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Final and Last class on Politics in South Asia-

The South China Sea dispute involves territorial claims over islands and maritime boundaries by several nations, primarily due to economic interests in fishing and natural resources. The region is strategically important as a major international trade route and is rich in hydrocarbons. Historical claims, particularly China's 'nine-dash line', have led to ongoing tensions and legal disputes, with implications for regional security and international relations, including India's involvement and support for maritime law.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
13 views21 pages

Final and Last class on Politics in South Asia-

The South China Sea dispute involves territorial claims over islands and maritime boundaries by several nations, primarily due to economic interests in fishing and natural resources. The region is strategically important as a major international trade route and is rich in hydrocarbons. Historical claims, particularly China's 'nine-dash line', have led to ongoing tensions and legal disputes, with implications for regional security and international relations, including India's involvement and support for maritime law.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Politics in South Asia

BCS Written Syllabus


Section –B, Empirical Issues
Topic Serial-06
What is the South China Sea
Dispute?
The regions of contention are the
Spratly Island, the Paracel Island,
maritime boundaries in the Gulf of
Tonkin and other places. Waters
near the Indonesian Natuna Islands
are also disputed.
The reason why these areas are
disputed and of interest to the
concerned nations is the acquisition
of fishing areas around the two
archipelagos; suspected crude oil
and natural gas in different parts of
the South China Sea; and the
control of strategically important
shipping lanes
South China Sea: Why is it
strategically important?
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that
is part of the Pacific Ocean that extends
from the Strait of Malacca in the
southwest, to the Strait of Taiwan in the
northeast.
The littoral countries of the South China
Sea are China, Taiwan, Philippines,
Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore,
Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The South China Sea is a busy international
waterway, one of the main arteries of
global trade worth more than $5 trillion
and is growing year on year.
It is a rich source of hydrocarbons and
natural resources.
The islands of the South China Sea can be
grouped into two island chains.
The Paracels Islands: These are clustered in
the northwest corner of the Sea.
The Spratly Islands: These are located in
the southeast corner.
History of South China Sea Dispute
In the first half of the 20th century, the Sea remained almost quiet. In fact, at
the end of World War II, no claimant occupied a single island in the entire South
China Sea.
China laid claim to the South China Sea in 1947. It demarcated its claims with a
U-shaped line made up of eleven dashes on a map, covering most of the area.
But two “dashes” were removed in the early 1950s to bypass the Gulf of Tonkin
as a gesture to communist comrades in North Vietnam.
The remaining ‘nine-dash line’ stretches hundreds of kilometers south and east
of its southerly Hainan Island, covering almost 90% of South China Sea.
After 1960’s when the huge reserve of oil and natural gas were discovered in
the region, the territorial claims started growing in an unprecedented manner.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which came
into force in 1994, established a legal framework intended to balance the
economic and security interests of coastal states with those of seafaring
nations.
While UNCLOS has been signed and ratified by nearly all the coastal countries in
the South China Sea, based on their own interpretation of the UNCLOS,
claimant countries started to legitimize their claims.

In 2002, ASEAN and China came together to sign the Declaration on the Code
of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to keep disputes away. However,
it didn’t achieve the desired outcomes.
In 2009, Malaysia and Vietnam sent a joint submission to the Commission on
the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) for setting out some of their claims. In
response to this China submitted a map containing the infamous “nine-dash”
line and due to which, there was no headway in the dispute resolution.
History of South China Sea Dispute neighbors argue that China’s relative size and clout give it
an unfair advantage.
ASEAN and South China Sea
PCA-Ruling and implications
One of the fundamental principles of the Association of
Both the Philippines and China laid their claims the
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been to resolve
Scarborough Shoal which is a little more than 100 miles
regional disputes by peaceful means. But over the years,
from the Philippines and 500 miles from China. The
the position of ASEAN on the South China Sea disputes has
Philippines and China are both dependent upon fishing in
weakened its image internationally and failing to resolve
the South China Sea, specifically in the Scarborough Shoal,
this issue would lead to questions being raised about its
for the economic development and livelihood of their
credibility as an effective regional organization.
people. A tense but bloodless stand-off between China and
The US and the South China Sea
the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal in 2012, led to
The U.S. has no claim in the South China Sea, but has been
China gaining de facto control over the region.
highly critical of China’s assertiveness and insisted on free
But in 2013, the Philippines raised the dispute with China
navigation of commercial vessels in the South China Sea is
to the PCA(Permanent Court Of Arbitration), saying China’s
vital for regional and international trade.
claims violated Philippines’ sovereignty under the 1982
It conducted joint military patrols with the Philippines and
U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).
Japan, Australia, and Indonesia.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Chinese
US also increased the financial support for enhancing the
claims over 90 percent of the South China Sea area are
military capabilities of ASEAN and East Asian countries as
illegitimate and under UNCLOS, China is intruding into the
well strengthened bilateral defense collaboration with
Philippines’ sovereign waters as the 9-dash line which
these countries.
includes the Scarborough shoal and crosses into the
Philippines EEZ.
China out rightly rejected the ruling. China prefers bilateral
negotiations with the other parties. But many of its
History of South China Sea Dispute
India and the South China Sea
India remained acutely conscious of its official position of
neither being party to the disputes nor taking sides for many
years. But with increasing ties with East Asian countries (Act
East Policy), India indirectly started raising concerns about
Chinese illegitimate claims in the South China Sea.

