News
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Chinese leadership on the law of the sea: Then and now
China has frequently called on states to follow and apply the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in good faith. Not so long ago, in 2009, China repeated the call when objecting to Japan’s claim of an extended continental shelf based on Oki-no-Tori, a tiny feature in the Philippine Sea. China argues that such small features…
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The great powers and the rule of law
In this reply to Professor Graham Allison, the writer argues that it is in the interest of both small states and great powers to abide by international law. Professor Graham Allison is a brilliant scholar. He is currently the director of the Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School of Harvard University. He had served previously…
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Exclusive: Top Obama aide to take call for South China Sea calm to Beijing
Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in this still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the United States Navy May 21, 2015. U.S…. U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice will urge Beijing next week to avoid escalation in…
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South China Sea issue awaits next US president
Biden gave a pep talk to the aircraft carrier’s crew, stressing the importance of their role in maintaining law of the sea navigation rights. In October 2015, the U.S. began freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, sending warships, including the aircraft carrier, within the 12-mile territorial zone of artificial islands China has been building up into military…
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China Using ‘Soft Power’ to Assert Rights Over South China Sea
Last week, days after The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration awarded the Philippines a victory in its case against China in the dispute over rights to the South China Sea, Beijing began a massive public relations campaign to press its position. Part of China’s campaign includes shoring up international support to denounce the ruling and approaching other nations to voice…
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ROC embassies, missions state stance on South China Sea award
An op-ed campaign rejecting the recent award rendered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the South China Sea arbitration initiated by the Philippines is underway by the embassies and missions of the Republic of China (Taiwan) around the world. To date, a total of 33 letters to the editor produced by Taiwan’s overseas offices were published by news outlets…
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Without a united position on the West PH Sea ruling, how can ASEAN be relevant?
MANILA, Philippines – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) still has a long way to go in making its response to the territorial disputes over the South China Sea relevant, after it was unable to release a joint statement following the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague favoring the Philippine claims over the West Philippine…
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Analysis: South China Sea ruling has so far fueled tensions
An international arbitration panel’s decision on the contested waters of the South China Sea so far is fueling regional tensions rather than tamping them down. In the ensuing 11 days, China has responded to the sweeping victory for the Philippines by flexing its military might. The Philippines faces pressure both at home and abroad not to cede an inch to…
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Canada: Agree or not, all parties should comply on WPS arbitration ruling
Canada believes that whether a country agrees or not in the ruling of the Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding the West Philippine Sea issue, the country should abide with the decision which was based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “On July 12, 2016, the tribunal constituted under the United Nations…
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SEA bloc pushes for S China Sea breakthrough
VIENTIANE, Laos – Southeast Asian foreign ministers will hold crunch talks in communist Laos on Sunday at a summit already overshadowed by infighting over Beijing’s sabre rattling in the South China Sea. The gathering in Vientiane is the first major regional talks since the UN-backed tribunal ruled earlier this month that China did not have historic rights to vast swathes…
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Palace: PH sovereign economic rights ‘non-negotiable’
MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday said that while the Philippines will engage China bilaterally “to find mutually acceptable arrangements” following a favorable ruling of the arbitral court, it maintained that the country’s “sovereign economic rights” are “non-negotiable.” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said engagement with China must comply “with the Constitution, International Law and the rule of law.” “The Philippines continues…
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Palace: China talks must comply with Constitution, international law
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday stressed that negotiations with China over the dispute on the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea must be compliant with the Constitution, international law and rule of law. Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay Jr. earlier revealed that his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, offered to hold talks to resolve the maritime dispute outside the ruling…