An Eminent Spark?

Economist.com | China, Japan and the West

Probing overview of the current balance of power in the South China Sea. Terrifying, in a way--with the likely lifting of the EU arms embargo and the attempts of the PRC to pass "anti-secession" legislation, the world may be observing the road to conflict increasingly solidifying. We've already seen a) a rise in communication and transportation/trade between Taiwan and mainland China and b) strengthening ties between the two severed Koreas (if that's at all relevant). What's next? Will these grayzone politics continue in perpetuity, or is there a sinister bit of expansionism gathering strength in Beijing? With American relatively distracted, and Macau and Hong Kong recently added (smoothly) to their portfolio, is the PRC casting an eager eye on another South China Sea gem?