Chinas Rising Energy Demand and its Influence on the Diaoyu Islands Dispute

Agustinus Rotua Raditya Chandra Bintang, Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro

2016 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

ABSTRACT China’s so-called “economic miracle” has had tremendous positive effect on numerous sectors, particularly to its manufacturing sector. However, it has also presented the Chinese government with newer challenges, including energy. China is currently experiencing an energy crisis in which domestic energy demand exceeds energy supply. In order to keep up with demand, China has had to formulate certain policies, like creating diplomatic ties with energy-rich countries in Asia and Africa and claiming energy-rich islands. The Diaoyu islands falls within this strategy, as China’s claim has been met with resistance from Japan and Taiwan. This made China devise new strategies, including the use of Chinese military to project power and authority over the islands. Additionally, China would also use existing anti-Japanese sentiments among its populace to the government’s advantage, in order to justify the use of aggressive policy in the dispute. In order to understand the issue, the author use the concept of energy security and the theory of historical security materialism as it is applied towards energy security. Energy security is to explain China’s energy crisis and the use of its military in the Diaoyu dispute. Historical security materialism provides a further explanation on how China sees Japan and Taiwan and how it would use everything to successfully claim the islands. Keywords: China, energy security, Diaoyu islands, historical security materialism

Kata Kunci : Cina - Energi