China's conundrum in South China Sea

The more China presses its claim to the vital waterway, the more it alienates claimant states and others, opening the way for the US to strengthen its presence in the region – precisely what Beijing does not want.

China Correspondent

Updated

Published

August 2, 2021 at 5:00 AM

Power Play is a weekly column that looks at various facets of US-China rivalry and its implications for Asia.

One of the few places open only to tourists from China are the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

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