Now the time has completely changed. Once upon a time there used to be battle for expansion of landed territory in their respective favours, now almost all countries of Asia are battling to expand their territory in the seas, islands and islets in their respective zones. Mainly the fight has grown for creating infrastructures for natural resources off the shores.
Sadly India, which is engrossed in implementation of neo-liberal economic policy, the country's leadership perhaps is forgetting the utility of sea shores at a time when the economy of a country could go to a new zenith by utilising natural resources from sea-shores, islands etc, which are considered lighthouse for creating wealth by harnessing natural resources, mainly for energy in the shape of hydrocarbon from its shores!. Various reports in the media suggest that Indian sea shores territory have become most vulnerable right from west sea-shores adjoining Maharashtra and Gujarat, eastern sea -shore territory in Bengal and in and around Burma and southern extreme of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, part of Odisha. Surprisingly all these zones are unprotected and negligible deployment of coast guards are not coping with the extreme situation, created by neighbouring countries in the sea-shores, islands, and islets falling under the jurisdiction of Indian territory! More over, strange situation prevails in India right from its independence, warring political classes continue to be of their views that certain parts of even our disputed land territory might be surrendered to neighbouring countries to buy peace! But majority of Indians are opposed to any such concessions.
A recent report in the Washignton Post has interestingly highlighted the fight for sea territory, islands, and islets among various countries of Asia.Apparently all these unimpressive bunch of the zones are rocky, windswept outcropping far from the respective mainland of countries of Asia.The writer of the report in the Washington Post Chiko Harian from Tokyo date lined has mentioned , " these tinny territories, sweeping from south-east to north-east Asia, are fiercely contested among countries that are buoyed by nationalism and by a growing thrust for the natural resources off the shores.The territorial disputes involve nearly a dozen of countries at least three major seas and they have set off a chaotic crisscross of conflict in some of the world's most trafficked shipping lanes. The disputes are not at all connected, but analysts say that several of Asia's key countries--China, Japan , South Korea and the Phillippines-have in recent months followed a similar pattern, turning old historical squabbles into national priorities, escalating tensions and raising the chances of a small armed conflict............"
All these Asian countries are bent upon in claiming these far flung off-shore territories because of their growing need for oil and gas reserves in the under the waters around them in the seas. Japan, which has biggest electricity shortages as it had decided to abandon nuclear power generation due to mishaps after mishaps in the nuclear power plants, wants to switch from this method of power generation by harnessing energy from its seas. The China, which is known for one-fifth of energy consumption of the world, is also looking for more and more electricity generations from sea shores.
The Washignton Post has quoted Sydney -based Lowy Institute Director of the International Security Rory Mecalf, who has said, " particularly from a Chinese and Japanese point if views, there is new sense of the need for energy security. None of these countries want to categorically give up claims to territory where there could be large hydrocarbon deposits.Both China and SouthKorea, which are set for change in leadership this year, are strongly putting their claims for their sovereignty of sea, island etc territory expansion. Again the Washington Post has quoted the version of a senior researcher and a North-East Asia expert at the Heritage Foundation Bruce Klinmgner, " we have seen over history countries to go to war over territory-are that seems to be meaningless, but it is soil of the country -even if it would appear illogical for countries to risk conflagration over rock.... that is what is occurring."
More over to counter the Chinese move to its claim on sea territory with sole purposes to strengthen its growing economy, several South-East Asian countries have tightened their alliances with USA and are conducting joint military drills in their respective zones, posing danger to China and also forcing China to engage in fight to retain its control over sea territory.The WP has mentioned that the most notable current disputes over sea territories involve Japan and South Korea, China and Japan, and China and a host of South-East Asian countries most vocally the Phillippines and Vietnam. In July Phillippines President Benigno Aquino-third asked his country's Congress to approve a massive military upgrade involving new planes and combat helicopters for deploying in the contested areas in South China Sea, Which the China claimed since long that South China Sea are theirs. On the other hand, Aquino said, "If some one enters your yards and told you he owns it, will you allow that? it is not right to give away what is rightfully ours" Thew WP POST quoted Phillippines President in its report.
Similarly South Korea also claims Japanese controlled sea territories. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has pointed out to the Washington Post that Dokdo" is genuinely "our territory"Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, while countering the claims of South Korea, has said, "why did he (South Korea President) visit there at a time when we need to consider issues from a broad view point?-It is extremely regretted." Incidentally both these countries are strong allies of Washington in Asia.
But the situation appears explosive in the areas claimed by China. The Report of Washington Post has quoted a recent findings of Brussel-based International Crisis Group, which depicted" how China is patrolling the sea with "nine dragons", a tangle of conflicting government agencies, many of them trying to increase their power and budget." The findings further said, '" the People's Liberation Army navy tends to take a background role in sea disputes, allowing a greater role for civilian law enforcements of para-military agencies. An increasing number of Chinese fishing vessels are operating in the contested areas, as seen in an April stand-off between Beijing and Manila that started When Chinese fishermen were caught poaching near a disputed Sacarborough Shoal. Eventually China won the stand-off and the fishermen made off with their catch."
In this way the tension is escalating in most of the Asian countries over disputed claims of bound sea and island boundaries. To fish in the trouble water, The USA has wished to base a nuclear -powered aircraft carrier on the Australian coast, allowing the USA a second carrier strike group in the region. But Australian Defence minister declined to allow such facilities to USA, saying the Washington that the Australian does not want to antagonise China, its largest trading partner.
With regards to India's coastal areas, the union government has completely failed to even deploy adequate security forces and coastal guards with modernised appliances! The result was that three or four terrorists came from sea routes to Mumbail From Karanchi and created not only panic but killed many persons and made the prestigious Taj Hotel destroyed as well as many historic and archaeological sites and inhabitants destroyed. This is what happening in India when most of the Asian Countries are engaging themselves to protect their coastal areas and sea-shores for utilising more and resources!
