Oceans+and+Coast+-Geopolitics

= Discuss the sovereignty rights of nations in relation to territorial limits and exclusive economic zones (EEZ). =

The control of the oceans is currently regulated by the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention that went into effect on November 16, 1994. This law defines oceanic jurisdiction for all nations. It establishes the principle of a 200-nautical-mile limit on a nation's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) whereby a nation controls the undersea resources, primarily fishing and seabed mining, for a distance of 200 nautical miles from its shore.Be aware that international systems of measurement are according to the metric system. A nautical mile about 1,852 meters (6,076 feet)

Legal jurisdiction applies in relation to customs affairs, health concerns, and national security. The territorial water lying within the 12-mile limit is considered to be sovereign territory of the controlling nation, covered by the same legalities that apply to land. The primary exception is that all foreign ships are to be granted the "right of innocent passage." All ships, however, must be exposed and flying their nation's flag; no submerged vessels. = Examine a geopolitical conflict in relation to an oceanic resource, other than fishing. (Oil) =

Why Is The South China Sea Important? There are several reasons: What Are The Geopolitical Implications? The US is clearly trying to deal itself back into South East Asian geopolitics, after a decade of relative neglect by the Bush administration, which focused more on Afghanistan, Iraq, and the wider Middle East. During this time, China stepped up its influence in South East Asia through increased trade, investment, and use of ‘soft’ power.
 * **Critical trade route:** Much of the trade between Europe and the Middle East and East Asia passes from the Indian Ocean through the Malacca Strait, then up through the South China Sea to China, South Korea, and Japan. Japanese defence planners in particular don’t want this trade route dominated by China, even though the likelihood of interdiction is remote.
 * **Oil and gas reserves:** Some of the islands are believed to contain significant hydrocarbon resources. Given that most Asian economies import the vast majority of their oil needs, mainly from the Middle East, they naturally wish to tap sources closer to home. The sea also has substantial fish resources.

However, the real clincher for the US could be its growing ties with Vietnam. The two countries are staging naval exercises this week, and Hanoi could well become Washington’s main ally in South East Asia. This is because Vietnam is arguably the country in the region most concerned about China’s rising power. Not coincidentally, Vietnam was the last sovereign state to be attacked by China, in 1979, and the two are the most active disputants in the South China Sea. China has the upper hand, as evidenced by the fact that in 2008 it forced ExxonMobil to abandon plans to explore for oil off Vietnam’s shore in disputed waters.

A US-Vietnamese alliance would be a strong counterweight to China, and could attract support from Japan, and potentially India. However, there is an inherent danger in building a counter-Chinese alliance, namely it could result in South East Asia being divided into competing camps. This would undermine efforts to build Asian unity through organisations such as ASEAN.