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SCMP Reporters

1. What are the sticking points in Malaysia-Singapore relations?
The neighbours share a great deal of culture but have had disagreements over their air space and maritime boundaries. Learn more

2. How do China and India's militaries stack up against each other?
China’s annual defence budget of US$261 billion is more than triple India’s US$71 billion. But China’s war chest might not be enough to inflict a knockout blow. Learn more

3. What sparked the China-India border standoff in 2020?
While troops from both sides have pulled back from the Pangong Tso glacial lake, friction remains and the dispute is far from settled. Learn more: #1, #2

4. Why does the US send ships to patrol the South China Sea?
Beijing claims most of the strategically important sea; the US says naval patrols are necessary to safeguard 'freedom of navigation'. Learn more

5. Will the US and China clash in the South China Sea?
The disputed waters have become a flashpoint for the intensifying US-China rivalry, raising concerns about the potential for a military clash. European countries, such as France, have also shown a growing interest in the Indo-Pacific and are planning to work with Quad nations. Learn more: #1, #2, #3

6. What are rival claimants building on islands and reefs in the South China Sea?
China, Vietnam and the Philippines occupy the most features in the contested waters, and many of their claims overlap. Learn more

7. Are the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands Chinese or Japanese?
The island chain in the East China Sea is made up of five islets and three barren rocks. It is claimed by mainland China, which calls them the Diaoyus, Taiwan, which refers to them as the Diaoyutai, and Japan, which calls them the Senkakus. Learn more

8. What territorial disputes is China involved in?
Mainland China has territorial disputes with India, Japan, Taiwan and various Southeast Asian countries in the South China Sea. Learn more

9. Are the Kurils Japanese or Russian?
Called the Kurils by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan, the islands are at the heart of a feud that has prevented Russia and Japan signing a formal World War II peace treaty. Learn more

10. How may Joe Biden change the status quo between China and Taiwan?
Joe Biden is expected to walk a fine line that offers support to Taipei but does not antagonise Beijing. Learn more

11. Why are Beijing-Taipei tensions rising?
Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party is sceptical of closer ties with mainland China; Beijing fears this could encourage pro-independence sentiment. Learn more



India proposes reopening government bidding to Chinese firms as ties thaw

Chinese main battle tank, upgraded for high altitudes, could be sent to border with India

China denies harassing Indian woman born in disputed border region over ‘invalid’ passport

Can China and India turn tactical calm into strategic moderation?

China-India border dispute

11 things you may not know about Asia’s territorial disputes

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: EPA

Indian army vehicles move along a highway leading to Ladakh. Photo: APA

The USS Ronald Reagan had previously conducted operations in the South China Sea in July and August. Photo: EPA-EFE

The US Navy aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis transits the South China Sea in 2019. Photo: Reuters

Construction is visible on the Vietnam-controlled Southwest Cay, in the Spratly Islands. Photo: Reuters

Minamikojima (front), Kitakojima (middle right) and Uotsuri (background) are the tiny islands in the East China Sea, called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Photo: AP

Boats at a harbour on the island of Iturup, or Etorofu in Japanese, one of the Kuril Islands. Photo: AFP

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen congratulated Joe Biden on winning the US presidency even though he has not spelt out his position on US-Taiwan relations. Photo: EPA-EFE

This Week in Asia

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Asia’s territorial disputes

Explainers


From the South China Sea to Taiwan, the Diaoyus and the Kurils, the India-China border and Singapore and Malaysia's friction over airspace and maritime boundaries, ere are Asia's biggest territorial disputes explained



From the South China Sea to Taiwan, the Diaoyus and the Kurils, the India-China border and the airspace above Singapore and Malaysia, here are Asia's biggest territorial disputes explained
