Tensions are still high in the South China Sea , drawing a great deal of regional and international attention. But these Southeast Asian disputes are only part of the broader trend in the Pacific Rim. As China grows into a great power , it is pushing outward and disturbing the status quo across Asia. Because water defines the geopolitics of East Asia, Beijing's rise is impacting numerous maritime boundaries that once held solid or had simply been ignored. One of these numerous disputes is between China and South Korea over a rock in the Yellow Sea known as Ieodo-Suyan. (Seoul calls it Ieodo, China calls it Suyan Rock and the international community refers to it as Socotra Rock.) This small landmass has been a point of contention since the 1990s, leading to violent clashes between fishermen and coastguard vessels.