The sand crisis has numerous political and legal implications on international peace and security
Land Reclamation
Land reclamation is a phenomenon with numerous legal and political implications. Natural islands are disappearing and being stolen over night, while shorelines are extended and artificial island are being built from scratch.
To reclaim 1 square kilometre of land from the sea, up to 37.5 million cubic meters of sand are needed — the equivalent of filling three and a half Empire State Buildings!
To reclaim 1 square kilometre of land from the sea, up to 37.5 million cubic meters of sand are needed — the equivalent of filling three and a half Empire State Buildings!
Singapore has increased its land area by more than 20%
(130 square km) in the last 40 years by using mostly sand and aggregates to reclaim land from the sea. Export of sand to Singapore was reported to be responsible for the disappearance of about 24 Indonesian sand islands. This triggered political tensions regarding maritime borders between the two countries. |
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China is creating brand new islands in the South China Sea and setting military bases on them while also expanding their territory on the mainland.
The establishment of the islands in the South China Sea has already created military tensions. Since the territorial change has implications on the boundaries and sovereignty on land as well as international waters; the reclamation trend has been repeatedly bringing the region to the brink of conflict. Land reclamation has particular implications for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). |
Increasing price of sand
As sand is a finite resource and its demand is skyrocketing, a shortage will inevitably drive up prices.
This could constitute a problem for countries which import sand and which are leaning on construction for their development. Evidence suggests that sand is becoming increasingly scarce in many regions. For example, Vietnam's Ministry of Construction has stated that the country may run out of construction sand by 2020. Increase of sand prices and trade bans between countries might also contribute to the increase in illegal sand extraction and illegal trade. If exacerbated, this problem could also constitute a resource war. |
Sources
PEDUZZI, Pascal. Sand, rarer than one thinks. Environmental Development, 2014, vol. 11, p. 208-218
UNEP/GRID-Geneva 2013
https://thediplomat.com/2016/01/satellite-images-show-ecocide-in-the-south-china-sea/
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/02/cities-from-the-sea-the-true-cost-of-reclaimed-land-asia-malaysia-penang-dubai
https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/08/04/the-sand-smugglers/
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/02/cities-from-the-sea-the-true-cost-of-reclaimed-land-asia-malaysia-penang-dubai
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-navy-warship-south-china-sea-islands-mischief-reef-spratly-a8270666.html
http://sand-wars.com/
UNEP/GRID-Geneva 2013
https://thediplomat.com/2016/01/satellite-images-show-ecocide-in-the-south-china-sea/
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/02/cities-from-the-sea-the-true-cost-of-reclaimed-land-asia-malaysia-penang-dubai
https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/08/04/the-sand-smugglers/
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/02/cities-from-the-sea-the-true-cost-of-reclaimed-land-asia-malaysia-penang-dubai
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-navy-warship-south-china-sea-islands-mischief-reef-spratly-a8270666.html
http://sand-wars.com/