Philippines
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China says its military base in Djibouti may harm America’s vital interests in Africa
Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao reported that according to AFP, President Guelleh of Djibouti, a small eastern African country, said that his country was discussing with China the establishment of a base in Djibouti for maintaining China’s navigation security and overseas interests. Guelleh welcomed China’s intention to set up a military base in his country. This will be China’s first military base…
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Pentagon describes China activity in South China Sea as ‘threatening’
NEW DELHI: China’s military mordernisation, particularly its defence capabilities by building artificial islands in the South China Sea region, has raised eyebrows in the Pentagon with the US Department of Defence recently describing such activities as potential threat. “The PLA is developing and testing new intermediate- and medium-range conventional ballistic missiles, as well as long-range, land-attack, and anti-ship cruise missiles…
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Philippine military chief visits South China Sea island
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines’ military chief flew to a Filipino-occupied island in the South China Sea on Monday and vowed to defend the territory and help develop tourism and marine resources there amid disputes with China. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, accompanied by journalists and other military officials, said he visited Pag-asa Island to establish that the island is…
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Environmentalists demand China to stop ‘ecological destruction’ in West PH Sea
Artificial Islands, China, Ecology, Environmental Impact, Food Security, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, SpratlysEnvironmentalists trooped to the Chinese Consulate in Makati City on Monday to demand China to stop its reclamation works in the West Philippine Sea which damage the marine ecosystem in the area. Holding banners written with the call “China Out of Philippine Seas Now,” about 20 members of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment staged a protest slamming China’s…
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China reclaimed 800 hectares of land in South China Sea: US
Washington: China’s hastily expanding campaign to reclaim land in the South China Sea for potential military use now totals 800 hectares, the US has said, stressing that the move to build artificial islands in the disputed area is inconsistent with the region’s desire for peace and stability. “We currently assess that China has reclaimed approximately 2,000 acres (800 hectares) of…
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China Reserves Right to Create Air Zone Over South China Sea
China reserves the right to establish an Air Defense Identification Zone over the South China Sea, a move that would raise tensions in a region wracked by territorial disputes. “China is entitled to set up ADIZs,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday. “A decision in this regard depends on whether the air safety is threatened and to what…
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41 Years in the Making: Why China’s South China Sea Plan Will Fail
Analysis, Artificial Islands, ASEAN, Australia, China, History, Indonesia, Malaysia, Natuna, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, USA, VietnamWhile China’s recent assertiveness in the South China Sea might shock and surprise today’s observers, its behavior has actually been remarkably consistent over recent decades. China first exercised its power in the region in January 1974 when it ejected South Vietnam from the Crescent Islands. In March 1988, the Chinese Navy clashed with Vietnamese vessels, which resulted in Chinese occupation…
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DFA on PHL activity in South China Sea: Minor fixes not large-scale construction
The Philippines has done some minor “repairs and maintenance” work in Filipino-occupied areas within the country’s exclusive economic zone which is allowed under international law unlike the massive land reclamations by China which are far from its territory and grossly violates the law, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Tuesday. At the same time, Del Rosario said the Philippines will…
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China takes steps to control South China Sea
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Great Wall of Sand, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, USABeijing’s new land-reclamation strategy in the South China Sea has been ringing alarm bells in the region and has prompted the U.S. to accuse China of attempting to force its way to de facto control of disputed waters. Several high-definition satellite images surfaced this month of China’s land reclamation and construction on Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, whose sovereignty…
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U.S. keeps watchful eye as China builds ‘Great Wall of Sand’
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Miliitarization, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAABOVE THE EAST CHINA SEA — The crew of Pelican One keeps a watchful eye as the U.S. Navy patrol plane swoops low to identify a ship operating near waters off southwestern Japan that China now claims as its territory. After a radio check and a close look confirms the ship is a harmless Panama-flagged commercial tanker, Pelican One veers…