By Christian Le Mière, Special to CNN
Editor’s note: Christian Le Mière is a research fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The views expressed are his own.
It still amazes me how much media interest there currently is in the various maritime disputes of Asia. Five years ago, to find information on these then-obscure disagreements over tiny pieces of land required diligence and patience. Now, and in particular since the much-vaunted U.S. pivot to Asia, every week seems to bring new stories about these islands.
It is therefore worth our taking a step back and asking how we got here. What have been the drivers for the maritime disputes over the past five years, do they share any similarities, and why, when these disputes have existed for decades, have they become so tense now?
First, a reminder of the context. The islands in dispute are the Kurils (claimed by Japan and Russia); the Dokdo/Takeshima islands (South Korea and Japan); the Senkaku/Diaoyu/Tiaoyu islands (China, Taiwan and Japan); and the four major island groups of the South China Sea (in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam). Other island disputes exist in East Asia (such as the Northern Limit Line between the Korea), but these four comprise the most contested and contentious.
These disputes are usually viewed in isolation, but there are similarities that they all share. Although claims of occupation and administration stretch back centuries, all of the disputes exist, to some extent, as legacies of imperial Japan’s expansion through East Asia in the first half of the 20th century, and its immediate withdrawal following its defeat in World War II. Before this period, most of the states in East Asia were too militarily weak to effectively enforce their claims; some were entirely occupied by imperial powers, and the modern international legal concepts of territorial sovereignty were arguably still alien to the region.
Hence, all of these disputes have seen greater competition as regional states have improved their military and paramilitary capabilities. This not only allows them to occupy and administer islands at the edge (or even beyond) their territory, but it also makes nations more concerned about these peripheral concerns as they become more confident in their internal monopoly of violence. The stabilization of areas of East Asia following decades of war also allows the focus to shift from the land to the sea.
In more recent years, the rise of China has inspired the greatest concern among its neighbors over these territorial disputes. Those countries surrounding China would point to its perceived “assertiveness.” The list of complaints is lengthy: in 1974 China’s People’s Liberation Army ousted Vietnam from the Paracel Islands; in 1988 the PLA fought Vietnamese troops over Johnson South Reef; in 1995 China occupied Mischief Reef; in 2009 a Chinese flotilla challenged the USNS Impeccable in its exclusive economic zone; in 2010 Japan claimed Beijing had used its trade as a coercive diplomatic tool by severely limiting rare earth metals exports; in 2011, Vietnam claimed Chinese civilian and paramilitary vessels had deliberately cut survey cables behind its exploration vessels; in 2012, the Philippines once again claimed Beijing had used coercive economic diplomacy by limiting banana imports amid the Scarborough Shoal fracas.
Beijing would of course dispute this interpretation, despite the seeming weight of evidence ranged against it. Vietnam, for instance, has been far more active in occupying features in the Spratly group, and Vietnam and the Philippines have both been more vigorous in pursuing hydrocarbon exploration in the South China Sea. China is, in Beijing’s narrative, merely reacting to the aggression of others. Nonetheless, it is indisputable that China’s neighbors perceive assertiveness on its part, and this, in tandem with the impressive improvements in China’s military capabilities, is driving the procurement of military capabilities in the region.
A further factor that has inspired fiercer competition has been the ability to exploit the likely hydrocarbon resources underneath the waters. It is of more than passing interest that the initial expansions of occupations in the South China Sea, in the early 1970s, occurred soon after a 1969 U.N. survey declared the likelihood of subsoil resources near the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands and the initial Sino-Vietnamese clash came just months after the oil price spike of 1973.
In more recent years, China’s exploitation of gas in the Xihu trough in the East China Sea and licensing of blocks to foreign companies by Vietnam and the Philippines since the mid-2000s have all created friction between the disputants. Although no mineral resources have been tapped around Dokdo/Takeshima or the Kuril/Chishima islands, it is an often disregarded fact that rights to economic exploitation at sea stem from the land. Hence, sovereignty over any of the disputed island groups potentially grants hundreds of thousands of square miles of sea to be exploited.
