News
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Beijing vows to keep military presence in South China Sea as US pledges US$300 million for security
Foreign Minister Wang Yi makes the remarks at Asean summit after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces Indo-Pacific commitment Beijing on Saturday vowed to maintain its military presence in the South China Sea, insisting the US is “the biggest force for militarisation in this region” after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged US$300 […]
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CHINA SCORES WITH ASEAN PLAY AS TRUMP’S AMERICA LOSES ITS WAY IN SOUTH CHINA SEA
US’ paltry down payment on its Indo-Pacific strategy is only matched by its faltering security commitment to Southeast Asia On March 12, 1947, as the spectre of Soviet communism loomed over the horizon of newly liberated Europe, President Harry Truman vowed that it would be the policy of the United States to “support free people […]
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Commentary: A sober assessment of the recent ‘breakthrough’ on the South China Sea
Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakirishnan called new developments to the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea “yet another milestone”. There’s no room for complacency until the code is agreed upon, says one observer. Following the adoption of a draft framework on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea last August, barely […]
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PH-China joint exploration in S. China Sea OK if sovereign rights upheld – Carpio
MANILA – Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday said he sees nothing wrong with the proposed joint exploration between the Philippines and China in the disputed South China Sea as long as Manila asserts its sovereign rights. “As long as the joint development complies with the Philippine Constitution and there is no waiver of […]
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Surge in South China Sea Naval Exercises in 2018 Vexes Beijing
TAIPEI — A surge in naval maneuvers in the South China Sea by Western allies this year is keeping China from any further expansion into the contested waters, analysts say. Vessels from Australia, France, Japan and the United States have sent ships to the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea in 2018. They believe the sea rich in […]
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South China Sea talks see agreement on negotiations
FOREIGN MINISTERS of Asean and China have agreed to accept a “single text” to negotiate the code of conduct on the contentious South China Sea issue, according to diplomats of both sides. Members of Asean have been at loggerheads with China over the territorial rights in the South China Sea. Tensions and clashes have occurred […]
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Cayetano hits back at Aquino’s call for transparency on South China Sea issue
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano on Tuesday, July 31, hit back on former President Benigno S.C. Aquino III on the latter’s call for transparency on the South China Sea issue, saying that the former President and even Vice President Leni G. Robredo were given wrong information on the matter. “Unfortunately, both former President […]
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Building confidence in the South China Sea
During this year’s chairmanship of ASEAN, Singapore is expected to continue the association’s work in developing measures to help mitigate tensions in the South China Sea. In recent years, ASEAN and China have agreed to establish communication hotlines between their respective foreign ministries as well as to implement the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea […]
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Philippines vows to advance ASEAN-China ties as coordinator: FM
MANILA, July 31 (Xinhua) — Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Tuesday that his country had vowed to play a constructive role in advancing ASEAN (the association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China relations when it assumes the role of ASEAN-China country coordinator later this year. “We will play bridging or intermediary role (in pushing […]
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Panel: China Continues to Coerce South China Sea Neighbors with its Maritime Forces
China persists in employing a variety of tactics to coerce Taiwan, its maritime neighbors and put more pressure on Japan, a panel of experts agreed last week. Nowhere is that more visible than Beijing’s “persistent and flexible presence” from its maritime militia, Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy. It is a maritime force that […]
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South China Sea Draft Pact Set to Be Welcomed by Southeast Asian Nations
Singapore (AP) — Southeast Asian nations are expected to welcome an initial negotiating draft of a nonaggression pact with China on the South China Sea, but critics warn that the protracted talks provide a diplomatic cover for Beijing’s tenacious aggression in the disputed waters. Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will also […]
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US Makes Up Some Lost Diplomatic Ground Over South China Sea
Many policymakers and analysts would agree that there is a surging soft and hard power struggle between China and the United States for dominance in the South China Sea and Southeast Asia. I argue elsewhere that China has made significant inroads in what was long a region of U.S. soft power dominance. But Washington is […]