Ruben langs de Zuid-Chinese Zee

In this episode, Ruben travels through Vietnam. Fishermen he speaks with are afraid to say out loud that they are being chased away from their traditional fishing grounds near the Paracel Islands by the Chinese. It seems the Vietnamese are doing everything they can to avoid an open confrontation with China. Even at an international conference intended to discuss the South China Sea openly, caution seems to be the norm. Along with a group of American war veterans, we see the deep scars of the Vietnam War.

In China, Ruben tries to understand why the Chinese consider the entire South China Sea their backyard and are surprised that we don't. China actively seeks historical evidence for its claim to the sea. From old ship logs to archaeological finds, new museums are full of them. They supposedly also prove that Taiwan belongs to China. Ruben sees how young schoolchildren are instilled with this nationalistic ideology from an early age.

In Taiwan, Ruben sees the growing threat of Chinese invasion. The coast guard is on high alert as Chinese ships increasingly appear in their waters. Most Taiwanese are worried; some are even taking civil defense courses or arming themselves against fake news. To his surprise, Ruben discovers that there are also Taiwanese who are open to reunification with China.

How long will Taiwan remain a self-governing country?

On the Japanese island of Okinawa, once the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, centuries-old Chinese influences clash with Japanese and American presence. While boatloads of Chinese day-trippers rekindle old ties on the island, Japanese and American soldiers prepare for a potential confrontation with China. On Ishigaki Island, near Taiwan, Japan is building up its military presence. Ruben meets Setsuko, an 88-year-old peace activist who is protesting this, fearing history will repeat itself. She recounts how she lost her mother and sister during World War II and now experiences nightmares about a new nuclear war.