China's territorial disputes and alliances

Conflict between China and the rest of the world remains a strong possibility due to its outstanding territorial claims in both the South China Sea with Brunei, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, and its historical claim over the island of Taiwan, which the USA has promised to protect in any military conflict.^[1] China also regularly aligns with pariah states such as Vladimir Putin's Russia, offering them support in the UN Security Council by vetoing any attempts at sanctions. This includes recent attempts by the West to sanction the regime of Bashir Al Assad for the use of chemical weapons which was vetoed by China.^[2] Increased military spending in China^[3] and a more assertive foreign policy has led many to speculate that China's territorial claims and alliances will be backed up by force.

[P1] China has numerous territorial disputes. [P2] China also has political alliances with some pariah states. [P3] These may end up being supported by military force.