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FONOPs - Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea as a tool of the US in maintaining freedom of navigation
Vojtuš, Michal ; Hornát, Jan (advisor) ; Bečka, Jan (referee)
This thesis analyses the American policy of sustaining freedom of navigation on the seas through its Freedom of Navigation Program (FON Program). It analyses Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) as a means of maintain the current system of the law of the sea as put forth by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. (UNCLOS) The thesis deals with law of the sea history, it also describes and analyses the Convention itself. Another topic discussed is the unique position of United States as a power guaranteeing the current regime of the seas, while staying out of the provision of UNCLOS. The thesis analyses the American debate about joining the Convention and analyses the consequences of American absence as a party to the treaty. The FON Program and FONOPs in the South China Sea are thoroughly analysed by the thesis. The South China Sea is a troubled region suffering from excessive maritime claims of local states. These claims are closely connected to the militarization of the region. The People's Republic of China is an important force as a rising power striving for the position of a regional hegemon. The thesis describes, how FONOPs are conducted and it observes, how they are received by the target states. The thesis is set in the South China Sea region between October 2015 and May...
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South China Sea: Issues of Chinese U-shaped line
Hofmanová, Lucie ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Karmazin, Aleš (referee)
The bachelor thesis "South China Sea: Issues of Chinese U-shaped line "focuses on a Chinese line called the U-shaped line in the South China Sea. The main task of this thesis is to present the differences in understanding of legal issues between the Chinese academics and their foreign colleagues regarding the U-shaped line, the claims of each state in the South China Sea and their distinction from Chinese claims and the consistency of the U-shaped line with international law. For a comprehensive understanding of the presented issues the first part of work concentrates on historical development of this line and the significance of the South China Sea. Legal concepts and treaties relating to the conflict are explained as well. It involves international law, international maritime law, Note verbale, Declaration on the South China Sea, Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Island of Palmas case and International Court of Justice. The stress is put on the legal aspects and development of this line.
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China in Global and Regional policy in the 21st Century- Geopolitical Clash with Japan, India, USA, Russia, and Europe
Petrtýl, Martin ; Hnízdo, Bořivoj (advisor) ; Kofroň, Jan (referee) ; Andělová, Petra (referee)
CHINA IN GLOBAL AND REGIONAL POLITICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY - GEOPOLITICAL CLASH WITH JAPAN, INDIA, USA, RUSSIA AND EUROPE Mgr. Martin Petrtýl Supervisor: Doc. Dr. Bořivoj Hnízdo, PhD. Institute of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences This dissertation discusses the current and future role of China in the 21st century. I worked with the idea to prepare a systematically detailed analytical study of the country in relation to its surroundings as well as its internal environment for more than 8 years, including many interruptions. I, above all, contemplated about the way how to truly scientifically, i.e. credibly, it means in the maximum possible the limits of verifiability, develop a full work that could hold up to the colleagues from the scientific community and myself. It is logical it was and is my attempt to allow minimal possibility of any criticism of this work for its formal, content, or other deficiencies. First, I decided to analyse in some detail the currently known theoretical approaches and methods of study, not only in political sciences, especially those used by political geographers, but also in other related fields, especially in the field of study of international relations, sociology, political science or general security studies. I did not want to study the issue is the...
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Geopolitics of global and regional actors in the South China Sea
Lochman, Josef ; Lepič, Martin (advisor) ; Jelen, Libor (referee)
GEOPOLITICS OF GLOBAL AND REGIONAL ACTORS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA Abstract This bachelor thesis focuses on territorial disputes in the South China Sea as well as on the geopolitical conditions of such occurence. The aim of the thesis is to answer the following research questions: Which contested terrains are the primary sources of tension in the area? Which factors can possibly cause a military conflict? And what are the reasons for increasing Chinese claims in the region? The method of systematic review of scholarly literature is used to collect the evidence and answer the research questions. Theoretical framework of the thesis i based on the disputes between classical and critical geopolitics. While the stae-led hegemonic politics is usually based on the former approach, the critical geopolitice is especially useful for critical insight made by researcher. As the evidence shows, he most contested terrains in the South China Sea are Spratly and Paracel Islands, because the sovereignty upon them is claimed by most of the countries. Large reserves of energy resources can be found within the island's adjacent waters. These are required by China as well as other countries in the region in order to facilitate an economic growth. Since 2010, China, strenghtened by its economic and military progrese, has appointed...
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Differences in the resolution of sea territories conflicts in areas with energy resources
Bančanský, Andrej ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Parízek, Michal (referee)
Energy security is an important phenomenon of the contemporary world. A significant number of oil and gas reserves are located on the seabed. Expansion of oil and gas drilling to deeper and from shore more remote locations can again raise the question of ownership of these deposits. On one hand, there are regions of the world where these disputes over borders of maritime territories escalate into a series of clashes and incidents. On the other hand, there are other areas where states can settle their disputes and cooperate on drilling. The goal of this study is to determine which factors lead to the fact that particularly in the South China Sea disagreement about the boundaries of maritime territories results in the escalation of disputes in comparison with the regions of the North Sea and the Caribbean Sea, where disputes are solved or minimized. These factors are represented by six variables, which are based on three theories: a realist, idealist and constructivist theory of international relations. The first part of this study describes the historical development of current international maritime law with regard to the territorial division of the world's oceans. It is followed by a description of three case areas. The second part deals with the theoretical foundations of the examined factors. In...
