China faces difficulty in alleviating tensions in the South China Sea because of contrasting mandates and a lack of co-ordination among its own government agencies, according to a study conducted by an international non-governmental group that strives to prevent conflicts.
The International Crisis Group said in a report it will release today, and which was seen by the South China Morning Post yesterday, that Beijing had shown a willingness to resolve the disputes through a moderate approach. But the effectiveness of those efforts had been hindered by the absence of an overarching policy executed uniformly throughout different levels of government.
The report comes as China and the Philippines are embroiled in escalating tensions, with Manila and Beijing accusing each other of undermining sovereignty near the Scarborough Shoal - or Huangyan Island - a group of islands and reefs to which both nations lay claim. The United States and Manila launched two weeks of naval drills a week ago, triggering a strong reaction from Beijing.
A commentary by the People's Liberation Army Daily published on Saturday warned that the US-Philippines drills had raised the risk of an armed confrontation over the disputed waters. The Pentagon has insisted the drill is a regular exercise 'not tied to any current situation'.
The crisis group's report said the Chinese navy's use of maritime tensions to justify its modernisation, coupled with nationalistic sentiment among mainlanders, complicated the issue. But the more immediate risk of conflict stemmed from the growing number of law-enforcement and paramilitary vessels that were playing an increasing role in the dispute without a clear legal framework.
'The conflicting mandates and lack of co-ordination among Chinese government agencies have stoked tensions in the South China Sea, and many of them are using this issue to try to increase their power and budget,' the report said.