trouble in the South China Sea

[pscot]

China has dangerously increased tensions in the South China Sea by deploying an oil rig for the first time in a disputed area claimed by Vietnam. The move is certain to make countries in the region feel even more threatened by China’s expansionist territorial claims. The rig, belonging to a state-owned oil company, was parked in waters off the Paracel Islands on May 2. After Vietnam objected, China dispatched 80 ships to the area; Hanoi responded by sending 35 ships to obstruct the rig’s operations.

China’s protestations are not convincing, because there would be no face-off if it had not deployed the rig. Vietnam says the structure is parked on a continental shelf where the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea guarantees Vietnam exclusive rights to hydrocarbon and mineral resources. China, which rejects this argument, has laid claim to most of the South China Sea, a vital world trade route. As a result, China is also in conflict with the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan, which have rival interests in the sea, its islands and its rocks.

Some experts say the Chinese deployed the rig because oil and gas reserves were recently found nearby. But the move could also be pushback against President Obama and his increased focus on Asia. On a recent trip to Asia, Mr. Obama said America would defend disputed islands in the East China Sea under its security treaty with Japan and reinforced a treaty commitment to the Philippines. Washington takes no side in the maritime disputes but insists that they must be resolved peacefully.
China has dangerously increased tensions in the South China Sea by deploying an oil rig for the first time in a disputed area claimed by Vietnam. The move is certain to make countries in the region feel even more threatened by China’s expansionist territorial claims. The rig, belonging to a state-owned oil company, was parked in waters off the Paracel Islands on May 2. After Vietnam objected, China dispatched 80 ships to the area; Hanoi responded by sending 35 ships to obstruct the rig’s operations.

The situation escalated on Wednesday, when Vietnam accused China of ramming and using water cannons on several Vietnamese ships. On Thursday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official accused the Vietnamese of ramming Chinese vessels 171 times in a four-day period and argued that China’s use of water cannons showed maximum restraint and was justified because the drilling was in “China’s inherent territory.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/10/opinion/trouble-in-the-south-china-sea.html?_r=0

[quadrature]

1. could a certain Nobel-Peace-Prize winner ...

(who shall remain nameless)
do more here?

[okaawhatever]

2. China's nine dash line is a giant red flashing sign that they plan on taking over the entire S China

Sea. It remains to be seen if they will back down in the face war/combat with Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and S Korea among others. China wants to keep all those countries from unifying against it. They claim the negotiations should be bilateral. Sure, so big China can bully Brunei or Vietnam individually. Like a multi-national corp that doesn't want their workers to unionize so they'll have power. Good luck with that China.