Once upon a time, the sun never set on the British empire. For hundreds of years the United Kingdom fielded the world’s premier Navy, using it to supply and control an empire that literally stretched the globe. In the decades since World War II, the United Kingdom has pulled back. But now, British leaders are considering establishing a base in Asia.
UK Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson has claimed that the United Kingdom is considering establishing a base near the South China Seas, quite possibly in either Singapore or Brunei. Both nations were once part of the British colonial empire, and the UK still maintains small military contingents in each. Both also border on the South China Seas, which China has claimed for itself.
China uses a “nine dash” line to carve out its stake in the South China Seas. Check out the map below, take note of the solid red line, and you can see that China basically claims the whole of the South China Seas for itself. These claims have been struck down by international courts, but China persists with its claims nonetheless.
Brunei and China have disputed claims. Singapore does not, but its proximity and world-class infrastructure make it a logical choice. China is also in dispute with Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
For its part, the United States does not recognize China’s claims and regularly sends warships through the disputed territories, which has led to some confrontations. If the United Kingdom were to establish a base near the South China Seas, it’d fit in well with America’s military efforts to counter China’s growing clout.
So far, the nations of Southeast Asia have failed to band together to press their claims effectively. China has been using a divide-and-conquer strategy, playing the smaller nations against one another and trying to force them to negotiate one on one.
Under former President Barack Obama, the United States began to pivot towards Asia, recognizing that China represents perhaps the greatest threat to American national security. The United States has a large military presence in Asia, focused primarily on Guam, Japan, and South Korea.
Rather than go it alone, the United States has been working to build up alliances with nations in the Asia Pacific. Last year, the United States, Australia, and Papua New Guinea announced that they were establishing a military base on Manus Island. While not in the immediate vicinity of the South China Seas, the base clearly hints at America’s strategy for encircling China: Partner with allies who also have an interest in keeping the Chinese in check.
The United Kingdom could now take a similar approach, bolstering its presence on the global stage while also contributing to the United States’ efforts to counter China. For the UK, the base would signal a re-emergence of sorts and could hint at the country’s ambitions should they exit the European Union.
Still, with high public debt and economic problems at home, some Brits are balking at the costs of establishing an expanded military presence in Asia. The UK is reportedly also considering a base in the Caribbean. Both bases would help showcase the UK’s military prowess, which is especially important given that the UK is one of the world’s largest arms exporters.
