Everything you need to know about the South China Sea conflict – in under five minutes

[Kablooie]

China’s claim to the South China Sea is based in history, dating back to records from the Xia and Han dynasties.
...
The United States contends that the South China Sea is international water, and sovereignty in the area should be determined by the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).
...
Control of the South China Sea would allow China to dominate a major trade route through which most of its imported oil flows. It would also allow China to disrupt, or threaten to disrupt, trade shipments to all countries in East and Southeast Asia — as well as deny access to foreign military forces, particularly the United States.
…

The United States will use its aircraft and naval vessels to assert freedom of navigation in the region, as demonstrated by the recent passage of the USS Fort Worth combat ship and the flight, by a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft, over the Chinese construction at Fiery Reef.
…

The dispute between the United States and China is likely to escalate to some degree. U.S. Pacific Command planners are preparing to sail and fly within 12 nautical miles of areas that China claims as sovereign territory.
…

The stakes are high for both sides, as is the risk of a miscalculation. The United States is marshaling major allies in the region to take a role, in the hope that the combined weight of U.S., Japanese and Australian forces will give China pause.

I hadn't heard of this until yesterday. I have some friends in the Philippines who are becoming nervous because there is a lot of saber rattling and the surrounding seas are now filled with military ships from the US, China, Australia, India and Russia has just sent ships in on China's side. It's sounding pretty intense.

MORE:
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/06/09/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-south-china-sea-conflict-in-under-five-minutes/

[TwilightGardener]

1. Our mistake was in publicly declaring a big showdown recently. China can build whatever it wants on

its fake islands, and declare whatever it wants in terms of access. The rest of the world, particularly the US and Pacific allies, should just ignore it and simply send ships/planes through like we did when China tried to declare a new ADIZ in 2013. Showdowns are counterproductive, if none of the parties can stand to lose face.