India believes that the disputes in the Southeast Asian littorals


are a litmus test for the international maritime law.
In the aftermath of the Hague Tribunal’s verdict on the South
China Sea, India obligated to take a principled stand on the
issue of freedom of navigation and commercial access
enshrined in the UNCLOS.

Despite China’s protests, India continues its oil exploration in


Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone(EEZ) in the South China
Sea from where ONGC Videsh Limited supplies oil to Vietnam.
India also supports a negotiated settlement of Brunei’s
maritime dispute with China and has inked defense
cooperation agreement that would provide an institutional
foundation for more collaborative work on maritime security
and secure India’s energy lanes to Brunei.
Summary
The South China Sea have been
witnessing a lot of unfortunate conflicts
in terms of economic interests, civilian
security, and the environment in the
recent past. The illegal construction of
artificial islands and nuclear power
plants on these fragile islands in the
region raises severe environmental
threats to the South China Sea.

The South China Sea situation will only


be settled when the bordering countries
change their mindsets from one of
sovereignty and sole ownership of
resources to one of functional
cooperation and cooperative
management. India’s rising clout in the
region due to enhanced economic
cooperation would go a long way in
resolving the disputes.
Border Problems in South Asia
The Beluchistan Issue
The Insurgency in Balochistan is a low-
intensity insurgency[ waged by Baloch nationalists against the
governments of Pakistan and Iran in the Balochistan region,
which covers the Balochistan Province in
southwestern Pakistan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province in
southeastern Iran, and the Balochistan region of
southern Afghanistan.
Rich in natural resources like natural gas, oil, coal, copper,
sulphur, fluoride and gold, this is the largest and least
developed province in Pakistan.
Armed groups demand greater control of the province's
natural resources and political autonomy. Baloch separatists
have attacked civilians from other ethnicities throughout the
province.
In the 2010s, attacks against the Shi'a
community by sectarian groups—though not always directly
related to the political struggle—have risen, contributing to
tensions in Balochistan.
Border Problems in South Asia
The Beluchistan Issue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech said he was grateful to the people of Balochistan, Gilgit
and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, for thanking him for his criticism of the "atrocities" committed by Pakistan in
Balochistan and PoK. While the PM’s comments may or may not signify a fundamental shift in India's Pakistan policy,
his decision to raise the stakes on Kashmir by highlighting Pakistan's own failings in Balochistan is going down well with
India's strategic community. Baloch Republican Party founder Brahamdagh Bugti on Sunday asked India to help
"helpless" Balochs in the same way that it once helped Bangladesh.
The annexation of Kalat
Balochistan has witnessed regular insurgencies since Pakistan annexed the autonomous Baloch state of Kalat in 1948.
The state is now divided between Pakistan and Iran. The capital of the Pakistani province of Balochistan is Quetta.
2.Multiple insurgencies
The Pakistan government has waged military campaigns against Baloch insurgencies in 1948, 1958-59, 1962-63, and
1973-77. The most recent conflict began in the early 2000s.
3.Armed separatist groups
There are a number of armed separatist groups demanding independence from Pakistan. Prominent groups include the
Balochistan Liberation Army and Lashkar-e-Balochistan.
4.Systematic repression and marginalization
The Pakistan government is accused of engaging in systematic repression and marginalization of Balochs. Islamabad has
reportedly detained thousands of Baloch nationalists, denied Balochs positions in government institutions and the
military, assassinated democratic Baloch leaders, funded religious schools to fuel religious radicalization, and backed
the Taliban in general elections to counter democratic Baloch leaders.
Border Problems in South Asia
The Beluchistan Issue
The four major ethnic groups of
Pakistan in 1980.
Border Problems in South

