Committee: United Nations General Assembly

Topic: Situation in South China Sea

Country: Singapore
As a country that is economically tied to China, and diplomatically associated
with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). In short, Singapores
foreign policy initiatives are based on a simple calculation that the cost of war in the
region will exceed any gains, which is believed by Singapore to be able to deter any
nation from initiating hostilities. As we analyze the principal claimant blocs, and
continue to be aware of our own benefits, Singapore believes we need to get involved
and solve the problem as an arbiter.
As for the attempts on solving the situation, Singapore sees that the 2002
Declaration of Conduct of Parties(DCP) is structurally and legally insufficient to deal
with the territory issues of the South China Sea; it is rather based on the consensus of
the parties. The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation is a framework intended to deal
with regional disputes, but like the DCP, it lacks a mechanism to legally enforce any
ruling.
For China, as an economic and military leader, it is beginning to realize the
challenges it faces in the 21st century. One is energy and the other is territory, so
when 80 percent of Chinese oil imports flow through the Strait of Malacca and into
the South China Sea, and when competing nations contest the nine-dashed line, it is
clear that China will, short of naval warfare, China would do everything in its power
to establish dominance in the region.
Singapore is neither a military nor an economic heavyweight, hence it has to
calculate the future economic costs should China ever decide to blockade vital sea
lanes that account for 33 per cent of world sea-borne trade. Singapore is to plan ahead
by being politically active and invested in this dispute, most usefully by positioning
itself as a mediating force with the goal to avert and possibly stave off both possible
economic sanctions and naval challenges in the region.
Firstly, Singapore, as a financial hub for most of Southeast Asia, has the financial
means to pursue this path. For instance, we could create a Regional Maritime Forum,
where important political actors from the principal claimant countries can converge to
deliberate on a preliminary treaty that would codify a unified position towards the
ongoing disputes.

Secondly, Singapore should prevail on the signatories to replace the pact with a
more robust agreement that addresses military activities within exclusive economic
zones, and perhaps even the regional naval arms race. It would be very difficult to
achieve, but a lengthy negotiation process could be justified by the end goal of
regional stability.
Finally, Singapore should call for the establishment of a South China Sea
Arbitration Court, with a rules-based procedure based partly on the processes of
UNCLOS. China could dismiss Singapore, but we believe they understand better than
anyone that having Singapore drive the process would provide them with a better
outcome. China knows it can negotiate a better deal within the region with Singapore
at its helm. Singapores close cultural and linguistic ties to China would also help.
ASEAN has outlived its usefulness and it is in the regions best interest if a
politically neutral entity assumes the responsibility. Singapore could be a good
candidate, and as a peace loving country, we, Singapore, are eager to solve the dispute
by all means.