South China Sea
What happens when the geopolitical control is taken slice by slice?
4.5 (20)
51 mins
Explore how China steadily expanded its presence in the South China Sea through gradual moves, strategic pressure, and vague historical claims. Discover how this quiet power play pulled smaller nations into a struggle between China’s influence and U.S. protection.
Ep 1:
The Nine-Dash Line Unveiled
A wrestling match in Mongolia unlocks a deeper story: why the South China Sea's trillions in trade and a mysterious nine-dash line have made China's salami-slicing strategy so effective.
Ep 2:
Islands Built, Law Ignored
China turns rocks into military bases while the Philippines wins a landmark legal victory—only to watch Beijing declare the ruling worthless and keep building anyway.
Ep 3:
Small Nations, Big Shadow
ASEAN struggles to unite against Beijing's divide-and-conquer tactics, while non-claimant Singapore emerges as the fiercest defender of a rules-based order at sea.
Ep 4:
Trade as a Weapon
From K-pop bans to detained citizens, China turns trade and diplomacy into blunt instruments of coercion against South Korea, Australia, Canada, and Lithuania.
Ep 5:
Standoff on the Waves
As U.S. warships assert freedom of navigation, a mysterious formation on a Navy watch floor reveals just how fast a routine patrol can spiral into crisis.
Ep 6:
Two Powers, One Sea
China works the world's institutions while nations pick sides—setting up a superpower standoff where neither Beijing nor Washington shows any sign of backing down.
Discussions (10)
Hazel
Level 4 · 8 mo agoSalami slicing is scary 😩
Lawson
Level 8 · 8 mo agoSalami slicing is real.
Griffin
Level 2 · 8 mo agoChina playing Civ 6 fr.
