Beijing is trying&nbsp;to change facts on the ground in the South China Sea&nbsp;to gradually change the world's mind regarding its claims in the region, according to a Washington-based think tank.

In a report published in Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Nguyen Thuy Anh, who is a research fellow at the East Sea Institute of Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, has said that ''the nine-dash line is a representation of China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. The line itself is a collection of arbitrary dashes or dots without specific coordinates. China has not given any official explanations regarding its precise delimitation or legal origin.''

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-us-china-relationship-took-a-turn-for-the-worse-314882" hreflang="en">How US-China relationship took a turn for the worse</a>

"China's claim has been openly rejected by Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the United States, and has been criticized by numerous international scholars. More importantly, the claim to historic waters within the line was rejected by the arbitral award of the South China Sea tribunal in July 2016. But China has disregarded the ruling and insists on the nine-dash line claim,"&nbsp;Anh said in the report.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-exploiting-covid-situation-to-further-its-own-interest-mike-pompeo-315008" hreflang="en">'China exploiting Covid situation to further its own interest': Mike Pompeo</a>

As per the report, China has aimed to create "a narrative in the popular consciousness" that the nine-dash line is part of China's administrative territory.''

In pursuit of this goal, China uses any means it can to promote the visibility of the nine-dash line, displaying it on passports, maps, exported globes, movies, books, online games, clothing, tourist leaflets, booklets, television shows, and more.

In October 2019, a nine-dash map was visible in "Abominable," an animated family movie jointly produced by China-based Pearl Studio and America's DreamWorks Animation.

In 2018, a group of Chinese tourists wearing T-shirts with a nine-dash line drawing arrived in Vietnam. Earlier, in 2015, China watchers unveiled Google Maps images that highlighted the nine-dash line.

Before 2009, the nine-dash line appeared in scientific articles only rarely. However, the number of articles illustrated with the line has drastically and steadily increased since 2010.

A similar trend continues int 2020, covering a wide range of hard-science disciplines including climate change, hydrography, archaeology, agriculture, bio-energy, environment, waste management, and public health, the report said.

The insertion of the nine-dash line in scientific prints is not accidental. The majority of articles having the nine-dash line appear to have been authored or co-authored by Chinese scholars, it said further.

"Most of the articles presented the research outcomes of projects funded by Chinese government agencies. And Chinese scholars themselves are not able to explain the relation between the nine-dash line illustrations and the arguments in the articles," Anh said.

When asked, one Chinese author admitted that the insertion of the nine-dash line was a Chinese government requirement, she added.

One of the reasons why such irrelevant figures have been so worthy for China may be that it has leveraged its market power to force publishers, educational institutions, and think-tanks to self-censor and accommodate Beijing's rules on publication. The Asian giant has also been able to force publication firms to remove content which it regarded as harmful to Chinese interests.

Though having no impact on the legal nature of the claim, the widespread publication of such maps could prompt misperceptions among scientists, researchers, or students who are readers of these journals but are not familiar with the issue, as per the report.

"More dangerously, at some point policymakers in Beijing may mistake such publications as some form of popular recognition of its erroneous claim. Such a misconception could lead to a serious miscalculation," Anh added.

Beijing is trying to change facts on the ground in the South China Sea to gradually change the world's mind regarding its claims in the region, according to a Washington-based think tank.

