'Ocean's Eleven' Could Save The Trans-Pacific Partnership
Without the U.S., Japan has led a coalition of 11 countries originally a part of TPP to make their own deal.
LEARN MOREPresident Trump Offers To Arbitrate In South China Sea Dispute
China calls almost all the South China Sea its own, despite international laws that limit what areas it can claim.
President Trump Offers To Arbitrate In South China Sea Dispute
Getty Images
November 12, 2017
During President Donald Trump's trip to Asia, he expressed interest in wading into the dispute over the South China Sea.
He told leaders on Sunday: "I know you've had a dispute for quite a while with China. If I can help in any way, I'm a very good mediator and a very good arbitrator."
The issue came to the fore while Trump was in Vietnam. Along with Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and China all claim parts of the water and land in the South China Sea. Per international law, most of them only claim water up to 200 miles off their coasts — that's called an exclusive economic zone, or EEZ.
But China hasn't followed those rules. Rather than stick to its EEZ, it argues it has a historical claim to the entire South China Sea and has drawn its own maritime borders, known as the Nine-Dash Line.
What's more, satellite images from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative show China has been building up islands to use as military bases since 2014. That encroaches on other countries' waterways, even though China maintains that the bases aren't for military use.
The South China Sea isn't only important to the countries on its coasts. The waterway sees more than $5 trillion in trade pass through each year.
It's unclear if any of the countries involved in the dispute will take Trump up on his offer. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte only said he "might" discuss the situation with Trump. Vietnam's president said the country would like to settle the dispute peacefully and "with respect for diplomatic and legal process."
Trump invokes Jan. 6 at Waco rally ahead of possible charges
Trump defended the insurrectionists and railed against prosecutors, including those overseeing multiple investigations of the former president.
Biden approval dips near lowest point: AP-NORC poll
His ratings hit their lowest point of his presidency last July, at 36%.
2:44
Some Trump rivals rally to his side as possible charges loom
The multiple investigations Trump is facing remain deeply unpopular with his supporters and criticizing him too much risks alienating his loyal base.
Top Stories
3:46
How are U.S. jobs reports made?
The data is based off estimates and not full official counts of the entire labor force, which is now over 160 million strong in the U.S.
4:15
Why are single women outnumbering single men in homeownership?
One big factor is that women’s earnings have steadily increased in the past decade.
3:47
Lawmakers are trying to make it easier for teachers to move states
When teachers move states, their licenses often don't come with them. It's a bipartisan mission lawmakers hope to fix to lessen the teacher shortage.
