Responsible sovereignty an emerging challenge

December 4, 2013, 8:39 pm

The East China Sea, showing surrounding regions, islands, cities, and seas One region where the national interest of states is figuring prominently in inter-state relations today is South East Asia. This principal factor in the behaviour of states is being brought to the fore in a pronounced manner currently as a result of China declaring what is being referred to as an Air efence !dentification "one in the East China Sea. This measure, which is essentially intended to protect what China sees as territories belonging to it in the East China Sea, is plunging it into what is seemingly a collision course with some of its neighbours in the region# South $orea, %apan and the &hilippines. The territories in contention are# a chain of islands in the East China Sea claimed by China and %apan, San'a'u to the %apanese and iaoyu to the Chinese, and a submerged roc' named !eodo in the same sea, to which rival claims are being made by South $orea and China. (hat is proving ve)atious about China*s unilaterally imposed air defence +one is that it covers these territories over which conflicting claims are being made. ,o less a party than the -S has tried to test the Chinese resolve to rigidly maintain the air +one by sending fighter aircraft into it, followed by South $orea and %apan, reportedly. These are ris'y manoeuvres which could result in heightening military tensions in the South East Asian region.

.owever, South East Asia in general and the South and East China Seas in particular are very much part of that geographical region which is referred to as the /Energy emand .eartland*, where there is currently a rising demand for energy resources. This region spans South (est Asia, South Asia, South East Asia and the 0ar East1 a sweep of fairly contiguous territory which is identified as the new economic growth centre of the globe. This phenomenal growth, as should be e)pected, is spurring unprecedented demand for oil and gas and one should not be surprised at the manner in which the regions are being named. .owever, the regions referred to are also home to abundant energy resources and this accounts a good deal for the current competing claims over territories. The latter are believed to be rich in oil and gas. The China-ASEA, 0ree Trade "one is a throbbing economic growth region and it would be in the interests of the countries concerned to diplomatically iron-out their differences over territory. Essentially, they would be severely compromising their collective economic well being by allowing their disputes to relentlessly grow and, perhaps, even get out of control. 2ut it will re3uire these states to subordinate, at least to a degree, what they see as their national interest to the collective good. 4ight now, ownership over land, probably rich in energy resources, is seen by the above disputing states as integral to their national interest. Considering the prime importance attached to accelerated economic growth by these countries, one should not be surprised at this strong accent on the ownership of energy resources as being central to the national interest and conse3uently, to the national power of these states. 0ortunately, some 'ey states of the region see the need for a negotiated settlement of the territorial disputes, while according substantial importance to the national interest. 0or instance, South $orea*s efence 5inistry spo'esman $im 5in-seo' was 3uoted saying as follows recently subse3uent to one of South $orea*s bilateral defence dialogue sessions with China in Seoul# /(e demanded ad6ustment of the +one and said that we are considering e)panding our own +one to protect our national interests. (e also said there is a need for consultations with regional countries to promote mutual trust and defuse tension.* The confluence of these concepts - national interest, national power and

the li'e - which bear a close relation to state sovereignty, in a region which is vital for global economic sustenance, is most opportune because it provides the analyst with an opportunity to e)amine their continued relevance for building international accord and stability. States are sovereign and e3ual in terms of current !nternational 7aw and this status empowers the state to wor' towards what it sees as its national interest. Since self-determination is central to sovereignty or national power, the right a state en6oys to conceptuali+e and wor' towards what it considers is in its best interests cannot be tampered with. 2ut continued peaceful and productive co-e)istence with one*s neighbours and the world ma'es it obligatory on the part of a state to at least modify what it sees as its legitimate interests and bring them in tune with the common good. This is the challenge before China and its neighbours. !n other words, a state cannot see its national interest as something which should be uncompromisingly adhered to with a fervour bordering on the rigidly religious. ,eighbours, in particular, may be called upon to ma'e some modifications and changes to what they see as their interests in their dealings with each other for the furtherance of the collective good. These considerations ought to ta'e the analyst to the concept /4esponsible sovereignty*, which has found currency with even the -, currently. Sovereignty, seen as the inviolable right of states to wor' towards their self-interests and even their selfish interests, needs to give way to the concept of /4esponsible sovereignty* which obliges them to be more caring towards their citi+ens and other countries. Sovereignty, in the traditional sense, gives the state the right to manage its internal affairs on terms that it sees fit, but sovereignty, thus conceived, could also e3uip states with a capability and license to sub6ect their citi+ens to the worst abuses. .owever, sovereignty should be dispensed in the most responsible fashion by states, and the time is ripe to give this accent to the notion of sovereignty, since the sustenance of civili+ation and humanity could very well depend upon it. 2esides, continued cooperation among developing countries hinges on the effective use of /4esponsible sovereignty*. One needs to consider that trade among developing countries has increased from some 8 percent of world merchandise trade in 9:8;, to <= percent of such trade in <;99. This is a pointer to the collective economic benefits South-South cooperation could yield. !t is important, then, that South East Asia and China sei+e this moment. They could lead the way in fashioning their relations on the basis of

/4esponsible sovereignty* and cease seeing the world in terms of the blin'ered vision provided by the traditional concept of sovereignty. The latter is a formula for international anarchy and war but /4esponsible sovereignty* could be the foundation for regional and world accord.