US South China Sea policy bifurcates under Trump

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
Us South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Personal Approach ◽  
Trump Administration

Subject Significance Comments by US President Donald Trump and members of his administration indicate that US policy in the South China Sea will be unpredictable and potentially destabilising. Impacts Trump's personal approach will likely contain a mix of aggressive posturing and unexpected concessions. If cabinet officials exert a moderating influence, the administration will develop a bifurcated approach to China. Beijing will try hard to keep relations on an even keel. Provocative US actions would quickly alter Asian states’ perceptions that Chinese assertiveness is the primary driver of regional tensions. The South China Sea is a non-negotiable 'core interest' for Beijing, even if the Trump administration tries to link it to trade issues.

US South China Sea patrols have complex aims

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
Us South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Freedom Of Navigation

Subject US 'freedom of navigation' patrols in the South China Sea. Significance The US navy plans next month to carry out a second 'Freedom of Navigation' (FoN) patrol near Chinese artificial islands in the South China Sea, according to US officials, following the first patrol by the USS Lassen in the disputed Spratly Islands in October. These FoN patrols bring key legal aspects of the South China Sea dispute to a head, placing pressure on China's carefully honed position of ambiguity. Impacts Future patrols within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef will affirm that artificial islands cannot generate territorial seas. China's management of public opinion on foreign policy issues under President Xi Jinping will be tested. Washington will attempt to minimise the impact of its FoN patrols on China-US relations.

scholarly journals Actinomadura craniellae sp. nov., isolated from a marine sponge in the South China Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1207-1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Li ◽  
Qi-hang Xu ◽  
Xiao-tian Wang ◽  
Hou-wen Lin ◽  
Yan-hua Lu
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Marine Sponge ◽  
Type Species ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Diaminopimelic Acid ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Link Type

A novel marine actinomycete, designated LHW63021T, was isolated from a marine sponge, genus Craniella, collected in the South China Sea. A polyphasic approach was applied to characterize the taxonomic position of this strain. The strain was found to have scarce aerial mycelia that differentiated into spore chains. The cell-wall hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. Glucose, galactose, mannose and madurose were found in the whole-cell hydrolysates. The dominant polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol and diphosphatidylglycerol. MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) were the predominant menaquinones. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C18 : 0, 10-methyl C17 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω9c. The DNA G+C content based on the draft genome sequence was 72.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain LHW63021T was a member of the genus Actinomadura and had the highest similarity to Actinomadura echinospora DSM 43163T (97.3 %). Phylogenetic trees supported their close relationship. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between the whole genome sequences of strain LHW63021T and A. echinospora DSM 43163T were 79.13 and 23.20 %, respectively. The evidence from the polyphasic study shows that strain LHW63021T represents a novel species of the genus Actinomadura , for which the name Actinomadura craniellae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LHW63021T (=DSM 106125T=CCTCC AA 2018015T).

US-China sea disputes will draw in allies

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
China Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Military Engagement

Significance Increased anxiety over Chinese land reclamation in the South China Sea, particularly its construction of an airstrip and harbour on Fiery Cross Reef, is drawing considerable attention to US policy in the region where US allies have been pressing for greater involvement. Impacts Regional and US rhetoric on Chinese reclamation may provoke an increased demonstration of US military engagement in the region. However, the size and scale of these activities will be highly dependent on the pace and character of Chinese activities. This issue is likely to be featured conspicuously by Carter at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore. It will almost certainly raise difficulties during Chinese President Xi Jinping's September visit to Washington. Given Hillary Clinton's previous statements, pursuing a 'tough' China policy may become a prominent theme of her presidential bid.

Nuclear weapons complicate South China Sea disputes

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Hainan Island ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea

Significance However, China's navy already has an operational sea-based nuclear deterrent based on Hainan Island. The deployment of nuclear-armed submarines, and their need to reach the mid-Pacific to threaten the continental United States, makes the South China Sea an arena not just of maritime disputes but of US-China military rivalry. Impacts The strategic importance of the Philippines, Taiwan and Singapore to the United States will increase. A new defence agreement with the Philippines will, as of last month, support US military activities in the area. Washington will encourage greater Japanese involvement in the South China Sea; as long as Shinzo Abe is prime minister, Japan will oblige.

