Sept 24

What was once a group of obscure, almost entirely submerged rocks and reefs on the fringes of the Spratly Island group in the South China Sea are now set to become a major point of contention in the upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House Thursday evening. 

Over the last three years China has developed seven so-called artificial land masses in the South China Sea by dumping sand onto reefs and shoals and then adding expansive military bases on top, which the U.S. and China’s regional rivals contend is against the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea, an affront to to freedom of navigation and a blatant attempt to snatch full sovereignty over the regions’ precious assets. What Obama will do about this is yet to be seen, but international experts claim that Xi will not budge over his country’s claim to the region, raising questions about how the U.S. will attempt to appear strong to its Asian allies while trying to not anger an increasingly powerful China.

Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/xi-jinping-white-house-visit-south-china-sea-dispute-will-be-central-talks-obama-2112481