China Warns Outside Nations to Stay Out of Sea Dispute

The South China Sea serves as a crucial link between the Pacific and Indian oceans in a region rich with trade. Territorial disputes over the sea, particularly its potential oil and gas reserves, are common. The US has urged a collective solution among China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, reports Chris Buckley for Reuters. Vietnam proposed that including the US and other nations in talks could help ease tensions, but China shot that idea down: The Chinese military issued a statement opposing “meddling” and “internationalization” of the dispute, Buckley reports. China prefers one-on-one negotiations, apparently concerned about other nations ganging up against the nation in multilateral talks. China’s assertive claims over the waters could agitate its neighbors and encourage militaries to make greater use of the South China Sea in order to protect their claims. – YaleGlobal