currently, no natural resources are exploited………………., but the attitudes of countries may change if….
- in Antarctica, and few in the Arctic
- resources are depleted elsewhere, leaving only these protected places as sources of minerals and fossil fuels
Resource exploitation in the Arctic
What has Norway done
- Norway has granted licences for the exploration for oil and gas in the Barents Sea
Resource exploitation in the Arctic
What have Russia done
- The first offshore oil platform in the Arctic was set up in 2013 and is operated by Gazprom the Russian energy company
Resource exploitation in the Arctic
What have the USA done
- The US has recently approved the Willow project in the north of Alaska
- This will allow drilling for an estimated 600 million barrels of oil
Give examples of tensions in the Artic Circle - Russia
- Russia has reintroduced a military presence making improvements to bases in the north of Russia
Give examples of tensions in the Artic Circle - Norway
- Norway has focussed investments in the military in the north of the country
- NATO exercise Cold Response in 2022 was led by Norway and based around conflict in the Arctic
Give examples of tensions in the Artic Circle - Canada
- The Canadian Armed Forces have engaged in a number of military exercises with the US military bases around defending their claim in the Arctic
- Exercise Arctic Edge and Ice Exercise in 2022
how can claiming new territory be done in the artic
- invasion and conquest of another country’s territory, which is rare
- claiming offshore, undersea resources by extending a country’s EEZ, which is more common
Who decides on EEZ borders in teh event of a dispute
UN
Describe the Lomonosov ridge conflict
Both Russia and Denmark (Greenland) claim sovereignty over this undersea land mass that extends from Russia to Greenland which may contain 70 billion barrel oil deposits
What artic military developments were there in 2018
- NATO conducts Arctic war games with 50,000 troops from 31 nations in Norway
- Russia, China & Mongolia conduct war games in Vostok with 300,00 troops taking part
How could the artic affect the power status of Denmark
Give additional power to Denmark (just a small company) through its strategic location – also its environmental stance
How could the artic affect the power status of UNCLOS
Could weaken UNCLOS power if superpowers disagrees with rulings
How could the artic affect the power status of China
- China may increase power if it has technology to navigate before others, but could decrease due to no legitimate territorial claims
How could the artic affect the power status of UNCLOS
Could weaken UNCLOS power if superpowers disagrees with rulings
China may increase power if it has technology to navigate before others, but could decrease due to no legitimate territorial claims
Economic power through drilling leases NB Greenland is no longer releasing any more leases in order to concentrate on HEP and protect the environment. USA is see-sawing over the issue depending on politics: Trump approves leases., Biden has suspended them under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Price of oil, how quickly the Arctic melts and becomes easier to navigate, military position
How could the artic affect the power status of America
- USA is see-sawing over the issue depending on politics: Trump approves leases., Biden has suspended them under the National Environmental Policy Act.
What is Greenlands part in protecting the artic
Greenland is no longer releasing any more drilling leases in order to concentrate on HEP and protect the environment
What are Intellectual Property Rights
To prevent new inventions being copied illegally, they are protected by an international system of Intellectual Property (IP). This includes Trademark, copyright and patent protection (for physical or system inventions) and a system of royalty payments for the rights to use IP developed by someone else
What are the 2 categories of intellectual property rights
- Industrial property - inventions, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications of origin
- Copyright - literary and artistic works, radio and television programmes, performances
What would happen without IPR
- Companies/countries would not spend money on R&D if it was simply going to benefit other companies/countries
- It would reduce trade as companies would not want to share new inventions with other countries as it would risk the idea being stolen
It is estimated that every year $……. .illion is lost in the US and €…illion in the EU as a result of intellectual property theft
- 300 billion
- 43 billion
What is the economic value of IPR
- 80% of Royalty fees go to the USA, Japan and western Europe
- counterfeit goods cost G20 countries $85billion a year
- An estimated 5–10% of world trade is in counterfeit goods
What agreements exist to protect barnd names
Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
Countefeiting is an ……..
