With tensions already high over Japan and South Korea, China continues to take aggressive move on its territorial claims across Asia. On January 1, 2014a new Chinese regulations approved at Hainan Province last November took effect and claimed authority over fishing access on the disputed areas of the South China Sea. It established a U-shaped span that covers the islands of Paracel and Spratly, which are claimed by Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia. The rules require foreign vessels to obtain permission to fish or survey fisheries resources in waters administered by Hainan provincial. US spokeswoman Jen Psaki said,"The passing of these restrictions on other countries' fishing activities in disputed portions of the South China Sea is a provocative and potentially dangerous act." China has not offered any explanation or basis under international law for these extensive maritime claims."It said the rules were "to strengthen the security of fisheries resources", and were "absolutely a normal routine practice". Last year China imposed the ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone over East China Sea Islands covering the Senkaku and Diaoyu Islands claimed by Japan and South Korea. The US, Japan and South Korea have rejected China's Air Defense Identification Zone. However illegal and groundless the imposed rules, could Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia also do the same?

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Tidbits:

China's Third Plenum refers to the third time that the new leaders of China lead a plenary session of the Central Committee. It took place last November and drew on the “383 plan” aimed to transform the Chinese economy by 2020. Expectations we re high that the new Chinese leaders will launch reforms that are as notable as those from 1993. It's usually about a year into the term of China's new president and premier, so they have secured their positions sufficiently to unveil their plans for their decade in power. What is clear is that the path to be taken by the world's second largest economy will be closely watched as it will have implications for the rest of the world seeking stability and growth in its largest economies.