Oceans Pack 3 Flashcards

(20 cards)

1
Q

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

A
  • 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
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2
Q

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

A
  • Contain oil, gas fish stocks and minerals
  • Superpowers can exploit resources in EEZs
  • Competition over offshore resources can increase geopolitical influence and energy security
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3
Q

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

A
  • 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
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4
Q

What are the modern day ocean superpowers?

A
  • USA and China
  • Have major influence over the world’s oceans
  • Due to large powerful navies
  • UK was a superpower in colonial times
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5
Q

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

A
  • 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
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6
Q

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

A
  • 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
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7
Q

What was the UK doing pre-1850?

A
  • 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
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8
Q

What was the UK doing 1850-1945?

A
  • 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
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9
Q

What was the UK doing in the 1960s?

A
  • Trade continued until decolonisation in the 1960s
  • Left a global network of English speaking countries
  • UK port cities became culturally diverse
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10
Q

What were the advantages of colonisation?

A
  • Exert political and economic influence
  • Created social, political and economic ties
  • Served as sources of resources, labour and markets
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11
Q

What is the Commonwealth?

A
  • 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
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12
Q

What is the background of the South China Sea conflict?

A
  • 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
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13
Q

Why does China want the South China Sea?

A
  • 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
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14
Q

What have the tensions been in the South China Sea?

A
  • 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
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15
Q

What is the background of the Arctic conflict?

A
  • 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
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16
Q

Why is conflict over the Arctic increasing?

A
  • 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
17
Q

What have the tensions been in the Arctic Ocean?

A
  • 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
18
Q

Why does the US have a base in Greenland?

A
  • Pituffik Space Base
  • As a result of 1951 defense agreement
19
Q

What is China doing in the Arctic?

A
  • 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
20
Q

Why is the Northern Sea Route limited?

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