The South China Sea, through which one-third of all ocean-going trade vessels pass, fuses traditional concerns about "control of the sea lanes" with the quest to control the seabed. At issue is not just surface transit and fishing rights, but seabed claims to rich oil and gas reserves. This conflict is coming to a head, as China has just announced plans to take bids from major oil and gas multinationals for nine seabed blocs, some of which are already claimed and committed by the Government of Vietnam.
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