National Register of Citizens (NRC)


Why in News?
The Supreme Court recently issued a notice to the centre and the Election Commission of India on a plea
seeking that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated to include Tripura.
The final draft of the NRC in Assam was released, excluding four million residents of the state.
This draft of the NRC is however not final and people can still appeal against the non-inclusion of their
names in the NRC.
Several religious and linguistic minority groups are also opposing the NRC as discriminatory and
undemocratic.
Purpose: To separate “illegal” immigrants from “legitimate” residents of Assam.
Nodal Agency: Registrar General and Census Commissioner India.
What is National Register of Citizens (NRC)?
National Register of Citizens, 1951 is a register prepared after the conduct of the Census of 1951 in
respect of each village, showing the houses or holdings in a serial order and indicating against each
house or holding the number and names of persons staying therein.
The NRC was published only once in 1951.
NRC in Assam
1. The issue of its update assumed importance as Assam witnessed large-scale illegal migration
from erstwhile East Pakistan and, after 1971, from present-day Bangladesh.
2. This led to the six-year-long Assam movement from 1979 to 1985, for deporting illegal
migrants.
3. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) led the movement that demanded the updating of the
NRC and the deportation of all illegal migrants who had entered Assam after 1951.
4. The movement culminated in the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985.
5. It set March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for the deportation of illegal migrants.
6. Since the cut-off date prescribed under articles 5 and 6 of the Constitution was July 19, 1949 -
to give force to the new date, an amendment was made to the Citizenship Act, 1955, and a
new section was introduced.
7. It was made applicable only to Assam.
8. There had been intermittent demands from AASU and other organisations in Assam for
updating the NRC, an Assam based NGO filed a petition at the Supreme Court.
9. In December 2014, a division bench of the apex court ordered that the NRC be updated in a
time-bound manner.
10. The NRC of 1951 and the Electoral Roll of 1971 (up to midnight of 24 March 1971) are together
called Legacy Data. Persons and their descendants whose names appeared in these documents
are certified as Indian citizens.
Impact of NRC
1. An updated NRC is likely to put an end to speculations about the actual number of illegal
migrants in Assam in particular and the country in general.
2. It will provide a verified dataset to carry out meaningful debates and implement calibrated policy
measures.
3. Publication of an updated NRC is expected to deter future migrants from Bangladesh from
entering Assam illegally.
4. The publication of the draft NRC has already created a perception that staying in Assam without
valid documentation will attract detention/jail term and deportation.
5. More importantly, illegal migrants may find it even more difficult to procure Indian identity
documents and avail all the rights and benefits due to all Indian citizens.
6. Inclusion of their names in the NRC will provide respite to all those Bengali speaking people in
Assam who have been, hitherto, suspected as being Bangladeshis.
Challenges to NRC
1. Flawed Process - People who found themselves on the first list that was released on January 1, 2018,
didn’t find their names in the second. Even the family of a former President of India did not mention on
the list.
2. The parallel processes of NRC, the voters list of the Election Commission, and the Foreigners’ Tribunals
with the help of the Assam Border Police, have led to utter chaos, as none of these agencies are sharing
information with each other.
3. Though the draft provides a window for re-verification, due to large number of people being excluded
from the list, it will be very difficult to physically verify all of them.
4. Since such ‘non citizens’ can resort to judicial relief to substantiate their citizenship claim, it can lead to
overburdening of judiciary which already reels under large number of pending cases.
5. There is uncertainty about the future of those left out from the list.
6. Expelling them to Bangladesh is not an option since Dhaka has never accepted that they are its citizens
or that there is a problem of illegal immigration. In the absence of a formal agreement, India cannot
forcibly push the illegal migrants back into Bangladesh.
7. Moreover, raising this issue can also jeopardise relations with Dhaka. Such an attempt would not only
damage bilateral relations but also sully the country’s image internationally.
8. Apart from deportation, the other option is large scale detention camps - which is an unlikely option for a
civilised democracy like India.
9. Another option is instituting work permits, which would give them limited legal rights to work but
ensure they have no political voice. However, it is not clear what will be the fate of children of such
individuals.
10. With no end to uncertainty, NRC seems to be a process without an end.
Way Forward towards NRC Issue
India, as a country which follows the ideology of
‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, should not be hasty in taking
decisions that can disenfranchise her citizens –
contradicting its centuries-followed values.

The need of the hour is that Union Government should


clearly chart out the course of action regarding the fate of
excluded people from final NRC data and political parties
should refrain from coloring the entire NRC process through
electoral prospects that may snowball in to communal
violence.

