New fault lines in the South China Sea

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-260214.html



New fault lines in the South China Sea
By Richard Javad Heydarian
Feb 26, '14

MANILA - After a months-long failed attempt to revive diplomatic channels with China's leadership, Philippine President Benigno Aquino upped the ante in their simmering territorial conflict by likening China to Nazi Germany.

To the surprise of many analysts who expected Manila to focus this year on improving strained bilateral ties with Beijing, Aquino argued in an exclusive interview this month with the New York Times that China's increasing territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea is comparable to Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland in 1938.

Aquino has sought greater international support, particularly from the United States, for his country's claims in the contested waters, a dispute it has submitted to the Hague for international arbitration. Aquino warned in the interview that appeasing Beijing on the issue could ultimately lead to a new world war.

"At what point do you say: 'Enough is enough'? Well, the world has to say it," Aquino said, prodding its allies for more active strategic support. "Remember that the Sudetenland was given in an attempt to appease Hitler to prevent World War II," he said.