UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 : Questions on India-Japan relations and South China Sea (Week 66)

QUESTION 2

Discuss the significance of the recent emphasis by India and Japan on a rules-based international order and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Examine the strategic and economic significance of the South China Sea in the context of Indian trade. Discuss the implications of the ongoing territorial disputes in the region for international shipping routes and global supply chains.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— The South China Sea, part of the western Pacific Ocean, sits between southern China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia.

— The South China Sea is estimated to hold about 5.38 trillion cubic meters (190 trillion cubic feet) of proven and probable natural gas and 11 billion barrels of oil reserves, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

— According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), about a third of global maritime trade passes through the 3.5 million square kilometer (1.4 million square mile) seaway annually.

— Around 40% of petroleum products traded globally are delivered via the South China Sea every year.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Strategic and economic significance of the South China Sea in the context of Indian trade

— The South China Sea has been an essential sea-lane of communication from its inception, and transit has been unhindered for millennia.

— There is substantial historical and archaeological evidence of an ongoing Indian trading presence from Kedah, Malaysia to Quanzhou, China.

— Nearly $200 billion in trade flows through the South China Sea, and thousands of our citizens study, work, and invest in ASEAN, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

— India, like others who live in the region, has an interest in the region’s peace and stability, and freedom of passage, as well as other routine activities with friendly countries, is critical to our economic prosperity.

Implications of the ongoing territorial disputes

— China claims practically all of the South China Sea as its own, infuriating its neighbours who say China’s territorial ambitions infringe on their exclusive economic zones.

— China disregarded a 2016 verdict by an international arbitration court in The Hague, Netherlands, that Beijing had no legal or historical foundation for its broad claims under international law.

— The Chinese military has recently taken increasingly aggressive activities in the seaway, including skirmishes with Filipino ships, raising worries of a full-fledged battle.

— Vietnam submitted a claim to the United Nations last month for an enlarged continental shelf beyond the current 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) in the seaway.

— The primary present conflicts are between China, the Philippines, and Taiwan; however, the actual threat to trade in the South China Sea could come from the Malacca Strait, which is located further south between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Conclusion:

— If tensions between China and its neighbours worsen, it might open a third front in the global shipping crisis. Maritime enterprises may choose to avoid certain areas of the South China Sea. Subsequent delays and price increases might lead to shortages of goods and commodities, reducing revenue for key Asian ports such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

— According to some estimations, the Pacific Ocean has a thousand times more rare-earth minerals than the currently known land reserves, with China controlling more than half of them which are needed for the transition to cleaner energy.

(Source: How South China Sea tensions pose a threat to international trade, How the South China Sea situation plays out will be critical for India’s security by Vijay Gokhale)

Points to Ponder

Location of Malacca strait

Importance of South China Sea for India

Related Previous Year Questions

‘Virus of Conflict is affecting the functioning of the SCO’ In the light of the above statement point out the role of India in mitigating the problems. (2023)

‘Sea is an important Component of the Cosmos’ Discuss in the light of the above statement the role of the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) in protecting environment and enhancing maritime safety and security. (2023)

QUESTION 2: Examine the significance of the recent emphasis by India and Japan on a rules-based international order and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— India and Japan reiterated their commitment to sustaining and strengthening a rules-based international order based on the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for country sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as peaceful dispute resolution.

— Without identifying any countries, the two sides stressed the need for all governments to refrain from unilaterally changing the status quo. This was said in a joint statement issued by both nations during the third Japan-India 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting held in New Delhi.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

— According to the joint statement, the ministers welcomed the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and the Indian Naval Force’s exploration of future cooperation in ship maintenance in India, as well as discussions about coordination and cooperation in the field of defence and security assistance to third countries for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

— They both welcomed the opportunities to strengthen bilateral security and defence cooperation following the release of Japan’s National Security Strategy in December 2022, and acknowledged such cooperation as an important pillar of the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

— Both parties emphasised their shared strategic vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive, peaceful, economic, and resilient, as part of the rules-based international order.

— “The Ministers reiterated their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and their full support for the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)’ which upholds the principles such as openness, transparency, inclusivity, a rules-based framework and respect for international law.”

— As per the statement, the ministers took note of the progress since September2022 to promote cooperation on cross-cutting security issues such as Defence Policy Dialogue, Vice-Minister/Foreign Secretary level Dialogue, Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), the Disarmament and Non- Proliferation Dialogue, the Cyber Dialogue, the Japan-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, and other regional consultations on emerging and hotspot issues.

Conclusion:

— Both parties strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism, including cross-border terrorism, and urged the prosecution of those responsible for the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, Pathankot, and elsewhere.

— They took note of the Japanese fighters’ maiden air visit and their involvement in Tarang Shakti, the Indian Air Force’s inaugural multilateral exercise.

— Both countries welcomed the first edition of the bilateral fighter exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’ between the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF), as well as the first time all three services conducted bilateral exercises in the same calendar year in 2023.

(Source: India, Japan emphasise rules-based international order, peaceful settlement of disputes by Amrita Nayak Dutta)

Points to Ponder

Important places in news: India and Japan

2+2 meeting with other countries

Bilateral relations between India and Japan

Related Previous Year Questions

‘India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.’ Discuss India’s role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding statement. (2022)

Economic ties between India and Japan, while growing in recent years, are still far below their potential. Elucidate the policy constraints which are inhibiting this growth. (2013)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 64)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 64)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 65)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 66)

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