News
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Commentary: The geo-political fault line in Philippine society
During his six-year term, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III pursued a balancing or a challenging policy on China’s expansive maritime claim in the South China Sea. He countered China by shifting the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ focus from domestic security to territorial defense. This included bolstering closer Philippine-U.S. security relations, acquiring American military equipment, […]
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Ex-DFA chief bats for PHL-Vietnam consultation on South China Sea
Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Friday proposed a joint consultation between the Philippines and Vietnam on key provisions of a proposed code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea. “Clearly, it would be a constructive move to consult with Vietnam to give us an opportunity to share and appreciate each other’s […]
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Can China control the South China Sea?
What’s the nature of China’s power, and what should the world do about it? In a series of debates organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, leading experts confronted the challenges and opportunities presented by the country’s rise. Here we’re bringing you the fourth of five debates. Sign up to the Inkstone newsletter […]
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Why my superhero of 2018 is Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio
I HAVE yet to meet a Philippine Supreme Court judge. For most of us, they are remote, intimidating, dispassionate, imposing figures of authority. It is not hard to imagine them as cold, stern, rigid and aloof. This is perhaps not too far from reality. The journalist Marites Dañguilan Vitug, who has observed the Supreme Court […]
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Tough South China Sea talks ahead as Vietnam seeks to curb China’s actions
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Tough negotiations lie ahead over a new pact between China and Southeast Asian nations aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea, as Vietnam pushes for provisions likely to prove unpalatable to Beijing, documents reviewed by Reuters suggest. Hanoi wants the pact to outlaw many of the actions China has […]
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Commentary: The year China’s rise enters awkward adolescent phase
The year ahead will test China’s ability to navigate geopolitical flux. China must face up to concerns about its rise, says Tom McGregor. BEIJING: 2018 has been a watershed year for China, coming on the back of the removal of term limits on the presidency, amid an increasingly confrontational relationship with the United States. But […]
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‘Sink two aircraft carriers’: Chinese Admiral’s chilling recipe to dominate the South China Sea
Beijing has a devastating plan to force the world out of the East and South China Seas — and it could cost the US 10,000 lives. They’re the pride of the US fleet: enormous 100,000 tonne, 333m long nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. But Beijing thinks they’re Washington’s achilles heel. Rear Admiral Lou Yuan has told an […]
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China doesn’t have the capabilities to control the South China Sea
Peter Dutton of U.S. Naval War College is convinced that China is not able to exert control over the South China Sea in circumstances short of war because of the space, determined resistance and potential reactions from other states. The premise that China has the capability to control the South China Sea in all circumstances […]
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China has already established escalation dominance in the South China Sea
Bryan Clark of Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments argues that China has acquired the ability to control the scope and pace of escalations in the South China Sea – and the US is a willing partner because it has not developed the capabilities to proportionally respond to Chinese provocations. China has the ability to […]
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BATTLESHIPS Chinese admiral warns Beijing could sink two US aircraft carriers killing 10,000 sailors to win battle for South China Sea
He bragged that China’s new anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles were more than capable of taking out US super carriers A CHINESE naval chief warned his country’s military might need to SINK two US aircraft carriers to solve disputes over the South China Sea – risking 10,000 lives. Rear Admiral Lou Yuan – deputy head […]
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In a post-James-Mattis South China Sea, can the next US defence chief do what needs to be done to prevent war?
Amid the deterioration of overall US-China relations, he provided some stability in military-to-military relations. Now pundits are pondering the implications of his abrupt departure. The views and style of his eventual successor will be a crucial factor in US-China military relations. With regard to the South China Sea, the US’ strategic and political interests remain […]
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Asean claimants’ united voice will make China listen – Lorenzana
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana believes that the united voice of five Southeast Asian claimants in the South China Sea will be strong enough to make China listen. “The problem with Asean is that we are not solid in our statement against China,” Lorenzana said in an interview aired on Christmas Eve on ABS-CBN News Channel. […]