Implications of Tensions in South China Sea Region on Land Force Strategy in Indonesia's Defense

Abstract

The South China Sea have strategic value, from economic and military aspects. In some parts of the waters there is an overlap of jurisdictions between claimant states (Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and China), causing a high potential for conflict. Geopolitical turbulence in the South China Sea region further illustrates the dynamic strategic environment and adds complexity to threats to security in the region. The panelitian method used is a qualitative descriptive method. According to Sugiyono, descriptive methods are studies that describe, describe, or describe the state of the object studied as what it is, according to the situation and conditions when research is done. The theories used are balance of power, military of balance, steps-to-war, and balance of threat. China’s rapid military development has made it a powerful country and has the potential to become a hegemony in the region and will create new tensions in the region. This situation encourages countries in the region to increase their military capabilities, produce military weaponry and equipment, and even form military alliances to offset China’s military capabilities in the region. The U.S.-China rivalry makes the South China Sea region a single geostrategic theater that will drag regional countries into the maelstrom of conflict, including Indonesia in it. Facing a dynamic environment, Indonesia with an active defensive strategy deploys land aspect forces that have been centrally structured and dispersed (territorial command units), in an effort to prevent assertive actions from other countries.