Nine Ironies of the South China Sea Dispute

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James Kraska, The Diplomat: The Nine Ironies of the South China Sea Mess

China’s policies in the region have created a dangerous mess, and an ironic one.

Since 2009, when China asked the secretary-general of the United Nations to circulate its nine-dashed line claim to the community of nations, the world has stood in bewilderment at Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines have the most to lose over China’s gambit, and the disparity in power between them and China leaves them confounded and stunned – and privately, apoplectic. China’s policies have created a dangerous mess in the South China Sea. The irony is palpably bitter on nine distinct levels. Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines hold the key to the best chance to fix the mess.

WNU Editor: Welcome to the world of diplomacy. What may be a very sound and thoughtful position one day .... could be the opposite the next day. The South China Sea dispute is certainly mirroring many of these contradictions ... and this is probably one more reason on maybe why the U.S. should tread very carefully on this mess.