Given that all of the major economies of Northeast Asia rely on imported oil and gas for their energy needs, this issue has only increased in importance in line with the oil price. But this is not to downplay the significance of other resources: some estimates claim that up to 700 million people in the South China Sea region alone rely on fishing for their livelihoods. It is no coincidence that it was the attempted arrest of Chinese fishermen by the U.S.-donated Philippine flagship that began the stand-off at Scarborough Shoal.
There are, of course, factors that are germane to any specific area that help explain why friction now dominates the tenor of the dispute. In the South China Sea, for instance, a May 2009 deadline for disputant states to submit their extended continental shelf claims led to a diplomatic flurry that heightened concern over the region, particular as China for the first time attached the infamous nine-dashed line to an official communication. Still, it is of interest intellectually and of relevance politically to point out that each of these disputes has seen an increase in antagonism at the same time.
There is, though, one other similarity across these disputes that is perhaps more positive. Despite sometimes ostentatious military deployments, whether it’s the Russians currently fortifying their position in the Kuril Islands or China undertaking live-fire exercises in the South China Sea, thus far almost all altercations in these various disputed Asian waters have involved paramilitary and not military vessels. In fact, the various states, while building up their military forces as a deterrent measure (or possibly a coercive one in the future) have been careful to avoid confrontation between rival military forces. The use of maritime paramilitaries carries various benefits, such as a latent demonstration of sovereignty, but perhaps key among them is that it demilitarizes, and therefore deescalates, the encounters that occur on these seas. This suggests that while these disputes may remain intractable, no claimant is currently seeking a conflict-based solution.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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While the disputes in Asia's Northeast might "remain intractale", The countries involved find a way to deal with each other as they have been doing so for centuries.
The disputes in the South China Sea are more complicated. They involve countries like Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. which are diverse. Apart from the J apanese occupation many don't share much in history. Each of them emerged quite recently and It takes time for them to tie knots.
In these disputes, we need to let those countries over there settle their differences without our needless interference. This country has no business telling those countries over there what to do, j.von hettlingen.
China is trying to be a bully, so the other nations have invited the US in, which prevents the Chinese from using force. Given how far mainland China and Taiwan are from the S. China sea, it's very clear that the Chinese are excessively ambitious.
Taiwan is not an independent country.
The south china sea issues are not complicated at all. Treaties encompass most of them. All can be resolved in international courts, but China is choosing to use bullying instead. It's really simple. China doesn't have a case, or they'd take it to court.
China is on her expansion right now. It's Nazi germany all over again. Get ready for WW3 if we can't convince her to stop trying to expand in a modern world that rejects such expansion.
marine 234234234 or whatever, shut your pie hole. You should mind your own business and let real americans do the talking.
China is claiming 200 mile economic zone of other countries. It is not resolving peacefully. China is doing economic war with its neighbors who has rights of the 200 mile EEZ. China killed citizen of these countries fishing in their 200 mile EEZ. Buy locally and improve your economy. Recall all factories, produced locally.
Keyword: Most private company is run like a communist regime. Don't buy stocks that do outsourced in China. Help your own individual countries by producing locally and help the smaller countries being threatened by China. Democracy is the way to go.
If WW2 taught us anything, aggression is incremental and never stop. If aggression is not stopped outright, soon, other countries will follow course. Until you know it, WW3 on the horizon. China began its aggression with the invasion of Paracels island group over S.Viet Nam's sovereignty after American completed it withdrawal from S.VN. No one dares to say anything but S.VN protest. Next, they went after Spratly island group of united VN. Next, China wants ownership of the entire South China sea, including international water.
You figure out what will come next ....
There is only one country on the Earth says "Taiwan belong to China and is not a country". The country is China. Even though Taiwan also claimed Diaoyu Islands belong to China (Republic of China, Taiwan), Taiwan is not part of China
Certainly Taiwan is a part of China. Taiwan is the name of an island where the ROC government is located, and China consists of the mainland and all it's islands, including Taiwan island.
