Partners project strength, resolve in South China Sea dispute
Tom Abke
The peaceful resolution of a standoff in the South China Sea in April 2020 demonstrates the importance of the United States and its partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, analysts contend.
A dispute between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) threatened to escalate into a potential confrontation involving vessels from five countries. The concerted efforts of regional partners and diplomacy prevailed, however, and the situation concluded peacefully.
“The peaceful resolution of the standoff illustrated the importance of U.S. engagement in the region for promoting peace and stability in the region,” said Timothy Heath, a senior international defense researcher at the Rand Corp. “U.S. bombers, LCS [littoral combat ships], destroyers, submarines and other platforms passed nearby the disputed area, providing a robust message of U.S. resolve and deterrence.”
The West Capella, an oil-drilling ship, was commissioned by Kuala Lumpur to operate off the coast of Malaysia’s Sabah state. In early December 2019, it was encircled by two Chinese coast guard vessels, which unlawfully claimed the territory belonged to the PRC, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A pair of fishing vessels from Vietnam, which also claims parts of the territory, observed nearby.
The Chinese vessels lurked around the West Capella for weeks. On April 16, 2020, an armed Chinese flotilla, including the survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8, notorious for its role in a 2019 standoff between China and Vietnam, arrived on the scene.
By mid-May, however, the West Capella had completed its operations and left the area without conflict.
Other regional partners contributed to resist the PRC intrusion. Australia deployed its frigate HMAS Parramatta, pictured, to join three U.S. vessels — the USS America amphibious assault ship; the USS Bunker Hill, a guided-missile cruiser; and the destroyer USS Barry — for naval exercises during the week of April 20, 2020.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with 10 foreign ministers in the region April 23 to underscore U.S. opposition to the PRC’s “bullying.”
“An important message is that smaller SCS [South China Sea] countries have a possible partner in their efforts to counter Chinese intimidation,” Heath emphasized. “The U.S. determination to uphold regional stability and counter Chinese coercive tactics opens opportunities for smaller SCS countries to cooperate with the U.S. either behind the scenes or, preferably, openly, to uphold a free-and-open regional order.”
The presence of foreign navies in the South China Sea can be effective in curtailing Chinese aggression, he explained, and benefit smaller countries, considering the PRC’s “strong advantage in ships and aircraft.”
“So long as the foreign navies and ships act with restraint and avoid unnecessary provocations,” he added, “their presence can benefit smaller nations seeking to protect their rights and interests. Over time, it is hoped China will accept that its best interests also lie in avoiding coercive and intimidating behavior.”
Tom Abke is a FORUM contributor reporting from Singapore.
