IMOA
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U.S. aircraft carrier and MSDF helicopter destroyer conduct joint exercises in disputed South China Sea
The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group has kicked off bilateral exercises with the Maritime Self-Defense Force, including one of the largest vessels in Japan’s fleet, in the disputed South China Sea, the U.S. Navy said Tuesday. The navy, which said the Vinson was on a “regularly scheduled deployment in the Western Pacific,” said the Vinson and the USS…
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Australia to stress international law in South China Sea dispute
Bishop, in a speech ahead of a special meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Sydney, will not name China but will argue that international law will stabilize a region strained by rival claims in the South China Sea. “The rules-based order is designed to regulate behavior and rivalries of and between states, and ensure countries…
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China and the Undermining of Global Rules
More Chinese assertiveness and unilateralism are coming. Recently, worrying developments have emerged that oblige the United States to further challenge China to become a more responsible global stakeholder that contributes positively to the international system. Otherwise, passivity and acquiescence undermine the new U.S. National Security Strategy; reinforce Beijing’s growing belief that Washington is a declining power; and may further embolden…
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PH foreign policy afflicted with Stockholm Syndrome
Many of us are familiar with the term “Stockholm Syndrome.” In 1973, four people were taken hostage in Stockholm. Despite their ordeal, the hostages spoke well of their captors and refused to testify against them in court. The term was eventually applied to victims of abuse who refuse to take action against their abusers. This is most evident in cases…
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Emperor Xi And The Kowtow Imperative
Imperial China had no Foreign Ministry; there was only the Ministry of Rituals. Its job was to judge the importance of the country seeking consideration and decide the level of kowtow – the elaborate show of obsequiousness, the series of bows, kneels, and touching the forehead to the floor, that would be required of its emissary seeking an audience with…
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Academics moot renaming South China Sea to assert Malaysian sovereignty
March 8 — Malaysia should follow its neighbours’ example and unilaterally rename its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea to assert its sovereignty in the ongoing maritime territorial dispute, a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer said yesterday. Abdul Muein Abadi who specialises in political science suggested that the name could be “Malaysia Raya Sea”, to send a message…
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ASEAN military chiefs push for peace in South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines – Military chiefs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pushed for peace in the disputed South China Sea, as they also stressed the need to avoid moves “that may complicate the situation.” The military chiefs made this statement after the ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM) held in Singapore on Thursday, March 8. The…
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Palace calls for unity in addressing West PH Sea issue, exploration
With all the recent talk in the South China Sea, Malacañang has appealed for the public to unite to address the issue on the disputed waters. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement days after he revealed that there are ongoing talks between Filipino and Chinese firms on possible joint exploration in Service Contracts (SCs) 57 and 72. Roque, in…
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South China Sea marine park proposed
A national park in the South China Sea is needed to better preserve the marine ecology in the region, deputies from China’s top legislature said Tuesday on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC). Protection of unique and rich resources in the South China Sea has always been given great importance, especially when some of…
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China’s debt-trap diplomacy reaches the Philippines, which is likely to accept Chinese loans 1,100% more expensive than other options
The Philippines is close to accepting loans from China that are 1,100% more expensive than ones from Japan. The country’s chief economist said it will accept the loan as it needs “more friends,” as relations between the two countries warm after years of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The loan is part of a so-called debt-trap diplomacy in…