Military expansionism in China may cause geopolitical instability in East and South China Sea regions

China: China frequently violates the territorial waters of countries in the East and South China Seas, and its military expansionism threatens regional geopolitical stability.

However, China has now enlisted Russia's help to avoid a new crisis in the region, and the presence of Chinese and Russian frigates in the area raises concerns about military activity, according to Asian Lite International.

After spotting Chinese and Russian warships just outside its territorial waters around the disputed East China Sea islands on July 4, Japan lodged a protest with Beijing.

According to Japan's Defense Ministry, the Chinese frigate sailed for several minutes inside the "contiguous zone," which is just outside Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku islands.

Beijing also claims the Senkaku Islands as part of its territory, referring to them as Diaoyu.

Japan protested the incident, expressing "grave concern" to Beijing. "The Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory historically and under international law," it claimed. The government will handle the situation calmly but firmly in order to protect Japanese land, territorial waters, and air space."

According to Asian Lite International, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian stated that "the activities of Chinese vessels in nearby waters are lawful and justified."

China's increasingly assertive military activity in the East and South China Seas is viewed as a threat to regional stability by Japan.

According to Asian Lite International, this was the fourth such incursion into Japan's claimed waters and territory since 2016, specifically in the contiguous zone between the territorial sea and the larger exclusive economic zone.

China and Japan are currently engaged in two intertwined territorial disputes in the East China Sea. The first dispute is over sovereignty over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. Japan administers the islands, but China claims them; Japan does not recognise the existence of a territorial dispute.

The second dispute is over maritime boundaries in the East China Sea. The 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZ) calculated from the baseline of the two countries' coasts overlap over a large stretch of sea. Because of China's disregard for international conventions, the problem has yet to be resolved.

Countries in the East and South China Seas are concerned about China's unilateralism and disregard for international laws and conventions.

China is also flexing its muscles with small countries like the Philippines, imposing a three-month ban on fishing in waters where the Philippines has long claimed sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

As China continued its unilateralism by prohibiting fishing in Filipino waters, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a diplomatic protest against the Chinese ban (May 2022).

China began attacking Vietnamese fishing and other vessels in 2013-14, and has become more frequent since 2019-20. Vietnam has lodged a formal protest. However, Chinese belligerence persists, according to Asian Lite International.

The other regional countries, on the other hand, seek to protect their territorial integrity and sovereignty by promoting multilateralism, free trade, peace, stability, and prosperity.

Quad, an alliance comprised of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, agreed in Tokyo in May 2022 to launch a satellite-based maritime security initiative aimed at achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific.

According to Asian Lite International, the benefits of the Quad agreement on maritime security can help even small countries in the South China Sea region protect their sovereignty and economic interests. (ANI)