West Philippine Sea
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How to give China pause
Most of my friends are understandably very upset with China for its occupation of the entirety of the South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea, if you’d like to be fruitlessly politically correct). It’s not just because the Philippines won its case in international court in the Hague, but quite simply, even a 7-year-old would […]
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China’s next phase in the South China Sea
China’s astonishing expansion into the South China Sea’s nearly 3.5 million square km and its subsequent militarization of the region over the past several years has cultivated a complex security environment. The initial phase of that growing complexity was predicated on geopolitical interest and expansion, notably during U.S. President Barack Obama’s second term in office. […]
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Carpio raises alarm over Chico River deal: China ‘can take’ gas-rich Reed Bank
If the Philippines can’t pay off its loans to China, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio says ‘for sure, we will lose in all arbitrations’ MANILA, Philippines – Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned that the “expensive” Chico River Pump Irrigation project would allow China to take gas-rich Reed Bank (Recto Bank) […]
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US: No request from Philippines to review defense treaty
MANILA, Philippines — Despite calls to review the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States, there have been no requests from either side to do so. Patrick Murphy, US Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia, said the two countries have been regularly discussing the treaty. Lorenzana […]
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Vietnam files protest over South China Sea boat sinking
HANOI – Vietnam has lodged an official protest with China following the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat which was being chased by a Chinese maritime surveillance vessel in the disputed South China Sea, Vietnam said late on Thursday. Vietnam and China have for years long been embroiled in a dispute over the potentially energy-rich […]
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U.S. Marines Get Ready For South China Sea Struggle
Tensions in the South China Sea got red hot a few years ago as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) pressed maritime claims involving a host of nations in the region – most notably The Philippines. Now that a trade war with the United States is in full swing, things are heating up once again […]
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China’s Worst Nightmare: A U.S. Military Presence on Taiwan?
Enhanced security cooperation between Taiwan and the United States could easily expand as the pair work to balance against China’s increased military presence in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea . On Nov. 5, Taiwanese Defense Minister Yen Teh-fa told legislators that his government would consider allowing the U.S. Navy access to Taiping […]
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Malacañang: Ex-PH officials’ ICC case vs Xi ‘a futile exercise’
Presidential Salvador Panelo provides reasons why the complaint of former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario and ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales may not prosper at the International Criminal Court MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Saturday, March 23, downplayed the complaint of former Philippine officials against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC) as […]
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US-Philippine defense tensions weaken regional security
Duterte’s hostility and Obama’s errors threaten an old and once valued alliance The United States-Philippines alliance has been under stress since the election of the vocally anti-American Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, but Washington bears plenty of responsibility for the downturn in relations. Most frustrating for the Philippines was American inaction as China launched […]
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Filipinos file ICC complaint over S. China Sea
Filipinos, including a former cabinet minister, have filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court in The Hague against China’s development of islands in the disputed South China Sea. Albert del Rosario was foreign affairs secretary during the administration of Benigno Aquino. He now leads an international affairs research institute based in the Philippines. del […]