Myth and Misperception: Does China Always Bully Its Neighbors Over Territorial Disputes?

Video of a China Coast Guard vessel turning into a Philippine ship in a bid to push it away from the disputed Sabina Shoal on August 25, 2027. Video via the Philippine Coast Guard.

In this edition of M&M, I want to discuss how China handled its territorial disputes with Vietnam. This is an important topic considering China and Vietnam currently have disputes over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, and that they once fought a war over the disputed land border in 1979.

China also used force to occupy the Vietnam-controlled Johnson South Reef in 1988. Understanding how China handles territorial disputes is important to assess the possibility of a renewed conflict over the South China Sea with not just Vietnam but also the Philippines.

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by Khang Vu

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