Beijing is trying to change facts on the ground in the South China Sea to gradually change the world's mind regarding its claims in the region, according to a Washington-based think tank. In a report published in Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Nguyen Thuy Anh, who is a research fellow at the East Sea Institute of Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, has said that ''the nine-dash line is a representation of China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. The line itself is a collection of arbitrary dashes or dots without specific coordinates. China has not given any official explanations regarding its precise delimitation or legal origin.'' Also see: How US-China relationship took a turn for the worse "China's claim has been openly rejected by Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the United States, and has been criticized by numerous international scholars. More importantly, the claim to historic waters within the line was rejected by the arbitral award of the South China Sea tribunal in July 2016. But China has disregarded the ruling and insists on the nine-dash line claim," Anh said in the report. Also read: 'China exploiting Covid situation to further its own interest': Mike Pompeo As per the report, China has aimed to create "a narrative in the popular consciousness" that the nine-dash line is part of China's administrative territory.'' In pursuit of this goal, China uses any means it can to promote the visibility of the nine-dash line, displaying it on passports, maps, exported globes, movies, books, online games, clothing, tourist leaflets, booklets, television shows, and more. In October 2019, a nine-dash map was visible in "Abominable," an animated family movie jointly produced by China-based Pearl Studio and America's DreamWorks Animation. In 2018, a group of Chinese tourists wearing T-shirts with a nine-dash line drawing arrived in Vietnam. Earlier, in 2015, China watchers unveiled Google Maps images that highlighted the nine-dash line. Before 2009, the nine-dash line appeared in scientific articles only rarely. However, the number of articles illustrated with the line has drastically and steadily increased since 2010. A similar trend continues int 2020, covering a wide range of hard-science disciplines including climate change, hydrography, archaeology, agriculture, bio-energy, environment, waste management, and public health, the report said. The insertion of the nine-dash line in scientific prints is not accidental. The majority of articles having the nine-dash line appear to have been authored or co-authored by Chinese scholars, it said further. "Most of the articles presented the research outcomes of projects funded by Chinese government agencies. And Chinese scholars themselves are not able to explain the relation between the nine-dash line illustrations and the arguments in the articles," Anh said. When asked, one Chinese author admitted that the insertion of the nine-dash line was a Chinese government requirement, she added. One of the reasons why such irrelevant figures have been so worthy for China may be that it has leveraged its market power to force publishers, educational institutions, and think-tanks to self-censor and accommodate Beijing's rules on publication. The Asian giant has also been able to force publication firms to remove content which it regarded as harmful to Chinese interests. Though having no impact on the legal nature of the claim, the widespread publication of such maps could prompt misperceptions among scientists, researchers, or students who are readers of these journals but are not familiar with the issue, as per the report. "More dangerously, at some point policymakers in Beijing may mistake such publications as some form of popular recognition of its erroneous claim. Such a misconception could lead to a serious miscalculation," Anh added.

China trying to change international perception on South China Sea: Report

China is splashing cash and buying clout across South Asia. In the latest move, Beijing has announced tariff exemptions on 97% of Bangladeshi exports to China. It's one of the four ways in which China is trying to woo Bangladesh.

Gravitas: Bangladesh: Next in China's trap?

According to the New York Times, massive construction work is underway at the Dara Sakor international airport in the southern tip of Cambodia aided by China.

The new airstrip has a peculiar feature - a tight turning bay which is usually seen in a military base, not a civilian airport. The New York Times report indicates that China may have lured the south-east state of Cambodia into its South China Sea ambitions.

The report states that adjacent to the airstrip is a deep sea port both built by a politically connected Chinese company. The company reportedly has a 99-year lease that effectively gives it control of 20 per cent of Cambodia's coastline.

<img alt="China's 'String of Pearls'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a1cb3283-63a3-439d-88ca-df96e4953af8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/China_0.jpg" />

China's 'String of Pearls' Photograph:( WION Web Team )

The company in question is called union development group, the report indicates. NYT says it has no other operations anywhere in the world. The report quoted a Pentagon spokesperson being concerned about the twin projects.

However, the Cambodian government claims it is a civil aviation authority project. In fact, China has more military designs in Cambodia. Fifty miles from Dara Sakor is the ream naval base - &nbsp;the largest base in Cambodia.&nbsp;

There was reportedly no open bidding process for the land and the company was allegedly granted a concession that was three times the legal limit.

A Wall Street Journal report in July had hinted earlier that an agreement had given China exclusive rights to operate the port for 30 years. The report is further bolstered by the fact that Cambodia rejected American help to refurbish training facilities on the port.

According to the New York Times, massive construction work is underway at the Dara Sakor international airport in the southern tip of Cambodia aided by China. The new airstrip has a peculiar feature - a tight turning bay which is usually seen in a military base, not a civilian airport.

According to the New York Times, massive construction work is underway at the Dara Sakor international airport in the southern tip of Cambodia aided by China. The new airstrip has a peculiar feature - a tight turning bay which is usually seen in a military base, not a civilian airport. The New York Times report indicates that China may have lured the south-east state of Cambodia into its South China Sea ambitions. The report states that adjacent to the airstrip is a deep sea port both built by a politically connected Chinese company. The company reportedly has a 99-year lease that effectively gives it control of 20 per cent of Cambodia's coastline. China's 'String of Pearls' Photograph:( WION Web Team ) The company in question is called union development group, the report indicates. NYT says it has no other operations anywhere in the world. The report quoted a Pentagon spokesperson being concerned about the twin projects. However, the Cambodian government claims it is a civil aviation authority project. In fact, China has more military designs in Cambodia. Fifty miles from Dara Sakor is the ream naval base - the largest base in Cambodia. There was reportedly no open bidding process for the land and the company was allegedly granted a concession that was three times the legal limit. A Wall Street Journal report in July had hinted earlier that an agreement had given China exclusive rights to operate the port for 30 years. The report is further bolstered by the fact that Cambodia rejected American help to refurbish training facilities on the port.

