Encompassing 1.35 million square mile body of water, the South China Sea is becoming a cauldron in the world. The geopolitical analyst Robert D. Kaplan has formulated his book Asia’s Cauldron on this thesis. Asia's Cauldron sets some high goals for itself and mostly flourishes in presenting a holistic look at the competing economic and diplomatic interests of the nations along the South China Sea.
The sea links the Indian Ocean with the western pacific being bounded by China in the north, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam in the west, Taiwan and Philippines in the east, and, Indonesia in the south. It takes more than one-third of global maritime traffic, with the Strait of Malacca carrying three times more oil than the Suez Canal and 15 times …show more content…
According to him, the domination of the Greater Caribbean Basin gave the United States effective control of the Western Hemisphere, which, in turn, allowed it to affect the balance of power in the Eastern Hemisphere. Similarly, he suggests that since the South China Sea links the trade of the Pacific and Indian Oceans; consequently, If China ever replaces the U.S. Navy as the dominant power in the South China Sea or even reach par with it, this would open up geostrategic possibilities for China similar to what America attained upon its dominance of the Caribbean. Because of this, the South China Sea is “on the way to becoming the most contested body of water in the world.” This is what Kaplan also suggests in the title of the book, calling it “Asia’s Cauldron”. He sees the South China Sea as a simmering pot of disputes.
The relationship between the United States and China will perhaps shape international order more than any other phenomenon. One could argue, though, that competition between the US and China is most acute in the physical space of the Asia-Pacific region. Even though the US has been the transcendent power there for as far back as seven decades now, it is still China's lawn and, going back hundreds of years, the center of its worldview. The South China Sea emerges as a significant chronicle for three sets of interactions: those between the US and China, China and its neighbors, and the …show more content…
His other bestselling like the revenge of geography, Monsoon and Balkan ghosts have also been translated into many languages. He was the first American writer to warn in print about a future war in the Balkan. His more controversial essays about the nature of US power have stimulated debate in academia, the media, and the highest levels of government. He is also the author of the influential article “The Coming Anarchy” published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1994. A frequent theme in his work is the reemergence of cultural and historical tensions temporarily suspended during the Cold War. His writing is such that he uses geographical variables to explain and predict international political behavior and understand foreign
The sea links the Indian Ocean with the western pacific being bounded by China in the north, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam in the west, Taiwan and Philippines in the east, and, Indonesia in the south. It takes more than one-third of global maritime traffic, with the Strait of Malacca carrying three times more oil than the Suez Canal and 15 times …show more content…
According to him, the domination of the Greater Caribbean Basin gave the United States effective control of the Western Hemisphere, which, in turn, allowed it to affect the balance of power in the Eastern Hemisphere. Similarly, he suggests that since the South China Sea links the trade of the Pacific and Indian Oceans; consequently, If China ever replaces the U.S. Navy as the dominant power in the South China Sea or even reach par with it, this would open up geostrategic possibilities for China similar to what America attained upon its dominance of the Caribbean. Because of this, the South China Sea is “on the way to becoming the most contested body of water in the world.” This is what Kaplan also suggests in the title of the book, calling it “Asia’s Cauldron”. He sees the South China Sea as a simmering pot of disputes.
The relationship between the United States and China will perhaps shape international order more than any other phenomenon. One could argue, though, that competition between the US and China is most acute in the physical space of the Asia-Pacific region. Even though the US has been the transcendent power there for as far back as seven decades now, it is still China's lawn and, going back hundreds of years, the center of its worldview. The South China Sea emerges as a significant chronicle for three sets of interactions: those between the US and China, China and its neighbors, and the …show more content…
His other bestselling like the revenge of geography, Monsoon and Balkan ghosts have also been translated into many languages. He was the first American writer to warn in print about a future war in the Balkan. His more controversial essays about the nature of US power have stimulated debate in academia, the media, and the highest levels of government. He is also the author of the influential article “The Coming Anarchy” published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1994. A frequent theme in his work is the reemergence of cultural and historical tensions temporarily suspended during the Cold War. His writing is such that he uses geographical variables to explain and predict international political behavior and understand foreign