Dimensi Maritim Dalam Isu Ketidak Amanan Energi Tiongkok di Asia Timur

Abstract

The issue of energy insecurity for China is one of the current issues in its international relations studies. This issue began to emerge when the country was originally known very rich in energy is gradually losing its energy security status, causing a variety of regional even global implications. China then suffered dependence on energy imports from abroad (oil and gas) that makes China face a variety of threats, whether the traditional or even non-traditional. One of the main threat is the increased risk and a threat to China's maritime security posed by its dependence on energy trade and transport through the sea lane of East Asia. China threat perception arises both from the state and non-state actors that get it involved tension or conflict with other countries in the region. This article uses the geo-strategic approach with a qualitative analysis method to explore the region's maritime dimension in energy issues of China since the post-Cold War era until now. This article argues that: 1) the main character of China`s energy insecurity in East Asia is related to the maritime dimension; 2) China's energy insecurity makes the country actively and aggressively seek the new energy sources and suppliers, including in the dangerous maritime and conflict-prone zone; 3) threats to maritime dimension influence the country to change the energy search strategy by avoiding energy maritime route in East Asia and find alternative pathways for the safer transportation. This article is useful to understand the changing behavior of the countries that want to pursue energy security and to understand maritime constellation in a region based on the energy issue.