China-US Focus on August 11, 2014 published an article on the situation in the South China Sea by Zhai Kun, Director of the Institute of World Political Studies under the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, affiliated to the Ministry of State Security. Zhai Kun observed that at this stage "the biggest change is that onlookers have become assistants to players. Another major change is that parties concerned have become more direct in their actions with frequent and escalating interactions. China is proactive, while Vietnam and the Philippines refuse to be outdone. The US and Japan explicitly become involved, meaning a big game of various strategic means including media opinions, military deterrence, coalitions, litigation, dialogue and consultations as well as foreign assistance has just begun. Currently, the possibility of conflict must not be excluded. But, on the whole, it remains controllable".