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UPSC MainsGENERAL-STUDIES-PAPER-II20125 Marks50 Words
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Q22.

What are India's stakes in the South China Sea?

How to Approach

This question requires a concise yet comprehensive answer outlining India’s strategic, economic, and security interests in the South China Sea (SCS). The answer should focus on trade routes, energy security, freedom of navigation, and India’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy. Structure the answer by first establishing the geographical context, then detailing India’s specific stakes, and finally, briefly mentioning the challenges and India’s approach. Avoid getting bogged down in the disputes themselves; focus on *India’s* interests.

Model Answer

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Introduction

The South China Sea, a crucial maritime route connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans, has become a focal point of geopolitical competition. With China asserting expansive claims over the region, the SCS impacts global trade, energy security, and freedom of navigation. India, as a major trading nation and a key player in the Indo-Pacific, has significant and growing stakes in maintaining peace, stability, and adherence to international law in the SCS. These stakes extend beyond mere economic considerations to encompass strategic security and regional influence.

India’s Stakes in the South China Sea

India’s interests in the SCS are multifaceted, encompassing economic, security, and strategic dimensions.

1. Economic Interests: Trade and Commerce

  • Trade Route: Approximately $200 billion of India’s trade passes through the SCS annually (2023 data, Ministry of Commerce & Industry). This includes crucial imports of raw materials, finished goods, and energy resources.
  • Supply Chain Security: Disruption to shipping lanes in the SCS due to conflict or assertive actions could severely impact India’s supply chains, affecting manufacturing and economic growth.
  • Investment: Indian companies have growing investments in Southeast Asian nations bordering the SCS, requiring a stable regional environment.

2. Security Interests: Maritime Security & Freedom of Navigation

  • Freedom of Navigation (FON): India strongly supports the principle of FON and unimpeded commerce in international waters, including the SCS. China’s restrictions on navigation are viewed with concern.
  • Energy Security: A significant portion of India’s energy imports, particularly oil and gas, transits through the SCS. Ensuring uninterrupted energy supplies is vital for India’s economic development.
  • Counter-Terrorism & Maritime Domain Awareness: The SCS is vulnerable to piracy and other maritime crimes. India collaborates with regional partners to enhance maritime domain awareness and counter-terrorism efforts.

3. Strategic Interests: Indo-Pacific Vision & Regional Influence

  • Indo-Pacific Strategy: India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI), launched in 2020, aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and promote a rules-based order in the region, with the SCS being a critical component.
  • Quad Cooperation: India’s participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) with the US, Japan, and Australia reflects a shared commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, including the SCS.
  • Act East Policy: India’s ‘Act East’ policy emphasizes strengthening economic and strategic ties with ASEAN countries, many of which have territorial disputes in the SCS.

4. Geopolitical Considerations

  • Balancing China’s Influence: India views China’s growing assertiveness in the SCS as a challenge to the regional balance of power. India seeks to maintain a strategic equilibrium by strengthening partnerships with other regional actors.
  • Supporting International Law: India consistently advocates for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the SCS based on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

India’s Approach: India adopts a cautious yet principled approach, avoiding taking sides in the territorial disputes while firmly upholding international law and advocating for freedom of navigation. It focuses on strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships to promote regional stability.

Conclusion

India’s stakes in the South China Sea are substantial and multifaceted, extending beyond economic interests to encompass security and strategic considerations. Maintaining a free, open, and rules-based order in the SCS is crucial for India’s economic growth, energy security, and regional influence. India’s continued engagement with regional partners, coupled with its commitment to international law, will be vital in navigating the complex challenges posed by the evolving geopolitical landscape of the South China Sea.

Answer Length

This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.

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Additional Resources

Key Definitions

UNCLOS
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982, is an international treaty that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world’s oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, environment, and the management of marine natural resources.
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a geopolitical construct encompassing the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and the lands that surround them. It signifies a growing interconnectedness and strategic importance of this vast maritime region.

Key Statistics

Approximately 55% of global maritime trade transits through the South China Sea annually.

Source: UNCTAD, 2019

India’s trade with ASEAN countries exceeded $110 billion in FY23-24.

Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India (as of knowledge cutoff)

Examples

Philippines vs. China Arbitration

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China over the SCS, invalidating China’s “nine-dash line” claim. India has consistently supported the ruling, emphasizing the importance of resolving disputes through legal means.

Frequently Asked Questions

▶What is India’s position on the ‘nine-dash line’?

India does not recognize the validity of China’s ‘nine-dash line’ claim, which encompasses a vast majority of the South China Sea. India supports the resolution of disputes based on international law, including UNCLOS.

Topics Covered

International RelationsGeographyMaritime SecurityGeopoliticsIndia Foreign Policy
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