Chinaman, I think Taiwan's independent, sovereign government may disagree with you. They're pretty convinced you're full of crap.
Confucius sez "He who has more nuclear weapons can say who's full of craaap"
Down with Red China, Twain isn't an independent country (they call themselves the Republic of CHINA). The PRC and RC are rival Chinese gov'ts and both agree they're the same country.
if only US would leave the countries in the region to deal with the problems themselves. at present, we are "World Police", so one day we show up to China's face, next day we go to Persian Gulf, then move to Middle East... really busy body all over the world.... meanwhile, we have 60% of our population grossly obese and soon die of heart and coronary diseases, roads and public infrastructure are 30 yrs behind China's. our kids are ranked below 30 in math and science but think they are the best in the world...most young voters #1 agenda is to legalize pot. what are we thinking?????!!!
And you think that we are doing that for free? How do you think you have sub $5.00 per gallon of gas?
As the only country left in our circle of allies with a capable military who can counter blatant aggression in the world and the one benefiting the most from the world's current status quo, I would have to disagree with you Jay. So would many of the countries who benefit from our "interference."
This is about China wanting to establish absolute control over the area the world refers to as the South China Sea. It's about China wanting and getting ALL of the oil, fishing and mineral rights for a vast area of the ocean while leaving virtually nothing for the other many nations in the area. China wants to absolutely control this region up to within mere miles of the coasts of nations like Vietnam, the Philippines and host of others.
It's about China's absolute selfishness and greed.
Absolutely right!
'So of the US gov did to Carribbean countries. Truth is always within the range of absolute power. No countries are dare to have conflicts with the US in Carribbean area. Don't flatter yourself as "world police establishing justice" We Chinese know the suffering when we were not strong enough to protect our people from being massacred. We love peace, but we are not cowards.
It is so easy to bring peace in the region.
Stop Chinese invasion. That is what is happening around there.
My friend, you have to spend more time in understanding the history and background of the dispute before jumping into the conclusion. China is no more a socialist country than USA in many aspects. At least China has not invaded, occupied and attempted to change the government of foreign countries with their choice like USA and that I would call communism and bullies of the World.
The reason WWII was so devastating was that Hitler successfully duped the world. While his forces were small, he made peace noises. As they grew, he continued the fake as he gradually became more aggressive. Finally, when he launched an all-out war, he/Germany had amassed huge resources that determined the scale of WWII. Other conditions in the world facilitated Hitler's maneuvering.
The question is, how can a chain of events like that be recognized and stopped before it reaches catastrophic proportions? The world has been successful (or very lucky?) over the past ~60 years but I'm not sure we have a handle on the fundamental problem. The situation now is significantly complicated by nuclear weapons. Proliferation is changing the balance of power in Asia and the Middle East. Will the US and others sit quietly while North Korea and Iran build nuclear capabilities?
What happens to my post? How come it does not show up? Was it censored?
China is just playing the Dominant Power role, they worked so long to establish. You know Make Money, Expand influence, Expand Territory, then eventually Make war. Its a game The US has played in its rise to global dominance. Does anyone remember "Manifest Destiny" and the Spanish – American War? USA really needs to keep out of it, and let the Asians work this out on their own. Do Folks really think that sending a Fleet to sit of the coast of China is going to prevent a war between these neighbors? I dont think it will. I think we'll wind up fighting that war, on behalf of Asian boys who should be defending their own country. Just think for a second how US Citizens and US Politicians would react with a Chinese Fleet off the Pacific coast, or a Russian fleet off the Atlantic coast.....
Totally agree. As an american citizen, I expect US to export more quality goods and services to make money in Asia, rather than sending multiple aircraft carriers over there.
Lol. If US doesn't stop Chinese Invasion, the US Mainland's next.
As a Chinese, we seek peace,we strive for peace.But when other countries invade our territories, we can't just watch and do noting.Our citizens want all of those can be handle peacefully and legitimately.
We are not what you think any more.
