Last week’s collision between a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and a Vietnamese fishing boat near the Paracel Islands exposes Beijing’s “charm” and “coercion” strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic, regional experts say. The Department of Defense released a statement on Thursday criticizing the People’s Republic of China’s handling of the incident. “The PRC’s behavior stands in contrast to the United States’ vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms,” the statement said. “The … Continue reading Veneer of China’s Charm Offensive Cracked By Vietnamese Fishing Boat Incident