evidence: Taiwan’s military installations in the South China Sea, Pratas Island and Itu Aba, could complicate the picture and draw China to open a front in the South China Sea. China likely would be able to attack Pratas Island without embroiling Southeast Asian claimant states. Pratas Island is located near to China and far away from any of the features occupied by Southeast Asian claimant states. It is also not a disputed feature between China and Southeast Asian claimant states. Itu Aba, however, is surrounded by features occupied by Southeast Asian claimant states, especially Vietnam and the Philippines. Chinese military actions against Itu Aba could inadvertently pull these states into the conflict, especially if China were to evict their forces and take control of these features in the process of attacking Itu Aba. China would then find itself creating new enemies in the course of action. The cost would be high for China and could outweigh the military value of occupying Itu Aba. Hence, it is more likely that China will be very careful in any operation against Itu Aba and seek not to provoke these states in hopes that they stay out of the fight.