China cares little for other countries’ territorial claims | World news | The Guardian

China cares little for other countries’ territorial claims | World news | The Guardian By transforming rocks into islands, the Chinese government is creating a reality on the ground in asserting its sovereignty over these disputed rocks and laying the ground to claim the territorial waters around them. The Chinese statement that they will eventually allow others to use facilities on the islands for disaster relief or rescue operations is significant. To take advantage of them, users will no doubt need to acknowledge Chinese sovereignty. The fact that the United Nations convention on the law of the sea is clear on what constitutes an island with territorial water – which should exclude such man-made structures – is not deemed an insurmountable obstacle in China. The ruling Communist party has never allowed the law to restrict what it can do. Even in the international community it has a record of successfully imposing its will on other states, notwithstanding the norm. The classic case is Taiwan’s international status.http://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2015/may/30/beijing-policy-south-china-sea#img-1