China advances in the South China Sea
Beijing has seized the initiative in the contested area. But Australia and Timor-Leste are nearing agreement in their zone of dispute
China enjoyed an almost free hand in cementing its claims on the South China Sea during 2017 as it continued to aggressively build infrastructure within the self-declared Nine Dash Line in defiance of international laws. As Beijing built more military-type facilities in the Paracel islets, in a maritime zone claimed by Vietnam, it scored a clear victory on land in the diplomatic war. To the dismay of Vietnam, in particular, which has challenged China's ambitions in waters through which a third of the world's shipping passes, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has abandoned his country's former hostility to China and could even be siding with Beijing against America. During the Asean summi
Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure
