Hills, Valleys, and Shoals: Israeli and Chinese Territorial Expansion Without War (Pre-Recorded)

• In Event: Negotiating Boundaries in IR

Abstract

The Russian annexation of Crimea, island-building in the South China Sea, and the expansion of Israeli settlements are all state actions that effectively extend the states territory beyond internationally recognized borders. What are the regional and security aspects of states acquiring new territory? Furthermore, to what extent do these territorial expansions change the balance of power or security dynamics of each respective region? This paper seeks to answer the following questions through the lens of the Anti-Access/Area Denial framework: 1) to what extent do these actions militarily increase local/regional anti-access; 2) to what extent do these actions create an attempt to deny the populations within these territories their previous political rights; 3) are these new territories or pseudo territories changing regional security dynamics. Given advances and the proliferation of technologically advanced weapons, these have become increasingly important questions for military and civilian decision-makers. Importantly, does territorial expansion restrict access or deny the political rights of those in the acquired territory? This work seeks to examine the similarities in each of these states' actions by exploring changes in regional balances of power, alliances and examining the legality of territorial expansion under international law. This research fills a void in the extant literature on international security by exploring the security dynamics of territorial expansion in three important regions.

Authors

• Andrew P Overfield, University of Southern Mississippi

• Jordan Greaser, University of Southern Mississippi

• Joseph J. St. Marie, University of Southern Mississippi

• Samuel S. Stanton, Grove City College