News
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PNoy: Philippines will fight to defend its interests
MANILA – President Benigno Aquino said Wednesday that Filipinos will fight for what is right and just for the country’s national interests. Speaking at the commemoration rites of the Day of Valor in Bataan Province to honor the World War II fighters, Aquino said, “Even back then, it was clear to all Filipinos: small though […]
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US defence chief gets earful as China visit exposes tensions
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, China, Chuck Hagel, East China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, USATensions between China and the United States were on full display on Tuesday as Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel faced questions in Beijing about America’s position in bitter territorial disputes with regional U.S. allies. Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan, standing side-by-side with Hagel, called on the United States to restrain ally Japan and chided another U.S. […]
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Threat to Philippines is threat to US – Goldberg
PILAR, Bataan: United States (US) Ambassador to Manila Philip Goldberg on Wednesday declared that any threat facing the Philippines is also a threat to America, stressing the need for the two countries to strengthen their military to respond better to man-made threats and natural disasters. “As treaty allies, when the Philippines faces threats or natural […]
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Indonesia, South China Sea and the 11/10/9-dashed lines
There seems to be an obsession among political commentators in Asia and beyond that Indonesia has to admit that it is a claimant state in the South China Sea (SCS) dispute and, therefore, must surrender its role as a “mediator”. This is indeed laughable in the eyes of international law. This is my take on […]
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WWII veteran supports Philippines’ case vs China
MANILA, Philippines — A 91-year-old Filipino veteran who fought against Japanese forces during World War II believes that armed conflict is no longer the way to solve matters today. Ricardo Madayag, among the veterans honored on Wednesday in commemoration of the Fall of Bataan, approved the Philippine government’s bid to settle the maritime row through […]
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Hagel, Chang air differences over disputed islands
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, China, Chuck Hagel, East China Sea, Japan, Philippines, South China Sea DisputeBEIJING (AP) — In a face-off between the defense chiefs of China and the U.S., Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday that his country does not have the right to unilaterally establish an air defense zone over disputed islands with no consultation. And he said America will protect Japan, the Philippines […]
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China to U.S.: We ‘Can Never Be Contained’
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s call for a “new model” in relations with Beijing’s military ran into immediate headwinds Tuesday when China’s defense minister castigated the U.S. and its allies for raising tensions in the Asia-Pacific. As Dion Nissenbaum reports: Standing side-by-side during Mr. Hagel’s first official trip to Beijing since becoming defense secretary one […]
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Hagel Spars With Chinese Over Islands and Security
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, China, Chuck Hagel, East China Sea, Japan, South China Sea Dispute, USABEIJING — The United States and China clashed over Japan on Tuesday as the Chinese defense minister asserted that Beijing had “indisputable sovereignty” over a group of islands in the East China Sea and that his country’s military stood ready to protect its interests in territorial disputes. The minister, Gen. Chang Wanquan, said that China […]
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Jakarta seeks clarification from Beijing on claims in South China Sea
Arbitration, China, Gas, Indonesia, Memorial, Militarization, Natuna, Oil, Philippines, South China Sea Dispute, UNCLOSJAKARTA — Indonesia is seeking clarity on China’s intent behind its maritime claims in the South China Sea to avoid the risk of miscalculations in a zone rich in natural gas, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said. Indonesia wants an explanation for a map outlining China’s assertions in the South China Sea that appears on […]
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When is a rock not a rock?
Arbitration, China, Diplomatic Relations, Foreign Policy, Memorial, Philippines, South China Sea Dispute, UNCLOS, USAWASHINGTON: A diplomatic standoff between China and the Philippines that flared up two years ago in a dispute over fishing rights at a tiny shoal in the South China Sea is coming to a head after Manila decided to ignore Chinese threats and sue Beijing in an international tribunal. The legal case marks the first […]
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South China Sea: Regional States Push Back Against China
On March 18, officials from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Singapore to resume consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea that began last September. This meeting should have created an atmosphere for the lowering of tensions in the South China Sea. At the least, China […]