News
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Chinese ships back at Panatag Shoal
MANILA, Philippines – An official of the Department of National Defense (DND) confirmed Monday that Chinese ships have returned to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal a few days after they left the area off Zambales in the West Philippine Sea. Security sources had earlier said that two Chinese maritime surveillance (CMS) vessels were sighted near Panatag Shoal as of Friday. Read more: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/08/13/chinese-ships-back-panatag-shoal
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The danger of pushing China too far on law of the sea
China has been under withering political and legal attack for allegedly violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Although at the recent meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Brunei, Beijing declared its willingness to discuss a code of conduct for the South China Sea, there has been no change in its maritime claims or…
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Japan wary of ‘coercive’ China
TOKYO — China’s “coercive” behaviour in waters around islands at the centre of a bitter dispute with Japan is dangerous and could trigger an incident, Tokyo said in a new defence paper Tuesday. At a cabinet meeting, hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ministers adopted the white paper, the first annual report on Japan’s defence capabilities and regional security…
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Chinese vessels go in and out of Panatag Shoal – DFA
Ayungin Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc, Brunei, China, Fishing Rights, GMA Network News, Malaysia, Oil, Panatag Shoal, Philippines, Scarborough Shoal, TaiwanTwo Chinese vessels have been spotted again in the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off northern Philippines, days after it was reported that the ships have left the area, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. “Yesterday [Sunday], we received a report from the Philippine Navy confirming that Chinese ships are back in Bajo de Masinloc,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez…
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ASEAN plays positive role amid sea spats
ASEAN, Global Times, Militarization, Philippines, Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas shoal, South China Sea DisputeSoutheast Asia has seen its fair share of happenings in recent months, ranging from the maritime incidents in the South China Sea to the recurring haze problems affecting some ASEAN members. Moreover, the much vaunted ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is supposed to mold ASEAN into a single market and production base, is scheduled to go into effect but two…
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China’s cabbage strategy
Ayungin Shoal, Business World, Cabbage Strategy, China, Fishing Rights, Militarization, Nine Dash Line, Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas shoal, Spratlys, USATWO WEEKS ago, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused ASEAN of an anti-Beijing conspiracy over disputed South China Sea (SCS) territory at the start of the foreign ministers meeting in Brunei, and called the Philippines a provocateur for stirring tensions in the SCS. That imperious salvo triggered a sharp response from DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario. China’s claim of indisputable…
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China-Asean code of conduct can ease tensions
China’s agreement to discuss a code of conduct with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations aimed at avoiding tension and conflict in the South China Sea is a significant change of tone in relations with the 10-member group that reflects its growing role as a regional and global power. A framework for co-operation agreed between Beijing and Asean more than…
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Sea treaty mutiny simmers
HAIKOU, CHINA – Recently China has been under withering political and legal attack for allegedly violating the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. What are the consequences if China simply gets “fed up” with the criticism and withdraws from the treaty? China ratified the treaty in 1996. But rival claimants in the South China Sea and their…
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DFA: ‘We refuse to dignify’ Chinese general’s comment
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario refused to give importance to a Chinese general’s accusations against the Philippines, an official said Friday. DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said in a press conference that he consulted Del Rosario about a remark by People’s Liberation Army Major General Luo Yuan who said the Philippines is a…
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China minister mulling ‘consultations’ in PH
ASEAN, Brunei, China, Code of Conduct, Malaysia, Philippines, Solar News, South China Sea Dispute, Taiwan, VietnamA verbal tussle in a Regional Security Forum in Brunei earlier this week did not stop Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario from inviting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Manila for “consultations.” “I indicated to him that that perhaps it’s timely for him to do this because I have been to Beijing three times since I became foreign minister…
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China and Russia send joint force of 19 warships to Sea of Japan in largest ever naval exercise
Chinese destroyer Wuhan leads a fleet of naval ships, heading to take part in a joint exercise with Russia in the Sea of Japan. China and Russia have launched what Beijing described as its “largest ever joint naval exercise” as an armada of military hardware descended on the Sea of Japan. Read more at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/tom-phillips/
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China: Fishing To Expand Maritime Territories? – Analysis
Synopsis Increasing Chinese maritime law enforcement capabilities in the South China Sea (SCS), ostensibly to protect the interests of its fishermen, may only exacerbate tensions in one of the world’s closely monitored regional flashpoints. This is especially so in the context of increasing commercial fishing operations by SCS littoral states and the absence of a multilateral understanding on fishing in…