News
-
Duterte to press for greater peace, prosperity in Asia-Pacific
NONTHABURI, Thailand — Pushing for greater peace, security, and prosperity in the Asia Pacific will be part of President Duterte’s agenda when he attends the regional summit here. The President arrived in Bangkok on Friday evening to join other leaders for the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and related meetings from […]
-
Why China gets it wrong in SE Asia
For all the money, time and effort China has invested in Southeast Asia, its grand plans for the neighboring region are by nearly all accounts not going as well as planned. As regional leaders gather in Bangkok for this weekend’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, an occasion US President Donald Trump has […]
-
U.S. NOT WILLING TO BECOME ‘A REAL ENEMY OF CHINA,’ STATE MEDIA SAYS AMID TENSIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, TAIWAN
Chinese state media has hit out at the U.S. Senate after lawmakers passed a new act expressing its support for the independent island nation of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a wayward part of a unified China. The latest U.S. move comes amid tensions over American support for anti-Beijing protesters in Hong Kong, China’s oppression […]
-
Duterte and the South China Sea: A Carousel of Partnerships
Earlier this year, I outlined the roots of the ongoing dispute over the South China Sea and the upending of traditional Philippine foreign policy by incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, wherein he spurned the country’s long-time pro-American stance in favour of improving relations with Beijing. However, despite the apparent warming of relations with China, it […]
-
What Does ASEAN’s Evolving Approach to the South China Sea Issue Mean for Vietnam?
Though the regional grouping continues to have difficulties on the issue, it nonetheless remains important to Hanoi’s calculations. While a range of issues will be in discussion during this weekend’s summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the South China Sea will be among them. And for Vietnam in particular, how ASEAN […]
-
Who’s bullying who in the South China Sea?
The United States and China are accusing each other of ‘bullying’ in the South China Sea. The epithet is being thrown around rather loosely. But there is some truth to these mutual accusations. Bullying is the practice of influencing another party to do something it does not want to do by using threats or […]
-
Carpio shares ways for ASEAN to deal with Chinese intimidation in South China Sea
Retired Associate Justice Antonio Carpio proposes several actions on what ASEAN can do to deal with China’s intimidation in the South China Sea. One of his proposals is the signing of a convention that territorial disputes in the Spratlys will be resolved amicably through negotiations or arbitration. https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/31/19/carpio-shares-ways-for-asean-to-deal-with-chinese-intimidation-in-south-china-sea
-
Beijing’s ‘good faith’ needed for SCS code to work–del Rosario
BEIJING should participate in “good faith” if the proposed Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea is going to work, according to a former Philippine diplomat. Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement that China already had a record of “duplicitous behavior” which […]
-
Can ASEAN and China finish South China Sea code of conduct by 2022?
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China have a 2022 deadline to come up with a code of conduct to help minimize tensions in the South China Sea. But foreign policy analyst Renato de Castro doubts the code of conduct will be effective, considering it will not solve disputes in the South China Sea. […]
-
Carpio: No need for China recognition of PH ownership in joint exploration
MANILA, Philippines – Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio disagreed with Vice President Leni Robredo’s demand that the Philippine government must require China to recognize Philippine ownership and sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea before pursuing a contract for oil and gas exploration. Carpio took this position as he explained that […]
-
[ANALYSIS] ASEAN tourism message for China: Welcome, but diversify!
The Philippines must prepare for the double-edged sword of Chinese spending. This potential for China ‘weaponizing’ tourism has a history. “It’s more Chinese in the Philippines” might – or might not – be a universally welcomed goal of the Philippine Department of Tourism given the ebb and flow, and the positive and negative consequences, […]
-
South China Sea row: Philippines to launch nuclear programme as China tensions grow
THE PHILIPPINES are planning a new nuclear programme amid heightening tensions with China which has seen political uproar and weapons readied with the help of US support. China’s aggression in the South China Sea has led to persistent bickering between Manila and Beijing with an arms race now fully under way in the region, […]