As usual, @QuincyInst's views on the South China Sea disputes are divorced from reality. In what world should we stop exercising our freedom of navigation in exchange for "affirmations" from China that they won't interfere with our freedom of navigation? That makes no sense.
Moreover, Quincy conveniently fails to address the most pressing issue in the South China Sea: how China uses maritime law enforcement and maritime militia forces to preclude it's neighbors (including U.S. allies and partners) from operating freely within their own waters.
Simply put, you can't provide recommendations for U.S. policy in the South China Sea without addressing the problem of assertive PAFMM and CCG operations. Nothing gets solved as long as China gets to aggressively use the PAFMM and CCG without facing any consequences.
Here's just a few examples of CCG and PAFMM coercion:
In fact, Chinese maritime law enforcement vessels (including CCG vessels) are involved the vast majority of incidents in the South China Sea. chinapower.csis.org/maritime-force…
This list could go on and on but I think you get the point.
Beijing clearly relies on PAFMM and CCG operations to advance it's agenda at the expense of U.S. allies and partners.
Quincy would be wise to take this issue a little more seriously.
For more on why Quincy is *also* wrong about Taiwan, check out this thread by the the fabulous @jessicadrun:
It looks like Chinese international students at @GWtweets are being required to consent to a "Data Privacy Notice for Students in China" to ensure their access to online classes. Students are raising safety concerns because of the National Security Law.
Regarding the content of the notice, students seem particularly worried about a clause that says "GW may transfer your Personal Data to its affiliates or third-party service providers inside or outside of the United States for the above purposes."
There's also a reference to Chinese law, though they stress that "we put in place robust safeguards to ensure that your privacy is protected and to ensure that our legitimate interests are not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights."
Yesterday was the seventh anniversary of the establishment of Sansha City (三沙市). In July 2012, China founded Sansha to govern the entirety of its claims in the South China Sea. What is Sansha? How has it developed over the last 7 years? Why does it matter? A thread: (1/)
Sansha is based on Woody Island (永兴岛) in the Paracel Islands. The prefecture-level city has jurisdiction over the “island-reefs and sea areas” (岛礁及其海域) of the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, and Zhongsha Islands (Macclesfield Bank and Scarborough Shoal). (2/)
The Chinese government announced its plans to establish Sansha City just hours after Vietnam’s National Assembly passed the Law of the Sea of Vietnam on June 21, 2012. Many observers saw Sansha as China’s response. Sansha was formally established a month later on July 24. (3/)