South China Sea

In the grand sweep of Chinese history, the woman warrior is both ever-present and curiously obscured. She appears in poems and operas, in dynastic chronicles and martial folklore, yet she is rarely centered in the official narratives of empire. She is often remembered not by name, but by role: the filial daughter, the loyal wife, the grieving mother, the rebel widow. And yet, she endures. From the legendary Hua Mulan to the pirate queen Ching Shih, from the drum-beating general Liang Hongyu to the revolutionary matron Mother Lü, Chinese history is threaded with women who took up arms—not...

Harvesting the Waves explores how ecological diplomacy can bridge conflicting interests, transforming disputed waters into areas of cooperation. The creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the South China Sea presents a promising strategy for alleviating geopolitical tensions. By fostering shared conservation goals and promoting sustainable resource management, these efforts encourage peaceful collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Drawing on comprehensive research and real-world case studies, the book sheds light on the delicate balance between environmental ...

New islands are being built at an unprecedented rate, whether for tourism or territorial ambition, while many islands are disappearing or fragmenting because of rising sea levels. It is a strange planetary spectacle, creating an ever-changing map that even Google Earth struggles to keep pace with. In The Age of Islands, explorer and geographer Alastair Bonnett takes the listener on a compelling and thought-provoking tour of the world's newest, most fragile and beautiful islands and reveals what, he argues, is one of the great dramas of our time.