West Philippine Sea
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China will not rule out reclaiming Taiwan using military force, Xi Jinping has warned
This small island could be the trigger point of a massive war to our north, with a leading world power warning it will stop at nothing to reclaim it. In one of his most noteworthy addresses on the issue of Taiwan since he came to power, the Chinese President said the smaller island would enjoy peace and an independent system…
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World View: Britain May Establish a Military Base in South China Sea After Brexit
In the 1800s, Britain was the world’s superpower. Now, Britain’s Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson says that Britain could return to being a “true global power” after Brexit. According to Williamson, Britain will become a much more important world player after Brexit: This is our biggest moment as a nation since the end of the Second World War, when we can…
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What’s in the New Indonesia South China Sea Base Hype?
A recent development has spotlighted Jakarta’s ongoing efforts to upgrade and integrate its existing capabilities to address a range of threats. Indonesia’s official announcement last month of an expanded security presence in the Natuna Islands near the South China Sea attracted significant headlines in the country and beyond. The development spotlighted Jakarta’s ongoing efforts to upgrade and integrate its existing…
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A British military base on the South China Sea is not a far-fetched idea
Hong Kong (CNN)When the British defense minister revealed this week that new military bases were being considered in Asia, critics questioned whether London has the money — or strategic vision — to carry out such a plan. But an examination of recent British defense initiatives shows that far from being an off-the-cuff play, a base in Asia would be a…
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Commentary: The geo-political fault line in Philippine society
During his six-year term, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III pursued a balancing or a challenging policy on China’s expansive maritime claim in the South China Sea. He countered China by shifting the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ focus from domestic security to territorial defense. This included bolstering closer Philippine-U.S. security relations, acquiring American military equipment, seeking from Washington an explicit…
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Ex-DFA chief bats for PHL-Vietnam consultation on South China Sea
Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Friday proposed a joint consultation between the Philippines and Vietnam on key provisions of a proposed code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea. “Clearly, it would be a constructive move to consult with Vietnam to give us an opportunity to share and appreciate each other’s views which could lead to…
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Can China control the South China Sea?
What’s the nature of China’s power, and what should the world do about it? In a series of debates organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, leading experts confronted the challenges and opportunities presented by the country’s rise. Here we’re bringing you the fourth of five debates. Sign up to the Inkstone newsletter for more. The South China…
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Why my superhero of 2018 is Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio
I HAVE yet to meet a Philippine Supreme Court judge. For most of us, they are remote, intimidating, dispassionate, imposing figures of authority. It is not hard to imagine them as cold, stern, rigid and aloof. This is perhaps not too far from reality. The journalist Marites Dañguilan Vitug, who has observed the Supreme Court for many years, has described…
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Tough South China Sea talks ahead as Vietnam seeks to curb China’s actions
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Tough negotiations lie ahead over a new pact between China and Southeast Asian nations aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea, as Vietnam pushes for provisions likely to prove unpalatable to Beijing, documents reviewed by Reuters suggest. Hanoi wants the pact to outlaw many of the actions China has carried out across the hotly…
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Commentary: The year China’s rise enters awkward adolescent phase
The year ahead will test China’s ability to navigate geopolitical flux. China must face up to concerns about its rise, says Tom McGregor. BEIJING: 2018 has been a watershed year for China, coming on the back of the removal of term limits on the presidency, amid an increasingly confrontational relationship with the United States. But the country has made strides…