Beyond Taiwan: Where is the South China Sea dispute headed? | News Desk

The South China Sea has long been a source of territorial disputes between several Asian countries. DW takes a look at who owns what, and why the contested waterway is so strategically important. An escalation in the conflict over territory in the South China Sea could have global consequences, given that more than $5 trillion (4.25 trillion euros) in traded goods and a third of all maritime traffic worldwide passes through its waters each year. And its floor is believed to contain massive, mostly untapped reserves of oil and natural gas. The sea covers about 3,500,000 square kilometers (1,400,000 square miles) and is a main route connecting Pacific and Indian Ocean ports.
If China secures more territorial control in the region, it could potentially disrupt shipments to other countries, as well as secure huge oil and gas reserves, thus easing its reliance on the narrow Strait of Malacca for its energy needs. It could also potentially deny access to foreign military forces, such as the United States. The US has maintained that the South China Sea is international water, and that sovereignty in the area should be determined by the UNCLOS. Washington has been critical of China's island constructions, and from time to time sends military ships and planes near disputed areas as part of so-called "freedom of navigation" operations. These actions are seen as attempts to reassure allies in the region, such as the Philippines, and to ensure access to key shipping and air routes remain open.
Chapters for the show:
00:00 Countdown
10:22 Intro
15:15 South China Sea - where does the name come from
19:00 Taiwan and economic importance of South China Sea
30:00 What's the "nine dash line"?
39:14 US Naval Military intelligence expert
1:17:08 User Question about the "Heavenly Mandate"
1:23:11 Who else has interests in the South China Sea with China Analyst
1:47:50 India's competing interests with China
1:59:25 Japan's interest in all of this
2:02:51 Conclusion
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#NewsDesk #SouthChinaSea #IndoPacific

[Keely Johnson]

Thanks for keeping everyone safe and offering your service to each other and also stopping the backlog that was happening. They kept having that conflict only because of the military deal getting broken in places in days of old when people kept making false confessions. Now we're trying to work on building the new facilities and where people would like to put them together

[Cristina Martinez]

Llo

[Johnny's cafe]

Safe from what ?

[Keely Johnson]

@Johnny's cafe having 36 million dollars of mine seems like it would be a threat if I had done it to you

[Keely Johnson]

@Johnny's cafe the stretch marks on my stomach subject to them trying to convince me their guns say I wasn't raped and extorted all day everyday so the psychological warfare of people pimping you out and laughing they can't understand why you would cry about that

[Jetman 33]

It's not just about the U S A interests in the South China Sea, It's about the Chinese complying with international laws of the sea regarding the 12 mile limit and the 50 mile limit. More than that infringes on the rights of most of the Southeast Asia nations and all of the nations of the world if they unilaterally change the laws.

[VFXGANGSTA]

the us doesnt comply. the us didn't sign up for the law of the sea.

[Nola]

@VFXGANGSTA Yeah, you are correct, we didn't sign up for it but I think we were appointed by default.

[P Ngai]

@VFXGANGSTA correct. people don't speak of the faults but pointing fingers. two standards. .

[FluffinMcPuffin !]

59:46 I don’t doubt Nuclear Submarines can and may carry nuclear weapons but what was being mentioned was Nuclear Submarines meaning nuclear powered submarines. What was being emphasized was the ability for the submarine to run for an extended period of time through nuclear power as opposed to diesel powered subs hence the Nuclear Submarine Force has a bit of an advantage when it comes to it’s fuel source.

[Vikas Verma]

Why not call them nuclear powered/fueled submarines?

[FluffinMcPuffin !]

@Vikas Verma Might as well call a Nuclear weapon a nuclear powered weapon in that case. It’s already designated a submarine so adding the word powered is kind of unnecessary.

[dxelson]

@FluffinMcPuffin ! nuclear capable nuclear submarines haha

[ˈkaZHo͞oəstrē]

Thanks dw for being a source of clarity and perspective for us Americans and others all over the world

[unnamedness]

Only Americans

[greenjungle]

Why do I hear the word "basically" and "kind of" being used repeatedly by some of you guys?It sounds more like amateurs to me.

[unnamedness]

@greenjungle because its not the truth. so they use these words

[Ocean Breeze]

I think Australia’s position is extremely important in the US-China conflict. Hope your program will talk about it.

[Ocean Breeze]

@Wait and See As an allied power who fought alongside the US in WW2, Australia has every right to do so. The Indonesian military is currently holding a joint military exercise with the US military as we speak, seems like Indonesia is also ganging up to counter PRC’s rise and aggression towards smaller countries in the region.

[Yi long]

Lol Australia is nothing, they followed America in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan all lost

[Rajat Saklani]

Well ... I think Australia is not a threat to China. It is just a pawn tbh. It's might is too insignificant when compared to US or China.

[Mocking Birdie AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN KAMEKTOK]

For centuries the South China Sea was known by navigators throughout Asia as the Champa Sea, named for a great empire that controlled all of central Vietnam, from the northern border of today's Quang Binh Province to roughly the southern border of Binh Thuan Province.

[Smeagle]

I keep thinking about the Gulf of Mexico myself. There make more than a few countries a bit upset too.

[Blake46]

Champa have been assimilated into Vietnam and also Hainan Island, China.

