Hello, the assignment is a forward looking paper that predicts a current IPE issue. I have chosen to write about China’s BRI and how it will lead China to reshaping geopolitical and realities in the South China Sea by 2035. The timeline 2035 is something I have just made up and can be changed. I’ll write what my rough statement for the paper is underneath. I have also attached a pdf which was given by my professor and the very last page with the heading ‘Analystical paper’ gives guidlines for the essay. I know in the guidlines it says 4000-5000 but I only need 3000 right now. Thank you
“By 2035, China’s strategic utilization of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will significantly bolster its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Through the construction of strategic maritime infrastructure projects under the guise of the BRI, such as deep-water ports and maritime navigation facilities, China will solidify its control over crucial maritime chokepoints. This development will challenge traditional principles of maritime law, particularly those concerning freedom of navigation and overflight, and will establish a new economic sphere of influence by prioritizing access for Chinese vessels and trade flows. This shift will directly challenge the established norms of international trade, where unrestricted access and the principle of the high seas have traditionally prevailed.”
This statement outlines a clear mechanism (construction of strategic maritime infrastructure) by which China could use the BRI to assert territorial claims and influence in the South China Sea. It specifies the potential challenges to maritime law, focusing on freedom of navigation, which is a cornerstone of international maritime regulations under conventions like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). By detailing the strategic objectives and methods, this refined thesis statement offers a focused prediction on how the BRI might reshape geopolitical and economic realities in the South China Sea region by 2035.