The article tries to present itself as a balanced, international, impartial viewpoint, but this sentence drew me up short: “According to the comparison of remote sensing images, Vietnam has initiated a new round of large-scale reclamation on its illegally occupied Spratly features since October 2021.” The raccoon-dog is having trouble hiding its tail….
I don’t believe China and Vietnam will become hostile over the Spratly Islands. The surprise is to see Vietnam challenge China at all.
China has two goals; in response to the American blockade, to “contain China”, China built aircraft carriers, established Belt & Road and expanded their Navy. To China, the Spratly Islands are an unsinkable aircraft carrier.
Then both China and Vietnam know there are resources, maybe oil and gas, or fish.
All of China’s goals can be met through negotiations with Vietnam.
I think Vietnam’s construction aims at getting a more favorable arrangement with China.
Very smart of the Vietnamese. The Philippines should learn from Vietnam!
Just finalise the Code of Conduct and get on with life!
The article tries to present itself as a balanced, international, impartial viewpoint, but this sentence drew me up short: “According to the comparison of remote sensing images, Vietnam has initiated a new round of large-scale reclamation on its illegally occupied Spratly features since October 2021.” The raccoon-dog is having trouble hiding its tail….
This is fascinating!
I don’t believe China and Vietnam will become hostile over the Spratly Islands. The surprise is to see Vietnam challenge China at all.
China has two goals; in response to the American blockade, to “contain China”, China built aircraft carriers, established Belt & Road and expanded their Navy. To China, the Spratly Islands are an unsinkable aircraft carrier.
Then both China and Vietnam know there are resources, maybe oil and gas, or fish.
All of China’s goals can be met through negotiations with Vietnam.
I think Vietnam’s construction aims at getting a more favorable arrangement with China.
Watch this interaction. It will be interesting.
I’m still waiting for the howls of opprobrium from the usual grab bag of western moralising.