West Philippine Sea
-
US naval chief says ‘freedom of navigation’ exercises in South China Sea get more attention than they deserve
The head of United States naval operations said on Wednesday that its “freedom of navigation” exercises in the South China Sea are given more attention than they deserve. The US Navy said two of its warships sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Monday last week, a move that […]
-
China’s official party mouthpiece warns US it risks making ‘mistake after mistake’ in trade war
China’s official party mouthpiece has warned the United States not to miscalculate in their current trade dispute, saying it risks making “mistake after mistake”. While the 8,000-character, front-page editorial in People’s Dailyindicated the country wanted to avoid an antagonistic relationship, it said that the US could not “control” China, which would be able to weather […]
-
Australia struggles for clarity on the South China Sea
The Lowy Institute’s Richard McGregor has noted the absence of China discussion in Australia’s current election campaign, a state of affairs which prompted his colleague Sam Roggeveen to observe that “Bipartisanship on China is becoming a form of collusion”. Given that the Coalition seems to have decided against participating in a debate on foreign affairs, […]
-
Inside the Close Naval Encounters in the South China Sea
The voice on the radio in the middle of the South China Sea follows a familiar script for Captain Eric Anduze, who helms the USS Blue Ridge. It’s China on the phone. “They’ll contact us and they’ll go — ‘U.S. government vessel, this is Chinese Navy vessel’ number whatever — ‘we will maintain five miles […]
-
Experts doubt China’s ability to launch assault on Taiwan
Beijing, May 12 (UNI): China is gearing up its efforts to “reunify” Taiwan with it, but might lack the core assault landing capabilities to conquer the island, military experts have said. According to a South China Morning Post report on Sunday, the assessment follows an annual report to the US Congress saying China was likely […]
-
Broad clash between US and China taking shape, say experts
WASHINGTON • As the US-China trade fight deepens, the two superpowers – one incumbent and one rising – are sizing each other up and deciding whether they can coexist. China and the US ended talks in Washington on Friday with no deal after President Donald Trump raised tariffs on more than US$200 billion (S$273 […]
-
US-China standoff pose unfamiliar global challenges
Paris—Flaring tensions between Washington and Beijing are raising the prospect of new global diplomatic and economic fault lines, with consequences that analysts say could pose unfamiliar challenges to world leaders. From an escalating trade war to an influence struggle in the South China Sea, “we’ve entered a period of strong and long-term rivalry between the […]
-
How China’s military upgrade and trade tensions are challenging the US in Indo-Pacific
Tensions between the United States and China are resurgent in May over the issue of trade as long-standing negotiations between the two sides fall apart. At the same time, the US Department of Defence’s release of an annual report on Chinese military capabilities for American lawmakers has drawn attention to China’s ongoing military modernisation […]
-
South China Sea: Philippines-China relationship to ‘SOUR’ as Duterte MUST protect shoals
PHILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte has been ordered to protect three reefs the country claims in the disputed South China Sea. The Supreme Court order has been enforced directing government agencies to protects reeds and marine life in Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal and Mischief Reef. The order is suspected to “sour” the relationship between […]
-
PH will never fall into China ‘debt trap,’ finance officials say
MANILA – Finance officials on Saturday made the assurance that the Philippines would never fall into China’s infamous debt trap, brushing off concerns that Manila might end up surrendering its prized resources if it defaults on loans from Beijing. In a media forum in Quezon City, Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino said interest rates […]