My Take | Claims by US over central Pacific now rival those of Beijing in South China Sea
- Washington’s new pacts with three island states will establish a second island chain of attack as a complete sphere of influence in breach of international law and its own interpretation of freedom of navigation
If you are interested in world politics, the geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific, China and the United States, what’s the most enlightening source you have come across recently?
I know, the title doesn’t invite enthusiasm, but this two-month-old, one-hour and 40-minute clip has been viewed more than 7,100 times on YouTube, so those in the know recognise its importance. In fact, it has enormous implications for the US-China rivalry in the Pacific that we are rarely, if ever, told about.
If you think you know Washington’s real positions on such matters as exclusive economic zones (EEZs), freedom of navigation (FON) in open or international waters, and territorial waters - all being definitions crucial to what we are told about China’s expansionism in the South and East China seas - you really should watch this clip.
These tiny islands have been routinely ignored for decades until China supposedly started spreading its influence in the region, for example, by making the security deal with the Solomon Islands.
