Resources on Oceans, from 2014-2015 Debate Topic

Many potentially contentious political issues revolve around the world's oceans: domain, territoriality, freedom of transit, over-fishing, development of mineral resources, protection of resources, protection of marine life and environment, and much more. These issues involve, although they are certainly not limited to, two crucial world regions: East Asia and Russia.

We compiled some links to online resources specifically for high school debaters, who addressed this topic during the 2014-2015 academic year, but also for anyone who wants to better understand ocean issues in these parts of the world.

• Below you'll find Resources for Oceans and East Asia compiled by the KU Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS).
• Also check out these Resources on Russia and the Arctic compiled by the KU Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (CREES.)

Resources for Oceans and East Asia

East Asia includes China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan. The maritime areas around this region include the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The resources below offer some background on longstanding issues in the region, including those that involve U.S. relations with East Asian countries.

Japanese Territorial/Naval Disputes

On the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/10/19/can-japan-defend-the-senkaku-islands/

Japan-Korea Dispute over Dokdo/Takeshima/Liancourt Rocks: http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/no-the-us-wont-back-south-korea-against-japan-on-dokdo/

South China Sea Issues

Japan Coast Guard and Vietnam: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/01/us-asia-security-vietnam-idUSKBN0EC13R20140601

Japan Coast Guard and Philippines: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/590453/patrol-boats-from-japan-to-start-arriving-in-2015

China/Vietnam Disputes in South China Sea: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13748349

Balance of Power and US interests in the Asia Pacific

Chinese/Russian Naval Development: http://www.newsweek.com/enemy-ahoy-china-and-russia-strive-naval-supremacy-256825

China's Rise as a Threat to US Interests: http://www.academia.edu/1852274

US Pacific Interests: http://www2.gwu.edu/~sigur/assets/docs/BalancingActs_Compiled1.pdf

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, signed in 1982: http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_convention.htm

History

The 1951 Security Treaty Between the US and Japan: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/japan001.asp

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act: http://www.taiwandocuments.org/tra01.htm

Energy Resources

Potential resource development in the South China Sea: http://www.eia.gov/countries/regions-topics.cfm?fips=scs

Potential resource development in the East China Sea: http://www.eia.gov/countries/regions-topics.cfm?fips=ecs

 

 

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You can find other resources for exploring East Asia on the KU Libraries' pages for East Asian Studies. Learning about another part of the world? Check out the KU Libraries' International and Area Collections.