Manila and Beijing are to hold direct talks on the South China Sea for the first time Friday, a move that may strengthen Beijing's hand in the festering dispute. By agreeing to bilateral negotiations, analysts say the Philippines weakens the position of other countries involved, impedes efforts for a multilateral solution, and lays bare China's ability to control the agenda in the South China Sea and US unwillingness to antagonize Beijing over the dispute. "China is winning the argument here and others will have to move accordingly," says Mathew Davies, head of the International Relations Department at the Australian National University, who specializes in Southeast Asian politics. Read more
