China: South China Sea Tensions and Other News

Econintersect:  A spat between China and Vietnam over energy rights in the South China Sea intensified as Vietnam’s biggest company called on China to scrap its plans to develop areas near the Vietnamese shore. Vietnam has specific protests China’s plan to invite foreign oil bids in a disputed area in the South China Sea, adding to tensions in the region.  According to the BBC, China’s CNOOC oil company (NYSE:CEO) announced that nine offshore blocks were open to foreign bids this year.  Vietnam maintains the oil fields are deep within their exclusive economic zone.  This is a continuation of ongoing marine territorial disputes in the South China Sea.  GEI News has reported previously on disputes between China and the Philippines.  Pictured is a Chinese Nayv ship.

Other countries have been making efforts to smooth maritime claim conflicts in the South China Sea.  The latest is the U.S. which said this week it saw progress in talks between China and Southeast Asia countries to establish a code of conduct for the disputed sea area.

The map below clearly demonstrates that China’s territorial claims significantly overlap the 200 mile limits of other countries bordering on the South China Sea.

John Lounsbury

Sources:

• Vietnam, China Spar Over Oil Plans (Wayne Ma and James Hookaway, The Wall Street Journal, 27 June 2012)

• Vietnam decries Chinese oil bid (BBC News Asia, 27 June 2012)

• India Intercedes in China, Philippine Spat (GEI News, 12 May 2012)

• US sees momentum on South China Sea code (Shaun Tandon, APF News on Yahoo, 28 June 2012)

Other News Highlights for China

EU seeks WTO help in China row – bbc.co.uk

The European Union asks the World Trade Organisation to arbitrate in a row about China’s export restrictions on its “rare earth” minerals.  Continue Reading On bbc.co.uk »

Clashes in southern China town – bbc.co.uk

Clashes erupt between hundreds of local people and migrant workers in a town in the Chinese province of Guangdong, police and reports say.  Continue Reading On bbc.co.uk »

To Improve Kids’ Chinese, Families Move to Asia – online.wsj.com

With China’s rising global influence, a growing group of Westerners are going to great lengths to give their kids a leg up in Mandarin.  Continue Reading On online.wsj.com »

Chinese vice premier meets U.S.-China Business Council delegation – english.cntv.cn

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called on U.S. business circles to promote bilateral trade and economic cooperation between China and the United States.  Continue Reading On english.cntv.cn »

New York Times to launch Chinese news website – yahoo.com.sg

The New York Times said Wednesday it was launching a Chinese-language news website to deliver “high-quality coverage of world affairs, business and culture” to readers in China.  Continue Reading On yahoo.com.sg »

China in $10bn Latin America loan – bbc.co.uk

China offers to set up a $10bn (£6.4bn) credit line for Latin America countries to support infrastructure projects in the region.  Continue Reading On bbc.co.uk »

China punishes abortion officials – bbc.co.uk

An official is sacked and others punished over the case of a woman forced to have a late-term abortion, Chinese state-run media report.  Continue Reading On bbc.co.uk »

Mom Cites Pressure in One-Child Saga – online.wsj.com

A woman at the center of a firestorm over China’s one-child policy said she was being kept in the hospital against her will and that her husband has disappeared.  Continue Reading On online.wsj.com »

China forced abortion family cites more woes – http://edition.cnn.com

The family members of a Chinese woman forced to abort her pregnancy at a late stage say they are being harassed by local officials despite an investigation into the case by the authorities.  Continue Reading On http://edition.cnn.com »

China Province Backtracks on Housing – online.wsj.com

China’s central Henan province appears to have beaten a hasty retreat on a proposal to ease housing-market curbs, illustrating continued tensions between Beijing and local governments over property policies.   Continue Reading On online.wsj.com »