There is a need for a robust mechanism of legal support for


the four million who have to prove their citizenship to
India with their limited means.
DOKLAM CRISIS
Doklam (in Standard Bhutanese), Zhoglam (in Standard
Tibetan), or Donglang (pinyin, Chinese:), is an area with
a plateau and a valley, lying between China's Chumbi
Valley to the north, Bhutan's Ha Valley to the east and
India's Sikkim state's Nathang Valley to the west.
It has been depicted as part of Bhutan in the Bhutanese
maps since 1961, but it is also claimed by China. To
date, the dispute has not been resolved despite several
rounds of border negotiations between Bhutan and
China.[4][5][6] The area is of strategic importance to all
three countries.
In June 2017 a military standoff occurred between
China and India as China attempted to extend a road on
the Doklam plateau southwards near the Doka La pass
and Indian troops moved in to prevent the Chinese to no
avail. India claimed to have acted on behalf of Bhutan,
with which it has a 'special relationship'.
Bhutan has formally objected to China's road
construction in the disputed area
Border disputes between India and China
The recent standoff between India and China at the Doklam
plateau which lies at a tri-junction between the India, China,
and Bhutan has gained much attention. It has turned into the
biggest military stand-off between the two armies in years.
There are many who even fear a war. In this article, we discuss
in detail the India-China border disputes, the recent Doklam
issue, various India-China border agreements and some other
issues between the two countries.
The India-China borders can be broken down into three
sectors
Western Sector – DISPUTED – This comprises the Aksai Chin
sector. This region which originally was a part of the state of
Jammu and Kashmir is claimed by China as part of its
autonomous Xinjiang region. After the 1962 war, it is
administered by China. It is the second largest Indo-China
border area covering over 38000 sq. km. However, it is an
uninhabited land. While India claims the entire Aksai Chin
territory as well as the Shaksgam valley (Indian territory
gifted to China by Pakistan), China contests Indian control over
Daulat Beg Oldi (a tehsil in Leh, south of Aksai China-it is
believed to host the world’s highest airstrip)
Central Sector – UNDISPUTED – Although China has
recognised India’s sovereignty over Sikkim and had initiated
the trade at Nathu La pass, the Doklam fiasco could mean
trouble at all ends.
Border disputes between India and China
Eastern Sector – DISPUTED – The Arunachal Pradesh
border that China still claims to be its own territory is
the largest disputed area, covering around 90000 sq.
km. It was formally called North East Frontier Agency.
During the 1962 war, the People’s Liberation Army
occupied it but they announced a unilateral ceasefire
and withdrew respecting the international boundary
(Mcmahon Line). However, it has continued to assert
its claim over the territory. Nowadays, almost the
whole of Arunachal is claimed by China. (Note: This is
the reason why the recent visit of Dalai Lama to
Tawang monastery had become such a contentious
bilateral issue)
• The two nations have held on to their own
stands even on the Johnson line and
McDonald line which demarcates the
territories of the two.
• Johnson Line – India’s accepted demarcation –
It marks Aksai Chin as an Indian territory
• McDonald Line – China’s stance – It marks
Aksai Chin as Chinese territory
Terrorist Groups
BANGLADESH
2. Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen
3. Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami-Bangladesh
INDIA
I. Jammu and Kashmir
4. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
5. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front
6. Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen
7. Al Badr
8. Muslim Janbaz Force
9. Al Barq
10. Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen
11. Lashkar-e-Jabbar
12. Al Umar Mujahideen
II. II. Northeast India
13. United Liberation Front of Asom
14. National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah
15. United National Liberation Front
16. People’s Liberation Army (Manipur)
17. National Democratic Front of Bodoland
Terrorist Groups
III. Left-wing Extremism
18. Communist Party of India-Maoist
IV. Islamist Groups
19. Indian Mujahideen
20. Popular Front of India
21. Al Ummah
Part-C PAKISTAN
22. Al Qaeda
23. Haqqani Network
24. Lashkar-e-Taiba
25. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen
26. Jaish-e-Mohammad
27. Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami
28. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
29. Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi
30. Lashkar-e-Islam
31. Lashkar-e-Omar
32. United Jihad Council
33. Tehrik-e-Jihad
34. Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
35. Sunni Tehrik
36. Sipah-e-Mohammad Pakistan
37. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
38. Jundullah of Karachi
39. Jundullah
Part-D SOUTH ASIA
40. Hizb-ut-Tahrir
Thank you !!

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