News
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Uncertain Prospects: South China Sea Code of Conduct Negotiations
For nearly two decades, diplomats from Southeast Asian countries and China have met to discuss the implementation of a “code of conduct” for the South China Sea. The goal of that code is to manage the tensions that may arise from disputes between the region’s claimants, including Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and more recently Indonesia. Back in…
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The Philippines Takes a Tougher Approach to Its South China Sea Claims
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s South China Sea policy is becoming less conciliatory toward China, as he tries to balance growing pressure from within his administration to revitalize Manila’s security cooperation with the United States against the need to preserve his country’s economic ties with Beijing. The Duterte administration has recently made a number of statements emphasizing the Philippines’ extensive maritime…
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Let’s not put words into the President’s mouth
Let’s begin with this opener of Rappler’s report in Rappler.com on Sept. 23, 2020: “President Duterte dropped a bombshell by raising, in an unprecedented move, the Philippines legal victory against China in a UN forum. …‘The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon,’ he declared.” You,…
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In Wake of Recent India-China Conflict, U.S. Sees Opportunity
WASHINGTON — Weeks after India and China engaged in their deadliest border clash in decades, the sight of an American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier entering the Bay of Bengal drew attention across the region. The carrier, Nimitz, and its strike group deployed to the area in mid-July to conduct an exercise with the Indian Navy in pursuit of a “free…
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Canadian warship sails near Taiwan amid heightened China tensions
A Canadian warship has sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, the island’s defence ministry said on Saturday, a voyage that comes at a time of heightened military tension between China and Taiwan and which could anger Beijing. China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up its military activity around the island in the past few weeks,…
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Shrinking fish stocks raise tensions in the South China Sea
Fishermen claim being harassed or rammed by Chinese vessels. Plus, the firing of an Australian mining company boss. https://www.aljazeera.com/program/counting-the-cost/2020/10/3/shrinking-fish-stocks-raise-tensions-in-the-south-china-sea/
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Chinese envoy says fears of debt trap, security threat ‘groundless, misleading’
As the Philippines decided to push through with infrastructure projects involving Chinese firms blacklisted by the US, Beijing’s envoy to Manila defended China’s intentions amid skepticisms that such projects will threaten the country’s security and will lead to a debt trap. In a recent speech, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian pointed out some “groundless” and “misleading accusations” concerning Chinese-funded projects such…
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PH Coast Guard eyeing bigger HQ in Subic
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is setting its sights on moving its main headquarters from Manila to the Subic Bay Freeport for bigger space for its growing number of personnel, facilities, vessels and equipment. Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade recently sought the help of Japan, INQUIRER.net learned from a government source familiar with the request. The Japanese government has been…
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Philippines versus Facebook brawl exposes China’s sharp power
Richard Heydarian is an Asia-based academic, columnist and author of “The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt Against Elite Democracy” and the “The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery.” Throughout the years, Facebook has served as the unwitting enabler of populists and right-wing elements across the world. The social media company has provided a free-for-all platform…
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Consensus on the South China Sea
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) technocrats must have experienced some unease when President Duterte decided that he would address the 75th UN General Assembly. He would join this annual ritual, even if only in virtual mode, for the first time, since his election in 2016. During his term, he has not found many kind words to say about the UN.…
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China’s other false claims in the SCS
China’s nine-dash line historical claim to 85.7 percent of the South China Sea has been exposed as the fake history of the millennium. An arbitral tribunal formed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) has ruled with finality that China’s claim has no basis in fact and in law. However, China and its propagandists have…
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Philippines eyeing retired gas platforms near Recto Bank as Navy observation posts
MANILA (UPDATE) – The Philippine Navy chief on Saturday inspected two retired gas platforms being considered for conversion into military observation posts for Recto Bank and the Malampaya gas field in the West Philippine Sea. The visit of Flag Officer In Command Navy Vice Admiral Giovanni Bacordo to Nido and Matinloc gas platforms came as China again rejected the 2016…