Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
Public Education
About Public Education
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      Public EducationAbout Public Education
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      News ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio Channel
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS
Connect
Search
  • RSIS
  • Publication
  • RSIS Publications
  • CO11116 | South China Sea Dispute: Why China takes Pragmatic Stance
  • Annual Reviews
  • Books
  • Bulletins and Newsletters
  • RSIS Commentary Series
  • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
  • Commemorative / Event Reports
  • Future Issues
  • IDSS Papers
  • Interreligious Relations
  • Monographs
  • NTS Insight
  • Policy Reports
  • Working Papers

CO11116 | South China Sea Dispute: Why China takes Pragmatic Stance
Yang Fang

08 August 2011

download pdf

Synopsis

The recent ASEAN-China agreement on a set of guidelines to implement their 2002 declaration for a code of conduct in the South China Sea promises to narrow their disputes over territorial sovereignty. Why did China agree to the guidelines a decade after the declaration was adopted?

Commentary

AT THE recently concluded ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bali, China and ASEAN agreed on a set of guidelines to better implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) which they issued in 2002. The development at the ARF is considered a big step towards the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute.

The adoption of the guidelines will help to reduce tensions and promote confidence-building among all claimants. More specifically, the guidelines will facilitate cooperation between China and the ASEAN countries. This will serve the interest of all parties in a pragmatic manner.

China’s changing approach

China’s acceptance of the guidelines proposed by ASEAN marks a significant change of approach, without fundamentally altering Beijing’s South China Sea policy. China has been reluctant to internationalise the sovereignty issue, resulting in Beijing’s pursuit of a bilateral solution to the dispute despite the DOC. Notwithstanding this, China has been open to multilateral cooperation in less sensitive areas. China is the first country to formally propose the concept of “shelving disputes and co-developing resources” in the 1970s. In 2005, it committed itself to the trilateral joint seismic surveys with Vietnam and the Philippines, although the project was suspended in 2008 due to domestic pressure in Philippines.

To implement the DOC, China and ASEAN countries have pledged that they would carry out a series of cooperative projects pending the final settlement of the boundary dispute. While claimant countries are increasing their search for energy to fuel their domestic economic growth, the joint development of oil and gas will help to reduce the pressure and achieve mutual benefits.

In the meantime, China will also have a role to play by offering funding and technology to explore oil and gas in the deep sea. China can also take initiatives to cooperate in the areas of marine environmental protection, scientific research, navigation safety, search and rescue as well as the combating of transnational crimes. However, as the guidelines still lack concrete measures, both ASEAN and China need to consider specifying the details when it comes to the actual negotiation. This can include measures on information sharing, project coordination, burden sharing, crisis management, and so on.

Managing the Dispute

By conducting cooperative activities and promoting confidence building, China demonstrates its desire to manage the dispute with ASEAN countries without the involvement of external powers. China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin has also stated that the endorsement of the guidelines should signal to the world that “the future of the South China Sea is a predictable, manageable and optimistic one”. In contrast to last year’s thorny remarks at the ARF meeting in Vietnam, this year the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has hailed the process as “an important first step toward achieving a Code of Conduct”. She recognised that progress “can be made through dialogue and multilateral diplomacy”.

China has also shown its concern about the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The uninterrupted flow of shipping is critical to the survival and prosperity of East Asian countries. China is heavily reliant on the sea for economic trade, as more than 80 percent of its oil import passes through the South China Sea every year. Chinese officials proposed during the ARF meeting in July to host a workshop on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

It is clear from China’s agreement to adopt the guidelines on the DOC that Beijing values its relationship with ASEAN. The substantial trade and economic ties between China and ASEAN should be considered as one of the constructive factors to guide the overall relationship. With the full implementation of the China-ASEAN free trade agreement (CAFTA), the value of bilateral trade in the first six months of this year has reached US$171 billion – which is one tenth of China’s total during this period.

It is in the interest of both the ASEAN countries and China to exercise stronger political will and take a more pragmatic stance to prevent the maritime boundary dispute from jeopardising their mutual economic interests.

About the Author

Yang Fang is an Associate Research Fellow with the Maritime Security Programme at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. She graduated in law from Huaqiao University, China. 

Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / Maritime Security / East Asia and Asia Pacific

Synopsis

The recent ASEAN-China agreement on a set of guidelines to implement their 2002 declaration for a code of conduct in the South China Sea promises to narrow their disputes over territorial sovereignty. Why did China agree to the guidelines a decade after the declaration was adopted?

Commentary

AT THE recently concluded ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bali, China and ASEAN agreed on a set of guidelines to better implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) which they issued in 2002. The development at the ARF is considered a big step towards the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute.

The adoption of the guidelines will help to reduce tensions and promote confidence-building among all claimants. More specifically, the guidelines will facilitate cooperation between China and the ASEAN countries. This will serve the interest of all parties in a pragmatic manner.

China’s changing approach

China’s acceptance of the guidelines proposed by ASEAN marks a significant change of approach, without fundamentally altering Beijing’s South China Sea policy. China has been reluctant to internationalise the sovereignty issue, resulting in Beijing’s pursuit of a bilateral solution to the dispute despite the DOC. Notwithstanding this, China has been open to multilateral cooperation in less sensitive areas. China is the first country to formally propose the concept of “shelving disputes and co-developing resources” in the 1970s. In 2005, it committed itself to the trilateral joint seismic surveys with Vietnam and the Philippines, although the project was suspended in 2008 due to domestic pressure in Philippines.

To implement the DOC, China and ASEAN countries have pledged that they would carry out a series of cooperative projects pending the final settlement of the boundary dispute. While claimant countries are increasing their search for energy to fuel their domestic economic growth, the joint development of oil and gas will help to reduce the pressure and achieve mutual benefits.

In the meantime, China will also have a role to play by offering funding and technology to explore oil and gas in the deep sea. China can also take initiatives to cooperate in the areas of marine environmental protection, scientific research, navigation safety, search and rescue as well as the combating of transnational crimes. However, as the guidelines still lack concrete measures, both ASEAN and China need to consider specifying the details when it comes to the actual negotiation. This can include measures on information sharing, project coordination, burden sharing, crisis management, and so on.

Managing the Dispute

By conducting cooperative activities and promoting confidence building, China demonstrates its desire to manage the dispute with ASEAN countries without the involvement of external powers. China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin has also stated that the endorsement of the guidelines should signal to the world that “the future of the South China Sea is a predictable, manageable and optimistic one”. In contrast to last year’s thorny remarks at the ARF meeting in Vietnam, this year the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has hailed the process as “an important first step toward achieving a Code of Conduct”. She recognised that progress “can be made through dialogue and multilateral diplomacy”.

China has also shown its concern about the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The uninterrupted flow of shipping is critical to the survival and prosperity of East Asian countries. China is heavily reliant on the sea for economic trade, as more than 80 percent of its oil import passes through the South China Sea every year. Chinese officials proposed during the ARF meeting in July to host a workshop on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

It is clear from China’s agreement to adopt the guidelines on the DOC that Beijing values its relationship with ASEAN. The substantial trade and economic ties between China and ASEAN should be considered as one of the constructive factors to guide the overall relationship. With the full implementation of the China-ASEAN free trade agreement (CAFTA), the value of bilateral trade in the first six months of this year has reached US$171 billion – which is one tenth of China’s total during this period.

It is in the interest of both the ASEAN countries and China to exercise stronger political will and take a more pragmatic stance to prevent the maritime boundary dispute from jeopardising their mutual economic interests.

About the Author

Yang Fang is an Associate Research Fellow with the Maritime Security Programme at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. She graduated in law from Huaqiao University, China. 

Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / Maritime Security

Popular Links

About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

Connect with Us

rsis.ntu
rsis_ntu
rsisntu
rsisvideocast
school/rsis-ntu
rsis.sg
rsissg
RSIS
RSS
Subscribe to RSIS Publications
Subscribe to RSIS Events

Getting to RSIS

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

Click here for direction to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
    Help us improve

      Rate your experience with this website
      123456
      Not satisfiedVery satisfied
      What did you like?
      0/255 characters
      What can be improved?
      0/255 characters
      Your email
      Please enter a valid email.
      Thank you for your feedback.
      This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
      OK
      Latest Book
      more info