South China Sea and Geopolitics of Islands
On 22 July, the Chinese press reported
that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is carrying out ten days of
manoeuvres in the waters off the eastern island of Hainan in the South
China Sea. China’s Maritime Safety Administration has stated that during
the exercises, «no vessel is allowed to enter the designated maritime
areas».
that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is carrying out ten days of
manoeuvres in the waters off the eastern island of Hainan in the South
China Sea. China’s Maritime Safety Administration has stated that during
the exercises, «no vessel is allowed to enter the designated maritime
areas».
Commenting
on the event, Xu Liping, an expert on Southeast Asian affairs at the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that China is carrying out the
training exercises legitimately within its territory and they have
«nothing to do with the tension in the South China Sea... It is a normal
exercise of sovereignty. China wants to modernise its navy to make sure
it has the capability to protect its islands and waterway».
on the event, Xu Liping, an expert on Southeast Asian affairs at the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that China is carrying out the
training exercises legitimately within its territory and they have
«nothing to do with the tension in the South China Sea... It is a normal
exercise of sovereignty. China wants to modernise its navy to make sure
it has the capability to protect its islands and waterway».
Shortly
before the exercises, meanwhile, the new commander of the US Pacific
Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, carried out a seven-hour surveillance flight
over the South China Sea. On Monday 20 July, China’s Ministry of
Defence expressed its opposition to America’s frequent surveillance missions
that it believes are too close to China’s borders and seriously
undermining Sino-US trust. The old debate about who owns the region’s
islands has become a hot topic in numerous political publications once
more, especially in the US.
before the exercises, meanwhile, the new commander of the US Pacific
Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, carried out a seven-hour surveillance flight
over the South China Sea. On Monday 20 July, China’s Ministry of
Defence expressed its opposition to America’s frequent surveillance missions
that it believes are too close to China’s borders and seriously
undermining Sino-US trust. The old debate about who owns the region’s
islands has become a hot topic in numerous political publications once
more, especially in the US.
