COMPETING claims to the South China Sea and its hundreds of reefs and islands have for decades been a source of tension in the region. The latest spat erupted on Aug 23 when Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and fired a water cannon at a Philippine resupply mission to a remote outpost in the disputed
Isn’t it pretty much that the waters are good for fishing and it’s an important trade route, but china refuses to obey international law, and claims the entire sea as their territorial waters because in direct violation of a UN resolution (or the like)? So the US (and other nations) routinely conduct Freedom of Navigation exercises through the region, which pisses of china because they can’t stand it when other countries stand up to them?