China/South China Sea: As World Watches Kim, China Quietly Builds South China Sea Clout

Sep 5, 2017 | Jason Koutsoukis and Dan Murtaugh, Bloomberg
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As Kim Jong Un’s antics in North Korea capture global attention, China is quietly moving to bolster its grip on disputed territory in the South China Sea. Last month, a Philippine lawmaker released photos he said showed Chinese fishing, coast guard and navy vessels surrounding a Philippine-occupied isle in the Spratly island chain, preventing planned repairs to a runway. Vietnam in July halted drilling in an area leased to Spain’s Repsol S.A, amid reports it did so under Chinese duress.