What do you think we are? 3 years old kids!!! Give me a break!!!! You know what your race is doing...YOU ARE THE AGGRESSOR AND HISTORY I S ABOUT TO REPEAT ITSELF!!!! ONCE THIS IS ALL OVER...CHINA OF YOURS WILL BE BROKEN UP INTO PIECES AND THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
If China wants to resolve these disputes peacefully, why wouldn't she agree to bring it to an international court? Rather it resorts to flexing its military and economic muscles over its smaller neighbors. Clearly, your point of being peaceful and legitimate is a joke.
Peaceful? A bully by any other name is still a freakin' bully.
Invade? Territories? You mean China's invading and stealing other countries territories.
We now need to focus on India. The American invasion of Afghanistan brought to the forefront the irrelevance of India as a nation. With a population of over 1.2 billion people there was no value that this nation could bring to the table. Their soldiers (ragtag) 1.2 million continue hiding in the trenches scared from Talibans. A few teenage Talibans invaded the country and held it hostage for days on end showing how useless India is. It was embarrasing for the world to observe this humiliation of a nation that was being touted as a regional power.
Also, we continue to read with interest the thesis presented on CNN that "less is more" in a political context as applied to India. Although Mies Van Der Rohe adopted this in an architectural context, its economic and political connotations are indeed powerful. Empowering subjugated minorities in India by splitting it into smaller states would trigger uber economic demand for western nations who have given so much financial and technology aid to India with no return to show for the investment. We concur with this approach and find the premise to be on solid footing. Central Asian States (CAS) are a case in point on this successful approach. We need to understand that India has an unmanageable large population mired in poverty and we are spinning our wheels trying to feed it. It is also too big of a geographical unit to govern. Again, we saw how a few teenage talibans were able to invade it with a few BB guns. And that says a lot... albeit in a sad but humorous way not only for a large unmanageable country like India but also for USA which is trying to prop it up against China. Besides, Americans cannot afford to look like losers in the midst of a terror war which has lasted for over ten years now.
LOL...US is trying to use India to patrol the China Seas to antagonize China. US Navy is like rubber ducky for China. Hilarious !!!
Then I would suppose Indian Navy boats would be toys in a bath tub for China too. China has certainly come of age. No wonder Hillary is heading there.... partly to escape from Democratic Convention.
China just bought one second hand carrier for their fleet! Yeah sure China is a naval "power" now. Another paid for commie propoganda post....
your mom
Mr krm1007, you made my day. Had a long day with lot of hard work and now I am literally ROTFL at your joke! Thanks a lot!
Shut up paki. Stop your irrelevant gloating over your Taliban terrorists in a discussion about Asian islands.
Chinese brain gets dangerous sick or becomes and dies in the abnormal head which is not common
If China is proper, the world is the world of chaos becoming serious
GOBACK TO YOUR CAVE!
could your guys please use ccp instead of china
What's the different, its still China
Because Republic of China is China too.
China and CCP and PRC are the same. Taiwan and ROC are the same. Please don't confuse a sovereign country which has a democratically elected government with a different sovereign country ruled by an oppressive authoritarian regime kept in power by lies, brute force and oppression of its citizens. Different countries, different worlds.
China's China and Taiwan's Taiwan. Accept it. Majority of nations considers China as the true China and not Taiwan. I'm not pro China but just accept it that people calls Taiwan, Taiwan and not China.
China want war and nobody dare to step it up
Such is to be expected from someone like you with your obvious limitations, chopchop. Remember the simple fact that China didn't invade Iraq back in 2003? We did and you that the Chinese want war? How ludicrous!
Repeat after me, I am an idiot and it does not matte how many times I steal Patrick's name, I will still be an idiot.
Lol yeah. That's why China's bullying small countries first. I doubt it can match US military might.
ONE MORE NUCLEAR BOMB TO TAKING CARE IT KARMA SITUATION DOG WORLD .
Without discussing the territory history of China and WWII, this article is bias on what we hear every day from US media. China owns these islands for thousands of years alreay. I suggest you to read Chinese history first before write.
what 's kind of the territory History of China you have??? I like to see & read it. But it needs to be real & correct to the history........thanks!
