The United States Navy has deployed two patrol ships to the disputed South China Sea where China and Malaysia have competing claims over a maritime region known to have valuable resources. Control of the South China Sea is the most contentious and explosive diplomatic issue in East Asia. The South China Sea is thought to have significant oil and gas reserves and is a route for about $4.5trillion in trade. The column was penned by Chen Xiangmiao, an assistant research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies. The United States rejects China's territorial claim to much of the South China Sea, including the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

Source: Daily Mail May 09, 2020 01:39 UTC