Japan ran to the South China Sea to set up a no-navigation zone for mainland ships?
Recently, the situation in the Vanguard Bank area of the South China Sea has been continuous, and the Japanese Coast Guard has suddenly released news that in order to facilitate seismic exploration and research, a no-navigation zone with a range of 100 nautical miles by 50 nautical miles has been set up between the Vanguard Bank and Nan'an Reef in the South China Sea.
As soon as the news came out, Japan is located in the eastern part of the mainland, completely unrelated to the South China Sea, and the Japanese mainland is 3,000 kilometers away from Vanguard Bank, and this seemingly headless little action is the most vigilant. Why is Japan able to establish a no-navigation zone in the South China Sea? What is the purpose of this?
Vanguard Beach, the gateway to the South China Sea
Vanguard Beach has been the inherent territory of the mainland since ancient times, it was once called "Qianwei Beach", and it is part of the mainland South China Sea Islands. Located west of the Spratly Islands, Vanguard Bank is 63 kilometers long and 11 kilometers wide, resembling a curved crescent moon. Vanguard Bank is not only huge, its strategic location is also very important.
In ancient times, Vanguard Bank was one of the southernmost landing places for mainland fishermen, and now it is a necessary place for the South China Sea shipping lane, and if it can be effectively exploited, it will become a prosperous sea fortress. Vanguard Bank is about 468 kilometers from Fiery Cross Island in the South China Sea and 502 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Because it is far from the mainland mainland, Vietnam has been watching Vanguard Bank, especially the abundant oil resources near Vanguard Bank.
Sino-Vietnamese Vanguard Beach confrontation
In recent years, the mainland and Vietnam have had some friction over Vanguard Bank, where superfields have been exploited for at least half a century. Such a huge amount of oil resources will naturally attract people's attention, but the mainland's maritime power is not what it used to be, and it can deter the invading enemy without a single shot. If it is not possible, some people want to use small actions to seek illegal benefits.
In 1994, Vietnam strongly blocked the mainland's plans to develop oil in the South China Sea around Vanguard Bank, and since then there have been many frictions between Chinese and Vietnamese ships near Vanguard Bank. Some time ago in the waters north of Vanguard Bank, mainland ships and Vietnamese ships confronted again.
The mainland research vessel carried out normal exploration operations in the South China Sea, but was illegally besieged and intercepted by Vietnamese fishing administration vessels. Its natural purpose is to hinder the mainland's exploration activities near Vanguard Bank, and then monopolize the rich oil resources of Vanguard Bank.
Vietnam's ideas are well known, but there is no room for provocation and discussion on territorial issues, and the mainland coast guard ships immediately dispatched and held on with Vietnamese ships for more than 30 hours. The result of this confrontation was the withdrawal of Vietnamese ships from the confrontation area, after all, the combat power of mainland coast guard ships is already extraordinary, and although Vietnam has ideas, it does not have the intention and courage to enter into a direct conflict with the mainland.
After successfully completing their mission, the mainland research vessels also left the Vanguard Bank area. I thought that the matter would come to an end, but I didn't expect Japan to suddenly step in, catching everyone off guard.
Japan has a no-sail zone spanning 3,000 kilometers
The Japanese "Coast Guard" issued the news of the ban, but the no-fly zone is not set up casually, and there must be a reason that can be accepted by everyone. The reason given by Japan is that the establishment of the no-sail zone is a simple scientific investigation, and the Japanese seismic exploration research ship will carry out seismic exploration missions in this area. The mission required pulling up several kilometers of cables in the sea and setting up a no-sail zone to avoid accidents.
As we all know, Japan is a country with frequent volcanoes and earthquakes, and the successive eruptions of the Sakurajima volcano in Japan some time ago made people in Japan panic. It is difficult to take a hard hand in stopping it if it is only a simple seismic survey, and Japan has seized on this. But is Japan really just doing seismic exploration in the South China Sea, more than 3,000 kilometers away? Why the sensitive Vanguard Bank area?
Everyone knows that there are oil resources near Vanguard Bank, and they want to get a piece of the pie here. Vietnam took advantage of its location to exploit a large amount of oil near Vanguard Bank, and on several occasions wanted to expand the sea line and increase the exploitation area, completely ignoring the mainland's sovereignty over Vanguard Bank. In the past, due to various conditions, the mainland chose the strategy of Taoguang and raising obscurity, but in recent years, the mainland's naval strength has advanced by leaps and bounds, and aircraft carriers and warships are like dumplings, and naturally they must gradually expand their influence in the South China Sea.
Drunkenness does not mean alcohol
Given Vanguard Bank's strategic position and resource factors, Japan's purpose is more complicated. Whether it is Vietnam or Japan, the most likely attraction is oil resources. Vietnam has repeatedly united with other countries to create momentum near Vanguard Bank, using military exercises and other means to invade Vanguard Bank. Vietnam has also invited Japan to participate in the exploitation of oil resources in the South China Sea, which is undoubtedly a fatal temptation for Japan, which is short of resources.
Japan is an importer of resources and is highly dependent on resources, especially foreign oil. Vanguard Bank's oil and gas resources are of strategic importance to Japan. By setting up a no-navigation zone to prohibit Chinese ships from entering, Japan can strive for the dominance of resource development in Vanguard Bank and covertly carry out oil resource exploration.
Japan is nominally conducting seismic exploration, and specifically declares that it is just a normal scientific research operation, but it has the smell of 300 taels of silver here. In the name of scientific expeditions, it is not difficult to carry out oil exploration near Vanguard Bank, especially at the point in time when mainland research ships have just withdrawn, Japan's desire to spy on oil resources in the South China Sea has jumped on paper.
Japan's move could also profit from the game of interests between China and Vietnam, looking for opportunities in the confrontation between the two countries, such as providing Vietnam with technological power in exchange for oil concessions. Under the situation of confrontation between China and Vietnam, Japan's designation of the no-navigation zone seriously harmed the interests of the mainland and further intensified the contradictions between China and Vietnam in Vanguard Bank. If Japan seeks opportunities to partner with Vietnam in exchange for mining rights, it could both fulfill its energy thirst and increase Japan's influence in the South China Sea.
Japan has always been close to the West and has always been accused of its ambitions in the South China Sea, and any abnormal behavior in the South China Sea region deserves attention.
The no-navigation zone designated by Japan in the South China Sea is close to the mainland's Nansha Islands, and now the mainland's South China Sea islands have been well developed and constructed, and coast guard patrols have become a routine. Japan knows that it is not an opponent of our navy in the South China Sea, so it can only interfere with such small actions.
Vanguard Bank is an inherent territory of the mainland, and if Japan sets up a no-navigation zone without permission, its actions will lack legitimacy, violate international law and regional rules, and will be difficult to achieve its stated objectives, which will only exacerbate regional tensions and cause negative impacts.