[Jeffry Griffith]

A true shame that the program had to be so rushed as we neared the two hour mark. There was so much more to talk about and to further our depth in to. The pre-organization of the program is obvious considering the talent that you brought into the production. But with this said, a much larger time allowence is needed to give each one of these extremely knowledgeable professionals a respectable amount of time to share their deep insights with us. Seriously, three hours would have been more appropriate. Maybe next time. Thank you :)

[Andrew Mah]

What about the American Military destroying the Okinawan Coral reef by their Building of Military Bases or Philippines Subic Bay ! 😈☠️☠️😈

[Andrew Mah]

The Island of Langkawi is on the western coast of Malacca Straits and is full of Pirates ! Ask Danish World biggest shipping Line!

[Israel Amor]

The West Philippine Sea isn't the entire South China Sea. Only parts of the EEZ including the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

[Little Wing Jhendrix]

And Japan don't call it that either. DW is spreading untruths.

[mr omadz chonky]

so u know its yours legally! why u didn’t enforce if someone inside your backyard or eez? 😅 i know u have sea capability to enfore but u scared period 😅

[Blake46]

EEZ is 200 miles. Easy to see on a map and can’t be disputed. Also EEZ is not sovereignty, 12 miles territorial waters is sovereignty.

[Tadeusz Mierzęcki]

Pamiętam jak NRD kwestionowały polski tor wodny wyjścia ze Świnoujścia to było gdy był Układ Warszawski . Obecne Niemcy też mają niezdrowe roszczenia co wolno Polsce. Dlatego chce mieć amerykańską bazę wojskową na polskiej części Wyspy Uznam.

[Justinian]

China is not expanding to South China Sea for nothing, they targetting the Strait of Malacca which is the most important shipping route in the world especially for China shipping to the west. China is really strong, but they are really bad in geography. But if China decided to declare war on Malaysia, it will be a bad mistakes while Malaysia is Commonwealth Nation. I don't believe China will, but anything can happen.

[Jaime A. Talens]

correct and well-said

[李隆]

向馬來西亞宣戰？為什麼？搶香蕉吃嗎？還是橡膠樹？可以肯定的是，在非必要的情況下，中國不會主動向東南亞國家宣戰。當然，除非你們國家找上門來

[Janie K Carney]

Australia is important to America. We cover each other’s backs. We respect Australia. They are our partners.

[Blake46]

Australia claims Antarctica. Just as ludicrous as China’s nine dash line?

[Bernard Doalongbong]

This program is just a very timely and good informative source regarding China's hegemonic behaviour in Indo-Pacific region. Thanks! ❤️👍👍👍👍

[L Ching]

Versus the US hegemonic behavior all around the world?

[John Liang]

Yes, how do you explain away the US and UK behaviour in Diego Garcia. Their behaviour in the Gulf region.

[Ian Shing]

a conflict over the south china sea would not just be between the u.s and china. china would go up against not only America but all of America’s nato and regional allies as well as all the claimants that it has disputes with. That is a disadvantage which China simply will not be able to overcome

[john koh]

Against NATO and the imperial Japanese?? Make my days!!!

[Ian Young]

Actually Australia also conducts freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, not just the US. Great show

[Samsung Tap]

What business is it of yours Aussie, none, you came to my country to make war, we only let you live because we like koala and kangaroo, very cute

[Ian Young]

@Samsung Tap I was just stating fact. But while we're at it those waters aren't your country.

[Ken Nguyen]

Ok u ytiu uy😅

[Ken Nguyen]

@Samsung Tap không không

[Mike McCarthy]

There’s a principle in US real estate law called “adverse possession” that describes well the approach the US has taken: by transiting international waters, especially open waters that nations have attempted to close off by asserting erroneous claims and engaging in visible & notorious use, while threatening other nations’ vessels not to enter (12-miles) or not to poach resources (200-miles). If your neighbor encroaches on a portion of your lot, eg, by “creative” fencing, grading, landscaping in an open & notorious way and you do not take steps to formally object in the way set out in the law for the required period (eg, 20 years), your neighbor can then obtain a court finding that they lawfully acquired ownership by adverse possession. Going back to the US Navy’s open seas program, they are about a prophylactic practice of challenging purportedly-false claims with the UN oversight agency SOLELY to prevent the potentially-offending nation from being able to argue a phony coastal rights claim. So the Navy is not building facts to support US claims, it is establishing & filing facts that international bodies can use to help decide coastal neighbors’ disputes. Furthermore, the sea access disputes, other than simple international waters access, are not between China & the US; they’re between China & its coastal neighbors.

[PhantomOfManyTopics]

Mile is not even metric. The only trurh in the world is might for right.

[Hunga Bastah de Luxe]

That has less than nothing to do with UNCLOS and international law, or are you making a joke?

