Tensions over the South China Sea escalate
China, Vietnam and the Philippines plan to drill for oil in the contested waters Tensions over the South China Sea escalated sharply this week as Vietnam and the Philippines, tacitly backed by the US, made further aggressive moves to assert their claims against those of China in the disputed waters.Despite the growing potential for conflict, Democrat Senator Jim Webb, head of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia, called for an even tougher American line. He introduced a bill on Monday condemning the use of force by naval and maritime security vessels from China in the South China Sea. The bill stated its support for the continuation of operations by the United States Armed Forces to assert and defend freedom of navigation rights in international waters and air space in the South China Sea.Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on the same day, Webb stated: I think we in our government have taken too weak of a position on this. He cited Secretary of State Hillary Clintons statements last year on the US return to Asia approvingly, but added: Were going to back up those words with substantive action. It doesnt mean, you know, military confrontation per se, ...
Read more