The United States has finally begun taking action to intervene in the simmering South China Sea disputes amid China’s fast reclamation of the region. Because of the potential US-China rivalry in the region, the South China Sea has become a flashpoint most likely to trigger a third world war.

The South China Sea territorial disputes have been around for many years. Beijing claims sovereignty over 90% of the islands and surrounding waters in the region. Since last March, it has conducted land reclamation on at least seven shoals and reefs in the region, including Mischief Reef, Johnson South Reef and Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys, the island chain contested by no fewer than six parties.

China’s land reclamation in the region has expanded to more than 800 hectares. It is also establishing military facilities on the reclaimed shoals and reefs. It is scheduled to complete construction of a 3,000-meter long airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef between 2017 and 2018. Once that airstrip is completed, it will enhance Beijing’s defense and combat capabilities in the South China Sea, posing a greater threat to the US.

So far, there have been two stages in US actions in the South China Sea disputes. The first-phase moves were taken by the US government and Congress last year.

Last May, China’s placement of a state-owned oil rig in the South China Sea triggered the largest anti-Chinese protests Vietnam had ever seen. The US later made a three-point proposal to all South China Sea claimants that included urging them to stop building infrastructure on the region’s shoals and reefs and conducting unilateral economic actions in the region.

At the same time, the Senate also passed a resolution to support the government’s policy to handle the freedom of navigation and territorial rows in the South China Sea through diplomatic resolutions, and to condemn any attempt to change the status quo in the region.

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