[Robert Davie]

I broadly agree with you. The countries asserting their sovereignty claims are all from Asia. It is simply nonsensical for anyone to argue that the territorial issues in the SCS is simply about the US and China

[Latino Travel's]

So a nautica mile is no part of the metric system, Really ?😂😂😂

[Arthur Riaf]

I've been in the semiconductor industry for 40 years and have first-hand experiences in Taiwan 🇹🇼 ,with the China 🇨🇳 "problem". I've worked in Taiwan 🇹🇼 for months and traveled there for years. I've traveled north to south and been in almost every semiconductor fabs built between 1987 and 2008 or so. I've installed capital equipment in fabs in Taiwan 🇹🇼, world leaders in chip manufacturing. I've been in the country when China 🇨🇳 was lobing missiles into the oceans just north of the island. I've seen the election cycle and learned much about the locals' thoughts. I've talked to my coworkers and business associates about many subjects. We've discussed how China 🇨🇳 is viewed by the Taiwanese. The population has changed its mind about how to view China's current political and environmental issues. At this moment, Taiwan favors freedom and rejects Xi and the ccp. Xi has become rabid and has bitten the hands that have fed and nurtured the people of China. Both have prospered, but Xi wants more for his glory. A true communist With much in his head, he wants to stay on top or die trying. It's tricky now. Time is short for Xi and even the entire ccp. The past 3 years have tossed a wrench 🔧 into the Chinese nations' gearbox. Things aren't going as planned. With falling economic prospects, high unemployment, Everglades and Saber rattling a foot. Trying times seem ahead. 😕 art ‼️ 🎨

[Anchan Ewing]

Thank you so much for the great show!!!

[Napoleonicus]

I grew up in the Philippines and this might be a result of American-based educational system, but I've always learned it as South China Sea.

[EL Ry]

You grew up in the Philippines yet you missed when Pilipinos start calling it West philippine sea? Home schooled?

[PrismPyre]

it is an absurdly false claim to say that China has the 'world's largest navy'-- he specifically meant shallow water navy not ocean but he intentionally didn't say that because he wanted to make it sound scarier

[JColdery]

He's not wrong. Mind you, he didn't say anything about whether it's world-class, nor did he say that they could even float.

[N.C]

@JColdery china's navy not only ' can float' fine. It is actually made up of far newer ships than in the US navy and in greater numbers.

[JColdery]

​@N.C Militaries don't work that way. The Afghan military had a lot of new equipment while the Taliban had street clothes and soviet-surplus AKs. Russia was also much better equipped than Ukraine when they started the latest Russo-Ukrainian war. In other words, organizational factors play an outsized role in the effectiveness of militaries. Russian soldiers stripping the copper from the inside of tanks or their superiors embellishing reports for promotions are going to affect your combat effectiveness despite the use of "new" equipment. Same goes with logistics. Corruption/command structures have as much a part in determining combat effectiveness as the equipment you use. What people have seen in the latest conflict is: in the Russian military, if you report victory on the battlefield, you are seen as effective general, while admitting to defeat has a detrimental effect. As a result, a culture of "reporting up" developed in the command structure. Not good for obvious reasons but, if you don't do it, everyone else is. So, you end up with a bunch of abandoned tanks because your platoon commanders misreported fuel statistics to seem more competent. It also does not help that the Russian military has a rather centralized command structure. Ironically enough, China enlists a similarly "meritocratic-based" system in their political system which I presume may have taken root in their military. Sounds good on paper but has significant problems in practice. If you write your own report card, why would you make yourself look bad?

[N.C]

@JColdery not sure what post you are replying to!

[N.C]

@JColdery but just to humor you. just one question for you. Who writes the field report of the US military on the battlefield??

[Steve Shen]

No one mentioned that fact that the 11 dash lines were not drawn by the Chinese Communist government, but the former Chinese Nationalist government, which is the big ally to the USA then. Therefore before the Communist took over China, every major country had no dispute and even published maps supporting the 11 (later 9) line dash line. Another factor is when China took those islands back from Japanese occupation, All the surrounding countries were just colonies of USA, France, Britain and Dutch. All the colonial governments recognized China's taking back those islands from Japan's occupation.

[D. Walsh]

These streams will be valuable to historians. They will observe in a real-time format the changing economic, political, military, and social space. As an American (narcissistic of course,) I suspect they will see the American pivot to China and the subsequent American pivot away from China and back to North America. This neo-isolationism will be a substantial word-wide reality.

[G. Steel]

What has been missed is that all this started back in the '70s Xina trying to occupy both Vietnam and Philippine gas oil and fishing grounds in that area. US failed to intervene when it could have with little or no cost but did not.

[李隆]

在期望得到別人幫助的同時，先看看自己有什麼能給予的。美國駐軍考慮一下？

[C T]

Go Taiwan!

[Zenroles]

8:20 Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Philippines start calling it West Philippine Sea just after the tensions in disputes rose in the last decade? Before that, I remember they recognized it as South China Sea.

[Francis Santos]

Preferential names of that geographical area is irrelevant to the issues. It doesn't imply ownership just by its preferred name.

[ex0duzz]

It does. Otherwise Phillipines wouldn't have changed their official name recently, and we wouldn't even be having this discussion to begin with.

[Francis Santos]

@ex0duzz Preferential names imply ownership? Lmao. Chinatown? Dead Sea? Rotfl. Indian Ocean? Gulf of Mexico? Lol. Get outa here, buddy.

[Minnie-2021]

Well said James Fanell, Naval Intelligence Specialist!

[Mark Rcca]

I agree that it is important to maintain the international access to those waters. However I don't agree that it needs to be an American project. Countries in the area have a lot more stake in protecting the international status of these waters. It should not be a US Navy that does this. It should be a combined fleet of all affected countries in the region, and US can be a participant in that combined Navy if that still makes sense. It is incredibly frustrating when news commentators present problems in those maritime regions as a "US failure", without even mentioning all the countries that are actually in the region and are actually far more affected by the changing geopolitics than the U.S. is. If there are individual countries that should be held responsible for allowing China to take over those maritime regions - then start with Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia; then South Korea, Japan, and even India. Certainly, each of these countries individually are not strong enough to take on China; but if they are not willing to band together to defend their collective interests - the failure is theirs, not someone else's!

