Oceans Pack 3

Question 1

What is the strategic value of the ocean in global trade for superpowers?

Answer 1

• 90% of world trade by volume is transport by sea
• Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) to import raw material and export manufactured goods
• Control of key shipping routes allows states to protect economy and disrupt rivals’ trade

Question 2

What is the strategic value of the ocean in natural resources for superpowers?

Answer 2

• Contain oil, gas fish stocks and minerals
• Superpowers can exploit resources in EEZs
• Competition over offshore resources can increase geopolitical influence and energy security

Question 3

What is the strategic value of the ocean in defense for superpowers?

Answer 3

• Superpowers can project military force globally
• Powerful navies allow states to deploy aircraft carriers, submarines and fleets far from home territory
• Naval dominance enhances deterrence and allows for intervention in conflicts and protection of allies
• Overseas naval bases
• Natural barriers to increase domestic security

Question 4

What are the modern day ocean superpowers?

Answer 4

• USA and China
• Have major influence over the world’s oceans
• Due to large powerful navies
• UK was a superpower in colonial times

Question 5

What is the difference between the USA and China’s navies?

Answer 5

• Large navy personnel numbers
• China has 250,000
• USA has 330,000
• USA has more power in terms of vessels (cruisers, destroyers, submarines)
• China has more costal and patrol combatants and warships

Question 6

What was the UK like as a superpower in colonial times?

Answer 6

• World’s greatest naval power
• Ruled 20% of the world’s population and 25% of its land area in 1920
• Royal Navy dominated oceans to protect colonies and trade routes
• Power allowed it to establish and maintain colonies and trading posts
• Enabled exchange of goods, people and ideas

Question 7

What was the UK doing pre-1850?

Answer 7

• Small colonies were conquered on coastal fringes (e.g. Bombay and Accra)
• Defended them with coastal forts
• Trade in raw materials and cash crops protected
• Slaves transported from these areas

Question 8

What was the UK doing 1850-1945?

Answer 8

• Coastal colonies extended inland
• Led to conquest of large territories
• Complex patterns of ocean trade followed
• Raw materials to the UK and manufactured goods to the colonies

Question 9

What was the UK doing in the 1960s?

Answer 9

• Trade continued until decolonisation in the 1960s
• Left a global network of English speaking countries
• UK port cities became culturally diverse

Question 10

What were the advantages of colonisation?

Answer 10

• Exert political and economic influence
• Created social, political and economic ties
• Served as sources of resources, labour and markets

Question 11

What is the Commonwealth?

Answer 11

• International association of 56 member states
• Most are former territories of the British Empire
• Founded in 1931
• Members are bound by shared values on democracy, human rights and law
• 2.5 billion people
• Promotes democracy, economic development and cultural exchange among member countries
• Platform for consultation and cooperation

Question 12

What is the background of the South China Sea conflict?

Answer 12

• China has repeatedly made territorial claims over the South China Sea up to the 9 dash line
• Map drawn in 1947 conflicts with UNCLOS
• Overlaps with EEZs from the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei

Question 13

Why does China want the South China Sea?

Answer 13

• Sea has 1/3 of maritime trade
• Contains 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 Tcf of gas proven reserves
• Estimated additional 12 billion barrels of oil and 160 Tcf of gas of undiscovered reserves
• Control over sea is militarily and economically significant

Question 14

What have the tensions been in the South China Sea?

Answer 14

• Conflict has driven land reclamation, the militarisation of reefs/artificial islands and frequent confrontations
• 2016 South China Sea Arbitration ruled China’s action as illegal but China rejected the ruling
• Recent tensions over the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing area in the Philippines EEZ
• Also around Sprately Islands and Fiery Cross Reef
• US heightening tensions by sending vessels to patrol and support the freedom of navigation

Question 15

What is the background of the Arctic conflict?

Answer 15

• Surrounded by the USA, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia
• Forms the Arctic council for research (not military) purposes
• Russia claimed the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of their continental shelf
• Denmark claimed it as an extension of Greenland and Canada made claims as well
• Military bases and presence from USA, Russia, Canada and Norway

Question 16

Why is conflict over the Arctic increasing?

Answer 16

• Believed to have 30% of undiscovered gas and 13% of undiscovered oil (90 billion barrels) in Arctic Ocean
• Predicted to be ice free in 2050 as Arctic is warming 3x faster than average
• Making Arctic more accessible

Question 17

What have the tensions been in the Arctic Ocean?

Answer 17

• Russia put a flag on the Lomonosov Ridge in 2007
• NATO have been having their biggest drills since the Cold War (e.g. Cold Response 2026 with 32,500 personnel)
• Trump wants to acquire Greenland for national security
• China describes itself as a near Arctic state to justify its actions in the Arctic

Question 18

Why does the US have a base in Greenland?

Answer 18

• Pituffik Space Base
• As a result of 1951 defense agreement

Question 19

What is China doing in the Arctic?

Answer 19

• Believes it has legitimacy due to its relationship with Russia
• Actually 1400km from the Arctic Circle
• Investing in 2018 Polar Silk Road to provide alternative shipping routes
• Via the Northern Sea Route to bypass Suez Canal
• Reduces distance, time and fuel costs

Question 20

Why is the Northern Sea Route limited?

Answer 20

• Only 97 cargo voyages along route in 2024
• Still an unpredictable environment