Philippines
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More blockades by China to follow, say experts
Airstrips, Artificial Islands, Ayungin Shoal, Blockades, BRP Sierra Madre, China, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, SpratlysMANILA, Philippines—Security experts believe China is pushing the region to the “brink of miscalculations” in the South China Sea with its expansive land reclamation in disputed territories as the Philippines anticipates more blockades by the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea once their facilities become fully operational next year. “The bases are being constructed very fast, done rapidly, that it’s…
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China is pushing South China Sea situation to the brink of miscalculation
Artificial Island, Ayungin Shoal, BRP Sierra Madre, China, Militarization, Military Conflict, Military Exercises, Naval Blockade, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, SpratlysSecurity experts believe China is pushing the region to the “brink of miscalculations” in the South China Sea with its expansive land reclamation in disputed territories as the Philippines anticipates more blockades by the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea once their facilities become fully operational next year. “The bases are being constructed very fast, done rapidly, that it’s estimated…
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The Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam Race to South China Sea Defense Modernization
Over the last two months there have been several significant developments in improving the maritime capabilities of three Southeast Asian states: the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The Philippines In December 2014 President Benigno Aquino enacted the 2015 General Appropriations Act, approving governmental expenditure of Pesos (P) 2.6 trillion ($59 billion). On December 17, Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad, head of the…
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How China Exploits a Loophole In International Law in Pursuit of Hegemony in East Asia
Who “minds the gap” in the South China Sea? The gap, that is, created in international law concerning the use of coercion or aggressive force and the right of self-defense of victim states. China exploits this gap in the international law on the use of force to compel its neighbors to accept Chinese hegemony in East Asia. By using asymmetric…
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UNCLOS on Trial in the South China Sea
The latest installation of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative covers several recent developments in the region, including China and Japan’s progress towards an East China Sea crisis mechanism, Japan’s new record defense budget, and Taiwan’s decision to delay development work on Itu Aba island, following the revelation that a Chinese vessel was involved in the construction. This issue’s analysis, however,…
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China expands construction work in disputed Spratly waters
Beijing appears to have made steady advances in the construction of port and other facilities in disputed waters in the South China Sea, according to photographs obtained by The Asahi Shimbun. The aerial photos of the area were taken in October. The Philippines and Vietnam also lay claim to much of the potentially resource-rich Spratly archipelago. One of the photos…
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Imagery shows heliport on China’s Nanji Islands
Airstrips, Artificial Islands, China, East China Sea, Japan, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Unsinkable Aircraft CarrierSatellite imagery analysis by IHS Jane’s has confirmed that China is building a military base on islands 300 km away from the dispute Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. The imagery, captured on 13 October 2014 by Airbus Defence and Space’s Pleaides satellite, shows a heliport with 10 landing pads in the centre of Nanji Island, one of a group of islands that are…
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PHL mending ties with China but won’t drop arbitration case
The Philippines is taking steps to mend its relations with China, but emphasized that it will not drop its arbitration case against Beijing, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Thursday. Relations between the two Asian neighbors plunged to its lowest when the Philippines sought arbitration in January 2013 to try to declare as illegal China’s massive claim over the…
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East Sea: Are artificial islands more dangerous than oil rigs?
Airstrips, Artificial Islands, ASEAN, China, Code of Conduct, Oil Rigs, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Disute, Unsinkable Aircraft CarrierChina’s East Sea policy has a clear delineation between short term and long term. The strategy to maintain a continuous presence in the undisputed waters to gradually turn them into disputed areas has been resolutely pursued by Beijing. The 981 oil rig incident is a typical example. China used this oil rig as a “mobile sovereignty landmark ” to maintain…
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Another Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier
Airstrips, Artificial Islands, China, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Unsinkable Aircraft CarrierAs part of a broader project of land reclamation, beginning in November China started efforts to develop Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands. As of late November the reef had been built up to 3,000 meters long and between two and three hundred wide. This makes it large enough, in the assessment of analysts with IHS Jane’s and the…