Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, China’s territorial claims have become a source of conflict with neighboring countries and the United States. Central to China’s approach is the “cabbage strategy,” also known as the “salami-slicing” strategy.
China’s Cabbage Strategy: Unraveling the Concept
The cabbage strategy is a geopolitical tactic employed by China to assert control over contested areas gradually. The name derives from the idea of enveloping the contested territory in multiple layers, similar to the layers of a cabbage. Under this approach, China surrounds the disputed area with numerous ships and artificial islands, effectively denying access to rival nations. Over time, as the area is steadily claimed and fortified, China expands its territorial frontiers.
Historical Context of China’s Claims in the South China Sea
China’s claims over islands in the South China Sea trace back centuries. However, in the modern period, the first official claim can be traced back to 1947 when China demarcated its territorial claims with a U-shaped line consisting of eleven dashes on a map. In the early 1950s, two dashes around the Gulf of Tonkin were removed to pacify the Communist Government in North Vietnam.
The Nine-Dash Line: Emerging Flashpoint
Over time, the nine-dash line emerged as a significant flashpoint in the South China Sea dispute. This line covers two groups of islands, namely the Spratlys and Paracels, and has been at the center of China’s cabbage strategy. Starting from the 1970s, China began asserting control over the islands within the nine-dash line as part of its strategy.
An International Dimension: The Philippines’ Arbitration Case
In 2013, the South China Sea dispute took on an international dimension when the Philippines approached the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) to contest China’s territorial claims within the nine-dash line. In July 2016, the PCA ruled in favor of the Philippines, stating that China’s claims were not supported by any legal basis. The PCA also found that China’s claims infringed on the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) designated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Environmental Impact and Violation of Sovereign Rights
Apart from the legal aspects, the PCA also concluded that China’s construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea had severe environmental repercussions, causing harm to the coral reef environment. Moreover, the PCA found that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights by encroaching on their territorial waters.
Expanding Frontiers: The Cabbage Strategy against Neighboring Countries
China’s use of the cabbage strategy is not limited to the South China Sea dispute. It has been employed against neighboring countries like India, Japan, Bhutan, Malaysia, and Brunei as a means to expand its territorial claims over both land and ocean regions. This approach has created tensions and raised concerns among these nations regarding their own territorial integrity and sovereignty.
