West Philippine Sea
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Duterte to fight for country’s claim over West Philippine Sea
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 May) – Incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he will continue the efforts of the outgoing President Benigno S. Aquino III’s administration in pushing for the country’s ownership over the West Philippine Sea. Duterte told reporters early Thursday that he had a long discussion with Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua when he came…
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Disputes: China’s low-bat support vs Philippine backers
IF the South China/West Philippine Sea row between China and the Philippines were to be adjudicated according to the quality of support that each side has marshaled in the dispute, the Philippines would surely win its case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, whose decision will be handed down within weeks. While our country has won the…
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A Chinese ADIZ in the South China Sea: The Ultimate Bargaining Chip?
In times of lowered tensions or when it so wishes, Beijing could announce it is easing restrictions in its ADIZ, all in an effort to show it is pursuing a so-called “restrained” approach. Or it could offer to ease restrictions as part of a bilateral negotiation with Japan — say limiting its ADIZ to just military and not civilian aircraft.…
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HOW TAIPEI SHOULD HANDLE THE TRIBUNAL RULING ON THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
The South China Sea is not at the top of Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen’s agenda, but for the sake of domestic stability, U.S.-Taiwan relations, and cross-strait relations, her newly-installed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government must exercise caution in its handling of the Philippines’ arbitration against China. How Tsai handles the ruling will prove critical for Taipei, as a wrong step…
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Sparring over South China Sea is a dangerous game
China has been behaving aggressively in the South China Sea for some time now, in what can only be seen as the country’s efforts to assert sovereignty over disputed territories also claimed by some members of Asean. Needless to say, such behaviour is not healthy for the overall atmosphere of peace and stability in the region. The struggle to control…
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Japan offers two patrol ships to Sri Lanka with China in sight
Without mentioning China’s increasing activities in the Indian Ocean and the East and South China seas, Japan and Sri Lanka “reconfirmed the importance of maintaining the freedom of the high seas and maritime order based on the rule of law”, according to a statement issued after their meeting in Nagoya, central Japan. In a separate meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister…
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Palace: G7 declaration backs PH claim in sea dispute with China
Malacañang on Sunday said that the declaration of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders on the South China Sea supported the country’s claim in the disputed waters. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that the G7 Declaration stressed adherence to the rule of law in solving the territorial dispute—a key element of the country’s policy on the issue. “In expressing…
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Digong: China must respect UN decision
DAVAO CITY—President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said China must abide by the ruling of the United Nations tribunal on the arbitration case lodged by the Philippines against Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over the entire South China Sea. While China has snubbed the UN proceeding, Duterte said it must respect the decision of the tribunal, which is expected to be handed out soon.…
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Little blue men: the maritime militias pushing China’s claims
China is using large numbers of irregular maritime militias, dubbed “little blue men”, to assert and expand its control over an increasingly large area of disputed and reclaimed islands and reefs in the strategically important South China Sea, the Pentagon says. The militias, comprising hundreds of fishermen and motor boats mainly based on Hainan island, south of the mainland, have…
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Canadian prime minister endorses Japanese position on South China Sea ahead of G7 summit
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled to Japan earlier this week for a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Shinzo Abe ahead of the G7 summit. The main issue in Trudeau’s meeting with Abe Tuesday was the reaffirmation of both countries’ agreement on an anti-Chinese position in the conflicts in the South and East China seas. They also discussed improving trade…