Implications Of Tensions In South China Sea Region On Land Force Strategy In Indonesia’s Defense.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue II, February 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Implications Of Tensions In South China Sea Region On Land Force Strategy In Indonesia’s Defense.

Sukmawijaya , Helda Risman , Joni Widjayanto
Republic Of Indonesia Defense University

Abstract
The South China Sea have strategic value, from economic and military aspects. In some parts of the waters there is an overlap of jurisdictions between claimant states (Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and China), causing a high potential for conflict. Geopolitical turbulence in the South China Sea region further illustrates the dynamic strategic environment and adds complexity to threats to security in the region. The panelitian method used is a qualitative descriptive method. According to Sugiyono, descriptive methods are studies that describe, describe, or describe the state of the object studied as what it is, according to the situation and conditions when research is done. The theories used are balance of power, military of balance, steps-to-war, and balance of threat. China’s rapid military development has made it a powerful country and has the potential to become a hegemony in the region and will create new tensions in the region. This situation encourages countries in the region to increase their military capabilities, produce military weaponry and equipment, and even form military alliances to offset China’s military capabilities in the region. The U.S.-China rivalry makes the South China Sea region a single geostrategic theater that will drag regional countries into the maelstrom of conflict, including Indonesia in it. Facing a dynamic environment, Indonesia with an active defensive strategy deploys land aspect forces that have been centrally structured and dispersed (territorial command units), in an effort to prevent assertive actions from other countries.

Keywords: South China Sea, military of balance, country defense

Introduction
The South China Sea is a strategic waterway, both in terms of military and economic aspects. The vast South China Sea area, which covers the waters of several countries in Southeast Asia, is not surprising that the waters are a struggle between China and several countries in the region. Judging from its geographical location, the South China Sea borders the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and China. In some parts there is an overlap of jurisdictions between claimant states (Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and China), thus causing a high potential for conflict in the region.[1] China’s presence in the South China Sea has created new tensions in the Southeast Asian region, as a result of unilateral claims to the territorial waters. Indonesia as one of the countries in it is also affected by tensions in the region, from security aspects and economic aspects, especially with regard to the waters of Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the North Natuna Sea.[2]
According to Prof. Hikmahanto, there are 3 (three) reasons why China wants to claim the South China Sea, namely; First, China has always claimed that it has always existed in the South China Sea, with the Nine Dash Line. Second, China will at any time maintain its stance. Third, China now has military and economic power that can strengthen the movement of their claims to territory in the South China Sea. Despite the U.S. threats, China will maintain its position, because it already has military and economic capabilities.[3]
The warming up of the South China Sea region has encouraged countries involved in conflict in the region, to increase military power and fighting capabilities by conducting military exercises, either unilaterally or jointly with other countries (bilateral) in the territorial waters of the South China Sea, and such activities have increased tensions and triggered an escalation of conflict in the region.[4] Since 1949, China has tended to use military force in resolving territorial disputes, leading to conflicts of little scope in the region, such as the China-India border conflict in 1962, and the China-Vietnam border conflict in 1979. China has been willing to compromise with its neighbors in dealing with land border cases, but in disputes over maritime features and ownership of offshore oil and gas reserves, china is using a more coercive approach.[5] This causes countries involved in disputes, seeks to increase their military combat capabilities and increase domestic military industry, to create military balance in the region, military of balance.

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