IMOA
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South China Sea, Corruption, And Drug Trafficking: Duterte Doesn’t Seem To Know What He’s Doing
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is fighting two wars: a diplomatic war in the South China Sea, and a real war against corruption and drug trafficking at home. He doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing in either of them, leaving the country deeply confused, divided, and at odds with friends and neighbors. That’s something investors should keep a close eye,…
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US Swipes at China Signal a Micro Policy Shift in Disputed Sea
The U.S. government is challenging China over its dominant position in Asia’s major maritime sovereignty dispute, but those moves, after months of silence, are seen as aimed at reassuring nervous Southeast Asian countries rather than as a major anti-Beijing pivot. President Donald Trump has shelved the South China Sea issue for most of his nearly half-year term as he tries…
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Does ASEAN Have Anything to Offer on the South China Sea?
The results of the 30th ASEAN Summit, held in Manila on April 29, were somewhat disappointing—though not surprising. The chairman’s statement did not come close to addressing the ongoing concerns of reclamation and militarization in the South China Sea, and in fact did not even mention them (in contrast to recent statements in Laos and Malaysia). The statement also shortchanged…
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Pentagon: China Stocking Arms on Artificial Islands in South China Sea
China is outfitting its controversial artificial islands in the South China Sea with warplane hangars and weapons, the Pentagon said in a report released Tuesday. According to the report, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force intends to base three regiments of warplanes there. “Although its land reclamation and artificial islands do not strengthen China’s territorial claims as a legal matter…
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U.S. Markers in the South China Sea
The Trump Administration is starting to show some backbone on China’s territorial power play against its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. But if the Philippines, Vietnam and others are to stand up to Chinese bullying, the U.S. needs to do more to show it is committed to the region’s stability. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-markers-in-the-south-china-sea-1496746701
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Despite tirades, Duterte respects Justice Carpio- Palace
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte still respects Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, even while the tough-talking leader has repeatedly blasted the magistrate for criticizing his foreign policy. The Palace made the comment in the wake of Carpio’s appearance at a media forum on Monday, where the magistrate warned that the administration’s foreign policy track seemingly submissive to China…
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China hits Tillerson’s remarks on evading South China Sea issue
MANILA, Philippines — US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson irked Beijing in his recent comment that China is using its economic powers to buy its way out of problems. “China is a significant economic and trading power, and we desire a productive relationship, but we cannot allow China to use its economic power to buy its way out of other…
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Prime Minister Turnbull dismisses notion that Australia must choose between China and US
SINGAPORE – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says that he expects the Trump Administration will realize continued engagement in the Indo-Pacific region is in the interest of the U.S., during a speech at an annual regional security summit in Singapore. In a wide-ranging speech that was well-received by the audience, Turnbull also urged China to respect the sovereignty of other…
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Beijing criticised for altering status quo in East and South China seas
China was criticised for “unilaterally” altering the status quo in the East and South China seas at a regional security forum at the weekend, although envoys for Beijing argued their nation follows international law. Defence ministers from the United States, Japan and Australia also voiced support for a ruling by an international arbitration panel last year that found in favour…
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AMERICA IS NAVIGATING FREELY TO NOWHERE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
How we judge the success of the U.S. Navy’s freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) near Mischief Reef last week depends on what it was supposed to achieve. Was it intended to address a legal problem or a strategic one? To be more specific, did it aim to contest China’s claim of a 12-nautical mile territorial sea around a low tide…