US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pictured in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on July 12, 2012.China and its neighbors have competing claims for islands in the regionThe United States says it doesn't take sides in the territorial disputesBut China has expressed anger over U.S. comments on the issueClinton will have to negotiate these tensions when she arrives in BeijingHong Kong (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday for a visit likely to be dominated by the competing maritime claims of China and its neighbors in the region.
Tensions over territorial disputes have spiked this year between China and a string of countries around its coastline -- from Vietnam in the southwest to Japan in the northeast -- and the United States has been drawn into the fray.In Indonesia on Monday, Clinton reiterated that "the United States does not take a position on competing territorial claims over land." Instead, the U.S. government is pressing China and other countries in the region to agree to a code of conduct and procedures for resolving disagreements peacefully.Interactive: Asia's disputed islands - who claims what?But Beijing, which prefers to tackle the disputes bilaterally, has reacted angrily to Washington's involvement in the matter, accusing the U.S. State Department of "unfounded accusations" and showing a "total disregard of facts."var currExpandable="expand16";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='world/2012/08/22/grant-china-japan-island-dispute-history.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120822024657-senkaku-diaoyu-island-flag-planted-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand16Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand26";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='bestoftv/2012/08/22/ebof-pkg-lawrence-military-exercise.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120822010820-ebof-pkg-lawrence-military-exercise-00004630-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand26Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand36";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='bestoftv/2012/08/22/exp-erin-china-japan-us-tensions.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120822121631-exp-erin-china-japan-us-tensions-00002001-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand36Store=mObj;The Global Times, a Chinese newspaper affiliated with the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial published Tuesday that Clinton's diplomacy in the region "has fomented frictions between China and some surrounding countries."It called on her to "reflect upon the deep harm she is bringing to the Sino-US relationship."When Clinton arrives in Beijing on Tuesday evening, she will have to negotiate such Chinese hostility to U.S. efforts to address the tangle of tensions across the South China Sea and beyond.More: Islands dispute reopens old woundsCountries like Vietnam and the Philippines lay claim to some areas of the South China Sea, a 1.3 million square mile patch of the Pacific Ocean dotted with hundreds of largely uninhabited islands and coral atolls. But China has declared "indisputable sovereignty" over large swathes of the area, which is rich in marine life.The stakes are raised further by estimates that potentially huge reserves of natural gas and oil lie underneath the seabed.The scope for conflict was demonstrated in April when a Philippine Navy vessel confronted Chinese fishing boats in a remote rocky outcrop claimed by both countries.Opinion: Why Asia is arguing over its islandsThe resulting naval standoff between the two countries lasted for more than three months and aroused fears of an open conflict before the Philippines withdrew its ships in June, citing stormy weather. The issue of who the lagoon belongs to remains unresolved.Analysts have expressed pessimism that the disputes in the South China Sea will be defused soon."While the likelihood of major conflict remains low, all of the trends are in the wrong direction, and prospects of resolution are diminishing," the International Crisis Group said in a July report.Tensions have also flared recently over a long-running dispute concerning a group of islands in the East China Sea claimed by China, Japan and Taiwan.Furious anti-Japan protests erupted across China last month when a Japanese group sailed to one of the disputed islets and symbolically waved Japanese flags.And on Sunday, the controversial governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, dispatched a team to survey the islands as part of an effort to purchase them from the private owners. Chinese state-run media immediately declared the survey "illegal."The uninhabited islands are known in Japan as Senkaku and in China as Diaoyu, and are privately-owned by a Japanese family.
September 3, 2012 -- Updated 1501 GMT (2301 HKT) 
David Frum: The drought in the U.S., Russia and Australia is driving up food prices -- and that's long been tied to unrest among the world's poor.August 31, 2012 -- Updated 1847 GMT (0247 HKT) 
One journalist reveals how violence and conflict have devastated Syria, from the suburbs of the capital to central Damascus.September 4, 2012 -- Updated 1304 GMT (2104 HKT) 
Pharmaceutical firm Gruenenthal apologizes for the impact of its drug had on babies -- but campaigners say more is needed.August 31, 2012 -- Updated 0412 GMT (1212 HKT) 
China looks to usher in its next generation of leaders -- but one of the messiest political scandals in years continues to fester. 
Eileen Barker explains how the Rev. Sun Syung Moon was the last charismatic leader of a wave of movements that spread through the West.September 4, 2012 -- Updated 0605 GMT (1405 HKT) 
Many in the Philippines lack health education and birth control access, something a new law is trying to address, despite church opposition.September 3, 2012 -- Updated 1258 GMT (2058 HKT) 
The culture of Libya's indigenous Berber population is blossoming following years of suppresion -- but how secure is their future?August 29, 2012 -- Updated 1414 GMT (2214 HKT) 
In 1948, a hospital outside London witnessed the birth of the Paralympic movement, as a doctor sought to change the lives of spinal injury patients.September 4, 2012 -- Updated 1042 GMT (1842 HKT) 
How a high-octane movie from Nollywood is highlighting the need for better civil aviation safety across Africa.September 3, 2012 -- Updated 1116 GMT (1916 HKT) 
Judit Polar became the youngest ever grandmaster at 15 and is the only women ranked in the World Chess Federation's top 100 players.September 3, 2012 -- Updated 1052 GMT (1852 HKT) 
Sierra Leonean Michaela DePrince lost both of her parents aged three. Now, fifteen years later, she is a professional ballet dancer. September 3, 2012 -- Updated 0916 GMT (1716 HKT) 
Madagascar is home to a vast array of animal and plant life -- but it has lost 90% of its forest to deforestation, putting an ecological system at risk. September 4, 2012 -- Updated 0722 GMT (1522 HKT) 
Taking the aggressive element out of one of Australia's most iconic but endangered animals could save it from extinction. September 3, 2012 -- Updated 1008 GMT (1808 HKT) 
Thousands of visitors will descend on Monaco for the annual yacht show this month -- but the principality has more to offer than big boats.September 4, 2012 -- Updated 0242 GMT (1042 HKT) 
Research suggests having executive desk toys, which have been around since the 1960s, can increase workplace wellbeing.
Today's five most popular stories
No comments:
Post a Comment