New airstrip in Cambodian jungle sparks fears over China's military ambitions: Report

As you move westwards from Gwadar Town on Makran Coastal Highway, after about 55 kilometres, a sign reads to the road leading to Jiwani, a small town with a population of about 22000, surrounded by lush mangroves and pristine beaches where endangered sea creatures like Green Turtles and Olive Ridley come for nesting.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The strategically located town is just 34 kilometres away from the Iranian border, and can significantly control all the movements through the Persian Gulf. The main business is fishing and, hence, there are many small export-oriented fish packaging plants operating here.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The town is located on a small peninsula projecting into the sea and, hence, has a dominating position in the area. This is the reason why Pakistan has created a small naval base, some observation and surveillance facilities with a small 1700-meter runway for the landing of aircrafts.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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The pristine Jiwani beach (Others)
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&nbsp;

Stories tell that it was a major airfield used by the Allied forces during WWII, the traces of which are still found on the coastal town in the form of broken airstrips, traces of broken barracks, a Victoria Hut made probably to host the Queen here. You can find a marvel of the engineering, in the form of an old water storage facility and purification system. These were used in WWII to not only collect rainwater and purify it in various stages but also pump it to the locations up to 5kms away, using a setup of pipelines and small water channels.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

18 December 2017 was just like an ordinary day for the people of Jiwani and the Coast Guard detachment stationed there when a large cavalcade of vehicles approached the place. Such sightings are not common so it piqued the interest of locals. The guests were unique too, 16 senior Chinese military officers and about 10 Pakistani military officers with their support staff. Over next few hours, the entire group visited the small peninsula, its coastline and inspected other infrastructure before returning to Gwadar late in the evening.

&nbsp;

Over the next few days, Pakistani officers were busy signing an agreement with Chinese PLA on constructing a strong Chinese military base at Jiwani where China will invest over $500 million in the form of grants to be given to locals towards their resettlement at some other location. Also, another $230 million will come from the Chinese towards the construction of a military base with an advanced airport to handle all types of cargo. As per the project report, all the residents of Jiwani will be shifted to other towns in Baluchistan after being paid due compensation for their losses.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The String of Pearls is a reality coming up very fast. As recent as last July, China started operating from its newly constructed military base at Djibouti, a strategic town located in the Horn of Africa. The base came up quite fast and, within a year, all the desired constructions and activation of the facilities were completed.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Jiwani is just 34 kilometres away from the Iranian border. (Others)
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Both Djibouti and Jiwani has a striking similarity.&nbsp; Both are located on two most important and strategic oil routes of the world. While Djibouti is located at the mouth of Red Sea and can control the entire movement through the Suez Canal, Jiwani has the potential to control the movement of the entire Persian Gulf. The current presence of a large number of PLA Soldiers and their warlike equipment in Gwadar Port suggests that they are going to operationalise the Jiwani base at the earliest.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Gwadar has a limitation of being the primary port of CPEC; there is a lot of commercial movement and, hence, stationing a large and dedicated military detachment there is not very advisable. That&rsquo;s why China selected the old and trusted base of Jiwani which has all the necessary facets to cater to PLA&rsquo;s interests.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Whether it is Hambantota, Djibouti or Jiwani, China is clever enough to safeguard its interests. It is establishing military bases at all strategic sea routes so that its supplies and exports are uninterrupted. Also, it creates a kind of security pressure on the neighbouring countries, especially India.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

China is stuck up in many conflicts as of now. Whether it is South China Sea, Taiwan, North Korea, Indo- China Border Dispute or Sino- America tug of war, China needs to have military bases located strategically on its supply routes so that it can sustain its export-based economy and ensure uninterrupted supply of oil. It already got some committed allies in Indian Peninsula, namely Pakistan and Sri Lanka who are suffering from a crippling economy and corrupt leadership and, hence, are compelled to dance to its tunes.&nbsp;

These bases also provide support to its One Belt One Road Initiative to ensure that its exports reach the destination safely.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

India has a genuine concern in this scenario. While the establishment of these bases cannot be stopped, it is high time that being the leader of South Asia, India should make a robust plan to counter anything violating its interest.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

China is establishing military bases at all strategic sea routes, including Jiwani in Pakistan. It t creates a kind of security pressure on the neighbouring countries, especially India.

