「海洋強國」中共VS「海洋大國」日本--從「安全困境」理論加以探討--

This proposal aims to study the growing competition in ocean power in the western Pacific Ocean between Japan and China since the mid-1990s; this power includes sea rights/interest to explore and use ocean resources and sea power to control and use the sea lines of communication. The research issues include the Chinese boundary in the East China Sea Exclusive Economic Zone, the Diaoyutai/Senkaku Islands disputes, Parece Vela’s claim on the exclusive economic zone within 200 nautical miles, cross-strait issues, and the freedom and safety of navigation in the South China Sea and Strait of Malacca. Due to the effectiveness of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas, China proposed a maritime strategy to be a maritime power, while Japan also proposed the strategy of a great maritime nation. Their maritime strategies have fostered debates on the aforementioned issues regarding maritime resource deployment as well as command of the sea in the western Pacific Ocean. In 2008, Japan and China reached a consensus to make the East China Sea an ocean of peace, cooperation, and friendship. However, in September 2010, the collision between Japanese coast guard vessels and a Chinese fishing boat near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands literally nullified this consensus. Furthermore, China took a hard-line position regarding Japan’s transportation in the South China Sea. Since 2011, it has become more apparent that Japan has allied with the United States regarding the issues of the South China Sea. China has interpreted the alliance as a way to confront China regarding the issues of the South China Sea with the United States and the ASEAN countries to enhance the bargaining power of Japan in dealing with China regarding the issues involving the East China Sea.