As Friend to China & Vietnam, Russia Would Be Perfect Mediator in Spratly Spat

The dispute over islands in the South China Sea is deepening, with countries unable to reach a political settlement engaged in a military buildup in the area instead. For their part, Russian geopolitical analysts suggest that Moscow, a partner to both Beijing and Hanoi, can play a key role in resolving the two countries' quarrel over the Spratlys.