The persistence of dredging, along with construction and militarization on China's artificial islands, underscore Beijing's unwillingness to exercise self-restraint and look for diplomatic paths to reduce tensions, on the eve of President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States, Beijing appears to be sending a message to President Barack Obama that China is determined to advance its interests in the South China Sea even if doing so results in heightened tensions with the United States.

Bonnie Glaser

Categorized in : Industrials

Chinese jets flew across the center line frequently in 1999, since then, there have been occasions when PRC jets flew toward the center line and then veered off. They haven't crossed it in a long time. By some accounts 20 years.

I think that there's still enormous uncertainty about what the outcome of these negotiations will be.

I think the Chinese are hoping that political and economic factors will converge to convince the Trump administration to lower the bar somewhat so that China can meet some of the requirements.

If tensions ratchet up between the United States and North Korea, then China will end up in the middle, being seen as working closely with the country which is the problem, not giving up its nuclear weapons.

The fact this issue is back on the table suggests Xi Jinping may have raised it with Kim, and that Kim is carrying Xi's water.

The North Koreans have still said nothing to indicate that they are willing to give up their nuclear weapons, not to mention permanently and verifiably dismantle their nuclear programs, we have no clarity about Kim's intentions.

It's hard to see how this (meeting) is really going to help his p... by Bonnie Glaser

It's hard to see how this (meeting) is really going to help his party remain in power.

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There is less public support for forging economic cooperation agreements with the mainland, than there was when Ma Ying-jeou came to power, it's hard to see how this (meeting) is really going to help his party remain in power.

Of course, an aggressive operator could fail to implement them and cause an accident. There is no consequence outlined in the agreement for violating its terms.

I know the U.S. does not want that outcome. Nobody wants to give the Chinese a new no-go zone and an effective territorial sea they are not entitled to.