As you move westwards from Gwadar Town on Makran Coastal Highway, after about 55 kilometres, a sign reads to the road leading to Jiwani, a small town with a population of about 22000, surrounded by lush mangroves and pristine beaches where endangered sea creatures like Green Turtles and Olive Ridley come for nesting. The strategically located town is just 34 kilometres away from the Iranian border, and can significantly control all the movements through the Persian Gulf. The main business is fishing and, hence, there are many small export-oriented fish packaging plants operating here. The town is located on a small peninsula projecting into the sea and, hence, has a dominating position in the area. This is the reason why Pakistan has created a small naval base, some observation and surveillance facilities with a small 1700-meter runway for the landing of aircrafts. The pristine Jiwani beach (Others) × Stories tell that it was a major airfield used by the Allied forces during WWII, the traces of which are still found on the coastal town in the form of broken airstrips, traces of broken barracks, a Victoria Hut made probably to host the Queen here. You can find a marvel of the engineering, in the form of an old water storage facility and purification system. These were used in WWII to not only collect rainwater and purify it in various stages but also pump it to the locations up to 5kms away, using a setup of pipelines and small water channels. 18 December 2017 was just like an ordinary day for the people of Jiwani and the Coast Guard detachment stationed there when a large cavalcade of vehicles approached the place. Such sightings are not common so it piqued the interest of locals. The guests were unique too, 16 senior Chinese military officers and about 10 Pakistani military officers with their support staff. Over next few hours, the entire group visited the small peninsula, its coastline and inspected other infrastructure before returning to Gwadar late in the evening. Over the next few days, Pakistani officers were busy signing an agreement with Chinese PLA on constructing a strong Chinese military base at Jiwani where China will invest over $500 million in the form of grants to be given to locals towards their resettlement at some other location. Also, another $230 million will come from the Chinese towards the construction of a military base with an advanced airport to handle all types of cargo. As per the project report, all the residents of Jiwani will be shifted to other towns in Baluchistan after being paid due compensation for their losses. The String of Pearls is a reality coming up very fast. As recent as last July, China started operating from its newly constructed military base at Djibouti, a strategic town located in the Horn of Africa. The base came up quite fast and, within a year, all the desired constructions and activation of the facilities were completed. Jiwani is just 34 kilometres away from the Iranian border. (Others) × Both Djibouti and Jiwani has a striking similarity. Both are located on two most important and strategic oil routes of the world. While Djibouti is located at the mouth of Red Sea and can control the entire movement through the Suez Canal, Jiwani has the potential to control the movement of the entire Persian Gulf. The current presence of a large number of PLA Soldiers and their warlike equipment in Gwadar Port suggests that they are going to operationalise the Jiwani base at the earliest. Gwadar has a limitation of being the primary port of CPEC; there is a lot of commercial movement and, hence, stationing a large and dedicated military detachment there is not very advisable. That’s why China selected the old and trusted base of Jiwani which has all the necessary facets to cater to PLA’s interests. Whether it is Hambantota, Djibouti or Jiwani, China is clever enough to safeguard its interests. It is establishing military bases at all strategic sea routes so that its supplies and exports are uninterrupted. Also, it creates a kind of security pressure on the neighbouring countries, especially India. China is stuck up in many conflicts as of now. Whether it is South China Sea, Taiwan, North Korea, Indo- China Border Dispute or Sino- America tug of war, China needs to have military bases located strategically on its supply routes so that it can sustain its export-based economy and ensure uninterrupted supply of oil. It already got some committed allies in Indian Peninsula, namely Pakistan and Sri Lanka who are suffering from a crippling economy and corrupt leadership and, hence, are compelled to dance to its tunes. These bases also provide support to its One Belt One Road Initiative to ensure that its exports reach the destination safely. India has a genuine concern in this scenario. While the establishment of these bases cannot be stopped, it is high time that being the leader of South Asia, India should make a robust plan to counter anything violating its interest. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: China's first military base in Pakistan is grave threat to India

The Sri Lankan cabinet on Tuesday cleared a revised agreement for the Chinese-built port of Hambantota in the south, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

This comes after the first deal sparked public anger in the country and raised concerns in India, Japan and the United States over its use for military purposes.&nbsp;

China Merchants Port Holdings, a state-run entity, signed an agreement with Sri Lanka taking an 80 per cent stake in the port that it built.&nbsp;

Reuters reported that it had seen&nbsp;parts of the agreement which is yet to be made public.

