West Philippine Sea
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South China Sea: Did China Coast Guard Deny Philippine Fishermen Access to Union Bank?
Philippine authorities are working to confirm reports that Chinese Coast Guard vessels harassed and drove away Filipino fishermen at Union Bank in the Spratly group in the South China Sea. According to early reports, Chinese Coast Guard vessels fired warning shots to deny fishermen access to disputed waters. The location of the incident, which occurred on Thursday, is close to…
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G7 ministers call for implementation of Hague ruling on South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines — The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies reiterated its opposition to the militarization of disputed features in the South China Sea. The ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States maintained their commitment to maintaining a rules-based maritime order based on international law, including the United Nations…
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INTERVIEW/ Think tank chief: Beijing should show restraint in South China Sea
BEIJING–China softened its attitude toward the international community after facing strong criticism from its neighbors and the United States for building military bases on islets in the South China Sea from 2014. Although Beijing’s change could be a response to that criticism, it might also mean that China feels its major objectives have already been achieved in the South China…
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Expert: Philippines should push for ‘no-take zones’ to reinforce arbitral ruling
The Philippines can cooperate with other countries to establish joint areas of protection as a way to reinforce the South China Sea arbitral ruling. File MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should work with other claimant-states to create “no-take zones” to reinforce national and international fisheries management agenda as a way to reinforce the South China Sea arbitration ruling. This was…
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Fish and regional security
While it had achieved renown—or notoriety—for the protracted political tug-of-war, the South China Sea is, first and foremost, one of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems in the world. The area covers some 3.5 million square kilometers of rich waters, responsible for an estimated 10 million to 16 million tons of fisheries landings, or about 12 to 15 percent…
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Duterte is under pressure to end the Philippines-China honeymoon
Since his ascent to presidency, Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly threatened to upend Philippine foreign policy. In stark contrast to his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, he has as frequently lavished China with praise as he has lambasted America with verve and venom. Highly popular at home, and notorious the world over, Duterte has often been portrayed as an oriental despot with…
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Indonesian Public Sees China as Threat to Natuna Islands: Analyst
Indonesians appear convinced that China’s challenge over their gas-rich Natuna Islands represented an urgent national security threat, according to a recent study. Jakarta has pushed back against Chinese claims that waters surrounding the islands are part of its traditional fishing grounds, in a shift in position driven by an increase in Chinese incursions around the resource-rich area. Media research showed…
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Study says Chinese Coast Guard maintains near-constant presence off Borneo
BEIJING — Vessels from China’s coast guard are nearly constantly on station at the Luconia Shoals off the coast of Malaysia’s Sarawak State on the island of Borneo, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative under the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The presence of the vessels “speaks to Beijing’s determination to establish administrative control throughout the nine-dash line,”…
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Take Defense Treaty Action For Philippine Sovereignty In South China Sea
On Monday, Reuters reported China Coast Guard and industrial fishing ship operations at Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines, which are arguably a violation of Philippine territorial sovereignty. The report said China is now allowing Philippine fishermen at the shoal, but restricting full access to the lagoon. The ratio of Chinese to Philippine fishing boats on Monday was about 10:1. China Coast…
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BEIJING WARNS RODRIGO DUTERTE NOT TO MEDDLE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
Towards the end of 2016, Rodrigo Duterte’s Philippines said goodbye to the United States—and hello to China, its new suitor. Duterte made much of the pivot away from America, a long-term ally, but also sounded a warning to Beijing: “I am no lapdog of any world power,” he said. A few months on and it may be that Duterte did…