IMOA
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Will America Fight to Save Taiwan? Will the Taiwanese?
Our admirals project that the Chinese Communists will attack Taiwan within six years, writes Seth Cropsey (“The Danger of Shrinking American Naval Power,” op-ed, Aug. 13). How about in six weeks? They have been laying the foundation for taking Taiwan for 25 years. Back then, the Chinese navy was a joke. No one is laughing today. Their modern navy with…
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Will US military exercises send the desired signal to China?
The largest US amphibious exercise in 40 years highlighted Washington’s anxiety to show its global military supremacy over Russia and China but also exposed some of its weaknesses, Chinese military observers have said. The Large Scale Exercise 2021 took place between August 3 and 16 across 17 time zones and involved 25,000 personnel from global combat commands in the Atlantic,…
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China fires flares at PH military planes patrolling West PH Sea
MANILA, Philippines—China recently fired flares at Philippine military planes conducting security patrols in the West Philippine Sea. These were recorded at least five times near Chinese outposts in the West Philippine Sea, according to Lt. Col. Bill Pasia, of the Palawan-based Western Command, at an online forum on Friday (Aug. 20). Pasia also said that Philippine aircraft received Chinese radio…
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Spratlys vs KIG
By: Antonio T. Carpio – @inquirerdotnetPhilippine Daily Inquirer / 04:06 AM August 05, 2021 The Philippines’ territorial claim to the Spratlys is limited only to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), as formalized in Presidential Decree No. 1596 and clarified in Republic Act No. 9522. China’s and Vietnam’s territorial claims cover the entire Spratlys. Malaysia’s territorial claim is limited to a…
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Nothing new in last SONA
President Rodrigo Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 26, 2021 broke no new ground on the most important foreign policy issue facing the Philippines — China’s relentless encroachment on the West Philippine Sea. Sadly, President Duterte adopted and reiterated the position of China that rejected the validity of the Arbitral Award in favor of the Philippines.…
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Our vanishing ‘galunggong’
By: Antonio T. Carpio – @inquirerdotnetPhilippine Daily Inquirer / 05:06 AM July 22, 2021 Two months ago, I had a Zoom meeting with fisherfolk from Zambales who complained that their fish catch had been dwindling because huge Chinese trawlers have been scooping the fish in their traditional fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea, leaving them with smaller fish. Filipino…
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Indonesia and US building maritime training center on edge of South China Sea
JakartaIndonesia and the United States have broken ground on a new $3.5 million maritime training center in the strategic area of Batam, in the Riau Islands, Indonesia’s maritime security agency said. Attending the ceremony virtually on Friday, the US ambassador to Indonesia, Sung Kim, said the maritime center would be part of ongoing efforts between the two countries to bolster…
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The Dutch frigate in the South China Sea is a wrong signal
The Communist Party of China celebrates its centenary on Thursday, July 1. With the centenary, the party is trying to legitimize its monopoly on power. After all, it has ruled China for many decades without allowing elections or political opposition. Exhibits, specials, and feature films for the population show how the party rescued the country from the chaos and poverty…
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Vietnam’s strategic interests in the South China Sea: Challenges and options
According to the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Vietnam is strengthening its maritime militia. Though the figures appear to be exaggerated, Vietnam’s action is propelled by the escalating Chinese aggressive activities. In fact, Vietnam has very high stakes in the South China Sea (SCS), which is its life-line. Its geographical situation clearly brings out this dimension. Vietnam borders…
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South China Sea risks highlighted by Britain-Russia encounter in Black Sea
Last week’s confrontation between Russia and Britain in the Black Sea has highlighted a possible scenario facing China and other countries in the disputed South China Sea, observers said. However, the military experts said the People’s Liberation Army would not react aggressively when dealing with its foreign counterparts in the region, to prevent the risk of an escalation. The British…