News
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AMID INCREASED SABER-RATTLING OVER SOUTH CHINA SEA Palace OK with US presence
The United States’ presence in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) will be helpful, but China’s involvement is still necessary to ensure long-term stability, government officials said. “The Philippines would want stability in this part of the world, in that part of the world,” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday, following renewed rhetoric from both Washington and…
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China’s contradictory words and deeds
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) on Sunday, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe made many bold, controversial remarks. One such statement was his assertion that since its founding in 1949, the People’s Republic of China “has never provoked a war or conflict, nor has it ever invaded another country or taken an inch of land from others.” To portray the…
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France to continue sailing in South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to preserve free and open access to the seas, France vowed to maintain its operations in the South China Sea. Speaking at the 2019 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly said Paris would address the issue with its own “steady, non-confrontational but obstinate way.” France challenges China’s dominance…
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South China Sea tension: China vows to ‘defeat ALL enemies’ as warships arrive in Sydney
CHINESE warships arrived in Sydney Harbour in what was a surprising show of force from Beijing on Monday amid soaring tensions in the South China Sea. Much to the surprise of the public, three warships entered the harbour on Monday morning following a bold threat from Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe. The People’s Liberation Army-Navy forced arrived in the…
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China claims naming South China Sea islands with English names
MANILA, Philippines (Update 2, 3:01 p.m.) — Distancing itself from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Beijing insisted that artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea have been named a long time ago. Speaking at the 2019 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Chinese Ministry of Defense Security Cooperation Center director Senior Colonel Zhou Bo, talked…
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South China Sea: US sells drones to allies as it REFUSES to ‘tiptoe’ around Beijing
DONALD TRUMP has moved ahead with plans to sell 34 surveillance drones to key allies as the US claims it will no longer “tiptoe” around Beijing in the ongoing South China Sea row. The drones will be sold to four allies in the region, with acting defence secretary Patrick Shanahan condemned China’s behaviour in Asia. The machines should help the…
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US to sell surveillance drones to Philippines, South China Sea allies
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has moved ahead with a surveillance drone sale to 4 US allies in the South China Sea region as acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Washington will no longer “tiptoe” around Chinese behavior in Asia. The drones would afford greater intelligence gathering capabilities potentially curbing Chinese activity in the region. Shanahan did not directly name…
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Philippines backs U.S. moves vs China buildup in South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines supports any United States action in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) that would maintain stability in the region amid the continued military buildup of China in the area, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said on Tuesday, June 4. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was asked about the recent statement of US Acting Defense Secretary…
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China says war with US would be a disaster as tensions mount
Chinese defence minister Wei Fenghe criticised the United States on Sunday for its support for self-ruled Taiwan and for naval operations in the disputed South China Sea, but said conflict or war between the two countries would be a disaster. Wei told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier defence summit, that China would “fight to the end” if anyone…
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US acting defense chief calls out China over South China Sea
SINGAPORE — U.S. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan on Saturday denounced China’s efforts to steal technology from other nations and militarize man-made outposts in the South China Sea as a “toolkit of coercion,” saying Beijing’s bad behavior must end. In his first major speech on the international stage, Shanahan mixed sharp criticism of China and warnings of North Korea’s…
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US warns China on behavior towards its Asian neighbors
The United States warned China on Saturday against threatening its neighbors’ sovereignty and said Washington is investing in new military technology to defend its Asian allies. Washington and Beijing have been vying for influence in the region, which hosts potential flashpoints such as the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. Ties between the two powers are…
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China begins South China Sea military training exercises
BEIJING (AP) — China began two days of military training in the South China Sea yesterday, as its Defence Minister warned that China’s armed forces would “resolutely take action” to defend Beijing’s claims over the area. The China Maritime Safety Administration announced the drills were held all day yesterday and for half a day tomorrow in an area near China’s…