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Serpent in the Water: Debating the Chinese Maritime Strategy
Slominski, Michael ; Kofroň, Jan (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
A current topic of international debate among western geopolitical scholars concerns whether recent demonstrations of Chinese naval power represent China's adoption of an outwardly aggressive maritime strategy which might require a reactive change of approach by western nations in dealing with Southeast Asian trading interests. This paper analyzes recent developments in Chinese maritime strategy in order to determine whether the strategy is actually offensive or defensive. Drawing on a realist interpretation of international relations, a geo- strategic evaluation of the Chinese state, and a detailed understanding of the principles of maritime strategy, this paper addresses the inherent difficulty in distinguishing between offensive and defensive maritime strategies given that maritime states naturally develop power-projection forces in order to protect their Sea Lanes of Communication and maritime commerce. In an effort to discern the strategic intent underlying China's modern naval activity, this paper establishes an independent vision of China's optimal defensive maritime strategy based on the state's current threat environment, and compares those results against recent investments in China's naval power. By examining the congruency of these two positions, this work offers a contextualized...
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U.S.-India Strategic Partnership as a Balance for China's Increasing Power
Hadrava, Lukáš ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
The master thesis called US-India Strategic Partnership as a Balance for China's Increasing Power examines development of relationship between USA and India in the years 2000-2011. American foreign policy toward India has been transformed in this period; it has evolved from open hostility during Cold War and mistrust in the nineties to the position when it is helping India to gain status of global importance. Improvement of US-India ties are explained by the need of the United States to contain increasing Chinese power. Main arguments of the analysis are based on the realistic balance of power theory, which is further enhanced by the by Joseph Nye's three dimensional concept of power. The thesis therefore distinguishes three different sources of threat to American dominant position caused by China. These sources are following: expanding China's sphere of influence into Indian Ocean and South China Sea; US-China bilateral trade deficit and high amount of American bonds owned by China, challenge to the legitimacy of American power by soft power of China. American efforts to establish cooperation with India in order to balance Chinese influence can be founded in all of these issues. The thesis concludes that motivation of the United States to enter into a strategic partnership with India can be...
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Geopolitical impact of China's search for energy on the Indian Ocean and South China Sea
Rodd, William ; Hrishabh, Sandilya (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
This thesis examines the geopolitical consequences of China's search for energy resources on the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. It provides a brief outline of the energy situation of the world as a whole, specifically how it is becoming a more globalized and singular market. This change is occurring at the same time as a pronounced shift away from the traditional measurements of 'power' towards 'softer' more subtle definitions. There is a brief section outlining the geopolitical teachings of Alfred T. Mahan, specifically how he advocated seapower primarily for the purpose of providing the stability and security necessary for trade. Chinese analysts have been embracing the teachings of Mahan, but also interpreting them in a way that justifies the naval buildup Beijing has been embarking on in recent years. The paper briefly looks at the potential sources that China could turn to meet its energy needs, but concludes that it will have to rely on oil for the foreseeable future. It then attempts to define overall Chinese interests, specifically how nearly all of these relate somehow to energy security, thus underlining the importance of this topic to leaders in Beijing. The last half of the work delves into a geopolitical analysis of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, and how militarization in the...
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The role of ASEAN in the maritime security in the South China Sea
Jurovská, Markéta ; Havlová, Radka (advisor) ; Knotková, Vladimíra (referee)
The region of South China Sea and surrounding straits gains more and more significance at the global level due to its importance for the maritime transport, mineral resources and fishery. Those positive aspects attract many concerns of various powers on one hand and at the same time many security threats on the other -- e.g. transnational organised crime, territorial disputes and environmental degradation. The objective of this thesis is to analyse actual activities of ASEAN and evaluate its role in the maritime security of South China Sea using the methods of case study, description and analysis of the primary sources, documents and expert opinions. The main finding of this study is the very key role of ASEAN in the maritime security of South China Sea which allows him to determine the future course of regional security cooperation.
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The role of China in South China Sea and East China Sea
Nguyen, Cong Hung ; Knotková, Vladimíra (advisor) ; Dubský, Zbyněk (referee)
China as it the coastal State is surrounded from the East by the Pacific Ocean, which are further divided into 4 different seas, which the East China Sea and South China Sea is China's most important from economic aspects, as in these seas there are great natural wealth such as seafood and minerals where China and many other countries in the region are dependent, because economic development is related to its dependence on raw materials. These materials have been found in the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and the Spratly islands in the South China Sea. But beside China other countries in the region also claim the disputed territories. The dispute between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands, China has dispute with Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei over the Spratly Islands. These disputes stretch for several decades and among the players there were several direct and indirect conflicts. In the near future we cannot expect that there would be some resolution, given that China and others have in recent years arming heavily militarily, and so we can also assume that there might even be a direct conflict. It is therefore necessary to monitor this area, because here we can see conflicts of interests between the great powers like China and Japan, but also the U.S. are showing an interest in this area.
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