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Summary The challenges that the US faces on its seas and oceans
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A full presentation and summary on the different challenges that the US faces on its seas and oceans
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Churchill ThomasDocument Analysis on the challenges for US power
1) Present the documents
2) Analyse the documents in order to discuss the different challenges to the maritime
power of the United States
3) Use the documents in order to present possible solutions of such challenges
4) Assess the value and the limitations of the documents
1) The first document is an article published on September 26th 2020 by the English
newspaper The Economist. It is entitled “China now has the world’s largest fleet,
alarming its Pacific rival”. The article draws comparisons between China and the
United States to show China’s growing power in the Pacific with its large navy as well
as the United States projects and challenges in order to retain its supremacy.
The second document is also an article but published by EHN (Environmental Health
news) on August 27th, 2020. It is entitled “The muddy waters of the US ocean
protection” and explains the ecological situation of the United States’ coastal waters,
its challenges and solutions that could help reduce the ecological impact caused by
the overuse of their waters.
2) The first challenge for the United States’ maritime power is its rivalry with China. The
Pentagon admitted in September 2020 that China now has the largest navy in the
world, surpassing the US navy by about 34 ships. The US navy counts 296 ships
whereas China’s PLA navy has got 330 ships. China’s warship tonnage is bigger than
the one of the United States and its partners combined. The US alone counts around
210,000 Tons whereas China gets close to 600,000 Tons. The biggest advantage that
China has is its supremacy on surface assets (frigates, cruisers, battleships,) but lacks
in submarines which are vital in a modern war. Facing China also poses the problem
of a democracy against an authoritarian power, in a democracy the public opinion is
extremely important to keep in mind and that could be the US’s Achilles heal if it
should ever go to war against China. Moreover, the US also has a big internal
problem, and it is its military spending which is criticized as overly excessive by
certain Democrats as they would want to spend it on improving the welfare state,
this could be a problem if China decides to go to war.
Moreover, another challenge faced by the United States is the ecological impact of
its waters. It faces a dilemma between conservation and fishing interests. The
conflict is not helping to implement protection for these areas who are in dire need
of protection with the threat of climate change growing bigger by the day. The
biggest consequences of climate change are acidification, warming and loss of
oxygen. This is an international issue, but the US’s waters need drastic measures in
order to reduce the impact and engage in sustainable use of its waters. There are
also reports of shell disease which have an impact on the American fishery industry.
However, “not all the damage is climate induced”. The main reason for a lack of fish
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