Vietnam is considering stopping construction on a group of artificial islands in the South China Sea. These islands, known as the Spratlys, are contested by six countries and are the focus of an escalating dispute between China and the U.S. So can the world of international diplomacy effectively use crisis management techniques, which are most usually associated with the public relations industry? David Welch, CIGI Chair of Global Security, Balsillie School of International Affairs, and Professor of Political Science, University of Waterloo, explains.