Canada has a stake in South China Sea disputes: Senator Ngo
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Canada has been turning a blind eye to the way maritime and territorial disputes in the South China Sea are shaping the course of the 21st century. Canada is not alone — most of the world, outside Asia, has been slow to grasp their seriousness.
That’s why I introduced a motion in the Senate urging the Canadian government to help de-escalate these tensions and why I will present a position paper to help Canadians understand what’s at stake in this volatile region.
The Asia-Pacific region has recently seen escalating territorial disputes between China and other nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines. In my view, Chinese adventurism and predatory action has been the main threat to the region’s fragile peaceful equilibrium.
Although it is not the only actor on the board, China is by every measure the greatest contributor to the region’s instability. Its military spending dwarfs the defence budgets of its neighbours. China’s coast guard vastly outnumbers its regional counterparts. And although its land reclamation activities began relatively recently, Chinese activity is responsible for 95% of all land reclaimed in the South China Sea over the past 40 years.
Considering Canada’s rapprochement with China, Canada needs a clear foreign policy against disorder and violence, one that defends and sustains freedoms. That is why my Senate motion urges the government to take direct action with regard to the situation unfolding in the South China Sea. If the Trudeau government wants to be committed to its partners and allies in the Asia-Pacific region, it needs to show Canada is concerned about their most pressing geopolitical issues. After all, China’s territorial ambition and continued disregard for the law of the sea could affect other maritime disputes, including at our own borders in the Arctic.
My Office is releasing a position paper on this developing dispute to give readers an overview of the complex issues, overlapping historical claims and China’s assertiveness, as well as offering detailed recommendations to de-escalate regional tensions and to adopt a more principled foreign policy.
China is supporting its territorial claims by filibustering a promising code of conduct in the South China Sea, discrediting the recent binding award issued by the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague, violating the Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and hampering diplomatic efforts to settle the dispute peacefully. China downplays and rejects efforts to resolve the disputes peacefully by flaunting its economic clout and by placing a greater focus on global economic governance.
China has also been constructing islands, which not only undermines peace and stability in the region, but also jeopardizes its biodiversity. The dredging process buries coral reefs and blankets the surrounding sea with clouds of sediment that kill nearby aquatic life, including fish the coastal population depends on.
Militarization of the South China Sea undermines the stability of the region. The economic impact of the disputes will spread globally as tensions rise. Close to US$5.3 trillion in trade passes through the area each year. It is in the interest of each South China Sea state to facilitate the freedom of navigation and overflight of commercial traffic. A serious confrontation would threaten the region’s maritime communications, disrupt supply chains and trade flows, and be disastrous to the global economy.
The South China Sea disputes have had some effect on international trade agreements, most notably the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
If China consolidates its position in the South China Sea through intimidation and by disregarding international law, how can Canadians be confident this couldn’t also happen in the Arctic?
Since 2012, China has portrayed itself as a near-Arctic state and expressed an interest in playing a greater role in Arctic governance. China is also interested in increasing the amount of merchant shipping through the Arctic, including through Canada’s Northwest Passage. China’s ambition in the Artic is even mentioned by Canada’s Security Intelligence Service.
It’s in Canada’s present and future interest to ensure all states abide by the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea. I believe a motion is needed to urge our government to go beyond simply encouraging dialogue.
The South China Sea may seem half a world away, but ultimately disputes there affect us. Canada must play a larger role.
Note to readers: The Honourable Thanh Hai Ngo retired from the Senate of Canada in January 2022. Learn more about his work in Parliament.
Canada has been turning a blind eye to the way maritime and territorial disputes in the South China Sea are shaping the course of the 21st century. Canada is not alone — most of the world, outside Asia, has been slow to grasp their seriousness.
That’s why I introduced a motion in the Senate urging the Canadian government to help de-escalate these tensions and why I will present a position paper to help Canadians understand what’s at stake in this volatile region.
The Asia-Pacific region has recently seen escalating territorial disputes between China and other nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines. In my view, Chinese adventurism and predatory action has been the main threat to the region’s fragile peaceful equilibrium.
Although it is not the only actor on the board, China is by every measure the greatest contributor to the region’s instability. Its military spending dwarfs the defence budgets of its neighbours. China’s coast guard vastly outnumbers its regional counterparts. And although its land reclamation activities began relatively recently, Chinese activity is responsible for 95% of all land reclaimed in the South China Sea over the past 40 years.
Considering Canada’s rapprochement with China, Canada needs a clear foreign policy against disorder and violence, one that defends and sustains freedoms. That is why my Senate motion urges the government to take direct action with regard to the situation unfolding in the South China Sea. If the Trudeau government wants to be committed to its partners and allies in the Asia-Pacific region, it needs to show Canada is concerned about their most pressing geopolitical issues. After all, China’s territorial ambition and continued disregard for the law of the sea could affect other maritime disputes, including at our own borders in the Arctic.
My Office is releasing a position paper on this developing dispute to give readers an overview of the complex issues, overlapping historical claims and China’s assertiveness, as well as offering detailed recommendations to de-escalate regional tensions and to adopt a more principled foreign policy.
China is supporting its territorial claims by filibustering a promising code of conduct in the South China Sea, discrediting the recent binding award issued by the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague, violating the Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and hampering diplomatic efforts to settle the dispute peacefully. China downplays and rejects efforts to resolve the disputes peacefully by flaunting its economic clout and by placing a greater focus on global economic governance.
China has also been constructing islands, which not only undermines peace and stability in the region, but also jeopardizes its biodiversity. The dredging process buries coral reefs and blankets the surrounding sea with clouds of sediment that kill nearby aquatic life, including fish the coastal population depends on.
Militarization of the South China Sea undermines the stability of the region. The economic impact of the disputes will spread globally as tensions rise. Close to US$5.3 trillion in trade passes through the area each year. It is in the interest of each South China Sea state to facilitate the freedom of navigation and overflight of commercial traffic. A serious confrontation would threaten the region’s maritime communications, disrupt supply chains and trade flows, and be disastrous to the global economy.
The South China Sea disputes have had some effect on international trade agreements, most notably the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
If China consolidates its position in the South China Sea through intimidation and by disregarding international law, how can Canadians be confident this couldn’t also happen in the Arctic?
Since 2012, China has portrayed itself as a near-Arctic state and expressed an interest in playing a greater role in Arctic governance. China is also interested in increasing the amount of merchant shipping through the Arctic, including through Canada’s Northwest Passage. China’s ambition in the Artic is even mentioned by Canada’s Security Intelligence Service.
It’s in Canada’s present and future interest to ensure all states abide by the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea. I believe a motion is needed to urge our government to go beyond simply encouraging dialogue.
The South China Sea may seem half a world away, but ultimately disputes there affect us. Canada must play a larger role.
Note to readers: The Honourable Thanh Hai Ngo retired from the Senate of Canada in January 2022. Learn more about his work in Parliament.