News
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Beijing ready to impose air defence ID zone in SChina Sea, pending US moves
China is preparing an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea, two years after it announced a similar one in the East China Sea, according to sources close to the People’s Liberation Army and a defense report. But one source said the timing of any declaration would depend on security conditions in the region, particularly the United…
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The contest for international support on the South China Sea disputes
With the final award of the Arbitral Tribunal on the maritime disputes in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea (SCS/WPS) expected in the coming months, there has been a noticeable increase in activities not only on the ground, but also in the diplomatic circles. These developments provide some clues on how the arbitration case and the SCS/WPS disputes currently stand…
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Why China’s salami-slicing in South China Sea is bad news
Ahead of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue that begins on Friday, the writer looks at China’s divide-and-conquer tactics in South-east Asia so far and ponders the prospect of a Sino-US pact on the South China Sea Earlier this year, a Japanese official came to talk to me about Japan’s bid to secure Australia’s massive A$50 billion (S$50 billion) contract to build…
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In Search of the Xi Doctrine
As President Obama sought to make his final mark in Asia, visiting Vietnam and Japan last week, he confronted the increasingly clear strategic goals of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Though Xi continues to focus on domestic issues, including a weakening economy, and cracks down on foreign non-governmental organizations with a new repressive law, he is also making clear that China…
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Game On for China, U.S. Ahead of South China Sea Ruling
When a U.S. guided missile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese-claimed island in the disputed South China Sea last month, it set off a volley of protests from Beijing. “The U.S. is challenging and provoking the new maritime order by wielding its military power,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. China’s defense ministry said it would bolster…
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Building Golden Bridges in the South China Sea
The world should respond with care to the upcoming tribunal ruling. Sun Tzu may not actually have advised building golden bridges behind one’s enemies, but there is wisdom in the idea nonetheless. If the betting money is right that the Philippines will win on many if not most points when the tribunal ruling on its submission to the Permanent Court…
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China ‘Extremely Dissatisfied’ With G7’s South China Sea Statement
The United States recently removed a decades-long arms ban on Vietnam during President Barack Obama’s visit to Asia. China is extremely dissatisfied with a statement by Group of Seven (G7) leaders on the contentious South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in territorial disputes with several southeast Asian countries, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. “This G7 summit organized by…
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Duterte to fight for country’s claim over West Philippine Sea
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 May) – Incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he will continue the efforts of the outgoing President Benigno S. Aquino III’s administration in pushing for the country’s ownership over the West Philippine Sea. Duterte told reporters early Thursday that he had a long discussion with Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua when he came…
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Disputes: China’s low-bat support vs Philippine backers
IF the South China/West Philippine Sea row between China and the Philippines were to be adjudicated according to the quality of support that each side has marshaled in the dispute, the Philippines would surely win its case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, whose decision will be handed down within weeks. While our country has won the…
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A Chinese ADIZ in the South China Sea: The Ultimate Bargaining Chip?
In times of lowered tensions or when it so wishes, Beijing could announce it is easing restrictions in its ADIZ, all in an effort to show it is pursuing a so-called “restrained” approach. Or it could offer to ease restrictions as part of a bilateral negotiation with Japan — say limiting its ADIZ to just military and not civilian aircraft.…
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HOW TAIPEI SHOULD HANDLE THE TRIBUNAL RULING ON THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
The South China Sea is not at the top of Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen’s agenda, but for the sake of domestic stability, U.S.-Taiwan relations, and cross-strait relations, her newly-installed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government must exercise caution in its handling of the Philippines’ arbitration against China. How Tsai handles the ruling will prove critical for Taipei, as a wrong step…
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Sparring over South China Sea is a dangerous game
China has been behaving aggressively in the South China Sea for some time now, in what can only be seen as the country’s efforts to assert sovereignty over disputed territories also claimed by some members of Asean. Needless to say, such behaviour is not healthy for the overall atmosphere of peace and stability in the region. The struggle to control…