Of Maps & Movies: Barbie Movie Banned by Vietnam Over “Nine-Dash-Line” on South China Sea Map

The much-anticipated live-action movie Barbie has been banned in Vietnam over the appearance of a map in the background of one scene allegedly depicting Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, claims disputed by Vietnam and at least seven … Continue reading

Five Countries are Responsible for 60% of Plastic Dumped in the Oceans

For several years now, we have posted about the so-called ocean garbage patches, the great swaths of the oceans where plastic and other floating debris accumulate while riding on vast circular currents. The problem is that an estimated 8 million … Continue reading

Tension Rising in the South China Sea – Chinese Threatens to Board Ships, India and Vietnam Respond

Tensions are rising in the South China Sea, where at least a half dozen nations are asserting a jumble of overlapping claims of sovereignty, fishing and mineral rights.  China is now ramping up their claims by announcing that as of … Continue reading

South China Sea – Is the Cold War Between China and its Neighbors Heating Up?

Last month we posted about a stand-off between Chinese fishing vessels and Philippine Coast Guard ships at Scarborough Shoal in the South China  Sea.  Both nations claim sovereignty over the area. Even the island name is in contention. The Philipines refers to Scarborough Shoal as Panatag … Continue reading

Cruise Ship Silver Shadow Collides with Container Ship in Fog off Vietnam

The luxury cruise ship Silver Shadow  may have lived up to its name on Friday morning when it collided with a container ship in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.  There were no reported injuries on the cruise ship, though passengers reported being knocked off their … Continue reading