West Philippine Sea
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Catch-22 in the South China Sea: why preserving fish stocks is key to a resolution
Despite upcoming talks, Manila’s deferential stance to Beijing, and wider ASEAN disunity, mean no end in sight for China’s island-building in the South China Sea. Yet those islands will destroy the coral reefs they are built on, and the very fish stocks China wants to control in the first place. China’s provocations and […]
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China Flies Long-Range Bombers Near Japan and Taiwan
The Chinese bombers and support aircraft aimed to “test real combat capabilities.” The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) sent two Xian H-6K long-range bombers, two unidentified fighter jets, one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic countermeasures aircraft, and one Tupolev Tu-154MD electronic intelligence plane through international airspace between the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyako in the […]
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China Calmed Asian Maritime Dispute in 2017 Without Ceding Sovereignty
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — China calmed Asia’s biggest maritime sovereignty dispute in 2017 by offering aid, investment and the pledge of negotiations with weaker Southeast Asian countries as Beijing’s chief nemesis, the United States, kept quiet. These shifts in the South China Sea sovereignty dispute involving six governments allow Beijing to minimize public criticism of its […]
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Singapore backs peaceful resolution of sea dispute
SINGAPORE – The city-state of Singapore has expressed support for a peaceful resolution of the overlapping claims of some areas in the South China Sea. Although Singapore is not a claimant state, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan noted that majority of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have trade and economic-related interests, […]
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China confirms deployment of fighters to South China Sea island for first time
China has for the first time confirmed the deployment of fighter jets to Woody Island in the disputed South China Sea, state media have reported. Citing footage aired by the official state broadcaster, the Global Times reported late Friday that China had sent J-11B fighters to the island in the contested Paracel chain. […]
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Combat ready: Chinese air force puts new Y-9 transport planes through paces in South China Sea drill
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force announced on its social media account on Saturday that a fleet of the aircraft from the Western Theatre Command flew thousands of kilometres to simulate an airdrop over an island in the contested waters before returning the same day. The exercise was conducted in mock combat conditions and […]
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As China Rises, Australia Asks Itself: Can It Rely on America?
BEIJING — When the Australian government set out to write a new foreign policy paper, it faced hotly contested questions shaping the country’s future: Will China replace the United States as the dominant power in Asia? If so, how quickly? The government’s answers came in a so-called white paper released last month by […]
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Analysis: ADIZ in South China Sea unlikely for now say experts
Last week the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) deployed J-11B fighters to Woody Island in the South China Sea. Simultaneously, Y-9 transport aircraft from the Western Theatre Command flew to the same maritime area to support mock combat operations. In the light of such activity, it is an ideal time to address […]
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South China Sea: Filipino fishermen hope for Chinese benevolence
As Filipino fishermen set sail for the Scarborough Shoal, they hope for three things: a bountiful fish catch, their safety, and benevolence from the Chinese coastguard. For the past two years, Paolo Pumicpic, captain of the JJ2 fishing boat, has been at the mercy of the sea; he hasn’t been lucky with any of […]
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Experts call for ‘strategic trust’ in East Sea
HCM CITY — While the East Sea (South China Sea) situation remains uncertain, nations should build “strategic trust” to maintain peace, stability and development in the region, a Vietnamese official told an international conference held in HCM City yesterday. Nearly 200 senior officials, business executives, experts, academics and diplomats are participating in the […]