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“Great Regional Engagement” Rather than “Great Sea Power”—Russia’s New Supply Point on the Red Sea Coast
Get PDFThe Russian naval presence in the western Indian Ocean and recent acquisition of a naval base on the shores of the Red Sea do not reflect an oceanic ambition in the region but rather a primary motivation that is land-centric and littoral: to gain access to the African continent and maintain close relations with partners in the region
Enhancing the Security of Shipping in Southeast Asia: The Relevance of International Law
Get PDFThis article outlines the principles of international law governing the right to exercise jurisdiction over ships. It then explains the relevance of UN international crimes conventions to the security of commercial ships. These conventions give States parties jurisdiction to arrest persons present in their territory who are alleged to have committed such crimes and an obligation to either prosecute or extradite them. It then explains the measures that have been taken by the International Maritime Organization to enhance the security of commercial shipping, including its Code of Practice on preventing piracy and “armed robbery against ships” and its measures to address the threat of maritime terrorism against ships. It also discusses issues of jurisdiction over offenses classified as “armed robbery against ships.” The article then focuses on the measures that have been taken in Southeast Asia to enhance the security of commercial shipping, including measures taken by ASEAN and by neighboring States. It then discusses the 2002 Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (“ReCAAP”) and the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC), as well as the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) in Singapore. It argues the reporting of incidents by these organizations should be modified to take into account the rules of international law on jurisdiction over ships
China Maritime Report No. 22: Logistics Support for a Cross-Strait Invasion: The View from Beijing
Get PDFThe People’s Liberation Army (PLA) believes that logistics support is one of the key determinants of a successful large-scale invasion of Taiwan. Logistics support includes transport, materiel and oil supply, medical care, search and rescue, logistics infrastructure protection, and maintenance of war materiel reserves. Despite the recognized importance of logistics support, it is likely the PLA does not currently possess the requisite logistics capabilities to successfully support a large-scale amphibious landing on Taiwan and a possible protracted conflict involving the United States and allies. Key deficits include a lack of amphibious ships (both military and civilian), transport aircraft, and war reserves. The PLA also continues to face difficulties with landing the requisite logistics supplies during the critical beach assault phase, constructing maritime transfer platforms or temporary wharves to sustain resupply if intact ports are not rapidly captured, establishing a landing base for logistics operations, maintaining the flow of logistics during on-island combat, and establishing strategic war reserves to support the large-scale operation and possibly prolonged conflict. These problem areas might be resolved with several years of sustained effort and complex training.https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cmsi-maritime-reports/1021/thumbnail.jp
Reflecting on UNCLOS Forty Years Later: What Worked, What Failed
Get PDFThe United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was opened for signature on December 10, 1982, after nine years of painstaking debate. Hailed as “A Constitution for the Oceans,” the Convention was immediately signed by 119 States, a remarkable number given the contentious and complex nature of the negotiations, and today has 168 parties. The intent of the Conference that drafted the treaty was to produce a comprehensive and universally accepted convention covering every aspect of the uses and resources of the oceans that would stand the test of time. This article analyzes the various provisions of the Convention, based on forty years of State practice, to determine whether the Conference met its objective. This article concludes that many of the provisions of the Convention have had their desired effect by curtailing the plethora of conflicting coastal State claims that existed prior to 1982 and thereby preserving navigational rights and freedoms for the international community. However, an equal number of provisions have failed miserably in achieving their intended effect, thereby giving rise to a new era of excessive maritime claims that purport to restrict freedom of the seas. This article concludes by examining how the international community should respond to this new wave of excessive claims
U.S. Maritime Strategy in the Arctic—Past, Present, and Future
Get PDFWarming waters and melting sea ice will create new challenges off our northern shores, and the Navy and Marine Corps must be prepared to provide a presence in the Arctic that will ensure peace and prosperity in the face of aggressive Russian militarization and expanding Chinese interest. Lessons from America’s Arctic past can illuminate what needs to be done