News
-
South China Sea: Beijing raises the temperature again
Something significant is happening in the South China Sea. Philippine media has reported that, over the past week, a flotilla of Chinese fishing vessels, accompanied by PLA Navy frigates and Chinese Coast Guard vessels, have maintained a presence very close to Thitu (which Manila calls ‘Pagasa’), the largest feature occupied by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands. While…
-
China stealing soil from different parts of the Philippines
China is not only stealing and occupying Philippine Territories at the West Philippine Sea or Spratly islands but at the same time, they also stealing massive quantities of soil from different parts of the Philippines for both mining and island-building purposes. In Davao Oriental alone, huge cargo ships from China have been regularly loading and shipping out tons…
-
Our new foreign policy: appeasement and isolation
It is official: Our policy on the West Philippine Sea is the appeasement of China. This is confirmed by the statement of Foreign Secretary Alan Cayetano at the recent meeting of Asean ministers that “…South China Sea claimants will suffer if they are harsh on China.” What acts will be harsh on China will presumably be decided by China, with…
-
South China Sea: Vietnam takes up fight against China
(CNN)When it comes to the disputed waters of the South China Sea, Vietnam’s leaders must feel very lonely these days. Their fellow Southeast Asian claimants have either reversed course after years of escalating tensions with Beijing, or are keeping their heads down and letting Hanoi take up the fight. In June, the Vietnamese government refused a Chinese demand…
-
US vows to challenge excessive sea claims
MANILA, Philippines – Saying it is not about any particular country or about making a political statement, the United States has stressed that it will invoke freedom of navigation and challenge excessive maritime claims anywhere in the globe. In a recent press briefing in Washington, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said US forces operate in the Asia-Pacific region,…
-
Editorial: Code of conduct on South China Sea will have no teeth
To prevent conflicts and maintain order in the South China Sea, it is indispensable to lay down legally binding international rules. It will be difficult to achieve this objective as long as China, which is continuing its self-righteous maritime advances, takes the lead in discussions on this. China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have held a meeting…
-
Beijing is using underwater drones in the South China Sea to show off its might
The world’s second-largest economy has been deploying disruptive technology that could strengthen its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Late last month, Beijing dropped a dozen underwater drones, also known as unmanned underwater vehicles, in an unspecified location in the international waterway to carry out “scientific observations,” state-run media outlet Xinhua reported. A U.S. Navy MH-60R…
-
China protests after US warship sails near island
Beijing voiced displeasure on Friday after a US warship sailed near an artificial island in the disputed South China Sea, an operation that prompted the Chinese navy to warn off the American destroyer. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the actions of the USS John S. McCain had violated Chinese and international law, “seriously” impairing the country’s sovereignty and…
-
USS John S. McCain conducts operation near China-held island
MANILA, Philippines — A U.S. warship sailed close to a Chinese man-made island in the disputed South China Sea, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports. Two Chinese frigates and a Chinese coast guard vessel shadowed the USS John S. McCain as it sailed in a freedom of navigation operation within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef…
-
Think tank says Cayetano, Wang claim on China reclamation ‘false’
A Washington-based think tank has belied the claims of Philippine and China foreign ministers that Beijing has stopped its reclamation activities in disputed areas in the South China Sea. “This is false,” the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (AMTI-CSIS) said on Wednesday, referring to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano’s claim…
-
SOUTH CHINA SEA | U.S. destroyer challenges China’s territorial claim near Mischief [Panganiban] Reef
The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain at sea in this 2010 handout photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy. REUTERS WASHINGTON – A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a “freedom of navigation operation” on Thursday, within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island, Mischief Reef (Filipino name: Panganiban Reef) built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S.…
-
China defends its controversial ambitions for the South China Sea
China has for some years intensified its land reclamation, facility construction and defence installation in the South China Sea. Its contentious activities in the hotly disputed waters have unnerved rival claimant states and other countries such as the United States, Japan and Australia. Yet, each time its island-building and militarization in the strategic seaway have been raised Beijing…