[Hunga Bastah de Luxe]

You're right,

[Jen Choi]

So they more easily eat Taiwan. 😁

[Mark Rcca]

@Jen Choi that's up to Taiwan's neighbors, how easily Taiwan gets eaten. They can make it a lot more difficult for China to take control of Taiwan; or they can make it easier. As an American, I don't mind helping Taiwan, they're a democratic country and all. But I don't want to carry the sole or primary responsibility of keeping China away from Taiwan.

[okami]

@Mark Rcca If the US helps Taiwan, it will not benefit the American people. On the contrary, it will only waste my tax money. The US is only against letting China acquire technology, which I don't think we ordinary people should support

[Eligio Brosas]

❤ 🇵🇭🙏 thank u for d clarification / discussion of SCS. The west Phil sea is own by Phils. We call on all nation to rally in following the UNCLOS decision. God Bless all that follows the rule of law.

[Blake46]

The West Philippines Seas is international waters and doesn’t belong to China or the Philippines. 1982 UNCLOS agreement allows 12 miles territorial waters and 200 miles EEZ but EEZ isn’t sovereignty.

[FK Procrastinatus]

China has the sovereignty to it, philippines only eez. Eez

[Bobby mainz]

Every day we have a new problem. It's the new normal. At first we thought it was a crisis, now we know it's a new normal and we have to adapt. 2023 will be a year of severe economic pain all over the nation.. what steps can we take to generate more income during quantitative adjustment?I can't afford my hard-earned $180,000 savings to turn to dust

[o'neil jerry]

Me too. I thought about investing in the financial market, I heard that people make millions if you know the tricks of the trade, but I lack good knowledge and a strategy to outperform the market and generate good yields. I have $160,000 but it's hard to bite the bullet and do it. Money is hard to come by

[alex young]

@o'neil jerry Avoid too-good-to-be-true scam schemes. Seek advice from a fiduciary counsellor they provide personalized advice to individuals based on their risk appetite, placing them among the best of the best. There are bad ones, but some with good track records can be very good.

[Zahair O'Brian]

@alex young Absolutely, Fiduciary-counselors have exclusive information and data paths that are not disclosed to the public.. I've made north of $260k in raw profits from just Q3 of 2022 under the guidance of my Fiduciary-counselor “HEATHER ANN CHRISTENSEN”. Am I selling? Absolutely not.. I am going to sit back and observe how this all plays out.

[Ruth spense]

@Zahair O'Brian How can I count with Heather, what are her services, is she verifiable, do you think she can help me, I live in Canada?

[Zahair O'Brian]

@Ruth spense HEATHER ANN CHRISTENSEN covers things like investing, insurance, making sure retirement is well funded, going over tax benefits, ways to have a volatility buffer for investment risk. many things like that. Just take a look at her full name on the internet. She is well known so it shouldn't be hard to find her.

[Steve Mraz]

So they are interviewing a US intelligence person when it comes to China-US conflicts, and an Indian scholar when it comes to India-China conflicts. Very "unbiased" perspective!! Good job!!

[J Damian Abel, RN]

Xi Jinping was too busy micromanaging COVID crisis 🤣☠️😴

[Rogelio Cariño]

China Sea is just a name given to identify the place. But it doesn't mean that the place is owned by China because if that is the case wherein the rightful owner is the the one whereby the place derived its name, then India can claim ownership of the Indian Ocean. In the case of Taiwan, they departed mainland China because they cannot swallow the system of government that is governed by a single party the Communist party which is contrary to the ideology that they have been used to. As human beings, they have the right to choose what system of society they want as long as they are not violating other race or people's rights.

[Mike Hunt]

To be honest I think most countries and serious people think of Taiwan as a country they just can't come out and say it if they want to keep good trade relations etc with China......

[Mike Hunt]

@Wait and See exactly! That's what I'm saying that's the only way this is going to get better just like everybody should not have been so reliant on Russian fuel and the rest of the world's pointing this out while we're making the same mistake with Chinese products

[Riidher]

Since China has to import all of its oil basically from the Persian Gulf the best route to bring it to China is through the South China Sea. I believe China wants to secure the route

[Bernard Zsikla]

Against who?? 😉

[Lor Philip]

This is a great platform to inform and build understanding. But why wasn't the panel including people in the region, especially Chinese historians from Kinmen-Taiwan (my ancestrial land), people who live there and who have interest to see peace in the region. There is too much misunderstanding and ignorance of the region(even from the comments here) and American provocation by its military pivot to the east is messing it further. My ancestral place has always been a part of China.

[Fore Kevin]

Several points you didn't know: 1.TAIWAN's formal name is 'Republic of China' in its constitution while CHINA's formal name is 'the People's Republic of China(PRC)'. 2.TAIWAN once was the Permanent Five of the UN Security Council before 1972, taking CHINA's place with US's support. 3.TAIWAN took all the gold and wealth of hundreds of CHINESE Emperors in 1949 to fund its economy, leaving the poor majority people starving in the mainland. 4.Both TAIWAN and CHINA called Tainwan a province of CHINA and it had a province leader by election before 2004. So what's the role of US here around China?

