1. “Conflict between the US and China in Asia in the coming decades is highly unlikely”. Do you agree? Why or Why not XXXXXXXXXXW Q 2. To what extent is environmental change a cause of conflict? - 750...

1. Conflict between the US and China in Asia in the coming decades is highly unlikely”. Do you agree? Why or Why not.
I do not agree with this statement.
“In 2000, Asia analyst Robert A. Manning presciently argued that the likelihood of future conflict over energy resources would increase as rising Asian giants such as China shifted away from an economic toward a strategic approach to energy security” (Lee 2012).
The risk of Conflict between China and US is increasing rapidly over South China Sea from very small events to open disputes not likely to resolve with peaceful understanding. China and other three ASEAN countries Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia claim to the ownership of hundreds of island present in South China Sea. US being the global super power claims navigation freedom and adherence to UNCLOS. There are many points of conflicts between China and US:
1. China claims ownership of the South China Sea islands and US demands freedom of navigation to South China sea.
2. As the demand of natural resources is increasing in both the countries, ownership of island can give access to vast oil and natural gas resources in the area. The owner of vast resources can achieve reduced imports, increased exports and employment. That’s why each of them wants to grab the resources to satisfy growing needs of their population.
3. China has signed an agreement of $46 billion with Pakistan to take its Gwadar port on lease for 43 years. The port is connected through railways from Kashi in china. This link will extend China’s energy transportation and infrastructure development plans to Iran and Pakistan. This is a step to strengthen the ties with Iran and Pakistan to challenge the US primacy in Indian ocean, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf.
4. China is growing its political Influence in Central Asia. China is extracting and importing gas and oil from Central Asia with a huge number of transportation corridors about 42.000 in 2016.
5. Chinese-Russian strategic partnership also strengthens the Anti-American association. By 2015 China is largest importer of Russian Oil. Many other projects are established between the two for Oil and Gas transportation like: Altai pipeline, and power of Siberia pipeline. China finance, extracts and consumes Russian energy, develops Russian infrastructure and ports, and seeks military cooperation from Russia.
6. China, Russia and Central Asia have come together on Shaghai cooperation Organisation (SCO). China and Russia agreed to integrate China’s Silk Road project with Russia’s Eurasian economic Union under SCO.
China’s development strategy is to take control of energy resources, transportation corridors, international financial institutions, and reserve currencies (all roads should lead to Beijing). The revival of ancient Silk Road is done to weaken the competitive advantage of western maritime powers like US and end their 500 years of dominance.
All these events have intensified the US- Chinese competition over energy resources, transportation corridors and military powers (Diesen 2017).
The greatest casualty of Chinese energy policies is that they provide diplomatic protection to countries such as Iran, and cause diplomatic problems for the United States, the West, and those seeking to reinforce the liberal international order more broadly (Lee 2012).
Both US and China strive to establish their presence in disputed area. According to postulates of Thrall 2013, many factors indicate that the resources issues are likely to increase in future due to
1. tremendous rise in demand and urge to satisfy it;
2. enhancing the potential of state owned energy...