News
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ASEAN Summits Another Lost Opportunity for Progress on the South China Sea
Going into last week’s ASEAN summitry in Singapore there were hopes that some progress would be made on the U.S.-China-ASEAN complex of disputes in the South China Sea. But the summits have come and gone and, if anything, the situation in the South China Sea is more complicated than before. Although the contentiousness of the disputes between China and ASEAN…
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After Air Force bombers buzz South China Sea, carrier Carrier Ronald Reagan arrives in Hong Kong
HONG KONG — A U.S. aircraft carrier docked in Hong Kong Wednesday, days after a pair of American B-52 bombers flew over the disputed South China Sea. The arrival of the carrier Ronald Reagan and its strike group in the Asian financial hub is being seen as a friendly gesture ahead of a planned meeting later this month between President…
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Philippines’ Duterte signals closer ties with China amid anger at outsize Beijing influence
(CNN)Leaders of China and the Philippines have preliminarily agreed to cooperate on oil and gas exploration, a move that has angered many Filipinos wary of Chinese territorial expansionism in the region. Experts said the agreement is likely to be more symbolic than a concrete commitment to exploration in the disputed waters. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his Chinese counterpart, Xi…
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As Beijing and Manila shake hands on South China Sea energy deal, backlash from Filipino critics begins
Manila defended its newly signed joint energy exploration deal with Beijing in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, after critics said the move undermined an international tribunal ruling in favour of the Philippines. After a red-carpet welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Malacañang Palace in Manila on Tuesday, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding…
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China in possession of South China Sea? ‘That’s a reality,’ says Palace
While it is “a reality” that China is “in possession” of the South China Sea, Malacañang clarifies that it does not mean ownership. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement on Tuesday as he defended the remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte that China is “already in possession of the South China Sea.” Duterte made the statement during his attendance to…
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Philippines’ Oil Agreement With China Sparks Fears of Losing South China Sea Claims
China signed 29 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Philippines during President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the country, including a controversial MOU to explore for oil and gas together that sparked fears it may involve work in disputed areas of the South China Sea. Xi’s visit, the first Chinese state visit to the Philippines in 13 years, highlights…
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For South China Sea observers, claim of ‘useless’ Hague ruling is baseless
MANILA, Philippines — As Chinese President Xi Jinping was conducting his state visit to Manila, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo dismissed the Philippines’ victory over China in a 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling as “useless,” but experts disagree. Panelo was reacting to a survey by the Social Weather Stations on perceived government inaction in the sea dispute. The survey, conducted in September,…
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Oil Deals May Be Key To Peace In South China Sea
Remember when the Philippines and China were enemies? Or at the very least, at odds over China’s claim to islands in the South China Sea? Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte used to be wary of Xi Jinping, China’s Communist Party boss, and president. That was so long ago, like pre-2016. Two years later, Manila is ready to be a China province,…
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Carpio rebuffs Duterte: China doesn’t possess South China Sea
Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio makes these remarks after President Rodrigo Duterte said China ‘is already in possession’ of the South China Sea MANILA, Philippines – Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio rebuffed President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, November 16, by asserting that China does not possess the South China Sea as Duterte claimed. “China is in physical possession of the…
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US Flexes New Muscle in Asia
SINGAPORE — The United States flexed new muscle in Asia Thursday with pledges to counter China’s expansion in a contested sea and set up a second summit with the leader of North Korea, which Washington regards as a military threat to Western allies. “We all agree that empire and aggression have no place in the Indo-Pacific,” U.S. Vice President Mike…
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Opposed to formation of any military alliance in Indo-Pacific: Vietnam
Opposed to formation of any military alliance in Indo-Pacific: Vietnam NEW DELHI: Vietnam Thursday was non-committal in backing the “Quad” or quadrilateral coalition among India, the US, Japan and Australia, saying it welcomes any initiative to bring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region but is opposed to the formation of any military alliance. Vietnam’s newly-appointed envoy Pham Sanh Chau…
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Abe voices concern about S. China Sea buildup
SINGAPORE (Jiji Press) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday expressed his deep concern about the continuing militarization of the South China Sea, criticizing China without naming it. In a speech at the East Asia Summit in Singapore, Abe said he is deeply concerned about continuing moves against the principle of nonmilitarization that could threaten the interests of related countries.…