[Wensheng Zheng]

Please call it East Vietnam sea and West Philippines sea. Because Vietnam and Philippines have the longest coast line.

[suburbia1950]

Nuclear submarines do not mean "Nuclear Weapons" as the pundit misunderstood. Nuclear submarines = a conventional missile platform that can linger for longer and with greater chances of being undected deep inside the conflict zone.

[Codename : Catatonic]

Serviced aboard USS Indendence CV-62. China fired missles over our heads several times in the Strait of Taiwan. 1994-1998

[Blake46]

The Hague also ruled that the UK removing the citizens from Diego Garcia in 1968 to establish a naval base was illegal but the UK choose to ignore the ruling. Also Australia claims nearly half of Antarctica which is just as ludicrous as China’s 9 dash line.

[Brandon Hernandez]

West Philippine sea is fitting Edit: south East Asian sea is much better as someone pointed out in a response

[Pogo]

I'd just go with the South East Asian Sea as that's pretty much what it is.

[Brandon Hernandez]

@Pogo that’s much better

[Hang Tuah]

Are you trying to change history? The Philippines should be renamed Lapdog Island or Master dog.

[Pogo]

@Hang Tuah The guy who named the Philippines never left, something about catching a spear.

[Hang Tuah]

@Pogo No that is the new name from me, Lapdog Island.

[Sky King]

Your map of the S China Sea was counterintuitive. You really should depict waterways in color Blue; land should be depicted in Brown & Green.

[Joseph Donais]

South China Sea or Indo Pacific, this is about the nature of language. In this case, both are correct. No one has license to say otherwise but through the lens of bias when it has been accepted for so long by so many.

[Laskowitz]

China calls itself a “near Arctic” country even though it is nowhere near the Arctic so it is only fair that ANY country can call itself a “near Pacific” country regardless if it is in the pacific or not

[jhun durwin]

In broad sense of argument is that, referred to as the Indo- Pacific war. It goes with the conflict now underlying the SCS- Median line-ECS straits towards the open sea of the Pacific which all nations has the rights to protect. It is likened to a subdivision of nations whereby the strait in conflict is the water right of way, not exclusive to China which arises the stupidity of Xi Jingpin.

[Didmasela]

Europe considers Israel a european country and even invites Israel to participate in the annual Eurovision song contest.🤔🤔🤔🤔

[Bernard Zsikla]

@Didmasela I didn't realize that entering the eurovision song contest was preliminary requirement for entering the EU. Thanks for clarifying that point.

[Jeffry Griffith]

@Bernard Zsikla haha, lol

[Daryl's Builds]

That is why in the pacific, naval forces are heavily armed, if you look at sokor and japan they have aegis destroyers with japan being bmd capable, there is no american hegemony

[MetaView7]

The freeedom of navigation patrols are provocative according to who? Bejing and its lackies?

[鍾琴的『山河論壇』]

Try freedom navigation patrols off the American coasts!

[MrNixity]

Can’t compare, the South China Sea has always been an international trading waterway and is more geographically just off the coast of Vietnam, not China. Also historically it was the people of the kingdom of champa who controlled these seas for well over a thousand years not the lying Chinese.

[abcd def]

Most countries actually

[Keely Johnson]

3319, if we had the hyperloop thing going underground we wouldn't have had to wreck the whole island and if we had my facilities going it would just like look like a mound with the hempcrete or lava outside. Helicopter pads are so much easier.

[Snake Handler]

"Peace is better for business" -- Kudos to the American who kept a straight face

[Bob Mathieson]

Japan / South Korea / the Philippines / and possibly Malaysia and Vietnam all will have a stake in the game. That is on top of Taiwan's capabilities and Western Powers. Too much to gamble on. A series of natural disasters will intervene prior to any military action anyway. Mark my words.

[Hunga Bastah de Luxe]

Why Japan and South Korea? Do they have claims there?

[Minh Nguyen]

Japan and South Korea and Australia have no claim on the South China Sea. Major player in this dispute are Vietnam, Philippine China and other South East Asian countries

[謝元]

The Taiwan government (Republic of China) claims the 11 dash line. Mainland China (People's republic of China) claims the 9 dash line since a long time. The discussion could be more complete with inputs from PRC perspective.

[Bern Minada]

china can think of more dash lines jumping to the moon, but definitely, it's not going to be that easy it involves other nations' exclusive economic zones, and China without checking on them everything they do is problematic. we got to get rid of china one way or the other if this persists.

[Steve Lam]

South China Sea should be renamed to ASEAN sea which removes territorial ambiguity.

[摩訶伯爵]

The sea to the south of China is originally called the South China Sea. ASEAN was established in 1967

[JellO]

@摩訶伯爵 It was named South China Sea ambiguously by a Brazilian colonial explorer, he wrote it on a map and that's what it's been called since. There is no other historical linkage other than what the magical stories the Chinese create in their heads.

[Aim Med]

​@摩訶伯爵 It was the Champa Sea and Sea of Malaya pre 14th century.

[JP Soriano]

Dear DW News (and all other media), please start putting the label "West Philippine Sea" in that area. Because not the entire area is South China Sea. Labeling areas as "China" only puts ground for Chinese claims. E.g. if you put a China label in the Pacific or eben Atlantic, definitely it would be claimed by China citing ancient trade routes and empires.

