In terms of geopolitical significance, the South China Sea is viewed to be growing. In his book, Robert Kaplan attributes this to a number of factors. One of the factors is that, the South China Sea has immense potential for natural resources. Secondly, the region has multiple territorial claims. Recently, there has been an increased naval presence in the region. Another reason that the region is becoming more and more important in the international platform, is the increased rivalry that is being witnessed between the USA and China, as far as the region is concerned (Kaplan 59). To some extent, Kaplan’s arguments can be seen to be correct.

The region is rich in hydrocarbon and fisheries. Most of the contention can, therefore, be attributed to “business and trade.” The sea has been identified to be holding immense resources in terms of natural gas and petroleum.

The main problem is that, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, A.S.E.A.N, does not operate within the provisions of China’s nine-dash line. They tend to focus on the Exclusive Economic Zone, that was drafted in the United Nations Conventions in 1982, on the law of the sea (Kaplan, 86). China, on its part, does not recognize this.

Regardless, Robert Kaplan specifically points out that China is a major player as far as the A.S.E.A.N is concerned. Even the United States of America is insignificant in this. In his first two paragraphs of the book, he focuses on China’s destiny, and that the spectrum between war and peace swings and rests with this geopolitical hinge (Kaplan, 8). Kaplan also mentions the significance of the smaller nations that have a stake and can adequately affect the sea dispute.

An analysis of the Philippines and Vietnam is done from that front. Vietnam is projected to stand on nationalism to voice their claims of some parts of the sea. The Philippine’s, on the other hand, have coalesced with the United States, though it ideally appears to be the weakest and an automatic pushover for China (Kaplan, 167). However, when Kaplan starts discussing Taiwan, he strays from the main point. He extensively discusses the idea of the “Finlandization” of the island state, which would probably be done by China. When he discusses Singapore and Malaysia, he simply offers historical data, offering some unique perspectives concerning the leadership and does not explain their significance in the relationship between China and the United States of America.

The main critic that can be observed from the book is that the A.S.E.A.N subject leans less towards the contest than the contestants. The relationship between China and the United States of America, which is, in fact, the major topic of discussion, has been discussed in passing in the final chapter, where the weaknesses and the role of the coalition are reviewed (Kaplan, 251).

Kaplan also writes about the dispute between the United States of America and China from a realistic point of view. He puts major emphasis on the expansion of China’s military and looks at it as a potential threat to the United States. However, he manages to downplay the role of the United States in the dispute and puts the country up to appear as the center of the global economy. Therefore, China takes the leadership in the dispute. At the same time, China does not come out as the ultimate leader in the end, which makes it quite an interesting argument.

From an optimistic point of view, the growth in China can be confined within the view that the technology and economic ties will change the psychology of the Chinese and eventually transform their leadership to a more favorable and democratic one. From a realistic perspective, China’s military growth and steadily growing economy can lead to a complete overhaul in terms of global super powers and international order.

Whether the two countries will go to war in order to gain control over the region remains an issue that is subject to debate. Many analysts will see it as quite insignificant since there are global agreements that see to it that countries do not go to war over natural resources or territorial control. However, according to my opinion, countries have gone to war over quite insignificant matters and overrun the agreements that they had earlier made. In his conclusion, Kaplan states that China will never declare war against the United States of America or any of the A.S.E.A.N countries because of the South China Sea (Kaplan, 252). Well, it can be argued to be true. However, forty years ago, there was a scuffle over the region, and it involved China. The United States had backed South Vietnam, and it lost seventy-four forces in a military clash with China concerning the occupation of the Paracel Islands. That was not the end of it because they clashed again in 1988 concerning the occupation of the Spratly Islands. This time, sixty-four Vietnamese soldiers died.

Therefore, the conflict between the two countries can potentially lead to war. The military can be involved in the process. The increased naval presence also increases the probability of a conflict arising. It is a situation that can easily escalate into a tense one. The Chinese building its military might use any conflict to stamp its military authority on the global platform. The matter is serious, and it should be put into consideration in case the United States of America decides to go to war with China over the region.

In conclusion, there are other options that China and the United States of America can use in order to avert the looming conflict. One effective way is to draft and enter into a new agreement with all the countries that hold a stake over the region. The fact that China insists on subscribing to the China’s nine-dash line and the other A.S.E.A.N countries operating within the confines of the Exclusive Economic Zone is a platform that can spark a war. However, it is another fragile situation, since the drafting of a new agreement itself can lead to the very same war that they are trying to avert, immediately one of the countries feels that they are probably being tricked. However, all these are based on the future, which is another vital critic of Robert Kaplan’s book. It is a very inexact science to argue about the potential conflict of the United States and China since it is a future event, and no one can precisely predict the future.

Works Cited

Kaplan, Robert D, Asia’s Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific,             Random House, New York, NY, 2014. Print.