Regionales Rechenzentrum der Universität Hamburg/ MCC/ Lecture2Go
MCC
Verlag/Körperschaft:
Universität Hamburg
Erscheinungsjahr:
2017
Medientyp:
Audiovisuell
Schlagwort:
Asien-Afrika-Institut
Beschreibung:
In its first official reactions Beijing declared that the award of the PCA is null and void and would not affect China’s claims in the South China Sea (SCS); Chinese mass-media used an even more belligerent language. Notwithstanding this verbal assertiveness Beijing refrained from further provocative actions so far and followed a multi-pronged strategy: • Improving the relationship with its main opponents in the SCS: Vietnam and the Philippines • Increasing its influence in ASEAN to prevent ASEAN forming a common anti-China Position • Offering new economic opportunities by promoting the Maritime Silk Road • Strengthening its military position in the SCS to control this area militarily and push back the military presence of the US, Japan, India and last not least Russia. The successes China achieved in using this multi-pronged strategy should not hide the fact that there is irreconcilable contradiction between China’s economic and military strategy. The SCS cannot be at the same time a crucial link in the maritime silk-road and a theatre of the military rivalry between China and the US or the other great powers in Asia. China’s maritime silk-road-initiative of intensified economic cooperation between Asia, Europe and Africa is part of its engagement for international free trade worldwide. This economic cooperation will not succeed without a proper framework of international law. Since “China does not longer feel bound to the current world order which was built largely without Chinese participation” (H. Kissinger), Beijing has to forge and introduce a new or modified concept of international order which will need to find sufficient international consent. China’s advancement to the status of a responsible superpower will depend to a large degree on mastering this task.