Research On The Influence Of Extraterritorial Powers In The Protection Of Rights Across The South China Sea

The South China Sea issue has gone beyond pure territorial disputes and has been extended to other areas which involve territorial sovereignty,traffic channel,submarine resources,geopolitical strategy,etc.Except for seven parties' claim of all or part of sovereignty on the South China Sea by mainland China,Chinese Taiwan,Vietnam,the Philippines,Malaysia,Brunei and Indonesia,other international powers from the United States,Japan,India and Australia are engaged in as well.Among the seven parties,mainland China and Chinese Taiwan,though being separated by the Taiwan Straits,can be traced back to the same root so that the policies of the two sides in the South China Sea are generally consistent.In recent years,the voice of cross-strait cooperation and right defense is much louder while with the involvement of the United States,Japan,India,Australia and other countries,the South China Sea issue has become increasingly complex and sovereignty of mainland and Taiwan on the South China Sea or even the cross-strait relation is influenced by extraterritorial powers.This paper is written in order to study the impact of the intervention of foreign powers on sovereignty protection of mainland and Taiwan and to provide some reflections and suggestions on future policies.The US government had shown neutral stand in the South China Sea issue since the emergence of it but with the launching of Obama administration's “return to South Asia strategies”,the United States began to intervene in the disputes under the banner of "freedom of navigation".Then Japan,India and Australia formed strategic cooperation with the United States and constituted a continuous interference in the affairs about South China Sea,which leaded to further escalation of tension.The reasons for foreign powers intervening in disputes are as follows: first,to seek economic interests and to compete for abundant seabed resources in this area;second,to ensure freedom of navigation and to safeguard country's maritime trade;third,to deploy maritime military by mastering the right to control the sea due to the superior geographical position of it and its great military strategic significance;Fourth,to curb China's development and even to expand their countries' influence in the Asia-Pacific region.In view of their interests and strategies,the United States,Japan,India and Australia had continuously strengthened cooperation and exchanges with countries around the South China Sea.At the same time,the exploitation of resources in the South China Sea was speed up and the military presence was strengthened.However,this move ignores the Sovereign position of the South China Sea on both sides of the channel,and the maritime economic interests and the maritime military forces of the two sides of the channel were jeopardized.What's worse,itrestricts the cooperation between the two.Affected by countries outside the region and cross-straits relations,Taiwan is caught in a dilemma.But Taiwan's strategic choice on the South China Sea issue is the key factor for the two sides to cooperate in safeguarding their rights.The South China Sea dispute has become increasingly complex and the peaceful settlement of disputes is fraught with difficulties in the current international situation.Peace and stability in the South China Sea are of vital importance for people on both sides so mainland China and Chinese Taiwan should work together to improve cross-strait relations,to seize opportunities,and to promote cooperation.Meanwhile,more stable and effective measures on right-safeguard should be taken in order to meet more challenges.