Sadly India, which is engrossed in implementation of neo-liberal economic policy, the country's leadership perhaps is forgetting the utility of sea shores at a time when the economy of a country could go to a new zenith by utilising natural resources from sea-shores, islands etc, which are considered lighthouse for creating wealth by harnessing natural resources, mainly for energy in the shape of hydrocarbon from its shores!. Various reports in the media suggest that Indian sea shores territory have become most vulnerable right from west sea-shores adjoining Maharashtra and Gujarat, eastern sea -shore territory in Bengal and in and around Burma and southern extreme of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, part of Odisha. Surprisingly all these zones are unprotected and negligible deployment of coast guards are not coping with the extreme situation, created by neighbouring countries in the sea-shores, islands, and islets falling under the jurisdiction of Indian territory! More over, strange situation prevails in India right from its independence, warring political classes continue to be of their views that certain parts of even our disputed land territory might be surrendered to neighbouring countries to buy peace! But majority of Indians are opposed to any such concessions.
A recent report in the Washignton Post has interestingly highlighted the fight for sea territory, islands, and islets among various countries of Asia.Apparently all these unimpressive bunch of the zones are rocky, windswept outcropping far from the respective mainland of countries of Asia.The writer of the report in the Washington Post Chiko Harian from Tokyo date lined has mentioned , " these tinny territories, sweeping from south-east to north-east Asia, are fiercely contested among countries that are buoyed by nationalism and by a growing thrust for the natural resources off the shores.The territorial disputes involve nearly a dozen of countries at least three major seas and they have set off a chaotic crisscross of conflict in some of the world's most trafficked shipping lanes. The disputes are not at all connected, but analysts say that several of Asia's key countries--China, Japan , South Korea and the Phillippines-have in recent months followed a similar pattern, turning old historical squabbles into national priorities, escalating tensions and raising the chances of a small armed conflict............"
All these Asian countries are bent upon in claiming these far flung off-shore territories because of their growing need for oil and gas reserves in the under the waters around them in the seas. Japan, which has biggest electricity shortages as it had decided to abandon nuclear power generation due to mishaps after mishaps in the nuclear power plants, wants to switch from this method of power generation by harnessing energy from its seas. The China, which is known for one-fifth of energy consumption of the world, is also looking for more and more electricity generations from sea shores.
The Washignton Post has quoted Sydney -based Lowy Institute Director of the International Security Rory Mecalf, who has said, " particularly from a Chinese and Japanese point if views, there is new sense of the need for energy security. None of these countries want to categorically give up claims to territory where there could be large hydrocarbon deposits.Both China and SouthKorea, which are set for change in leadership this year, are strongly putting their claims for their sovereignty of sea, island etc territory expansion. Again the Washington Post has quoted the version of a senior researcher and a North-East Asia expert at the Heritage Foundation Bruce Klinmgner, " we have seen over history countries to go to war over territory-are that seems to be meaningless, but it is soil of the country -even if it would appear illogical for countries to risk conflagration over rock.... that is what is occurring."
More over to counter the Chinese move to its claim on sea territory with sole purposes to strengthen its growing economy, several South-East Asian countries have tightened their alliances with USA and are conducting joint military drills in their respective zones, posing danger to China and also forcing China to engage in fight to retain its control over sea territory.The WP has mentioned that the most notable current disputes over sea territories involve Japan and South Korea, China and Japan, and China and a host of South-East Asian countries most vocally the Phillippines and Vietnam. In July Phillippines President Benigno Aquino-third asked his country's Congress to approve a massive military upgrade involving new planes and combat helicopters for deploying in the contested areas in South China Sea, Which the China claimed since long that South China Sea are theirs. On the other hand, Aquino said, "If some one enters your yards and told you he owns it, will you allow that? it is not right to give away what is rightfully ours" Thew WP POST quoted Phillippines President in its report.
Similarly South Korea also claims Japanese controlled sea territories. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has pointed out to the Washington Post that Dokdo" is genuinely "our territory"Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, while countering the claims of South Korea, has said, "why did he (South Korea President) visit there at a time when we need to consider issues from a broad view point?-It is extremely regretted." Incidentally both these countries are strong allies of Washington in Asia.
But the situation appears explosive in the areas claimed by China. The Report of Washington Post has quoted a recent findings of Brussel-based International Crisis Group, which depicted" how China is patrolling the sea with "nine dragons", a tangle of conflicting government agencies, many of them trying to increase their power and budget." The findings further said, '" the People's Liberation Army navy tends to take a background role in sea disputes, allowing a greater role for civilian law enforcements of para-military agencies. An increasing number of Chinese fishing vessels are operating in the contested areas, as seen in an April stand-off between Beijing and Manila that started When Chinese fishermen were caught poaching near a disputed Sacarborough Shoal. Eventually China won the stand-off and the fishermen made off with their catch."
In this way the tension is escalating in most of the Asian countries over disputed claims of bound sea and island boundaries. To fish in the trouble water, The USA has wished to base a nuclear -powered aircraft carrier on the Australian coast, allowing the USA a second carrier strike group in the region. But Australian Defence minister declined to allow such facilities to USA, saying the Washington that the Australian does not want to antagonise China, its largest trading partner.
With regards to India's coastal areas, the union government has completely failed to even deploy adequate security forces and coastal guards with modernised appliances! The result was that three or four terrorists came from sea routes to Mumbail From Karanchi and created not only panic but killed many persons and made the prestigious Taj Hotel destroyed as well as many historic and archaeological sites and inhabitants destroyed. This is what happening in India when most of the Asian Countries are engaging themselves to protect their coastal areas and sea-shores for utilising more and resources!
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