Tobias Ellwood, the head of Britain’s Defense Select Committee, is arguing that the world should just start treating China and Russia as a single force, and a single alliance, for the sake of policy in the Arctic, saying there is no reason to distinguish one from the other.
This is built around the posture of the factions, as everyone in the Arctic is hostile to China except Russia, and hostile to Russia except China. That isn’t to say that the two are aligned in their goals, but rather that it is convenient to treat them as an undifferentiated enemy for the sake of Arctic buildups.
The Arctic is seen as the next major territorial battle for the world, with nations in the Arctic Circle all expecting to stake out large claims for resources. China has insisted they not be left out either, as they are keen on using the Arctic waterways for transportation as warming opens new routes.
Russia’s own substantial presence in the Arctic means they’ll be more interested in territorial claims, and undersea resources, than just waterways. This could make trying to combine the two confusing for many, but with the Pentagon already using Russia and China virtually interchangeably in bids for more money to counter them, Ellwood may just be following their lead.
As usual, Western alliance wasting money and time — fleecing taxpayers.
Russia has a large presence in Arctic. It has territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, as well as claims based on the definitions of Arctic Ocean Shelf. China and Russia are interested in shipping lanes, building port facilities to support shipping, with Russia having a large icebreaking fleet. These are clear goals.
Based on international law — UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS).
What do the Western “democracies” want? How about some more MILITARY spending?
How about stopping the fleecing of taxpayer and
A/ determine rights under UNCLOS so that it is clear where your territorial and commercial interests are
B/ if you have disagreements with neighbor in the exact demarcation, bilateral analysis is a prerequisite to access to UNCLOS court
C/ take case to UNCLOS court.
If you DO NOT HAVE ANY territory in Arctic — but have interest in shipping — put your money where the mouth is — like China and contribute to shipping infrastructure.
And if you have none of the above — just interested in “freedom of navigation” — consult the existing laws.
I can briefly explain them to you. YOU have no rights to access anyone’s territorial waters. YOU can use shipping lanes through exclusive economic zone. YOU CANNOT do any commercial activity in other people’s EEZ.
YOU CANNOT without notification demand that your military ships have innocent right of passage, AND
YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT USE EEZ if you are belligerent— issuing sanctions or threatening to harm another country.
Rules are here — help yourself, do not waste our money.
AND — if you are not UNCLOS signatory, you have no rights, and cannot have any input or complaint in issues stemming from UNCLOS. ( Hint US and Israel — and few others).
China, Russia and Iran should sign a mutual defense pact.
Ellwood is the man connected to the Russian Collusion scam.
Says the toadies/America’s poodles in England.