Background Information
The South China Sea is an area of ocean spanning thousands of square miles, located between Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan. It contains some of the world’s most active and important shipping lanes, hosting over half of the world’s commercial shipping vessels. The South China Sea is of immense geopolitical and economic importance. It is home to fishing grounds that provide food and jobs to the residents of littoral nations, as well as vast reserves of natural gas, oil, and minerals that can potentially enrich their economies.
As such, many countries are keenly interested in competing for sovereignty over the South China Sea. In particular, the United States, as the world’s most powerful nation, has long been active in the region. The US Navy has been deploying ships to the region since at least the Vietnam War, with a great deal of activity continuing in recent years.
Relevant Data
According to the US Navy’s website, as of March 2021 there were 101 ships, submarines and other vessels in the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, which patrols the South China Sea and other areas of the Western Pacific. Of these, 44 are surface vessels (including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan), 32 are submarines, and 25 are other types of vessels (including minesweepers, patrol craft, and support ships).
In addition, the US Navy deploys a significant number of fighter aircraft to the region. These are based on the various US Navy aircraft carriers in the region, as well as at various land-based airfields. These aircraft are used for a variety of missions, including air defense, aerial reconnaissance, air strikes, support for US Navy vessels, and search-and-rescue operations.
Opinions of Experts
Experts in the field of international studies believe that the US Navy’s presence in the South China Sea is primarily intended as a show of strength and a demonstration of American commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in the region. According to Professor Craig Mears, a maritime analyst at Georgetown University, “The US Navy presence in the South China Sea sends a clear message: that the US Navy is ready and willing to protect its interests and those of its allies in the region.”
In addition, experts note that the US Navy is key to balancing the power of Beijing in the region. China has steadily been building up its presence in the South China Sea, in an effort to gain greater control over fisheries and natural resources. The US Navy’s presence, however, serves as a reminder that the United States is still a key player in the region, and will not allow China to simply expand its sphere of influence unchecked.
Analysis and Insights
The deployment of 101 US Navy vessels to the South China Sea is highly significant, and indicates the level of commitment that the United States has to the region. It is also in line with America’s strategy of maintaining a strong presence in the waters of its allies in the region, to ensure freedom of navigation and discourage aggressive behavior by China and its allies.
At the same time, it is important to note that the actual number of US Navy vessels in the South China Sea is just a fraction of the Navy’s total overseas presence. According to the US Navy’s website, there are currently over 460 vessels on deployment around the world, of which fewer than 20% are currently operating in the South China Sea. This indicates that the US Navy is active in many other parts of the world, and that the South China Sea is still just one area of its operations.
Geopolitics of the South China Sea
As noted previously, the South China Sea is of immense geopolitical and economic importance. Many countries in the region, including the United States, wish to maintain its open access so that they can exploit its potential resources. At the same time, China’s increasing presence in the region has sparked concerns among its neighbors, as well as the United States, that it is attempting to gain a greater degree of control over the waterways.
In recent years, the United States has made a point of demonstrating its commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. For example, in 2016, the United States conducted its first freedom of navigation operations since 1992, sailing within twelve nautical miles of several of the disputed features in the Spratly Islands. Since then, the US Navy has conducted several such operations, joined by its allies in the region.
The United States and its regional allies have also sought to strengthen regional alliances in order to resist Chinese expansionism. This has included the signing of several mutual defense treaties and agreements, as well as military and intelligence cooperation between the nations in the region.
Implications for the Future
It is clear that the US Navy’s presence in the South China Sea is intended to serve as a deterrent against Chinese expansionism, and to demonstrate Washington’s commitment to maintaining open access to the waterways. Given the continuing tensions in the region, it is likely that the US Navy’s presence in the region will remain strong in the years ahead.
Moreover, the US Navy will likely continue to seek to strengthen its alliances in the region and to upgrade its arsenal. In particular, the Navy may seek to further bolster the capabilities of its ships and aircraft, as well as to deploy additional vessels and personnel in order to maintain a credible deterrent against threats to the region.
Expert Opinion
The US Navy’s presence in the South China Sea has been met with respect from China, according to some experts. According to Dr. Bonnie Glaser, Senior Advisor for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “China has always said that it respects the US Navy’s presence in international waters, so long as its operations are in accordance with international law and norms.”
On the other hand, some believe that the US Navy’s presence in the region is provocative and only serves to further enflame tensions between Washington and Beijing. Professor Anna-Lena Laurén of the London School of Economics argues that “the US Navy’s presence in the South China Sea is a significant source of tension between the United States and China, and is likely to lead to further escalations if the situation is not deescalated.”
The US Navy’s presence in the South China Sea is also constrained by several factors, such as budgetary limitations, logistical and operational requirements, and international law. In particular, US Navy vessels and aircraft are limited in their activities by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which limits military activities within twelve nautical miles of a country’s coast.
In addition, the US Navy is constrained by the limited number of personnel and ships it can deploy to the region. This puts the onus on the Navy to make the best use of its resources and to focus more on operations that can maximize its strategic objectives, such as upholding freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
The US Navy’s deployment to the South China Sea serves as a powerful reminder that the US Navy is still a major player in the region, and will not allow China to expand its influence unopposed. It also signals Washington’s commitment to maintaining access to the waters for all countries, regardless of their size or economic power.
At the same time, the US Navy deployment also highlights the importance of regional alliances. By strengthening its ties with regional allies such as Japan and the Philippines, the US Navy is able to ensure that it has the support it needs to maintain its presence in the region. This in turn ensures that China cannot simply act with impunity in the South China Sea.
Economic Proposals for the South China Sea
While the US Navy’s deployment to the South China Sea serves to deter Chinese aggression, it is important to explore other diplomatic channels such as economic proposals to de-escalate tensions. In short, such proposals seek to create economic incentives for all countries involved in the South China Sea dispute to cooperate and cooperate with each other, rather than compete and escalate tensions.
For example, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, a regional development plan initiated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), seeks to develop cooperative economic initiatives between the member nations and China, such as the building of ports and infrastructure projects. Similarly, the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), a 2014 agreement between China and the US Navy, seeks to standardize on-water behavior and reduce the risk of mishaps.
The US Navy’s deployment in the South China Sea thus serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it sends a strong message to Beijing that its presence will not be tolerated. On the other, it encourages all sides to explore diplomatic and economic initiatives that can lead to an eventual resolution of the disputes in the region.
