Taiwan has announced that it may post permanent military ships at a port that is under construction on the one major Spratly island that it controls. That is going to irk countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and especially China.

The South Korean coast guard shot and killed a Chinese fisherman during a raid against illegal fishing. These kinds of violent clashes are increasingly common in Asia’s disputed waters, and they don’t always occur between countries that enjoy strong trade ties and warm relations.

China is paying for a host of Sri Lankan infrastructure and developing projects as part of Xi’s plan to secure a “maritime Silk Road” for Chinese trade. China’s economic might gives it lots of leverage in the Game of Thrones.

The UN has responded to a 2008 Japanese territorial claim in disputed waters, calling for Tokyo’s control of a large area surrounding the remote Okinotori Island. On the same day, Chinese President Xi announced a major push to shore up China-U.S. relations. How he responds to the news from Japan will serve as an early test of how serious he is.

China’s increasing aggression is beginning to alarm even peripheral players in Asia’s Game of Thrones.

China declared its right to build ahead of a regional conference at which opponents hoped to stop China’s aggression. Well, not so fast.

Japan has signed major energy deals with Colombia and Mexico, and is increasing sanctions on Russia. Japanese foreign policy is becoming increasingly active, as PM Shinzo Abe seeks to counterbalance China’s rise.

China’s removal of an oil rig from waters disputed by Vietnam is unlikely to signal that tensions are easing in the South China Sea.

The U.S. has been shocked over and over when Beijing says one thing and does another in the South China Sea. Now, at least, it looks like Washington has figured out China’s strategy.