That was until an online backlash began over the "Town rabbit V2" model of the doll -- and a marking on its cheek that was said to resemble China's so-called "nine-dash line".

The South China Sea. Since 1952, Beijing has claimed virtually the entire sea, everything inside what's referred to as the nine dash line. In 2023, China added a tenth dash off Taiwan.

Thitu Island is home to the Philippines' largest military outpost in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands archipelago.

China has asserted sovereignty over an uninhabited reef in the South China Sea by planting a flag, according to state media, setting the stage for an escalation of tensions with the Philippines ...

The standoff over Sandy Cay, which lies close to military outposts built by both Beijing and Manila, was the latest between the two nations.

At the time of writing, there have been no publicly reported FONOP in the South China Sea since Dec 6, 2024. More frequent and visible assertions of presence and navigation by other states will be ...

China has leverage it can use by limiting access to its rare earth supplies, but it does not want to sacrifice its reputation as a reliable supplier.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Indonesia and China said Monday they committed to maritime cooperation promoting safety and security in the South China Sea, amid longstanding Indonesian suspicions about ...

China and the Philippines have staked rival claims to a spit of land in the South China Sea, moves that could further inflame tensions in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Beijing has long used the line to justify its claims over most of the resource-rich South China Sea, often to the displeasure of Vietnam, which also claims parts of the waterway.

Indonesia and China said Monday they committed to maritime cooperation promoting safety and security in the South China Sea, amid longstanding Indonesian suspicions about China's actions in waters ...

Illustration showing the nine-dash line on a map of a disputed area of the South China Sea on a laptop in Lao Cai province ...