West Philippine Sea
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US flies B-52s near contested Islands amid China tensions
Two US B-52 bombers flew near contested islands in the South China Sea Tuesday, according to a statement from Pacific Air Forces. The two B-52H Stratofortress bombers, which are based in Guam, “participated in a routine training mission in the vicinity of the South China Sea,” the statement said, adding that the flight was part […]
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South China Sea is Beijing’s top foreign policy priority with developing nations, US think tank says
While the United States and China are competitors on the world stage and appear to be working separately, the two powers that are currently locked in a trade war, may be able to collaborate outside Asia where they have fewer overlapping interests, the California-based Rand Corp said in a study of China’s policies with the […]
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Japan Intensifying Pressure on China in the South China Sea
Japan’s navy has been taking part in military exercises in the South China Sea over the past two months. The exercises are evidence of increased Japanese activity in an area where Japan has long-term interests, including controlling China’s influence. In September, a Japanese submarine, helicopter carrier and two destroyer warships explored parts of the South […]
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US Says Continued Militarisation Of South China Sea Highly Concerning
WASHINGTON: The US remains highly concerned with China’s continued militarisation in the disputed South China Sea and its “predatory economic behaviour”, Defense Secretary James Mattis has said. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and with Japan in the East China Sea. Both the areas are stated to be […]
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Beijing warned to prepare for more US ‘provocations’ in South China Sea
Report by think tank affiliated with State Council also urges Chinese authorities to do more to win over Southeast Asian countries because it faces ‘long-term’ struggle to counter US influence China has been warned it must do more to lure neighbouring countries away from the US orbit, according to a report that predicted the US […]
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China likely has a new bomber, tipping South China Sea
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) appears to have a new bomber in its ranks, and it could boost China’s military strength in disputed waterways. Satellite images of the PLANAF base at Guiping-Mengshu in Guangxi Province, China show what observers suspect are Xian H-6J bombers, new naval variants of the upgraded H-6Ks […]
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China’s navy to join Thailand and Malaysia for training exercise as military seeks to build bridges with neighbours
Nine-day Peace and Friendship drill comes amid rising tension with US over the disputed South China Sea A joint naval exercise to be held this weekend between China, Malaysia and Thailand in the Strait of Malacca would follow US Defence Secretary James Mattis’s visits to Vietnam and Singapore, a trip which began on Monday. China […]
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How to Goad China into a War in the South China Sea
Certain proposals made by contributors to the National Interest are essentially calls to war with China. That would be a clear mistake. Some analysts have a particular flair for proposing U.S. military moves that would goad China into a military confrontation with collateral damage for Asia. To do this consistently probably takes a special mindset […]
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Beijing defends warship confrontation in the South China Sea
BEIJING — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves: CHINA DEFENDS SHIP CONFRONTATION China’s ambassador to the United States has […]
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South China Sea set to top agenda at Asean defence ministers’ meeting
Beijing’s militarisation of disputed waterway has encouraged greater cooperation among regional players and major powers Defence ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will gather in Singapore for their 12th annual meeting from Thursday to Saturday, along with their counterparts from China, the United States, Australia, India and Japan. […]