China maritime silk road

1. China’s Maritime Silk Road
and
International Developments in the South China Sea:
A Naval Perspective
Vijay Sakhuja
Director
National Maritime Foundation
New Delhi

2. Maritime Silk Road
Developments in South China Sea
Maritime/Naval Dynamics

3. Rise of Asia
in the
21st Century
Enhanced economic dynamism
Geoeconomic construct : trade
and energy flows
Distinctive maritime focus
Geostrategic construct : region
characterized by continental
and maritime powers
Economics and security
shaping eco-pol-mil discourse

4. INDIA
JAPAN
THE BLUE TAPESTRY
CHINA
Dependence on sea lanes
Economic prosperity
intertwined with
maritime affairs
Regional waterways :
strategic for merchant
and naval shipping
Military modernisation :
Maritime orientation
ASEAN
US

5. China Indonesia India
Maritime Silk Road Global Maritime Axis Monsoon
Historical ; Economic;
Strategic
Historical ; Economic ;
Strategic
Historical
Recalling the ancient maritime preeminence
21st century is rediscovery of their maritime power
Harness the seas for realization of power potential
Build naval power to preclude dominance
Exhibit ability to ensure order at sea

6. 2011 : China-ASEAN Maritime Co-operation Fund proposed and Yuan 3 billion
committed
2013 : MSR announced at the 16th China-ASEAN Summit Brunei
“we need to steadily advance maritime cooperation. We should work together
to build the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century, and intensify cooperation
on marine economy, maritime connectivity, ……………….”;
ASEAN welcomed the MSR but sought clarifications
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh happy to join the MSR
June 2014 : MSR discussed during Hamid Ansari’s visit to China ‘more details
to be able to study the proposal in all its fullness’
Maritime Silk Road

7. Maritime Silk Road
Southwest Silk Road
Silk Road on Grassfields
Silk Road through Oasis and Desserts
Silk Road on Ice
Silk Road through Mountains
Silk Road through Oasis and Desserts
4.4 billion people or 63% of the world’s population
Wealth : US $2.1 trillion or 29% of global GDP

8. Pol-Dip Economic Strategic Cultural
Consolidate
relations
with
countries in
Asia and
beyond
Build infra
to support
trade with
countries
along the
route
Outposts
for PLAN
ops in the
Indian
Ocean
Promote
Chinese
culture
Great
power
status
Investment
and profits
Dispel
China
threat
Soft power
Challenge
hegemony
Energy
Security
Mil Sales Enhance
tourism
Maritime Silk Road

9. Maritime Silk Road : Reactions
India ‘Strategic encirclement’ by China through
covert and overt mil-strat support to neighbours
particularly Pakistan
United
States
‘String of pearls’ coined by Booz Allen Hamilton
highlighting China’s energy supply chain
strategy; also explain China’s naval presence in
Indian Ocean
China Dispel ‘China threat’, which envisages ‘shared
destiny’ of China with Asian countries through
joint development of maritime infrastructure to
provide impetus to economic growth

11. Developments
in
South China Sea

14. Country Location Runway
(m)
Aircraft
China Woody Island 2350 Su 27,
Su 30,
J10
Malaysia Layang Layang 600 C 130
C235
Vietnam Truong Sa Lon 600 ???????
Taiwan Taipingdao 600 ???????
Philippines Pagasa
(Rancudo)
Airfield)
1300 C 130

19. Fiery Cross /Subi /Mischief Reefs
3 X 3-km runways

20. Activities ‘lawful, reasonable and justifiable’
Discharging international responsibility and obligation towards
SAR and disaster prevention and mitigation
‘provide regional countries with these much needed public
goods at sea’.
Xi Jinping Pledges No Militarization in Disputed Islands
China and ASEAN : Set up hotlines for SAR and rapid
responses to maritime emergencies

21. Submarine-related infrastructure at Yulin Naval Base, Hainan
Woody Island has runway, mobile missile battery, naval facilities,
and network of Intel and Com infrastructure
Mid-air refuelling enhances loiter and Su27, Su30, JF 10 stand-off
weapon capability makes them formidable
Liaoning can launch about 30 fixed-wing
CHINA

22. 6 x Project 636M diesel-
electric submarines (US
$2 bn) by 2016
2+2 x Gepard-class
frigates (US$ 350 million)
20+ 12 Su 30 fighter jets
in three instalments.
(worth US$ 450 million
or US$ 600 million)
delivery of third batch by
2015
VIETNAM

23. Financial constraints , preoccupation with counter
insurgency precluded building up the navy
Weakest in terms of naval power and relies on the US for
its security requirements
BRP Ramon Alcaraz (3,250 tonnes decommissioned
Hamilton-class US Coast Guard cutter) transferred under
the military assistance programme.
‘It will further intensify our patrolling of the Philippines'
EEZ and our capability to quell any threat and bad
elements, respond to search and rescue operations and
take care of our marine resources’ President Benigno
Aquino
Philippines

24. RMN has set up five naval
facilities for operations in
South China Sea : Sungai
Antu in Sarawak and four in
Sabah, i.e. Labuan,
Sandakan, Semporna and
Sepanggar
Scorpene class submarines
based in RMN HQ Region II
RMAF operates the Su 30
MALAYSIA

25. Threat of overwhelming Chinese military power
Number of missiles in China targeted against Taiwan
Taiping Island (Itu Aba) jetty
to berth small vessels - 6 tons
Airstrip : partially loaded
Hercules C-130H in “extremely good” weather
conditions
Plans to modernize and expand these facilities to
position coast guard ships
Taiwan

26. Airstrips : the proverbial ‘unsinkable aircraft carriers’
Sophisticated approach to augment military infrastructure
Tourism and marine leisure industry harnessed to build
landing facilities for ships and aircraft.
Several islets are being developed as tourism destinations and
the leisure industry is invited to invest
Airstrips can stage smaller aircraft including helicopters, but
are not equipped for extended staging facility
Ship jetties, berths and safe anchorages support operations
and provided shelter during the typhoon months
Provide minor repairs and rest & recuperation for the crew

27. Conclusion
SCS MSR
Infrastructure Military Commercial /military
Regional Perceptions Anxious Receptive/Anxious
Intent and Response Aggressive Benign/Aggressive
Military Response Build-up Build-up/Access
Regional Security Uncertain Competitive