US and its allies must be wary of provoking South China Sea conflict over freedom of navigation

For China, the disputed waters are a historically vulnerable underbelly that must be turned into a natural shield for its national security

Beijing feels politically and militarily cornered, and the presence of American allies’ navies in US-led operations will only exacerbate that feeling

Mark J. Valencia

Published: 3:15am, 1 Jan, 2021

Updated: 4:50am, 1 Jan, 2021

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Mark J. Valencia

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Dr Mark J. Valencia is an internationally known maritime policy analyst, political commentator and consultant focused on Asia. He is the author or editor of some 15 books and more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles. Currently he is adjunct senior scholar at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

US and its allies must be wary of provoking South China Sea conflict over freedom of navigation

For China, the disputed waters are a historically vulnerable underbelly that must be turned into a natural shield for its national security Beijing feels politically and militarily cornered, and the presence of American allies’ navies in US-led operations will only exacerbate that feeling

For China, the disputed waters are a historically vulnerable underbelly that must be turned into a natural shield for its national security

Beijing feels politically and militarily cornered, and the presence of American allies’ navies in US-led operations will only exacerbate that feeling