News
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Panel: China Continues to Coerce South China Sea Neighbors with its Maritime Forces
China persists in employing a variety of tactics to coerce Taiwan, its maritime neighbors and put more pressure on Japan, a panel of experts agreed last week. Nowhere is that more visible than Beijing’s “persistent and flexible presence” from its maritime militia, Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy. It is a maritime force that also keeps open the Malacca…
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South China Sea Draft Pact Set to Be Welcomed by Southeast Asian Nations
Singapore (AP) — Southeast Asian nations are expected to welcome an initial negotiating draft of a nonaggression pact with China on the South China Sea, but critics warn that the protracted talks provide a diplomatic cover for Beijing’s tenacious aggression in the disputed waters. Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will also praise the rapprochement between the…
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US Makes Up Some Lost Diplomatic Ground Over South China Sea
Many policymakers and analysts would agree that there is a surging soft and hard power struggle between China and the United States for dominance in the South China Sea and Southeast Asia. I argue elsewhere that China has made significant inroads in what was long a region of U.S. soft power dominance. But Washington is making some progress in regaining…
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Philippines raises concern over Chinese radio warnings to stay away from South China Sea islands
A Philippine air force plane on patrol near Chinese-held islands was warned to leave and ‘keep off to avoid misunderstanding’, according to a report The Philippines has expressed concern to China over an increasing number of Chinese radio messages warning Philippine aircraft and ships to stay away from newly fortified islands and other territories in the South China Sea claimed…
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Philippines raises concern over Chinese radio warnings
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has expressed concern to China over an increasing number of Chinese radio messages warning Philippine aircraft and ships to stay away from newly fortified islands and other territories in the South China Sea claimed by both countries, officials said Monday. A Philippine government report seen by The Associated Press showed that in the second half…
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Cayetano: What about Del Rosario’s transparency on South China Sea?
MANILA, Philippines — Insisting that the Duterte administration has always been transparent on its foreign policy, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that former President Benigno Aquino III was misinformed on the West Philippine Sea issue. Aquino has been calling on the Duterte administration to be more transparent on its negotiations with China on the disputed waters. The department…
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Indonesia is protecting its South China Sea territory against ‘foreign’ threats
Southeast Asia’s largest economy is defending its maritime rights within the disputed South China Sea in a perceived act against Chinese encroachment. Indonesia has long maintained an exclusive economic zone in waters claimed by Beijing, but unlike many of its neighbors, it’s never been a player in the long-simmering conflict that’s weighed on intra-Asian relations. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia,…
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China: Yes, We Sent Ships to Jackson Atoll in Spratlys
China’s Foreign Ministry explains why its vessels warned Philippine fishermen away from the disputed feature. As The Diplomat reported yesterday, Philippine media claim that Chinese Coast Guard vessels ousted Philippines fisherman from one of the features in the Spratly Island group, in the South China Sea. By doing so, China would have effectively gained control of Jackson Atoll, one of…
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Malaysia to be firmer in row over South China Sea
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Wednesday that Malaysia’s new government will adopt a firmer stand in tackling a decades-old territorial row in the South China Sea amid China’s aggressive expansion in the disputed area. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who won a stunning electoral victory in May, has said warships should be removed from the South China…
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‘Rock Solid’: ‘The Lord of the Rings’ of law
The book “Rock Solid,” by veteran Supreme Court watcher Marites Vitug, is “The Lord of the Rings” of legal journalism. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio towers as its Gandalf, our maritime arbitration’s architect. Luminaries such as then Solicitors General Francis Jardeleza and Florin Hilbay and then Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra play Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. “Rock Solid” vividly captures…
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Mat Sabu concerned over China and US military presence in South China Sea
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will continue engaging the United States and China over their military presence in the South China Sea, says Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu. “The presence and display of military might by China and US in the South China Sea is very worrying. “As such, we will intensify our dialogues and diplomacy with China and US to avoid the…
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In first, China permanently stations search-and-rescue vessel in South China Sea’s Spratly chain
China has for the first time sent a search-and-rescue ship to be permanently stationed at one of its man-made islands in the disputed Spratly chain of the South China Sea, state media reported. The official Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday that the Nan Hai Jiu 115 would start its duties as soon as it arrived at Subi Reef, the largest…