May 2015
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Australia Urges China Not to Create South China Sea Air Zone
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Australia, China, Philippiens, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAAustralia urged China not to create a proprietary air zone over the disputed South China Sea, with defusing tensions in the waters a priority, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said. “The Asean countries have been discussing this and I believe they’ve made their position quite plain that they would be deeply concerned if there was any […]
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From rundown outpost, Philippines watches China island take shape in disputed sea
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Militarization, Pagasa Group of Islands, Phlippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, ThituTHITU ISLAND, South China Sea (Reuters) – As the Philippine military C-130 transport plane made its approach to the country’s most precious outpost in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, it flew past a reef which China is quickly turning into an island. At least two cranes and two dredgers were visible on Subi […]
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Philippine military chief visits South China Sea island
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines’ military chief flew to a Filipino-occupied island in the South China Sea on Monday and vowed to defend the territory and help develop tourism and marine resources there amid disputes with China. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, accompanied by journalists and other military officials, said he visited Pag-asa Island to […]
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Environmentalists demand China to stop ‘ecological destruction’ in West PH Sea
Artificial Islands, China, Ecology, Environmental Impact, Food Security, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, SpratlysEnvironmentalists trooped to the Chinese Consulate in Makati City on Monday to demand China to stop its reclamation works in the West Philippine Sea which damage the marine ecosystem in the area. Holding banners written with the call “China Out of Philippine Seas Now,” about 20 members of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment […]
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China reclaimed 800 hectares of land in South China Sea: US
Washington: China’s hastily expanding campaign to reclaim land in the South China Sea for potential military use now totals 800 hectares, the US has said, stressing that the move to build artificial islands in the disputed area is inconsistent with the region’s desire for peace and stability. “We currently assess that China has reclaimed approximately […]
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REFILE-UPDATE 3-China accelerates land reclamation in disputed islands – Pentagon
May 9 (Reuters) – China embarked upon extensive land reclamation efforts at five outposts in the disputed Spratly Islands last year, adding huge amounts of terrain to bolster its civil and military presence in an area claimed by rivals, a new Pentagon report said on Friday. Chinese building and land-filling efforts have accelerated this year, […]
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U.S. Says Beijing Is Building Up South China Sea Islands
WASHINGTON—China has dramatically expanded its construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea this year, American officials said, stoking U.S. fears of expanding territorial claims by Beijing in the region. American officials have determined that in the past five months alone, China has expanded the artificial islands on submerged reefs known as the Spratlys […]
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China Reserves Right to Create Air Zone Over South China Sea
China reserves the right to establish an Air Defense Identification Zone over the South China Sea, a move that would raise tensions in a region wracked by territorial disputes. “China is entitled to set up ADIZs,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday. “A decision in this regard depends on whether the air safety […]
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41 Years in the Making: Why China’s South China Sea Plan Will Fail
Analysis, Artificial Islands, ASEAN, Australia, China, History, Indonesia, Malaysia, Natuna, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, USA, VietnamWhile China’s recent assertiveness in the South China Sea might shock and surprise today’s observers, its behavior has actually been remarkably consistent over recent decades. China first exercised its power in the region in January 1974 when it ejected South Vietnam from the Crescent Islands. In March 1988, the Chinese Navy clashed with Vietnamese vessels, […]
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UPDATE 3-Images show Vietnam South China Sea reclamation, China defends own
May 8 (Reuters) – Newly released images show Vietnam has carried out significant land reclamation at two sites in the disputed South China Sea, though the scale and pace is dwarfed by that of China, a U.S. research institute said. In response, China condemned Vietnam’s actions, and said its work in the region was part […]