West Philippine Sea
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PH aborts construction on Pag-asa sandbar after China protest
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – President Rodrigo Duterte aborted plans by the Philippine military to construct artisanal facilities on one of the sandbars near Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu) Island following a protest from China. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed this while addressing an ASEAN Leadership forum in Makati on Wednesday, November 8, which was attended […]
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China unveils ‘magic island maker’ ship
BEIJING, China — China has unveiled a massive ship described as a “magic island maker” that is Asia’s largest dredging vessel, state media reported Saturday. The ship, capable of building artificial islands of the sort the country has constructed in the contested South China Sea, was launched Friday at a port in eastern […]
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If Xi Jinping wants China to be accepted as a global leader, he needs to revise his aggressive diplomacy
The anointment of President Xi Jinping as the ‘core leader’ in the recently concluded 19th Chinese Communist Party congress, and by enshrining his thoughts on “Socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era” in the party’s constitution, Jinping has elevated himself to the exalted status of Chairman Mao Zedong. Like the Little Red Book, Jinping’s […]
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China to Create Its Own International Courts for Maritime Claims
China is continuing with its plan announced earlier this year to create two Chinese-controlled international maritime courts that would be used to provide China’s interpretation of maritime law. The continuation of the plan is the latest signal that China has not given up on pushing forward its maritime claims in the South China Sea, […]
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Alejano warns vs. inaction as China launches massive island-making vessel
Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Sunday expressed alarm over the launch of China’s 140-meter long, 28-meter wide dredging vessel Tian Kun Hao, pointing out the threat it may pose to the Philippines’ claim over territories in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement, Alejano said the Tian Kun Hao, which Chinese […]
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Duterte’s China pivot made no effect on military upgrade
MANILA, Philippines (First published Nov. 2, 7:05 p.m.) — The Philippines continues to bolster its military despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to improve relations with China, a defense analyst said. According to Alexander Vuving of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, the build-up of Philippine military forces has hit a plateau between […]
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https://maritime-executive.com/article/nearly-half-of-the-worlds-lng-traverses-south-china-sea
x The South China Sea is a major route for LNG trade, and in 2016, almost 40 percent of global LNG trade, or about 4.7 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), passed through the South China Sea. The two LNG exporters Malaysia and Qatar collectively accounted for more than 60 percent of total South China Sea […]
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Can Japan burn flammable ice for energy?
(CNN)Japan’s relationship with the energy sector is, at best, complicated. Having virtually no oil, coal or natural gas to fire its power plants, Japan was forced to import over 90% of its energy in 2014. It is the world’s third largest importer of oil and coal, and the number one importer of liquefied natural gas. […]
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Can China Beat the U.S. Without a Fight?
HONOLULU — While much of the world is focused on the ballistic missile and nuclear threat from North Korea, the U.S. military in the Pacific region is also concentrating on another potential foe: China. “PRC is the most pressing threat in the Pacific,” one U.S. military official in the region said, using the […]
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Why China Never Draws A Boundary Line Around Its Claim To The South China Sea
A man scans the coastline Aug. 20, 2016 in Natuna, Ranai, Indonesia. Most Natuna locals work as fishermen. Amid escalated tensions at the South China Sea, Indonesia continues to maintain its sovereignty over the Natuna Islands through security patrols along Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images) China has been said to claim 95% […]