Tensions escalate over the South China Sea

Tensions escalate over the South China Sea: "Geopolitical and military tensions have heightened sharply over the past four weeks in the South China Sea. China, Taiwan, and the Philippines have each escalated their rhetoric regarding the contested oil-rich Spratly Islands and deployed troops and military equipment to the region.
The Spratly Islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Two-fifths of global sea traffic travels through the South China Sea. Control of the region is of vital strategic interest to both the United States and China.
In February, Forum Energy concluded a two-year survey of the oil and natural gas resources in the region. Philippine President Benigno Aquino gave approval to the corporation, owned by Philippine billionaire and key political ally, Manny Pangilinan, to begin drilling. On March 2, Chinese patrol boats accosted a vessel belonging to Forum Energy in disputed waters. The Philippine Navy sent two jets to confront the Chinese patrol boats. Relations between the Philippines and China worsened with China’s execution of three Filipino drug couriers on March 30."