M
Can you show an old map of China showing these island groups on the map?
If you can read Chinese, you can easily get this information from any Chinese history museum. Then, you will have your own judgement.
Then, China should take it to international court to dispute their case. Why people has to come to your museum to be convinced?
Has the Chinese south China sea before 700 map, 500 diaoyutai map.
The problem with your claim that "history books" show that these islands have belonged to China for thousands of years is that historians always write their histories with a bias, no matter the era, civilization or the culture. Those histories are published by the leaders of those cultures, and therefore, tend to portray the culture that sponsors it in a positive and sympathetic light.
poor American....you only know what US media tell you. you don't even know the world outside US. Be smart and if you do want to learn more, try to read and understand in another language. World is big and so is Asia. But US is not an Asian country.
poor Chinese ....you only know what CCP media tells you. you don't even know the world outside China. Be smart and if you do want to learn more, try to copy our products. World is big and so is South China Sea. But China is not a part of South China sea. So, go home and make a toy for my kid before she got ... really angry.
hoho, i am afraid you are able to afford a toy if you continue like there... oh sorry you can still go to conquer wall street to rob some money back. so what is the next street?
hoho, i am afraid you are not able to afford a toy if you continue like there... oh sorry then you can still go to conquer wall street to rob some money back. or what is the next street?
They have ole pictures showing you zucking a big black kwok.
we can read US media. can you read CCP media, do you really know what the CCP media talks about? lol
Oh really? You can read? So you know freedom, democracy and such? I doubt it, you only know Mao Tse Tsung and every lies CCP tells you to read.
All of this disputes are more than half-century old and are dragging on with some minor event happening now and then: so why so much attention now? US "free" media is doing its best to make big deal of it only as a part of anti-China campaign it is running lately. That is essentially what this "US pivot to Asia" is about: US has got scared sheetless of China moving forward not only economically but politically too, becoming a real superpowerto be reconed with! And when US is scared it gets agressive. Nothing new here!
Thing is , We've made China what they are today, financially by continuing to send our manufacturing to them , which is no different than outsourcing, the big corporations control this .. if the U.S. decided to double tax anything that took away an American job we'd be sitting pretty and there would be no dispute over any those islands .
oh jaja, you started the globalization on very behalf of your own to exploit the cheap labor across the world. and now the scale is moving just a bit, and you began to cry out who the hell started it? ask your brilliant wall street brokers where all the money went
Reblogged this on All Things Geography.
the bullying of china and aggression in asia meaning to show her power ang nobody can touch to her,,, and no any weapon can tie
Peter,
Go to Yale-Asian study center and its musium, you will then find what it says. Thus, you don't need to go to China to read Chinese.
We have a long history, disputed areas, we are all based on the historical. In 1840, China was influenced by western force aggression, we are to find their own things, not? Besides, Chinese bully who, without killing him on fishermen, arrest fishermen, no purchase island etc.. You don't know the history of Asia, really ashamed to talk nonsense!
Dear Editor,
I'm pretty sure the photo is of Vietnam Navy. It's probably misleading to most readers that this is Chinese Navy soldiers. Just a reminder.
Best,
GoodIdeas,
You are right. But the editor does not seem to care.
China is always playing the FAKE, So many things They showed to us is UNREAL!!!
The US did not donate the former Hamilton-Class US Coast Guard Cutter that was acquired by the Philippine Government last May of this year ,it was purchased for more than $10 million and was renamed BRP Gregorio Del Pilar.
the Chinese is claiming all territories in southeast asia,an absurd claim that i dont think any country would likely do,they are running out of markets for their fake products maybe!
Time to restart anti-CNN again! To hell with American imperialism!
To hell with Chinese Imperial Communism!
China is a part of Biblical Prophecy. and this ambitious and greedy country...will fall apart! AMERICA will destroy you..and whole world will destroy your country dam you Chinese
你真的是个2B,美国我想他针对的不仅仅是中国这个发展中国家，他想让所有人都成为他的羔羊，真的是做梦，中国从未有你所的那么大的野心，中国只是想生存，想给自己找一条出路，一条生存的路。我想你对中国真的是有偏见，不过无所谓，你个2B。
赞！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！用英文跟这些扬基白痴怎么说都没用，他们以为自己有“自由”媒体，其实这种错觉本身就是propaganda.
all the whole world live in darkness,only Ameica can light the dark world. please saving us, America, Amen!
China's doing what Napoleon and Hitler did a long time ago. But China doesn't realize that aggression and invasion of other countries has a limit. And that limit is the USA. IF US and its allies join forces and stops China, China can't do a thing about it.
Fareed doesn't know much of anything. Why do we continue to read this crap.
What the helll of united states?
THe most weird country in the world who keep licking the other country resource!
Even middle east interference is natural resource reason for all...
They never become a peace country, seems I saw hilary bicth keep turn around looking for better dick, wonder if this is the reason clinton fxck monica lew...
Now they want to interfere Asia country, what the fxck of panetta...
This article mainly concerns about the economic issue, nothing about the history of those islands.
Oh and one final word, there was a war a very short and vicious one fought for a small island called the Falklands. I doubt China wants to start an economic war. And these civil demonstrations going on can backfire once they start putting new leadership in place and the economy starts a downturn with the potential of Asian Spring that wants democracy once again. Be warned, not wise to put fuel onto a fire with all these demonstrations, they have a tendency to keep going in revolutions like the middle east. Once people got wind of freedom, they are expressing themselves once again in new ways not always good for everyone.
US has invaded so many countries that people even lose count, and people in US are talking about China bully other country, what a joke.
A country with only 200 years history talking about history, what a joke.
You are just a big joke, but you just didn't realize.
Because in history the almighty Chinese Empire became the sleeping old giant and got bullied by the west? Lol regardless on what your communist government tells you... China is really bullying other countries. He's just afraid that US might take it seriously and tries to defend these small countries.
china,come on
so we are repositioning 60% of our navy to surround china. all good. but where to get the $$$? at present, after paying your mom/pops social security, medicare, we have no money left, so we print new money to spend on military. how long would this last? is there really a money printing scheme that you don't have to "earn" and get $$$? Bernie Madoff said yes and had the same system but he got multiple life terms... what about US military?
Oh, c'mon Jay. Why can we keep on printing more dollars to pay off our debts ?. Chinese love it with an insanity demand for our US bonds. Better value than holding their own currency any day.
keep printing, let's see what will be happen.
China will eventually fall on its own aggression, and disintegrated into many smaller states. May be it means to be that way.
That IS what's happening in the US. Red states vs blue states. And since you're wishing it on another country, may karma find you and bite you.
That's true. History has proven that with Napoleon and Hitler.
You know, this is one of those problems that may go away with patience. What's the elevation above sea level of these islands? A little more global warming, they won't be islands any more, so what's to fight about?
China are verry very dangerous .
There is not clear mentioned on paracel islands in this, the disputed island between Vietnam & China why ?
The true story is
China did invation the island on 1974 by military forces, pulling out vietnamese people, killed a dozens vietnamese navy forces, ocuppied the islands, building military bases there until now, Vietnam could not take it back becase of could not fight against Chinise forces . China simply roped the islands and they did alot of media lie to the world about the island and nearby water areas which they called south china sea. China did not has any island in the east sea ( called south china sea) untill they did the invation on 1974. they are going to to the same way with Spratlys islands.
Please write the true story about china in roder to let people in the world know what have happened and what is going to be happened with the islands & surrounding water areas. the islands in the east sea ( Paracel & Spratlys) were belonging to Vietnam before 19th century until 1974 and it will be belonging to vietnam in the near future.
They did that to the Scarborough Shoal. Forced occupation and invasion.
Taiwan is part of China only if China is democratic and under the name of Republic of China.