international crime against IPR
What is the problem with IPR for developed countries
- Keeps prices of goods e.g. pharma, FMCG (artificially?) high
What is the benefits of IPR for developed countries
- Protects competitive advantage achieved by investing in technology
- More protection for offshoring (cheaper)
- More profit/tax from higher value goods
- 97% IPR owneed by these
What is the problem with IPR for emerging countries
- Prevents countries from competing on an equal basis (less wealth generated)
- High cost of tech/pharma e.g. Covid medication
What is benefits of IPR for emerging countries
- Incentives to develop own IP and reduce dependence
- Encourages off-shoring/outsourcing
What is the problem with IPR for developing countries
- Prevents countries from competing on an equal basis (less wealth generated)
- High cost of tech/pharma e.g. Covid medication
What is the benefits of IPR for developing countries
- Encourages off-shoring/outsourcing
Increases demand for lower-price products by keeping prices high
Give evidence to show China’s indifference to IPR and what is the impact of this
- In 2011, 32 countries signed the Anti-Counterfeiting TradeAgreement, including the USA and the EU
- However, China did not sign it
Define Sphere of Influence
- This is a physical region over which a country believes it has economic, military, cultural or political rights.
- SOI extend beyond the borders of the country and represent a region where the country believes it has a right to influence the policies of other countries.
China is accused of being a ……………….. of intellectual property rights, leading to …………….
China is accused of being a leading violator of intellectual property rights, leading to **heightened tensions. **
How does globalisation lead to an increasing imporatnce of IPR
- since the 1990s, with the globalisation of technology as well as rapid breakthroughs in new technologies
- the rise of emerging nations has provided a key market for counterfeit goods
Describe Russia’s role in Eastern Europe from 1991 to 2004
- In 1991 the dissolution of the USSR led to the independence of 15 nations including Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova
- Russia’s influence over these countries has declined since then with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joining the EU and NATO in 2004
What led to Russia leading a military intervention in Ukraine
- After the USSR collapsed in 1991, Ukraine became independent and factions within it made moves towards closer ties with the EU.
- This was humiliating for Russia, which had always seen Ukraine as being within its sphere of influence.
- Following the overthrow of a pro-Russian president in Ukraine in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea an area of Ukraine
Tensions culminated with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in … and the ongoing conflict
2022
South China Sea is one of the most….to explain.. there are….
- contested ocean regions in the world,
- number of islands in the South China Sea which are claimed by different nations including China and the Philippines
Military reason for Russia invading Ukraine
- A key reason for doing this was to gain total control of the Russian naval base at Sevastopol in Crimea -
home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet - The base was leased to Russia in 1997, but not owned by Russia
- Its naval base in Sebastopol was not under threat UNTIL Ukraine became friendly with the EU – another superpower. This made Crimea more vulnerable.
What is the economic value of the South China Sea
- The area is essential for trade as it forms the link between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, it is estimated that each year:
- Over 30% of global trade passes through the South China Sea - US$5.3 trillion
- Approximately 40% of the world’s petroleum products pass through the area
What is teh biodieversity value of the South China Sea
- The area is also globally significant in terms of biodiversity supporting coral reefs and almost 3,500 species of fish
- Over 12% of the fish caught each year across the globe are caught in the region
Why is China building its Blue Water Navy
- To ensure that it can continue freely trading goods around the world via sea in order to retain prosperity on its land mass – it needs to do this by securing the South China Seas
Who is the territory of the Spratly Islands Contested by
- China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam
How is China asserting its Sphere of Influence inn the South China Sea
- China has aggressively pursued a policy of island settlement and artificial island building - then adding military facilities
- China’s ‘Nine-Dash Line’ and ‘First and Second Island Chain’ policies try control a large area of ocean south and east of China.
.At the moment all but ……. (non-UN state) have agreed to UNCLOS regarding the Spratly Islands which includes the legal framework governing claims in maritime areas
Taiwan
How is USA connected to South China Sea
- It is concerning for the USA as China’s increased military presence in the region could reduce the US Navy’s ability to move freely between the Pacific and Indian Ocean,
- impacting on its military’s global reach which it has had since WW2 - * US Manila Treaty - can invoke conflict
How many military bases did the USA gain in South China Sea in 2023
4
The Philippines…… on the Spratly islands.
pays some of its citizens to live
