News
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South China Sea Disputes Expected to Take Center Stage at ASEAN Summit
After upending the regional order by boldly declaring his “separation” from America in favor of joining China’s “ideological flow” last year, Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte has assumed the rotational chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. The Philippines’ newfound regional leadership has come at a particularly crucial juncture, as the […]
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China says first draft of framework for South China Sea code of conduct ready
[BEIJING] A first draft of a framework for a code of conduct for behaviour in the disputed South China Sea has been completed, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday, adding tension in the waterway had eased notably. Since 2010, China and the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) […]
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US halts China’s island reclamation
CHINA attempted to restart reclamation at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) but was stopped by the United States last year, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana bared on Thursday. The incident, according to Lorenzana, happened in May last year when the US “quietly” told China to stop reclamation in Panatag, […]
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Philippine defence minister suspicious of Chinese ship activities
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippine defence minister on Thursday said he was “disturbed” by what he believes are survey missions by Chinese ships deep into its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and in an area designated as its continental shelf. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Chinese ships had been monitored in recent months […]
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China says first draft of framework for South China Sea code of conduct ready
[BEIJING] A first draft of a framework for a code of conduct for behaviour in the disputed South China Sea has been completed, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday, adding tension in the waterway had eased notably. Since 2010, China and the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) […]
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Duterte not setting aside arbitral court ruling, says Lorenzana
There may have been warmer ties between the Philippines and China since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, but it does not mean he is setting aside the international arbitral court ruling that dismissed China’s case in the South China Sea. “There is a misperception among us the Filipinos that the President really set aside the […]
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Lorenzana: US stopped China from building in Scarborough Shoal
China planned to start reclamation in the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag) in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) last year but it was stopped by the United States, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed on Thursday. “There was a plan by the Chinese in June to reclaim Scarborough Shoal. In fact, we received reports from the […]
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U.S. stopped China’s plan to build on Scarborough
MANILA, Philippines – China was set last year to build on Scarborough Shoal but the US was able to stop the plan, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed on Thursday, March 9. “There was a plan by the Chinese in June to reclaim Scarborough Shoal. We received a report from the Americans that there were barges […]
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Asean-China Code of Conduct: Never-ending negotiations
Yesterday, China expressed satisfaction over finalising a first draft of a Code of Conduct with Asean on South China Sea issues. It has taken 21 years – and it is by no means certain that a substantive final agreement can be reached. The Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) comes at […]
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Science Offers Peace-building Mechanism in South China Sea Dispute
Protecting marine environments and ensuring the ocean’s sustainability is a global issue that is vital for all life, and nowhere is this more important than in the South China Sea. Extending across tropical and semi-tropical zones, this body of water offers an abundant and complex marine ecosystem. However, the territorial claims among China, Vietnam, Taiwan, […]
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China launches world’s largest oil exploration sea platform
The 42,000-tonne Bluewhale 1 is bigger, faster and can drill deeper than its rivals in disputed waters China has put into service what it claims is the world’s largest and deepest-operating offshore oil exploration platform, the Bluewhale I, the state broadcaster reported on Saturday. The rig has a total deck area about the size of […]
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Future of South China Sea disputes depends on Washington, says China’s legislature spokeswoman
The future of the longstanding South China Sea disputes will largely depend on Washington, Beijing says, and it is ready to deal with any challenges US President Donald Trump may pose to the relations between the countries. Speaking on the eve of the opening of the annual session of the National People’s Congress, Fu Ying, […]