Home 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure
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4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure

  • Weizhun Mao and Qingming Zeng
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De Gruyter Handbook of Ocean Governance and Maritime Affairs
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Ocean Governance and Maritime Affairs

Abstract

This chapter explores the multifaceted phenomenon of island building, positioning it as a pivotal element bridging engineering and geopolitics. Historically, the emergence of artificial islands has been primarily driven by urbanization, population growth, and infrastructural demands. However, contemporary artificial islands have evolved to play significant geopolitical roles, particularly in contested maritime regions like the South China Sea. Nations employ such islands not only to expand territory and address resource scarcity, but also to assert sovereignty and bolster military presence. This research delves into the legal frameworks, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, that govern the artificial islands. It highlights how countries like China, Japan, and Singapore have utilized island-building projects to reinforce territorial claims. The geopolitical ramifications, environmental concerns, and international disputes arising from these projects are thoroughly examined. The chapter emphasizes the need for international cooperation and conflict resolution mechanisms to address the legal, environmental, and strategic challenges posed by artificial islands in global geopolitics.

Abstract

This chapter explores the multifaceted phenomenon of island building, positioning it as a pivotal element bridging engineering and geopolitics. Historically, the emergence of artificial islands has been primarily driven by urbanization, population growth, and infrastructural demands. However, contemporary artificial islands have evolved to play significant geopolitical roles, particularly in contested maritime regions like the South China Sea. Nations employ such islands not only to expand territory and address resource scarcity, but also to assert sovereignty and bolster military presence. This research delves into the legal frameworks, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, that govern the artificial islands. It highlights how countries like China, Japan, and Singapore have utilized island-building projects to reinforce territorial claims. The geopolitical ramifications, environmental concerns, and international disputes arising from these projects are thoroughly examined. The chapter emphasizes the need for international cooperation and conflict resolution mechanisms to address the legal, environmental, and strategic challenges posed by artificial islands in global geopolitics.

Chapters in this book

  1. Table of Content V
  2. Book introduction
  3. The oceans of the world – a source of shared development or rivalry for resources? 3
  4. Section 1
  5. The political economy of the ocean 13
  6. 1.1 Two Wars and a Pandemic: Global Shipping Markets in the Early-2020s 15
  7. 1.2 The state of world fisheries and fish farming 31
  8. 1.3 Shaping and framing deep seabed mining in the public interest: legitimacy, procedural justice, and distributive justice 45
  9. 1.4 The place of marine renewable energy in the ocean economy 63
  10. 1.5 Sustainable campus development and coastal ocean conservation in China’s Greater Bay Area: a higher education perspective 77
  11. Section 2
  12. Introduction: sustainability and the marine environment 91
  13. 2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power 95
  14. 2.2 Ocean governance and climate change at the science-policy interface 115
  15. 2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution 129
  16. 2.4 The regulation of ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement: potential contributions for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy technologies on the high seas 145
  17. 2.5 Risks and opportunities for the first green shipping corridor in the Arctic 161
  18. 2.6 Arctic shipping routes over the past 20 years 181
  19. Section 3
  20. Introduction: techno-economic development 197
  21. 3.1 Current status and future prospects of alternative fuel for ships 201
  22. 3.2 Decarbonization by wind propulsion for commercial ships 221
  23. 3.3 Wind ships in sustainable global supply chains: A future of Zero Carbon shipping 231
  24. 3.4 Digitalization and automation in the maritime industry: a case of sustainable development? 241
  25. 3.5 Carbon Capture and Storage: new opportunities for maritime clusters? 255
  26. 3.6 The freshwater-saltwater nexus: the ocean as a sustainable source of water? 271
  27. Section 4
  28. Introduction: Maritime infrastructure 287
  29. 4.1 Maritime hydrogen infrastructure and value chains in the decarbonization governance of shipping in Norway 289
  30. 4.2 North Sea grid integration: what’s there and what’s planned? 307
  31. 4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables 325
  32. 4.4 Canals: transport infrastructure and geopolitics 339
  33. 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure 353
  34. 4.6 The ocean and the geopolitics of energy: a question of critical infrastructure? 379
  35. Section 5
  36. Introduction: ocean geopolitics 399
  37. 5.1 The global ocean and great power politics 401
  38. 5.2 Great powers and their naval ambitions: the geopolitical dimension of maritime affairs 415
  39. 5.3 Governing the ocean: technological change as a driver of maritime conflict 429
  40. 5.4 The politics of maritime boundary disputes 447
  41. 5.5 Could the unexploded ordnance hazard hinder the green energy transition − in the context of offshore wind projects? 467
  42. 5.6 The geopolitics of satellite navigation: the jamming and spoofing threat 485
  43. Book conclusions
  44. Cases in, along, across, below, on, and above the sea 501
  45. Subject Index
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111195544-027

Chapters in this book

  1. Table of Content V
  2. Book introduction
  3. The oceans of the world – a source of shared development or rivalry for resources? 3
  4. Section 1
  5. The political economy of the ocean 13
  6. 1.1 Two Wars and a Pandemic: Global Shipping Markets in the Early-2020s 15
  7. 1.2 The state of world fisheries and fish farming 31
  8. 1.3 Shaping and framing deep seabed mining in the public interest: legitimacy, procedural justice, and distributive justice 45
  9. 1.4 The place of marine renewable energy in the ocean economy 63
  10. 1.5 Sustainable campus development and coastal ocean conservation in China’s Greater Bay Area: a higher education perspective 77
  11. Section 2
  12. Introduction: sustainability and the marine environment 91
  13. 2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power 95
  14. 2.2 Ocean governance and climate change at the science-policy interface 115
  15. 2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution 129
  16. 2.4 The regulation of ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement: potential contributions for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy technologies on the high seas 145
  17. 2.5 Risks and opportunities for the first green shipping corridor in the Arctic 161
  18. 2.6 Arctic shipping routes over the past 20 years 181
  19. Section 3
  20. Introduction: techno-economic development 197
  21. 3.1 Current status and future prospects of alternative fuel for ships 201
  22. 3.2 Decarbonization by wind propulsion for commercial ships 221
  23. 3.3 Wind ships in sustainable global supply chains: A future of Zero Carbon shipping 231
  24. 3.4 Digitalization and automation in the maritime industry: a case of sustainable development? 241
  25. 3.5 Carbon Capture and Storage: new opportunities for maritime clusters? 255
  26. 3.6 The freshwater-saltwater nexus: the ocean as a sustainable source of water? 271
  27. Section 4
  28. Introduction: Maritime infrastructure 287
  29. 4.1 Maritime hydrogen infrastructure and value chains in the decarbonization governance of shipping in Norway 289
  30. 4.2 North Sea grid integration: what’s there and what’s planned? 307
  31. 4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables 325
  32. 4.4 Canals: transport infrastructure and geopolitics 339
  33. 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure 353
  34. 4.6 The ocean and the geopolitics of energy: a question of critical infrastructure? 379
  35. Section 5
  36. Introduction: ocean geopolitics 399
  37. 5.1 The global ocean and great power politics 401
  38. 5.2 Great powers and their naval ambitions: the geopolitical dimension of maritime affairs 415
  39. 5.3 Governing the ocean: technological change as a driver of maritime conflict 429
  40. 5.4 The politics of maritime boundary disputes 447
  41. 5.5 Could the unexploded ordnance hazard hinder the green energy transition − in the context of offshore wind projects? 467
  42. 5.6 The geopolitics of satellite navigation: the jamming and spoofing threat 485
  43. Book conclusions
  44. Cases in, along, across, below, on, and above the sea 501
  45. Subject Index
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