Spratlys
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Vietnam Protests China Construction on Disputed South China Sea Island
Artificial Islands, China, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier, VietnamVietnam is protesting about China’s move to expand construction on the disputed Spratly islands, which Vietnam calls Truong Sa, in the South China Sea. “Vietnam strongly protests and demands that China respect Vietnam’s sovereignty and immediately stop its illegal activities in the area of Truong Sa archipelago and that China strictly adhere to the Declaration […]
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US voices concern over China’s ‘dramatic’ tactics in South China Sea
NEW DELHI: The US today expressed concern over China’s “provocative” and “dramatic” tactics in the South China Sea and said the American navy will shift 60 per cent of its maritime assets to the Pacific by 2020. However, it underlined that the “rebalance” to the Asia and Pacific was not aimed at China but for […]
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PHL stops oil and gas drilling in Reed Bank, cites dispute with China
(Updated 4:47 p.m.) The Department of Energy (DOE) has suspended all drilling and exploration works in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the area covered by Service Contract (SC) 72 in the Reed Bank, citing a force majeure as the site is the subject a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China. Philex Petroleum Corp., […]
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China’s Menacing Sandcastles in the South China Sea
Analysis, Artificial Islands, China, Defense, Militarization, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, SustainabilityChina didn’t open “Pandora’s Sandbox.” It isn’t the first claimant to transform reefs by padding them with sand. But China’s superior economic and military capacity enables it to outpace other claimants. It is rapidly building the greatest “sandcastles,” which support multiple military and paramilitary functions. Beijing views Spratly and Paracel Islands augmentation as justified in […]
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China Rebuffs U.S. Request to Halt S. China Sea Island Work
China rejected an appeal from the Obama administration earlier this month to halt “destabilizing” construction on disputed islets in the South China Sea, according to U.S. officials. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel urged Chinese officials to halt rapidly expanding island construction over the past several years in the disputed Spratly Islands during a visit […]
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U.S. flies surveillance plane over South China Sea
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Diaoyu, Japan, Reclamation, Senkaku, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, Surveiilance, USAWorld Bulletin / News Desk The United States has begun flying its most advanced surveillance aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, out of the Philippines for patrols over the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy said on Thursday, acknowledging the flights for the first time. The United States, the Philippines’ oldest and closest ally, has promised to […]
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PLA carried out further test of JL-2 SLBM last month
ADIZ, Air Defense Identification Zone, China, Militarization, Philippines, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, USAThe People’s Liberation Army Navy conducted another test flight of its JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile again last month, Bill Gertz, senior editor of the Washington Free Beacon writes in an article published Feb. 18. US military sources said that the JL-2 test was carried out on the same day North Korea tested its KN-11 submarine-launched […]
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China expands South China Sea outposts to station ships, establish airfields
WASHINGTON – China is expanding its outposts in the South China Sea to include stationing for ships and potential airfields as part of its “aggressive” effort to exert sovereignty, the U.S. intelligence chief said Thursday. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was speaking at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on worldwide threats. His comments […]
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How China is transforming the South China Sea
ADIZ, Aird Defense Identification Zone, Artificial Islands, China, Militarization, Oil, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, Unsinkable Aircraft CarriersNew images reveal the extent of China’s land reclamation and construction in the South China Sea. Experts warn the new developments will make it increasingly difficult to counter Beijing’s regional claims. On February 4, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest to the Chinese Embassy in Manila, urging Beijing to stop the land reclamation at the […]
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China’s island-building spree is about more than just military might
Aritificial Islands, China, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, Unsinkable Aircraft CarriersChina’s playing Monopoly in the South China Sea—only, instead of building hotels on Pacific Avenue, it’s constructing helipads and, in some cases, whole new islands. In less than a year, shallow reefs in the Spratly Islands have sprouted white-sand outcrops, sporting what look to be Chinese military facilities, according to satellite imagery published this week by IHS Jane’s Defence […]