Indian Defense Analyst Maj. Gaurav Arya: The South China Sea Is Too Valuable, China Won't Compromise On Controlling It; China Bullies Smaller Countries – For The Philippines And Japan, This Is A War For Survival

On July 9, 2024, the Chanakya Dialogues YouTube channel published a video in which Indian defense analyst Major Gaurav Arya explained that China will be unwilling to compromise on control of the South China Sea because of its strategic location and abundance of fish and other resources. He said that China uses bullying and intimidation tactics to "stare down" smaller countries, and that the recent reciprocal military access agreement between the Philippines and Japan indicates that for those two countries, their disputes with China are now a "war for survival."

Major Gaurav Arya: "Now ladies and gentlemen, let's deal with the importance of the South China Sea, a major shipping route. You know the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimates that over 21% of global trade amounting to $3.37 trillion U.S. dollars transited through these waters in 2016. Rich fishing grounds - more than half of the world's fishing vessels operate in this area. Now you understand why China wants this entire area.

"China is not willing to compromise, China is not willing to say that 'Okay, hey the Philippines, you know maybe you can have a part of this, maybe we can both share.' China does not want that. China does not believe in sharing. China will use force, it will use bullying, and intimidation tactics to you know, look down, stare down small countries. But with this new RAA being signed between Japan and Philippines, it just proves that when you push a country too much against the wall, a country will react. For the Philippines and Japan, this is now ladies and gentlemen, a war for survival."