[Hardlook]

What country bounds the "South China Sea" the most? (i.e. What country has the longest defining line enclosing the SCS?).

[Stephen Bishop]

Vietnam

[FK Procrastinatus]

Vietnam claims 20 islands in the south china sea while Philippines only claims 7

[Kendall Kahl]

It should have been named the North Borneo Sea, or the West Philippine Sea, maybe the Easr Vietnamese sea. Unfortunately calling it the South China Sea sure makes it sound like it belongs to China.

[tao tan]

When China was fishing and sailing in the South China Sea, the Filipinos were still primitive tribes, unable to get out of the sea at all, and the Philippines was not eligible for naming rights

[Amen Brother]

Isn't the Chinese investment in Sri Lanka really just a means to a naval base for 99 years? The profit is military and geo-political power projection.

[simple j]

Singapore, Indonesia the american navy place to block sea route from indian ocean. Sri lanka, Cambodia may be chinese place to control the narrow sea passage.

[Conall General]

And what was the basis for the Hong Kong colony ?

[Jaime Bana-ay]

@simple j let also Cambodia be in debt trap by china like sri Lanka

[djinndjinn]

China does not own the port. China only holds less than 10% of the country's debt. The bulk 47% is held by West. Educate yourself. Stop believing every next fool bc that makes you yes, an even bigger fool😁

[simple j]

@djinndjinn Thanks for telling american own singapore indonesia ports

[Richie Heins]

If Chinese think themselves to be something ; when themselves are nothing; they deceived themselves.

[Zephon]

Imagine relying on countries like Myanmar and North Korea for back up. LMAO

[Hang Tuah]

In case you are not aware both countries are sovereign countries and sit on the United Nation.

[Athini]

North Korea has nuclear weapons if you didn't know.

[Hang Tuah]

@Athini Yes, they will hide behind the coward skirt of the Disunited States crying mummy help me everytime the DPRK launched a test missile. This the extent of their bravery.

[Rome Escabillas]

We are the ground zero of western south seas, and we are the pioneers of standing against china, although the Philippines will be the fore front in fighting china, I just hope that NATO alliance will look at us and help us.

[Janie K Carney]

Thank you for this programming.

[Rubedo]

Just imagine India claiming Indian Ocean that's what it feels like when china claims the entirety of sea

[Keely Johnson]

3702, I thought we wouldn't have to do any additional damage if we made giant cylindrical tanks and then connected them with those lava rings. We could add more coral reefs automatically. Just put it right there for the spores to attach to and then we could have an enjoyable ride

[HL65536]

Should be called: Sea to the South of West Taiwan.

[傅万丰]

I like how she says it "I don't want to be bias toward the US" good job lady 🐇

[Keely Johnson]

1434 well, it was really heartbreaking to me because there was a huge percentage of people that didn't even want to hear about it, even direct contacts and it was because of that whole marched into jail or the slaughter pipeline

[sholo-marc stone]

After WWII the allies gave back control of various islands in SCS from Japan to China, and to date Taiwan still maintains military posts on those self sustainable islands, fresh water green farmland livestock etc. DW should stop rocking the boat. Taiwan is still in charge in SCS.

[juan Dela cruz]

FYI Guys the REDS are inside the Phils already buliding hundreds of Indusrial Cities all over Luzon North and South. Once we had TREMOR here a couple of months ago, thousands of REDS went out in the streets of Metro Manila coming out from Condos ang high rise bldg, they even had communication towers inside a Military Base and was allowed to compete in the Telecom business which is eaves dropping and observing the countrys security level... HELP!

[Rome Escabillas]

I've seen this before and we more updated details on this, and made me more even more furious about this.

[Thypoon Haricane]

I recognized taiwan as due to the semi conductor micro chips. And their electrical producce are better than of china.

[Eric]

The crazy part is Japan has their own triad.

[Lorenzky]

It's just cleared that they want the oil deposit in our exclusive economic zone.. bullying our fisherman in our own territory... Philippines

[Itchie Dimacali]

"Our EEZ"? 6 countries are claiming that same EEZ not only the Philippines. The problem arises by the formation of UNCLOS and EEZ. No Unclos, No EEZ, No problems.

[Netizense]

@Itchie Dimacali YOu clearly don't understand the meaning of EEZ. Perhaps you are talking about South China Sea itself which is the one being claimed by many countries.

[Blake46]

@Itchie Dimacali EEZ is not hard to figure out. Just draw ✍️ 200 miles from your territory. But an EEZ is not sovereignty, only 12 miles is territorial waters. South China Seas is mostly international waters.

[FK Procrastinatus]

China has the sovereignty to it, philippines only eez. Eez

[ronald hobbs]

Very interesting and quality program. On the Origin of South China Sea , is not that clear. It was Mar de Chine, Meaning a very broad term for Asia or oriential. There were not even clear or accurate maps for the regions as we would view it today, so , yes Britian , for good or bad standardized this, no offense or disagreement intended ,thats just how it unfolded many years following Portugese exploration.

[Ab Jo]

Do you see the possibility China driving a Russian breakup an the possible return of former Chinese provinces taken by Russia after WW I and II. This may temporarily relax US Chinese Taiwan conflict if the US supported such an effort?

[mr omadz chonky]

china main goal to revive the empire belt and road initiative…to lead the east and prepare for west someday and that’s the reason how important this south china sea and asia sea.

