News
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China is waging a global fisheries war
Pelagic fishing has become an important part of Beijing’s national policy Every time there is talk about a Japanese favorite seafood like Pacific saury and squid disappearing from tables due to a shortage in supplies, news reports tend to lay the blame on overexploitation of fish stocks by China. Very little is known, however, about the fact that China’s…
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China’s New Strategy in the South China Sea Will Force U.S. Military Action
Beijing just unveiled a new tactic to assert its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. Called the “lawfare” – or “legal warfare” – approach, China’s new strategy to control the resource- and trade-rich region shifts away from the former (and universally rebuffed) “nine-dash line” (NDL) claim to a more concrete – though no less imperialistic – one.…
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Japan May Face a New Chinese Onslaught in Dispute Over East China Sea Islets
[urlpreviewbox url=”http://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/japan-senkaku-10252017144835.html”/] It may be time to pay more attention to Beijing’s moves against Japan in the East China Sea. Experts say that with China’s Communist Party Congress now concluded and perhaps after President Trump’s trip to Asia in early November, Beijing may escalate the moves it’s made near disputed territories in the strategic sea. Japanese analysts fear that China…
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North Korea Rouses Neighbors to Reconsider Nuclear Weapons
Two of South Korea’s 24 nuclear reactors. The country has a huge stockpile of spent fuel from which it can extract plutonium — enough for more than 4,300 bombs, according to a report. Credit Jean Chung/Bloomberg, via Getty Images As North Korea races to build a weapon that for the first time could threaten American cities, its neighbors are debating…
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Philippine Lawmaker Digging Up New Intelligence on Pressure From China
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — A Philippine opposition party legislator has been drawing attention for the release of privileged information that suggests China is infringing on offshore islets that the two countries dispute, a potential threat to a recently strengthened diplomatic relationship. But some people reading his feed suspect personal political motives, including an effort to weaken President Duterte. …
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South China Sea: Fourth US FONOP in Five Months
Earlier this week, the United States carried out the fourth freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea so far this year, after resuming the operations after a seven-month break in May. A U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS Chafee, challenged excessive Chinese maritime claims in the Paracel group in the South China Sea, according to…
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Anifah: South China Sea issues should be addressed though peaceful means
KOTA SAMARAHAN, Oct 12 ― Malaysia believes that the South China Sea issues are complex, multi-faceted and highly sensitive and therefore, overlapping claims in the South China Sea should be addressed through peaceful means and in accordance with the relevant principles of international law. Its Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Vietnam and the People’s…
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Challenge China in the South China Sea by Democratic Example
Australia and Timor-Leste will be finalizing their Timor Sea maritime-border agreement this month through the first time use of a compulsory conciliation clause that is part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). Moreover, the reconciliation effort of Indonesia and Timor-Leste has led to, among other things, successful negotiations of their land border. Together…
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US guided-missile destroyer again checks Beijing in the South China Sea
An MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter passes the USS Chafee (DDG 90) while delivering supplies to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a vertical replenishment mission with the USNS Bridge in the Pacific Ocean on Jan. 2, 2012. Petty Officer 2nd Class James R. Evans, US Navy WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China…
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Chinese frigate, jets drive away US warship from South China Sea
China sent a frigate and fighter jets to warn and drive away a US Navy destroyer, after the latter sailed near islands in the South China Sea on Tuesday, China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday. The frigate Huangshan, two J-11B fighters and one helicopter were sent in response to the US Navy destroyer’s presence, a MND…
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Alejano insists presence of Chinese ships near Pag-asa island ‘dangerous’
MANILA- Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Friday insisted that the presence of Chinese ships near the Philippines’ Pag-asa island is “highly suspicious” and “dangerous” even after Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said it is only “quite natural.” Alejano said the real issues on the recent reported presence of Chinese ships near Pag-asa are the activities of the Chinese Navy, Chinese Coast…
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Despite Common Threat in Beijing, Other South China Sea Rivals Still Spar Among Selves
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Four Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan, all of which lay claims to the contested, resource-rich South China Sea, are still grappling with incidents among themselves despite a focus on their common rival, China. The suspected shooting deaths late last month of two Vietnamese fishermen in waters 34 nautical miles from the Philippines were a severe response to…