The South China Sea and international security

Times of India (31st May 2015), spelled the uneasiness with the Chinese stand, as India seeks to further its economic and defense engagement with Vietnam, China has warned New Delhi that it can't explore oil and gas blocks in South China Sea without seeking Beijing's approval. However social media trolls commenting on the Times of India Story indicated the frustration with some recommending that the US should place five Air Craft Carriers in South China Sea to teach China a lesson.

The force posture agreement between US and Australia and the new security deal of placing extra US forces in the region is part of the architecture of false security being conveyed to the Asia Pacific region. Australia is being positioned as the US deputy sherriff.

Limits of 2nd tier powers stem from limited diplomatic, economic and military potential and ability to find their place in a framework of the South China Sea. India's divided polity, poor relations within SAARC and struggle with abject poverty, Japan's poor demographic standing and declining economy and Australia's self-appointed role as the US' deputy sherriff despite her remoteness and demographic challenges are just a few of the limitations.

Chinese rapprochement with Malaysia and offering of joint mechanism to develop the energy potential of the South China Sea to all stake holders is a good omen, however; China needs a state of the art perception management mechanism to project strategic economic initiatives in a media landscape dominated by CNN and Hollywood.

The China- Russia strategic Colossus to check the West's hegemony is a positive step, and the decision by both sides to hold a security exercise in 2016 in the South China Sea will give assurance to the entire world that we are now moving from the unilateralism of the US to a multi-polar paradigm which should positively help global peace.

China needs to ask India if she wants to become a vassal state of Non Eurasian powers or be part of the Southern Colossus to rid the world of the hegemony of the West. India may well heed the Portuguese proverb, you cannot want the sun to shine on the threshing floor, while it rains on the turnip field.

Umar Waqar,a freelance journalist in Lahore, also contributed to the story.

(Waqar Khan Kauravi is a Defence Analyst based at Lahore (Pakistan), and can be reached at waqarkauravi@gmail.com ).