News
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A new great power pact or a great deprivation of tact?
Great states, wrote US scholar Edward Luttwak, commonly suffer from a condition known as ‘great state autism’: an insensitivity to the feelings and views of other states. Luttwak argued that nowhere was this condition stronger than in China, where he thought the Chinese Communist Party’s lack of domestic political legitimacy bred an overwhelming focus on the security of the…
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Freedom and openness in the Asia Pacific free and open for interpretation
In the week prior to US President Donald Trump embarking on his Asia tour, his National Security Adviser H R McMaster laid out one of the trip’s aims: ‘to promote his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region’. McMaster explained the key components of this vision: freedom of navigation and overflight, rule of law, sovereignty, no coercion,…
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With Trump Focused on North Korea, Beijing Sails Ahead in South China Sea
In his 12-day trip to Asia, U.S. President Donald Trump largely focused on North Korea and trade, all but avoiding the simmering disputes in the South China Sea and steering clear of sharp criticism of Beijing’s increasingly aggressive activities there. With the Trump administration focused elsewhere for now, China is quietly pressing ahead with its agenda in one…
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Duterte downplaying China’s incursion, bullying
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is downplaying China’s incursions and bullying of the Philippines, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said Thursday. “Chinese forces, military and coast guard, are illegally entering our Exclusive Economic Zone yet our DFA Secretary and the President could only respond that we assume good faith in their actions,” Alejano said in a statement. “The…
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US map shows PH in China’s crosshairs
A map recently released by a Washington-based think tank of China’s power projection capabilities in the South China Sea shows the Philippines is within range of Chinese warplanes and missiles. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (Amti) showed that “expected” ranges of China’s capabilities—the Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter aircraft, YJ-62 antiship cruise missiles and HQ-9 surface-to-air missile— could reach…
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China undermining regional security: US lawmakers
WASHINGTON: Beijing is undermining regional security and prosperity as well as challenging international rules and norms by engaging in coercive activities in the South China Sea, US Congressional leaders have said. The leaders asked the Trump administration to ensure freedom of navigation. The South China Sea is a vitally important waterway for global commerce and for regional security,…
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Beijing has a new ship that can build artificial islands. That’s worrying some neighbors
Beijing has a new ship capable of creating artificial islands — potentially the largest of its kind in Asia — raising fears it could be deployed in the tension-laden South China Sea. The world’s second-largest economy is testing a new deep sea dredger, an excavation vessel used for land reclamation, state-run media recently reported. The 140-meter-long Tian Kun…
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Duterte to seek China’s intentions on West PH Sea in bilateral talks, says spokesman
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will clarify China’s intentions on the West Philippine Sea, which within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, his spokesman said on Saturday. Secretary Harry Roque made the announcement ahead of President Duterte’s bilateral meeting with China’s President Xi Jin Ping at about 6 p.m. or after the conclusion of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting…
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China’s New Island-Building Ship Raises The Stakes in South China Sea
China recently launched Asia’s biggest dredging ship, raising fears in Southeast Asia that Beijing will use it to further its claims over disputed territory in the South China Sea. The Tiankun, dubbed by designers as “the magical island maker,” won’t enter service until June of next year, according to China’s official Xinhua news service. The 140-meter-long vessel…
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The US and China got down to business on the South China Sea
BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States and China had a frank exchange of views on the disputed South China Sea during a visit to Beijing by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. China claims almost the entire strategic waterway through which about $3-trillion worth of goods pass every year, building and…
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PH should debunk myths denigrating Unclos arbitration award upholding its sovereign rights 0
THE Duterte administration has pursued a foreign policy strategy that has had the beneficial effects of reducing the tension in the South China Sea, restoring good relations between the Philippines and China, and gaining respect for the Philippines’ geopolitical strategic importance in the region. With the Philippines’ chairmanship of Asean coming to an end, it is still timely…
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Trump offers to mediate in South China Sea dispute
U.S. President Donald Trump said on a visit to Vietnam on Sunday he was prepared to mediate between claimants to the South China Sea, where five countries contest China’s sweeping claims to the busy waterway. Vietnam has become the most vocal opponent of China’s claims and its construction and militarisation of artificial islands in the sea, through which about…