[darv011]

My understanding is that Taiwan is not a country in the UN charter. Therefore it is not a separate country, and not only has it never been a separate country in history, it has never seriously tried to be considered a separate country or have its definition in the UN charter changed.

[ST. 01]

So true

[Henry Rambeau]

US is the reason why they are allowed to produce those high end semi conductors in with the US has helped. Taiwan has become a good producer of lotta different things and a democratic form of government know China wants to take over because of a lot of different things but they were not doing too much it first Chyna kind of ignored them a little bit but now all of a sudden they think that they take over Taiwan they take over the semiconductors, so to speak in United States doesn’t want that neither does Taiwan

[Josefwintzent Libot]

SEA Sea (Southeast Asia Sea)

[Cyclopse]

The Sea of 🇯🇵 belongs to 🇯🇵, the 🇮🇳 Ocean belongs to 🇮🇳, the 🇹🇼 strait belongs to 🇹🇼 but 🇨🇳 regularly sends its ships to these places to harass 🇯🇵🇮🇳🇹🇼. 🇺🇸 is just giving 🇨🇳 a well deserved dose of its own medicine

[Minh Huu Nguyen]

Historically, China belongs to Taiwan so China must be named West Taiwan.

[Bernard Zsikla]

@Minh Huu Nguyen 🤣🤣🤣

[elmohead]

​@Minh Huu Nguyenhistorically, Vietnam belongs to France so why not call it France?

[Alan]

The start of this story is, dispressingly off the mark 😳

[Keely Johnson]

140 52 yeah they unlocked the money when everyone was in debt but they didn't know how to hear through each other on the other good side. It was sad. It's true They they just need their new assignment. I was trying to explain that in defense what we need is protecting all of our food sources because we had all of those same Chase you in or out

[Chaos Joerg]

You didn't really explain why western countries refuse today to acknowledge Taiwan as a country *today*. I think you didn't even go over the common arguments in spite of talking about it so long. Also I think by now there are enough videos out there that cover the US activities that block out the Chinese of the Pacific. As a confused bystandar I'd like to learn more about the situation but feel like I'm listening to professional reporters who are less informed than an average person you can find online these days.

[Angeles Cepeda]

There was no such as 9 dashline of china before. Countries ends 200 miles from its soil rims.

[Joemensa]

It’s hard to imagine the Chinese resorting to military action against the U.S. over Taiwan where the U.S. is China’s single largest trading partner who with or without its ally’s could cripple the Chinese economy by simply banning Chinese imports. In addition it could block mid Pacific shipping to and from China whose navy, unlike the US navy, is not designed or prepared to fight wars such distances from its shores.

[Aniya]

America needs to complete the submarine sale to Australia.

[Lin Mal]

And hurry up, too !

[David Dunkelheit]

What about the pirates down in the Spratleys? Those are pretty tough to dislodge.

[Hugo Sevilla]

I often wonder, if China adheres, as it claims, to the ONE CHINA policy, shouldn’t Taiwan challenge the Chinese Communist Party on the premise that if it’s one China policy, maybe the communist leaders and the Taiwanese leaders can agree to submit to the will of the people by asking them whom do they want them to lead them, the CCC of the Democratic Republic of Taiwan political leaders.

[Kapamilya Talks]

not to argue and not that difficult question to answer. UN Arbitral already award that you called weird South China Sea to the Philippines already. And it is clearly legal from the UN itself.

[James Ruggeri]

i think it's disingenuous to blame the US government officials for any escalations just because they're making visits and holding talks. That's something all nations should be allowed and willing to do, Taiwan is not China. Taiwan doesn't want to be part of China. They don't get to bully everyone and just take it, blaming peaceful people for the actions of bullys is victim shaming and should be condemned. China does not get to dictate the free passage of political envoys in other nations.

[Amanda Z]

more precisely, Republic of China (Taiwan's official name given by Taiwan ruling government, not PRC) is not People's republic of CHina (the China people usually talk about on social media, which is not precise and a bit misleading..). Yes ROC doesnt want to be part of PRC, but the US went along with it years ago, without being forced by anyone, that there's only one legitinmate Chinese government in the world,the PRC. Don't get me wrong , i support people in ROC to rule themselves, but I dont think it can be simply put as China is bullying ROC and just take it.and tbh even 20-30 years ago, ROC wanted to take mainland China (ruled by PRC) and reunite the entire China themselves

[J j]

How about the Shanghai mandates signed n approved by Nixen in the 70's. Go to read them before you say Taiwan in not China!😡😡😡

[Blake46]

It’s a civil war. Both the PRC and the ROC claim the same territory Tibet, mainland China and the South China Seas. Complicating things are the separatists in Taiwan who don’t care for Chinese rule whether its the PRC or ROC.

[Carson Ho]

Do you even know the historical background of the Republic of China? Do yourself a favor and education yourself on the Chinese Civil War between 1927-1949 before making clearly ignorant comments. Focus on on the the result and the ending, then your eyes maybe be a bit more open.

