China Accelerates South China Sea Land Reclamation: US
China embarked upon extensive land reclamation efforts in the disputed Spratly Islands this year, adding huge amounts of terrain as of December to bolster its presence in an area claimed by rivals, a new Pentagon report said. According to a WSJ report, the American officials have determined that in the past five months alone, China has expanded the artificial islands on submerged reefs known as the Spratlys fourfold to as much as 2,000 acres of land. The new estimate, disclosed for the first time, comes as the Pentagon released its annual report on China's military power, says AFP. The report warns that while the intent of Beijing's construction in contested islands in the South China Sea intent is unclear…
China's Artificial Islands in South China Sea Raises U.S. Concerns
China has been building artificial islands on reefs in the many disputed areas around the South China Sea. The unprecedented land reclamation currently being conducted by China is increasing tensions with the U.S. and its allies, according to Pacific Fleet Commander Harry Harris. The land reclamation by China in contested islands of the South China Sea is raising serious questions over whether Beijing intends confrontation or cooperation with other regional powers, according to The Wall Street Journal. Nations in the region are furious, and international business is worried that these new islands dominate major shipping lanes. This new phase of the long conflict between China…
China Snow Dragon Arctic
The melting Arctic presents a geopolitical challenge and it is the last bit of unclaimed land left on our quickly heating globe. A report in the Worldcrunch analyses why China is suddenly so interested in the Arctic. China is now becoming more involved primarily because of issues related to climate change, shipping and natural resources. China will also play an important role in exploiting the region's resources. Norway's Foreign Affairs Minister Borge Brende says China's growing economic affairs and scientific community will demand that the country become increasingly involved in issues related to the Arctic. Another reason Asian countries are paying more attention to the Arctic is because more shipping lanes could open as ice disappears.
RoRo Shortage Hits Car Trade
While the Chinese automotive sector is experiencing double-digit growth, Chinese finished vehicle exporters are facing stiff competition and ongoing logistics challenges in getting their products to foreign markets because of a lack of RoRo ships, according to a report on http://www.cargonewsasia.com. Zhang Xiaoyu, vice-chairman of the China Machinery Industry Federation said that while the number of China's vehicle exports has increased sharply, many of these cars lay in transit at ports because shipping companies simply do not have enough vessels to transport them. According to China Custom's figures, the mainland exported a total of 340,000 cars in 2006 - double that exported in 2005.
Asian Nations Push for More Exposure in Cruise Market
The Port of Shanghai is getting a new cruise passenger terminal. Southeast Asian nations are teaming up on a Web site for cruise travelers. Officials from China are using the 2008 Olympics to promote a triangle of northern cruise ports. And don't forget about us, says Taiwan. Here's Asia, cruising's new frontier. Accordng to The Ledger, representatives from the Asia-Pacific region attended the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference this week, beginning an aggressive marketing campaign with the goal of making Asia a competitor in the world cruise market. Many of them toured ports in Miami and Port Everglades to get a sense of U.S. port operations. Today, the Asia-Pacific region lags behind the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska in notoriety as a cruise destination.
