IMOA
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What’s Behind Vietnam’s More Vocal Stance Against China?
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Vietnam sounded off twice last week against China over a long-festering maritime sovereignty dispute, after months of silence. But analysts expect to see angry phases like this one alternate more often with silent ones. The foreign ministry in Vietnam said on April 24 China violated Vietnamese sovereignty by installing military jamming equipment in the disputed sea’s Paracel…
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Duterte ‘sensitive’ on Benham Rise, won’t jet-ski to South China Sea
“I’m ready. Walang problema ‘yan. And to make a statement, pupunta ako doon. Ang problema ang jet ski kailangan ng gasoline. Eh in the midst sa China Sea wala namang Caltex, wala namang Shell, wala namang Petron,” Duterte said in a press conference in Davao City after his arrival from Singapore. Duterte made a promise during the May 2016 presidential…
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The South China Sea Disputes: Will Taiwan’s Role Be Enhanced?
HAIKOU (IPP Review) — For many years, Taiwan’s interests and role in the South China Sea disputes have essentially been officially ignored. But with the election of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his appointment of John Bolton as National Security Adviser, its influence on and involvement in such issues may increase substantially. Bolton in particular has a long history…
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Rody assures Vietnam: No WPS cop-out
Malacañang said Saturday President Rodrigo Duterte would deal with the arbitral award on the disputed West Philippine Sea or South China Sea, as the President clarified he did not abandon the tribunal’s ruling in favor of the Philippines’ protest against China’s nine-dash line that covers nearly the whole of the disputed region. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte made the…
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China calls out G7 for ‘irresponsible’ statement on South China Sea
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) — The Chinese government dismissed as “irresponsible” the joint statement made by a number of countries on the South China Sea dispute. “We ask the relevant countries to respect facts, especially when it comes to maritime issues. They should also respect the efforts made by regional countries to uphold stability while focusing on cooperation…
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Vietnam demands that China remove military jamming equipment from Spratly Islands
The equipment installed by China causes radio jamming and seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty. Vietnam’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday that China has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty by installing military jamming equipment on outposts in Truong Sa, Spratly Islands off the South China Sea, commonly known as the East Sea in Vietnam. Le Thi Thu Hang told the press that the…
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Is China’s Belt and Road working? A progress report from eight countries
GWADAR, Pakistan — The idea of transforming the ancient fishing village of Gwadar into a bustling port city has been around since at least 1954, when Pakistan commissioned the U.S. Geological Survey to examine its coastline. Their conclusion: Gwadar, which sits on the Arabian Sea, would be an ideal location for a deep-water port. Gwadar’s potential went unrealized for decades,…
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Prime minister says Australia will sail in South China Sea
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s prime minister said the Australian navy has a “perfect right” to traverse the South China Sea after a media report Friday that the Chinese navy had challenged three Australian warships in the hotly contested waterway. The Chinese “challenged” two Australian frigates and an oil replenishment ship this month as the Australian ships were sailing to Vietnam,…
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Australia asserts right to South China Sea passage
MELBOURNE • Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asserted his country’s right to conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea after a media report said three Australian navy warships had been challenged by Chinese forces. The Australian Broadcasting Corp said the People’s Liberation Army, conducting its largest ever naval exercises in the region earlier this month, challenged the…
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BEIJING’S SOUTH CHINA SEA MILITARY BASES NOW HAVE JAMMERS THAT CAN BLOCK AMERICAN RADAR AND COMMUNICATIONS, U.S. CLAIMS
United States officials claimed that China has installed military jamming equipment on fortified artificial islands in the South China Sea which will allow Beijing to block enemy radar and communications systems. This latest step in China’s militarization of its island bases signifies Beijing’s determination to assert its regional territorial claims, regardless of U.S. opposition. According to The Wall Street Journal,…