China’s Maritime Ambition, Security Dilemma and Lack of Multilateral Framework

Abstract

The security environment of the South China Sea has been disrupted as China strengthens its efforts at maritime ambition. The recent security situation in the Asia-Pacific, particularly the South China Sea, is characterised by arms building and balancing against China. It raises the possibility of conflict. For securing stability and peace, it is time to bring multilateralism back in, since a multilateral security framework contributes to taking the edge off power politics. However, there is no reliable multilateral framework to deal with the declining maritime security environment. This article highlights the lack of a multilateral framework and suggests an eclectic approach to multilateralism for securing the Asia-Pacific maritime order.

A bibliometric analysis of maritime security policy: Research trends and future agenda

“…The researchers who conducted studies on maritime and regional security include Agastia [ 35 ], Bateman [ 65 ], P. Gopal & Alverdian [ 33 ], Prakash Gopal [ 71 ], K. Govella [ 4 ], Md. Saiful Karim [ 2 ], Maryanne Kelton & Willis [ 34 ], Lee [ 22 ] , Paul [ 32 ], Poh & Ong [ 5 ], Styan [ 72 ], M.A. Zohourian [ 14 ].…”

“…Threats to maritime security can be in the form of threats to national interests [ 13 ], border and national security [ 13 ]; maritime conflicts or disputes such as the South China Sea dispute [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [22] , [23] , [24] ]; transnational organizational crime (TOC) [ 13 , 25 ]; drug trafficking [ 25 ]; smuggling [ 13 ]; terrorism [ 13 , 18 , 26 , 27 ]; piracy [ 11 , 14 , 28 ]; armed robbery [ 14 ]; human trafficking [ 28 , 29 ]; environmental crime [ 28 ]; shipping and navigation [ 18 ]; Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing [ 8 , 30 , 31 ]; and even the threats from the problems of asylum seekers [ 19 ]. In discussing maritime security, efforts to resolve and prevent threats will definitely be one of the main topics of discussion.…”