News
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The Maturing of China’s Ocean Law and Policy
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, Regular Patrols, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAIn the discussion of China’s intentions on its ocean frontier, little attention is paid to the evolution of the academic underpinnings of its policy, especially in the field of international law. When I was writing my 1998 book, China’s Ocean Frontier: International Law, Military Force, and National Development, there was really only one place to go ─ the State Oceanic…
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South China Sea dispute: Philippines heads to UN court
The Philippines argued at a closed hearing on Tuesday that an international court should intervene in its dispute with China over the right to exploit natural resources and fish in the South China Sea. Though China has declined to participate, the case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is being closely watched by Asian governments and Washington,…
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The Hague hearings: Ball in Arbitral Tribunal’s court
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Arbitration, Artificial Islands, China, Hague, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, Regular Patrols, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAMetro Manila (CNN Philippines) — An Arbitral Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague will convene on Friday (July 10) to deliberate its jurisdiction over the Philippines’ case against China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea. Throughout the first round of arguments, the Philippine delegation explained to the five-member court that nothing bars the tribunal from…
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SOUTH CHINA SEA WATCH: China’s Island-Building Almost Done
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, Regular Patrols, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAThe dispute over the strategic waterways of the South China Sea has intensified, pitting a rising China against its smaller and militarily weaker neighbors who all lay claim to a string of isles, coral reefs and lagoons mostly in the Spratly and the Paracel islands. Only about 45 of them are occupied. The area is one of the world’s busiest…
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With fingers crossed on PCA jurisdiction, Manila eyes temporary restraint on Chinese reclamation
Arbitration, Artificial Islands, China, History, ICJ, Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Lecture, Maps, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCLOS, USAMANILA – The Philippine government may seek provisional measures against Beijing’s reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea once the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) now hearing Manila’s complaint decides that it has jurisdiction over the case. According to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, this is one of the steps being studied by the legal team headed by Solicitor General…
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EXPLAINER: Philippines’ 5 arguments vs China
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ case against China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) boils down to 5 basic arguments. Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario outlined these claims on Tuesday, July 7, the first day of arguments at The Hague. (READ: Philippines vows to smash China’s strongest argument) For the oral hearings that run until July…
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Indonesia Is Building New Military Base in South China Sea
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Indonesia, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, Regular Patrols, South China Sea Dispute, SpratlysIndonesia is developing a plan to build a new military base in the South China Sea, according to local media reports. On Friday, the Jakarta Post reported that Indonesian officials are preparing a plan to build a new military base somewhere in the South China Sea, which has seen an uptick in tensions over competing sovereignty claims. The report said…
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Int’l opinion against China buildup in disputed sea
Arbitration, Artificial Islands, China, Diaoyu, Ecolology, Environmental Impact, Food Security, History, ICJ, Japan, Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Lecture, Maps, Militarization, Philippines, Reclamation, Senkaku, Shinzo Abe, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCLOS, USAIn the face of growing international condemnation for its building artificial islands in the South China Sea from which to project its military power in the region, China appears to have reduced itself into an island. From world leaders and international organizations to opinion writers around the world, China has drawn criticism for its massive land reclamation in the disputed…
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China vs. the Philippines: Will International Law Resolve South China Sea Disputes?
Arbitration, Artificial Islands, China, History, ICJ, Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Lecture, Maps, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCLOS, USAWill the 21st-century global order be led primarily by might and military muscle or rights and norms? We may get an answer in the near future. The Philippines’ quest for peacefully resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea has entered a critical stage. After more than two years of hard work and extensive preparations, culminating in the thousand-page-long memorial,…
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Philippines rejects bilateral talks with China anew
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, Bilateral Talks, China, Diplomatic Relations, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, Regular Patrols, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAMANILA, Philippines – Malacañang yesterday rejected China’s renewed offer of bilateral talks to settle the West Philippine Sea dispute, saying only by engaging other members of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) can any negotiation on the issue be acceptable. “The Philippine position is clear: the principle of ASEAN centrality should be recognized in accordance with the Declaration of Conduct…
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Does the Philippines’ South China Sea Case Against China Really Matter?
Arbitration, Artificial Islands, China, History, ICJ, Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Lecture, Maps, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCLOS, USAOn July 7, the Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague began its hearing on the case submitted by the Philippines against China regarding its South China Sea claims. As we get bombarded with news updates in the coming weeks, it is important to keep the broader significance of the case in mind. In terms of principle, the case is important because…
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South China Sea Conundrum Serious Threat To Peace In Southeast Asia – Analysis
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Militarization, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, Regular Patrols, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAAccording to American scholar Robert D. Kaplan, the South China Sea (SCS) has become “Asia’s Cauldron”. Some refer to the SCS as “unchartered waters”. All recent developments clearly indicate that the SCS has transformed into a dangerous playing field for global powers. During the 1970s, Southeast Asia was considered a“troubled” region as a result of the Vietnam War. Now the…