May 2015
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Vietnam defends building in South China Sea
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Vietnam on Wednesday, May 14, defended its construction activities in the disputed South China Sea as shown in recently published satellite images. In an e-mail to Rappler, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Truong Trieu Duong said, “Activities conducted by Vietnam as you mentioned are wholly aimed at improving the old physical […]
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South China Sea: Beijing’s ‘low-intensity coercion’ and Southeast Asia’s response
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Coercion, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, Strategy, USAThis week the annual report to the US Congress on China’s Military Power was released. It noted Beijing’s use of ‘low-intensity coercion’ across the South China Sea and East China Sea. Its assessment stated that: China often uses a progression of small, incremental steps to increase its effective control over disputed territories and avoid escalation to military […]
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China, U.S. head toward faceoff in South China Sea
China, Diplomatic Relations, Face-off, Foreign Affairs, Japan, Militarization, Military Conflict, South China Sea Dispute, USAWASHINGTON — The Chinese government gave a stern warning Wednesday that it will protect its sovereignty in the South China Sea after a cat-and-mouse pursuit of a U.S. warship by a Chinese frigate. “The Chinese side will take resolute measures to safeguard national sovereignty and safety. We will keep an eye on the situation in […]
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China demands US warships keep away from disputed South China Sea islands
Arms Buildup, Artificial Islands, China, Great Wall of Sand, Kalayaan Group of Islands, Militarization, Pagasa, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAChinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said last night that the US needs to clarify its stance on proposed new patrols around the islands being used to establish a claim on key strategic oil and fish stocks. China urged “the relevant country” to “refrain from taking risky and provocative actions to maintain the regional peace […]
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Why the world is wary of China’s ‘great wall of sand’ in the sea
Artificial Islands, China, Great Wall of Sand, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USA(CNN)The leaders of Southeast Asian nations recently took the extraordinary step of warning China that its island-building activities in the contested South China Sea “may undermine peace, security and stability” in the region. That’s strong language from the usually reticent 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and shows just how high tempers are flaring […]
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West Philippine Sea: Are we running out of options?
For decades, China’s foreign policy has been shaped and guided by Deng Xiaoping’s – the late Chinese paramount leader, who was responsible for opening up the country to forces of globalization – famous dictum: “Hide your strength, bide your time.” Recognizing the imperative of national development, after decades of disastrous policies under the megalomaniac Mao […]
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Antonio T. Carpio: The South China Sea Dispute
Antonio Carpio, Arbitration, China, Elcano Royal Institute, European Union, Geopolitics, International Law, International Relations, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Justice Carpio, law of the sea, Madrid, Maritime Disputes, nine-dash line, Philippines, Real Instituto Elcano, Regional Stability, South China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, Spain, territorial dispute, UNCLOSJustice Antonio Carpio, a prominent Filipino jurist, discusses the Philippines’ legal challenge to China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. He explains the legal arguments, the status of the case before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and the potential implications of the tribunal’s decision for regional stability and international law.
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China Lashes Out Over U.S. Plan on South China Sea
Artificial Islands, China, Face-off, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, Spratlys, USABeijing condemned on Wednesday a proposed U.S. military plan to send aircraft and Navy ships near disputed South China Sea islands to contest Chinese territorial claims over the area. “We are severely concerned about relevant remarks made by the American side. We believe the American side needs to make clarification on that,” said Foreign Ministry […]
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China reportedly warns US against sending ships, aircraft to South China Sea
Artificial Islands, China, Face-off, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, USAWASHINGTON – China has reportedly warned the U.S. against sending U.S. Navy aircraft or ships to the South China Sea to contest territorial claims made by Beijing in disputed waters. The Wall Street Journal had reported late Tuesday that the Pentagon was considering flying surveillance aircraft and sending ships to within 12 nautical miles of […]
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Taiwan against moves that would undermine peace in South China Sea
Taipei, May 13 (CNA) Taiwan called for relevant countries Wednesday to avoid any action that could undermine peace and stability amid the simmering tension in the South China Sea. The Foreign Ministry made the remark in response to a recent visit by high-ranking officers of the Philippines to one of the islands in the Spratly […]