The agency said that under the new deal China&rsquo;s role has been limited to running commercial operations while Sri Lanka will oversee the broader security. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hambantota is a part of China&rsquo;s modern-day &quot;Silk Route&quot; across Asia and beyond.

The deal had&nbsp;triggered public anger in Sri Lanka with several people demonstrating on the streets fearing loss of their land. Some politicians said such a large-scale land transfer to China would infringe on Sri Lanka&rsquo;s sovereignty.&nbsp;

China Merchants Port Holdings&rsquo; plan to acquire 15,000 acres of land to develop an industrial zone raised fears in neighbouring India that the area could also be used for Chinese naval vessels.&nbsp;

Reuters reported that the company will take an 85 per cent stake in Hambantota International Port Group which will run the port and its terminals. The rest of the stake will be held by Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The company&#39;s capital will be $794 million, Reuters said,

A second firm called the Hambantota International Port Group Services Co.&nbsp;will be set up to supervise security operations.

It will have a capital of $606 million, Reuters reported.

Reuters also said that Sri Lanka would have a 50.7 per cent holding in this second firm.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;We told China that we can&rsquo;t allow the port for military use and that 100 percent responsibility of security matters should be with the Sri Lankan government.&rdquo;, Ports Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

China has been building ports in South Asian countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as part of what military officials call &ldquo;String of Pearls&rdquo;. This would be network of friendly ports where China can refuel its warships.&nbsp; 
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Sri Lanka&#39;s cabinet cleared a revised agreement for its Chinese-built southern port of Hambantota on Tuesday, the government said, after terms of the first pact sparked widespread public anger in the island nation (WION)
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The deal had triggered public anger in Sri Lanka with several people demonstrating on the streets fearing loss of their land. Some politicians said such a large-scale land transfer to China would infringe on Sri Lanka?s sovereignty

The Sri Lankan cabinet on Tuesday cleared a revised agreement for the Chinese-built port of Hambantota in the south, Reuters reported. This comes after the first deal sparked public anger in the country and raised concerns in India, Japan and the United States over its use for military purposes. China Merchants Port Holdings, a state-run entity, signed an agreement with Sri Lanka taking an 80 per cent stake in the port that it built. Reuters reported that it had seen parts of the agreement which is yet to be made public. The agency said that under the new deal China’s role has been limited to running commercial operations while Sri Lanka will oversee the broader security. Hambantota is a part of China’s modern-day "Silk Route" across Asia and beyond. The deal had triggered public anger in Sri Lanka with several people demonstrating on the streets fearing loss of their land. Some politicians said such a large-scale land transfer to China would infringe on Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. China Merchants Port Holdings’ plan to acquire 15,000 acres of land to develop an industrial zone raised fears in neighbouring India that the area could also be used for Chinese naval vessels. Reuters reported that the company will take an 85 per cent stake in Hambantota International Port Group which will run the port and its terminals. The rest of the stake will be held by Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The company's capital will be $794 million, Reuters said, A second firm called the Hambantota International Port Group Services Co. will be set up to supervise security operations. It will have a capital of $606 million, Reuters reported. Reuters also said that Sri Lanka would have a 50.7 per cent holding in this second firm. “We told China that we can’t allow the port for military use and that 100 percent responsibility of security matters should be with the Sri Lankan government.”, Ports Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said, Reuters reported. China has been building ports in South Asian countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as part of what military officials call “String of Pearls”. This would be network of friendly ports where China can refuel its warships. Sri Lanka's cabinet cleared a revised agreement for its Chinese-built southern port of Hambantota on Tuesday, the government said, after terms of the first pact sparked widespread public anger in the island nation (WION) ×

Lanka 'limits' China's role in Hambantota ports deal after domestic and international concerns: Reports

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China trying to change international perception on South China Sea: Report

Gravitas: Bangladesh: Next in China's trap?

New airstrip in Cambodian jungle sparks fears over China's military ambitions: Report

Opinion: China's first military base in Pakistan is grave threat to India

Lanka 'limits' China's role in Hambantota ports deal after domestic and international concerns: Reports