No a bad idea. I don't even care about whether it is called ROC or PRC or whatever. But the thing is that the US want two "Chinas", which suits for their profit. Do you think the US really want a unified and democratic China? No, because that China is more challenging to the US. I think that PRC and ROC should sign up a mutual agreement on: the PRC will not using military power to solve conflicts with ROC and the ROC will not support any hestile actions the other conuntries did to PRC.
Which Vietnam CAO is referring to? Back in 1974 American GIs were still fighting for the freedom of South Vietnam against North Vietnam which China was backing of. Ironically Americans led by President Nixon were trying to open China's iron doors and eventually successful to do so. On the other hand North Vietnam "unified" and "liberated" South Vietnam in 1975 and renamed the capitol from Saigon to Ho Chi Ming City. Ho Chi Ming
was a communist and Maoist. Does anyone remember The Fall Of Saigon. In order to know why the world is now, we must know why the world has been.
CHINA IS THE PRODUCER OF FAKE PRODUCT NO WONDER IF SHE PRODUCES A FAKE MAP CLAIMING THE ENTIRE SOUTH EAST ASIA.
True. The land of fake and pirated goods and products. Those cheap but low quality imitations.
Diaoyu islands belongs to China
how do you think about that American invaded afghan and iraq for oil,and now they want to invade Syrian? the photo is of Vietnam Navy,now the country is suppoted by US.
this is secret,,
needs to change the president of china ,,,too bad
why your Americans always want to be a teather to judge who is right who is wrong?Why USA army all around the world ?who can tell me why?you , to keep the peace?LOL! So many wars happened becuase you!
>Given how far mainland China and Taiwan are from the S. China sea, it's very clear that the Chinese are excessively ambitious
Tell that to the Brits as they claim their rights over Falkland Islands which is some 8000 mile away from London.
Well what you can expect from a country that elected a community organizer with no business leadership or any experience running even a small government.
We get what we ask for.
Sorry for the rest of the world that looks to the U.S. for leadership we have none.
"...but it also makes nations more concerned about these peripheral concerns as they become more confident in their internal monopoly of violence."
English, please? What in the world are you talking about???
Some excellent comments – and some expected bad ones, too – here about this issue. However, the geo-politics aside, I think the number one reason that nations are jockeying to make claims of islands are for the potential hydrocarbon $$$ benefits that can be reaped, as was so well stated in this article. Asian nations, with the exception of some of the central Asian republics that are rich in gas and oil, are forced to import most of their gas and oil. If a nation can claim sovereignty over an island group and its surrounding waters, then by legal definition, they own the mineral rights to what's under the sea. That would boost that nation's ability to rely less on imported gas and oil. At the end of the day, until we as a human society rely less on dirty fuels such as oil and gas that "fuel" wars, we are still on the same centuries-old trajectory of increasingly aggressive behaviors that lead to war. This is just more of the same old paradigm of reaping as much as you can from the earth now, and paying for the huge consequences it creates (ie. build-up of territorial disputes that lead to out-right wars) later. When you keep doing the same mistake over and over again, it's just plain stupid. This is another reason why the boldest nations (and I don't mean China or the US), are seriously investing in alternative energy sources for their people.
"It is no coincidence that it was the attempted arrest of Chinese fishermen by the U.S.-donated Philippine flagship that began the stand-off at Scarborough Shoal."
It's important to note that these Chinese fishermen were not innocently "just fishing", they were actually illegally poaching endangered species and harvesting corals. There are pictures on the net that shows Philippine Navy men on board the fishing boats and showing their crago.
This is brought about by Chinese Communist Party that seeks more power in the region, breking into the peace.
CCR should stop their attempt and bring back peace.
Peace?are you joking? if you want peace ,How war happened in AFG? Why war happened in Irak?You make the world disoder,War happens here and there .where war happens ,where there is USA army,that is why?
Please fix your grammar and spelling first before telling us about Peace. China's being a bully to other countries by aggression and invasion. Don't believe what your communist government tells you.
Is Irag (after invasion by USA) better off now than 10 year ago? Who did the invasion. Almighty, peace lover USA. Common. Do not say other country is a bully if youself is.
Why do I have a gut feeling that world war III is about to start.......over oil??????