Abstract

The main objective of this research is to investigate the effect of the Security tensions in the South China Sea on the future of China–Africa relations. Specifically, the study investigated the root cause of the tensions in the South China Sea, the strategies put in place by international bodies to bring peace to the security tensions along the South China Sea and Africa’s relationship with China and Africa’s position in the ongoing tensions.

This research used a qualitative research design whereby expert interviews were conducted to provide data. Respondents were chosen purposely because they had knowledge about South China Sea dispute and its implications on Africa. This research explicated the existing ideas, themes and concepts to make generalization possible.

The results of this study show that the tensions in the south china sea are as a result of numerous factors including, historical, geo-political, economic and legal factors. Also, the study shows that a lot has been done to calm the tension like the creation of a code of conduct among countries involved in the conflict, the creation of ASEANS, and promoting military cooperation. It was recommended that, tensions in the South China Sea can be resolved through diplomatic negotiations and dialogue among

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Tension and conflict between political units in different local, regional, national and global aspects have always been part of modern history.

In the international sphere, states which are the basic political units of sovereignty and authority often experience tensions emanating from disagreements due to their quest for national survival and expansion of their sphere of influence.

The term Tension refers to a set of attitudes and tendencies such as hidden hostility, distrust, fear, suspicion and perhaps the desire to revenge or exercise dominance which people and policy makers have towards each other (Hafeznia & Hourcad, 2013).Tension does not cause conflict itself but it enables the different parties to show behavior as each of them tries to show incompatible objectives (Holsti & Holsti, 1991).

In many cases, governments because of their differing perspectives towards geographical and geopolitical factors hold contrasting views with neighboring, regional or global powers and in such a case tensions and the possibility direct conflict is eminent.

Disagreements often arise from conflicting interest between two or more entities which  in the international system are often states who by all means try to protect their national interests as well as the immediate and long term ambitions  such as energy, security and natural resources in certain geopolitical and geostrategic zones

The geopolitical zones where tensions often arise are strategic and critical for a nation’s survival. These areas may include access to mineral deposits, shipping routes, important rivers, religious sites etc

Considering the factors causing these regional and global tensions and their importance to states survival as well as the global security, perspectives from different disciplines such as geography, political science, sociology, Management and geopolitics must be considered (Mohammad Reza & Ghavam., 2006).

The effects of tensions from one geopolitical or geostrategic zone often affect the world in general especially if there is a direct military involvement as seen in the case of Russia and Ukraine in 2022. One of the world’s major areas which for the past decades faced increased tension is the South China Sea.

Like most territorial disputes, the ones that emanate from the South China Sea are extremely complex and multilayered. The contested status of these territorial disputes can be traced to the regions deep colonial history on one hand and the legal regimes of the south china’s sea islands in accordance with international law on the other (Friedberg, 2005) .Its geostrategic importance as a strategic shipping lane as well as the rich natural resources around them have culminated in uneasy tensions in this region. This has been fueled by domestic politics and the rise of nationalism within certain claimant states.

The question of sovereignty and jurisdiction in the territorial waters of the South China Sea only began in the 19th century when France colonized indo-china and in the process claimed the various territorial features of that maritime area as it was a European idea in order to demarcate boarder lines. Japan then took control of control of these French possessions until 1945 when she was defeated in WW2 thereby creating a vacuum of who owned what in the South China Sea became a pressing issue for the first time.

In 1947, Chaing Kai-Shek’s Nationalist government of the republic of China published a map stating its claims by means of an 11-dashed U-shaped line intended to delineate territorial and not maritime jurisdiction (Chung, 2016). Following Chiang’s defeat on the mainland and his flight to Taiwan, Mao Zedong and his fellow communist rulers of the new Peoples Republic of China (PRC) in 1953

Beijing’s has so far assumed that it claimed not only the sovereignty over the territorial features of the South China Sea but also the maritime jurisdiction out of its the nine-dash line (Welch and Longendrarajah, 2019). Although china ratified The United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea in 1996

The main conflict in the south china sea dates back to the first armed clash in 1974, through the 1994 United nation convention on the Law of the sea to China’s extensive claims according to its “nine-dash line” in 2009 and the standoffs in 2021 over fishing rights between China and the Philippines. Since then control over this region has been of major concern to different regional powers.

African countries maybe faraway from this geopolitical tense zone of the south china sea but an escalation of hostilities has the potential of adversely affecting African development and trade ambitions.

Since the start of the 21st century there has been growing geopolitical and geo-economic tensions in many parts of the world especially in Europe and parts of Central –East Africa. According to the report of ‘The Diplomat’ –an online media platform of geopolitical issues, in today’s globalized world, a conflict in Asia will be disastrous to the global economy. This is more so because Asia is becoming the center of global economic activities. The growth of Southeast Asia is expected to account for more than 50 and 40 percent of global GDP and consumption respectively (www.bloomberg.com)

For African states like Cameroon, the socio-economic impact is bound to be enormous firstly because countries in this region like China and Japan are major partners in trade, aid, investment and development. Secondly African economies are very vulnerable to external disruptions in the global economy as they depend mainly on primary goods for export.

According to data from the world Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) in 2019, East Asia and the Pacific accounted for 28.14% and 19.8% respectively of Sub-Saharan countries imports and exports. Asia’s investments into Africa increased from 5% in 2002 to 23% in 2018. According to the KIEL Institute for the world economy, Africa’s relationship with Asia is crucial for its economic diversification ,therefore any disruptions in Asia is directly to impact African countries negatively.

Despite all the tensions in this key and strategic zone, African countries have had little concern regarding their position on the matter

1.2 Statement of the problem

China’s economy has witnessed a systematic boom in the last 30 years. This has increased its quest for energy to drive its emerging economy hence there is reason to secure its sources of energy. This has led to its increasing expansion in the South China Sea beyond its internationally recognized exclusive economic zones (EEZ) with other regional neighbors like Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, The Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and the naval superpower the United States of America.

Many studies have been done in this geopolitical and geostrategic zone but little attention has been giving to the effects on African-China relations especially to economies like Cameroon which greatly rely on China for finished goods as well as for the sale of its raw materials in the case of an escalation of hostilities and the different alternatives put in place by China to secure energy and the way forward for sub-Saharan economies. It’s on these reasons this research has been designed.

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 Main Research Question

The main research question is: what is the effect of the Security tensions in the South China Sea on the future of China–Africa relations?

1.3.2 Specific Research Questions

1. What is the root cause of the tensions in the South China Sea?
2. What strategies have been put in place by International bodies to bring peace to the security tensions along the South China Sea?
3. What is Africa’s relationship with China and Africa’s position in the ongoing tensions?

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