South China Sea Strategies for other nations (Not China)

Zetageist said:

I have been looking at this map. Depending how you draw the EEZ line (angle) between Philippines and Malaysia, it seems like there is only one Chinese occupied - Mischief Reef located within Philippines' EEZ.

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Here's what everyone claims, so besides from Malaysia everyone else is reaching pretty far into the Spratlys and into the SCS.

Quon_Duixote said:

...if a merchant comes to your door to trade goods while aspiring to lord over your house, wife and children, will you remain impotent just because he is selling you perfumes?

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That's pretty much what the US has been doing for decades. Double standards?

joshuatree said:

That's pretty much what the US has been doing for decades. Double standards?

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You speak as if there's something wrong with double standards in international affairs, when in reality they're the tribute vice pays virtue. The bottom line is it's great if you could get away with it.

A good article on what the US should do.

balance said:

A good article on what the US should do.

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This related article by the same author, referred to in the article you posted, is also sound advice. I agree with the suggestions of better ways the US can handle the present day situation but think the historical analogy is a stretch.

janjak desalin said:

Regarding his last sentence, "America’s most important interest today, like Britain’s then, is keeping the peace rather than starting a war", it would be interesting for him to rationalize his construction, America. For some, who might call themselves Americans, it seems that the profits generated by war, either in fact, or in their interpretations, are in their best interests.

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What are you trying to imply? Kindly be clear.

janjak desalin said:

Regarding his last sentence, "America’s most important interest today, like Britain’s then, is keeping the peace rather than starting a war", it would be interesting for him to rationalize his construction, America. For some, who might call themselves Americans, it seems that the profits generated by war, either in fact, or in their interpretations, are in their best interests.

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I was simply going to delete this comment because it is...whether you intended it that way or not...flame bait.

As it is, I will take a moment and address it.

Of course, you realize, that there are factions in virtually every country on earth about which your comments could be said.

That does not mean it is reflective of the whole country, or of their government.

The real paramount problem come in when it becomes the standing policy of the nation a whole and as reflected by their government...with the support of the population.

That does happen...but generally when it does, the other nations of the world band together and put a stop to it...either through open warfare, or by economic or other means.

That said, such a discussion here is not applicable to the SCS, and it is certainly off topic and verging on violation of SD rules...so let's let that be the end of it.

Vietnam's bilateral negotiation with China on Gulf of Tokin territorial boundries shows Beijing's willingness to deal fairly with a smaller neighbor. No one should be surprised China takes pragmatic views in border negotiations, as it do so in 12 of 14 land disputes with its neighbors, but that doesn't fit with the usual narrative of China being an incorrigible bully, so the Western press ignores it.



The article is very long, but the conclusion is worth highlighting:

The Gulf of Tonkin agreements, and in particular the maritime delimitation agreement, also deserve more scholarly attention. Thusfar, it is mainly Chinese and Vietnamese scholars who have studied the agreements. Given that the maritime delimitation agreement is China’s first and thus far only agreement, it is all the more important that international scholars study the case to get a better understanding of China’s state practice in dealing with maritime disputes. Furthermore, to study the China-Vietnam approach to managing disputes would also generate a deeper understanding of China’s practice in dispute resolution.

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