Russia and China ‘share common desire’ as South China Sea tensions bubble up

EXCLUSIVE: Comparisons have been drawn between Russia’s attempts at “altering the ‘status quo’ in a way that challenges the so-called ‘international rules-based order'” and China’s actions in the South China Sea.

Tensions surrounding the South China Sea have continued to bubble as the European Union announced it would step up its naval visits to the lucrative waters, while possibly engaging in joint military training operations. Those exercises, an EU official claimed, would “promote freedom of navigation and respect for international law” — something critics in the West believe China routinely ignores. And for Dr Bec Strating, an associate professor of politics and international relations for La Trobe University Bundoora, believes the US views China comparably to Russia when it comes to the South China Sea, and so will be even more focused on Beijing’s actions in the region, as well as its relationship with Washington-backed ally Taiwan.

Source of data and images: daily-express