China Analyst, Imogen Page-Jarrett, explained US President Joe Biden will work on a “more collaborative” approach with Beijing after Donald Trump’s “unpredictable” approach. President Xi Jinping claims China has a historic right of ownership to almost the entire South China Sea, despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling saying Beijing’s claim had no legal basis under international law. But the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims to parts of it.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Ms Page-Jarrett said: “Under Joe Biden’s administration we’re expecting the US to turn back to a more collaborative and proactive approach in its foreign affairs.
“It will look to strengthen ties with its allies in Europe and then also Australia and Canada.
“We can expect there to be more dialogue with South East Asia as well.
“Trying to engage those allied nations on China and trying to take a co-ordinated approach but perhaps also more willing to negotiate with China itself rather than this unpredictable unilateral approach under Trump.”
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Ms Page-Jarrett added that China has taken advantage of the pandemic to increase its hold on the South China Sea and step up nefarious activity in the Himalayan region with India sparking World War 3 fears as the Communist regime aggressively asserts its global dominance.
She said: “Since the pandemic began, we have seen China become more bold and proactive in the South China Sea.
“I think it’s not the only example.
“We’ve also seen China stepping up its activity in the Himalayan region with India as well.
It comes as Taiwan’s air force scrambled for a second straight day on Saturday after a dozen Chinese fighter aircraft and bombers carried out drills close to Taiwan-controlled islands in the disputed South China Sea, the defence ministry in Taipei said.
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as Chinese territory, has carried out repeated air missions in the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone in recent months, mostly near the Pratas Islands.
After nine Chinese air force aircraft flew near the Pratas Islands on Friday, the Taiwanese Defence Ministry said it tracked 11 aircraft on Saturday – eight fighter jets, two nuclear-capable H-6 bombers and an anti-submarine aircraft, also near the islands.
It said Chinese naval forces were also involved but gave no details.