[Keely Johnson]

Every time they say aircraft carrier. Every parent that's lost a child wants to attack in self-defense

[A R]

Well seeing as how Australia, South Korea, Japan and Phillipines all believe in freedom and capitalism, I don’t think they will be too happy about a superpower making unprovoked, unilateral threats to invade other free countries. And I understand China has been proclaiming that Taiwan belongs to them, but when the Chinese communist party took over China in their civil war, they never took over Taiwan. Taiwan was able to resist and keep their wealth and standard of life and freedom. Taiwan has never been communist. Had China dealt differently with Hong Kong, maybe Taiwan would join them but in my humble opinion China made a mistake in Hong Kong. I love the culture and people of China just like I do america but I believe it’s also okay to admit mistakes, whether it’s an American or Chinese president making them.

[djinndjinn]

Taiwan IS part of China. This is recognised by the US govt itself since 1972. Taiwan holds two islands within child's swimming distance of the coast of Fujian. These are direct leftover from unfinished business of the civil war. Taiwan also historically claimed the entire mainland as part of ROC including Mongolia as well as an 11 dash line SCS (not 9 the PRC are claiming). It continues to occupy Itu Aba in SCS and also claims the disputed Senkakus/Diaoyu which US allowed Japan to illegally Nationalised Get facts. Get a better news source too.😁

[Keely Johnson]

15057, yeah that was basically who we were supposed to make. Happy is all the remote areas because that's how we would keep the main lens happiest

[Forester3006]

Taiwan needs to declare independance now. The longer this goes on the harder it will be to resist China. China doesnt have any capability to invade for at least 5-10 years, so Taiwan needs to significantly increase defences and be far more aggressive towards China.

[M How?]

@Aqua Chen Chen is a typical Chinese. Just do IT.

[Benedict Lawagan]

Also former supreme court justice in his of old maps of china said that south china sea is nt part of china.hainan being the southermost province of china.

[Muhammad Rizwan]

The South China Sea is important for China for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is a major shipping route through which a significant portion of global trade passes. Control over the South China Sea would allow China to exert greater influence over global trade and potentially disrupt the movement of goods. Additionally, there are significant oil and natural gas reserves in the area, which would provide China with a valuable source of energy. The sea is also a rich fishing ground, providing a vital source of food for China's population. Finally, there are also significant strategic military advantages to controlling the South China Sea, including the ability to project power and defend China's southern flank. Moreover, china wants to kick the USA from its regional area in order to maintain his sovereignty so it's very important to tackle USA by this way of by any way,

[P Ngai]

yes, one must considered the national interest and provide the citizens a secured and comfortable living for generations.

[Nazim Rasool]

Nice video 👍

[Margy Rowland]

You’re going to have a very cold winter in Germany al because your country reneged on the Minsk Agreement to which it was a signatory.

[Junie Gella]

South China Sea is not own by China as far as international sea boundary is concerned.. the 200 miles exclusive economic zone must be applied to several asian countries such as Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia... China wanted to claim south china sea to restrict foreign countries passing the area and to dominate the jurisdiction of the area such as oil exploration abd military base to justify its territorial expansion and eventually Taiwan is the first step of such expansion...

[Latino Travel's]

Bot

[Keely Johnson]

11727 yes, that's why we were trying to get it all cleared up at once so that we wouldn't be wrecking into that. I'll go rhythmic happening of pronouns that was wrecking overall communication being trapped in little or courts that weren't paying attention to bigger courts and so forth. Yep, but the important thing for the people to understand is that each country for real had it set up to protect the next country and state and so forth. So as long as you keep that pattern in your family's that's how you stay safe and you keep keep repeating. How can you help this guy without bugging this guy?

[Andrew Leak]

Hopefully they will get the job done

[Peter Hanssens]

The Chinese economy is in dire straits, and the Taiwan question is a convenient distraction for the domestic market. Xi Jinping must look strong, and his new team is in for a rough ride. Unemployment among young people in China is as high as 20%, and provincial Treasuries are in dire shape. China can't afford to strike Taiwan now as they don't have the technological economics of scale to do any intervention. Reports have indicated that 2027 is the earliest that China could move on Taiwan, and even then, the crossing of the strait would be very problematic as Taiwan could be by then, 2027, a strong porcupine.

[Thypoon Haricane]

Most of that spratly group of island is under the Philippine eez within the 200 nautical miles from the shorelines.

[ASEAN]

How could they never mention China's trade interests!! By far most of the shipping in the South China Sea is related to the Chinese trades. The SCS has relatively very little US shipping, and the US gets the biggest benefits geopoliticall by destabilising the SCS. The BRI also, and its investments on roads and ports in the Indian Ocean is because of its oil imports from the Middle East as well as its European trades. It is a security need when Indians are talking about choking off Chinese trades.

[Keely Johnson]

14420 we had been doing. If you could take care of the animal good enough to help each other go on vacation to check on. Everybody is fine and being good. That's why I didn't understand them being upset with social workers wherever until the two perpetrators ran the targeted scam and then it wasn't actually just two of them

[mark myers]

This IS some Great Journalism avoiding the Trap of mere sensationalism as fully permeates our American MSM !!

[djinndjinn]

Indonesia is also NOT a US ally. Indonesia is firmly engaged in RCEP with China. recently they just jointly opened the Bandung to Jakarta High Speed Rail line, something US does not even have. Indonesia is in fact upset with the formation of AUKUS as butting in on SE Asian affairs

[edifier107]

Indonesian people does not see the big picture that the threat of territorial ambitions comes from China. Anti-Americanism sentiment is high there. However, the Indonesian government sees this threat better and thus have interests that align more with the US.