Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 19 Aug 2021, 09:44 am Print
South China Sea Image: Pixabay
The Chinese government has now started building up its defences in the South China Sea to ward off any attack on the disputed waters which they claim to own.
But associate Fellow with the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, Bill Hayton, says tensions in the disputed water can have "major economic implications"
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Hayton said: "Tensions there would echo right around the world because China is the world's second-biggest economy and Japan is the third."
Hayton said: "Then you've got Korea and Taiwan plus the southeast Asian countries."
"You've got a huge amount of trade crossing the South China Sea, some estimates say around $3.5trillion a year goes through it," Hayton said.
China has been engaged in territorial disputes with several nations in the past several weeks.
- Gulf tensions explode: US forces destroy 5 Iranian crude oil carriers
- Long meeting with Putin, now Zelenskyy: Trump envoys’ high-stakes Ukraine Mission
- Putin announces 3-day halt to strikes on Ukraine
- Major escalation: Iranian oil tanker targeted by suspected US missiles strike near Kharg Island
- UN votes to promote new world map that more accurately shows Africa’s true size

