Securitization of China''s Energy Issue in the Straits of Malacca

• Main Authors: Silvia Dian, 帝安
• Other Authors: Nathan K. H. LIU
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/63983272295357902612

碩士 === 銘傳大學 === 國際事務研究所碩士班 === 97 === During China’s pursuit of economic prowess, energy has remained a high priority in the minds of Chinese Communist leaders. As China’s domestic demand for oil upsurges, while its national petroleum reserves is at the frontier of shortage, China heavily relies on foreign oil supply. Accordingly, China also depends on the Straits of Malacca as one of the important waterways for its oil transportation from abroad. The strategic nature of the Straits as a venue of a silent struggle between major and rising powers and its vulnerable location for pirates and potential terrorist attacks has made China perceive it as a threat for its energy supply and economic sustainability. The term “Malacca Dilemma” uttered by China’s leader Hu Jintao highlights China’s energy risk in the Straits and calls national attention to respond the dilemma by securitizing strategies. This research uses the theory of securitization by the Copenhagen School as an analytic tool. This study focuses on how the securitization of China’s energy issue in the Straits of Malacca is transpired by identifying the referent object, the actors behind the China’s energy securitization process, and the strategies resulted. Using the theory of securitization as a tool of analysis is considered significant due to three reasons. First, it provides an important development on security studies. Second, it is applicable to elucidate the energy security issue based on the internal and external dynamics of a state. Third, it offers unusual picture of how a security issue is constructed based on the units of security analysis. Qualitative approach was applied in this research. Secondary sources of data were used as primary tool to analyze the case. These secondary sources were gathered through related references including books, journal articles, research findings, and articles from newspapers, magazines, as well as from internet. The research finds that China has become the referent object as it being threatened by oil supply insecurity in the Straits of Malacca. The actors behind China’s energy securitization in the Straits of Malacca are divided into securitizing actor, functional actors, and audiences. Securitizing actor refer to Hu Jintao as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. The Chinese national oil companies and the PLA are regarded as functional actors who affect the effectiveness of decisions on energy security. Audiences stand for the analysts who are divided into two mainstreams, namely realists and liberalists, in analyzing the best strategies for China to maintain its energy security. Several strategies to respond Malacca Dilemma as part of securitization were resulted. External strategies refer to China’s efforts to build alternative ports and oil pipelines routes that bypass the Straits as well as its modernization of military capability. Domestic strategies include energy efficiency and conservation. Beyond the securitization efforts, China also pursues diplomatic strategies. China’s dual strategy indicates that there is no consistency in the level of policy implementation.