Five countries, other than China, are most dependent on the South China Sea

The South China Sea is an important trade route linking major trade arteries in Southeast Asia, linking waterways from Singapore and Malaysia to Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Combined with abundant hydrocarbon reserves and marine life — the main source of animal protein for the region’s dense population — this body of water is important beyond its boundaries.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and DevelopmentAn estimated $3.37 trillion, or 21% of total global trade, passed through the South China Sea in 2016.

In terms of territory, there are seven claimants in the South China Sea: China, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

But to whom does the South China Sea issue matter most?

Analysts named the top five countries, aside from China, that are most dependent on the South China Sea.

Vietnam, home to 95.5 million people, has seen its economy grow to $362.64 billion by 2021, World Bank data shows.

“Vietnam occupies more than 3,000 km of coastline in the South China Sea and occupies the largest number of features in the Spratly Islands,” said Euan Graham, senior member of the Shangri-La Dialogue on Asia-Pacific Security. Duong of the International Strategy Institute. Learn.

“What makes it interesting is its geographical position in Southeast Asia, which allows for continental or maritime orientation and generates pressure in both directions,” said the military and geopolitical expert. “.

“At the overall strategic level, Vietnam is doubling down on its maritime strategy to become an export-dependent economy, dependent on freedom of navigation to prosper.”

This is a historic reversal for Vietnam in the last century, when it was land-centered and dependent on continental allies — mainly the Soviet Union and China, Graham said. Vietnam was also mired in land conflicts with China and Cambodia at the time.

Vietnam shares a border with China benefit from supply chain problems in China exacerbated by Beijing’s strict Covid-0 policy and supply allocation.

“The opportunity lies in the prosperity that exports and foreign investment bring,” Graham said.

“Organizations that are reorienting their supply chains away from China and South Korea are now investing heavily in chip manufacturing in Vietnam. This further benefits Vietnam by benefiting other manufacturers. another country in its existence.”

As the main sea route for markets in Europe, Asia and America, the route is 105 km The Singapore Strait has about 1,000 ships passing through every day.

Blake Herzinger, a civilian expert on Indo-Pacific defense policy, said most conversations emphasize resources such as oil, gas and fisheries that everyone is familiar with. contest — but “freedom of navigation is what keeps Singapore alive”.

“There is no free South China Sea on the other side of Singapore, that would become another proposition for their values ​​and the survival of the nation,” said co-author of the book “Carrier Killer, China’s anti-ship ballistic missile and theater are in the early stages of operation,” it said. The 21 st century.”

With a population of 5.64 million, Singapore’s GDP is estimated to reach $337.5 billion by 2020, becoming the country with the largest population in the world. 17th largest commodity trading partner with the United Statesaccording to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

“While Singapore is not a claimant to any of the maritime features in the South China Sea, it is located on the most important sea lanes of communication (SLOC) – the Singapore Strait and its starting point. Malacca,” said Charlie A. Brown, a regional official. marine awareness specialist and advisor.

This small Southeast Asian nation relies heavily on free trade that passes safely through their country and neighboring waters.

“Singapore’s leadership is clear that they are a country that depends on freedom of navigation and a rules-based order. Without that, places like Singapore would be in a lot of trouble.”

Southeast Asia’s largest economy has an estimated GDP of nearly $1.2 trillion by 2021, according to World Bank data.

About 42% of Japan’s maritime trade passes through the South China Sea each year, according to the report. Recognized Association of Public Policy Advocates for the European Union.

In 2020, Japan is the world’s largest buyer of liquefied natural gasimported nearly 74.5 million tons.

Brown argues that because Japan imports oil from the Persian Gulf region, “it has a longstanding interest in the vulnerability of sea lanes that date back to pre-World War II.”

“In modern times, their regional activities support capacity building on issues such as maritime safety and security, protection of resources and infrastructure, as well as freedom of navigation with bordering countries in the South China Sea,” Brown added.

Japan has also been sending strong signals to China.

Japan’s largest newspaper, the YomiuriShimbun reports that Japanese navy destroyers have repeatedly passed through waterways in the South China Sea, near artificial islands and reefs claimed by Beijing.

The newspaper quoted an unnamed senior Defense Ministry official as saying that the maritime patrols “are meant to warn China, which is distorting international law, to protect freedom of navigation, the rule of law and the rule of law. and order at sea.”

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that those operations by the Maritime Self-Defense Force began in March last year.

On July 22, The Japanese government announced the National Defense of Japan 2022 The white paper accuses China of attempting to unilaterally change the status quo in the East and South China Seas.

China’s Ministry of National Defense responds with a strong rebuke, alleging that the document made “irresponsible remarks.”

Asia’s fourth largest economy – estimated to be about $1.8 trillion by 2021 – more economically dependent on energy imports than Japan, according to Graham.

As the 8th largest energy consumer in the world, Korea imports nearly 92.8% of its energy consumption and natural resources, Government data shows. In 2021, South Korea spent 137.2 billion USD on energy imports, equivalent to nearly 22.3% of the country’s total imports.

Based on data from the US Energy Information AdministrationThe Middle East accounted for 69% of South Korea’s crude oil imports in 2019, down from more than 80% before 2018.

With most of South Korea’s imported crude oil passing through the South China Sea, its current strategic importance to national security cannot be underestimated.

“With the launch of a self-designed and built Chinese aircraft carrier in June 2022, Fujian – named after the province closest to Taiwan – has unprecedented naval dominance and supremacy in the Pacific. challenged like this since World War II,” Brown said.

“The conflict in Europe has raised concerns about the global trading system,” he said. “Warnings about the impact of a conflict in the South China Sea should be taken seriously. We should all listen to calls from countries like Singapore and South Korea to avoid it and reduce tensions. “

In 2021, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) stated that More than 80% of international trade volume is transported by sea, with 54% of world maritime trade taking place in Asia. However, pandemic uncertainty continues in the form of supply chain disruptions, changing globalization patterns, transportation costs and congestion at ports.

Overall, UNCTAD estimates that world maritime trade recovers 4.3% in 2021. It also predicts that trade volumes could increase at an annual rate of 2.4% from 2022 to 2026.