Territory - Spratly Islands
Law of the Sea

As Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia fortified their occupied islands in the South China Sea to which China claims sovereignty, Beijing asked US and other foreign oil companies to halt work with Vietnamese partners in the South China Sea or face consequences in their business with China. While the US Government would not take sides on the island disputes, Senator Jim Webb said the US was "the only guarantor there to provide a credible umbrella under which those other countries in the region can successfully grow their economies without intimidation".