AP Explains: The International Significance of China's Territorial Disputes
China’s pressure on Taiwan and disputed waters could disrupt trade routes and draw U.S. and regional forces into a wider confrontation, analysts said.
- Taiwan and the South China Sea remain central to U.S. foreign policy, with tensions involving China dominating recent headlines. Hunter S. Marston, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, said the two are "very much connected" strategically.
- Despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's claims, China asserts sovereignty over much of the South China Sea and claims Taiwan as its own territory. Confrontations involving Chinese, Philippine and Vietnamese vessels have become more frequent in recent years.
- The Center for Strategic and International Studies warned that "a conflict could cause major disruptions to the flow of trade." Trump previously described arms sales to Taiwan as a "very good negotiating chip" with China, comments that stirred anxieties on the island.
- Military repositioning is underway: the USS George Washington is leaving the Pacific to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, temporarily leaving the region without a U.S. aircraft carrier as the Trump administration shifts focus toward the Western Hemisphere.
- Conflict over Taiwan or the South China Sea could force regional governments to choose sides. Marston noted that nearly 1 million citizens of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations would potentially require evacuation if war erupts in the region.
18 Articles
18 Articles
The Economic Times
Times of IndiaWhy Taiwan and the South China Sea are two sides of the same strategic coin
Taiwan and the South China Sea hold significant global trade importance. China claims Taiwan and asserts sovereignty over the South China Sea. Tensions with China persist over these disputed maritime regions. The United States maintains unofficial relations and arms sales with Taiwan. Preventing Chinese regional hegemony remains a primary US interest.
Associated Press News
Why Taiwan and the South China Sea matter to the US and the world
U.S. Sen. Darline Graham faced criticism for saying national security was “not my thing” during a debate about Taiwan and the South China Sea.
When Senator Darline Graham had difficulty responding in a debate if the United States has a national security interest in Taiwan and the South China Sea, she was criticized for saying that national security “is not my thing.”
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