China's South China Sea Claim Line--What's the Deal with That?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-dotted_line

So, I'm sure you've all heard about this on the news at some point, but basically, China has laid claim to a massive u-shaped chunk of the South China Sea on the basis that these areas were originally explored by Chinese navigators (can't comment on that given Chinese history isn't something I've read up much on), which--if we were to apply this standard to the whole world--would mean Spain and Portugal would have territorial waters extending over most of the Atlantic.

Anyway, my question is: how far do you think China will press this? Is it all just bluster? Will they just force Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines into a military pact, a kind of NATO for Southeast Asia?

Maybe out of sheer symbolism, it's time to lift the military restrictions off of Japan and start providing military aid to Mongolia?

Originally posted by Darth Jello
Maybe out of sheer symbolism, it's time to lift the military restrictions off of Japan and start providing military aid to Mongolia?

My take is that this won't (for the foreseeable future) intensify much so long as China remains committed to peaceful expansion. What I can see happening is China pressuring the other nations one-by-one to sign Unequal Treaties that would give China economic dominion over the claim zone while nominally respecting the sovereignty of said nations over their territorial waters.

Omega Vision, China has a habit of making some claims concerning history and science that are a bit out there. Not as bad North Korea, however.

But what you said about Spain and Portugal puts this posturing in perspective: it is a bit odd for them to be making these claims.

It's like the Argentinian claim on the Falklands--it vaporizes as soon as you inspect it and assess it on the basis of international law.

Would a South-East Asian NATO (SETO?) be powerful enough for China to care about? I think Malaysia could make a case to the UN given that the border actually touches their coastline.

China's South China Sea

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Would a South-East Asian NATO (SETO?) be powerful enough for China to care about? I think Malaysia could make a case to the UN given that the border actually touches their coastline.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21137144

So, it appears the Philippines is trying to take this to a UN Court. I doubt China will play along, but if they do the Tribunal will certainly strike down this irridentist nonsense.

There'll be a few skirmishes here and there but China actually getting any major portion of the South China Sea in the foreseeable future is unlikely. It's not like the border disputes it has had with its neighbors wherein against an unprepped opponent(India) it managed to snatch off considerable chunks of land.

The Chinese military establishment simply isn't ready yet for naval warfare of any sort(barring Somalian piracy), especially not with american allies like Japan and Taiwan.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
My take is that this won't (for the foreseeable future) intensify much so long as China remains committed to peaceful expansion. What I can see happening is China pressuring the other nations one-by-one to sign Unequal Treaties that would give China economic dominion over the claim zone while nominally respecting the sovereignty of said nations over their territorial waters.

I laughed my ass off when Mercenaries 2 came out and it portrayed the Chinese military moving a massive army across two oceans to invade Venezuela.

"which are believed to sit on vast mineral resources, including oil."

What the West needs to do is pull a Daniel Plainview and drink their milkshake from just beyond their imaginary U-shaped border before the Chinese even begin drilling.

Originally posted by Robtard
"which are believed to sit on vast mineral resources, including oil."

What the West needs to do is pull a Daniel Plainview and drink their milkshake from just beyond their imaginary U-shaped border before the Chinese even begin drilling.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
irridentist

Damn it, I misspelled it.

Let them have it

Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
Let them have it

Stand of for something once in your life, worm.

YouTube video

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Would a South-East Asian NATO (SETO?) be powerful enough for China to care about? I think Malaysia could make a case to the UN given that the border actually touches their coastline.

ASEAN exists and doesn't have a security component because the members have a bunch of territorial disputes amongst themselves.

Originally posted by Darth Jello
Maybe out of sheer symbolism, it's time to lift the military restrictions off of Japan and start providing military aid to Mongolia?

Japan isn't barred from having a military by anything other than its own constitution, which Japanese people don't want to amend.

ermm

Originally posted by Tzeentch._
ermm