While on patrol in the South China Sea, a United States Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) receives a distress call from an American petroleum engineer aboard a Vietnamese-owned natural gas platform. According to the engineer, several Chinese PLA naval vessels attacked and sunk a resupply ship along side the platform and there are several survivors in the water. The platform is located along the Vietnamese-Chinese maritime boarder and has seven total Americans aboard, and is now taking fire from the PLA vessels. The PLA navy claims they are taking police action dealing with illegal activity and direct the LCS to remain outside of 10NM from the natural gas platform. This situation puts the commander of the LCS in the midst of a complicated
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There are aspects of the three moral resolution principles at play in this scenario, as well as several dilemma paradigms that need to be considered. Intuitive decision making urges the commander to rush to the assistance of the platform workers to offer care and security. There are survivors in the water and U.S. citizens in danger, which tugs at moral heartstrings to commit to action. However, the commanding officer of the LCS must also consider the possibility the Chinese are telling the truth, and the natural gas platform is indeed engaging in illegal activity, thus the urge to rush to the aid of the American contractors is grounded in the temptation because of national loyalty. The commander must also consider this ends-based thinking, or consequentialism, to look at the potential outcomes to help guide decision-making. Will the act of rushing to the aid of seven individuals result in escalate the violence and place the entire crew of the LCS at risk? Likewise, would such an action have negative long-term effects such as degrading relations between the United States, China, and Vietnam? Finally, the LCS commander must consider the deontological, or rules-based thinking, as there are several guiding principles vested in the responsibilities of a ships commanding officer that are applicable in this …show more content…
The Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) of 1982, which is signed and ratified by both China and Vietnam, establishes a 12NM territorial sea limit (TTW) and a 200NM exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for coastal nations. There is a large amount of overlap between China and Vietnam’s EEZ within the South China Sea, creating descent and friction between the two nations. However, as long as the natural gas platform is located outside China’s TTW its drilling activity is legal since both countries have legal claim to the EEZ. Additionally, the International Maritime Organizations conventions on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) of 1974 and Search-and-Rescue (SAR) of 1979 require mariners to come to the assistance of other mariners in distress when able. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Standing Rule of Engagement (SROE) for U.S. forces also provides guidance for this scenario. The SROE states foreign nations have the responsibility of protecting U.S. property and personnel within its U.S.-recognized territory. However, U.S. forces retain the right to enter archipelagic waters without permission from the coastal nation to engage in legitimate efforts to render emergency assistance to those in danger or distress from perils of the sea if the individual’s location is known. Should escalation of force be required, the
There are aspects of the three moral resolution principles at play in this scenario, as well as several dilemma paradigms that need to be considered. Intuitive decision making urges the commander to rush to the assistance of the platform workers to offer care and security. There are survivors in the water and U.S. citizens in danger, which tugs at moral heartstrings to commit to action. However, the commanding officer of the LCS must also consider the possibility the Chinese are telling the truth, and the natural gas platform is indeed engaging in illegal activity, thus the urge to rush to the aid of the American contractors is grounded in the temptation because of national loyalty. The commander must also consider this ends-based thinking, or consequentialism, to look at the potential outcomes to help guide decision-making. Will the act of rushing to the aid of seven individuals result in escalate the violence and place the entire crew of the LCS at risk? Likewise, would such an action have negative long-term effects such as degrading relations between the United States, China, and Vietnam? Finally, the LCS commander must consider the deontological, or rules-based thinking, as there are several guiding principles vested in the responsibilities of a ships commanding officer that are applicable in this …show more content…
The Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) of 1982, which is signed and ratified by both China and Vietnam, establishes a 12NM territorial sea limit (TTW) and a 200NM exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for coastal nations. There is a large amount of overlap between China and Vietnam’s EEZ within the South China Sea, creating descent and friction between the two nations. However, as long as the natural gas platform is located outside China’s TTW its drilling activity is legal since both countries have legal claim to the EEZ. Additionally, the International Maritime Organizations conventions on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) of 1974 and Search-and-Rescue (SAR) of 1979 require mariners to come to the assistance of other mariners in distress when able. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Standing Rule of Engagement (SROE) for U.S. forces also provides guidance for this scenario. The SROE states foreign nations have the responsibility of protecting U.S. property and personnel within its U.S.-recognized territory. However, U.S. forces retain the right to enter archipelagic waters without permission from the coastal nation to engage in legitimate efforts to render emergency assistance to those in danger or distress from perils of the sea if the individual’s location is known. Should escalation of force be required, the