Japan-Malaysia defence ties may estrange Beijing

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Strategic Partnership ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea

Subject The outlook for deepening defence links between Japan and Malaysia. Significance Chinese Politburo member Yu Zhengsheng warned visiting Japanese lawmakers on June 29 that the South China Sea maritime disputes have "nothing to do with Japan". This comes amid new developments in South-east Asian governments' efforts to strengthen security cooperation with Japan. Among them is the agreement between Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on May 25 to elevate bilateral ties to the level of 'Strategic Partnership'. This reflects Malaysia's growing concern over China's actions in the South China Sea, which are increasingly expanding southwards, affecting Malaysian-claimed territorial waters. Malaysian officials on June 9 announced a complaint to China over a Chinese coast guard vessel near Luconia Shoals. Impacts The Philippines's armed forces are less powerful than Malaysia's, implying more scope to develop Japan-Philippines defence ties. Vietnam, and perhaps Indonesia, may be the next ASEAN countries to seek deeper defence ties with Japan. Malaysian criticism of China over the South China Sea could see a more assertive ASEAN over disputed maritime claims.

US tensions drive China closer to ASEAN

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Maritime Security ◽  
Security Cooperation ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea

Subject ASEAN-China security cooperation. Significance China-ASEAN security cooperation has moderated the assertiveness Beijing displayed in the South China Sea during the first half of this year. In October, China and the ASEAN states held their first ever joint naval exercise. Impacts The verbal statements on regional maritime security cooperation will increasingly be followed by concrete actions. Negotiations over a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea will advance slowly and contentiously. China-Philippines joint energy explorations in the South China Sea will remain hamstrung by Philippine constitutional conditions.

China-US rivalry in South China Sea is muted for now

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea

Subject The South China Sea dispute. Significance China and the United States increased their military activities in the South China Sea in January and February, with US ‘freedom of navigation operations’ (FONOPs) pushing back on Chinese maritime jurisdictional claims in the area. The Philippines before June 2016 contested China’s expansive claims. Increased rivalry between Beijing and Washington in South-east Asia raises the risk of a dangerous naval confrontation. Impacts The Philippines will continue to solicit investment from China. China is unlikely to undertake actions in the South China Sea that would seriously irk the Philippines. South-east Asian countries will emphasise the importance of the region not becoming a theatre for China-US rivalry.

ASEAN summit will make little progress except on trade

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
The United States ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
Regional Trade ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Trade Sanctions

Significance South-east Asian leaders will discuss the South China Sea dispute, the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and regional trade. ASEAN’s eight dialogue partners, including the United States and China, will be present at the talks. Impacts An eventual Code of Conduct for the South China Sea is likely to include an air code recently agreed by ASEAN defence ministers. Myanmar could face EU trade sanctions over the Rohingya crisis. ASEAN is likely to boost cooperation over counterterrorism, cybersecurity and climate change.

Sea dispute endangers friendly China-Malaysia ties

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
International Law ◽  
South China ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China Sea ◽  
China Coast

Subject The maritime dispute between China and Malaysia in the South China Sea. Significance The inaugural 'One Belt and One Road China-Malaysia Business Dialogue' took place on July 15. 'One Belt and One Road' is the cooperative infrastructure investment initiative that the Xi Jinping administration presents as its signature foreign policy initiative. Yet for many in the region it has been overshadowed by Beijing's maritime assertiveness. Even China's normally cordial relations with Malaysia are now under threat from tensions at sea, where China Coast Guard ships at a disputed reef have prompted a low-key but serious standoff. Impacts Relations between Beijing and Kuala Lumpur will face their first serious test since the early 1990s. China is likely to claim Luconia Breakers as its southernmost territory under international law. Opposition politicians in Malaysia will put pressure on the Najib administration to resist China's actions. ASEAN will be more proactive in the South China Sea disputes under Malaysia's chairmanship.

Russian-Chinese naval collaboration has limits

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
The South ◽  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Foreign Partner ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Territorial Claims

Subject Russian-Chinese naval cooperation. Significance When Chinese and Russian naval vessels came together for joint exercises last month, international worries about the wargames' location in the South China Sea were heightened by the simulated capture of islands, given Beijing's broad territorial claims to waters in the region. Impacts While Moscow may sympathise with Beijing on the South China Sea dispute, it will avoid angering other states. Military cooperation reflects a shared anti-US stance but little commonality on regional security. China sees the Russian navy as its most important foreign partner.

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