UNCLOS
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We are witnessing a new geopolitical reality in the South China Sea
Analysis, Artificial Islands, China, Reclamation, Sea Level Rise, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, Terriclaiming, UNCLOS, USAOver the past two years, China has been methodically terraforming small reefs and shoals into islands in the highly contentious South China Sea (SCS). The SCS is important not only because of its strategic, trade, and resource potential but also because many of the claimants’ direct links with the U.S. such as the Philippines. China’s progressive […]
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Asean backs Manila on sea row
JAKARTA: The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) supports the Philippines’ bid for a peaceful resolution of its own territorial dispute with China, as well as the stance of other claimant countries that reject Bejing’s “dotted line” policy in asserting its sovereignty over rocks and islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). […]
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Seeking arbitration of West PH Sea conflict proves PH’s commitment to UN Charter – envoy
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ recourse to arbitration to settle disputes in the West Philippine Sea is proof of its commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, a diplomat told a Security Council debate convened by China, with whom the country is locked in a bitter row over contested territory. “The Philippines believes that […]
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Aquino, Hollande renew call for maritime stability amid China aggression
China, Fishing Rights, France, Hollande, Philippines, Scarorough Shoal, South China Sea Dispute, UNCLOSMANILA, Philippines – Amid China’s continuing maritime aggression, President Benigno Aquino III and visiting French President Francois Hollande on Thursday renewed their call for peace in Southeast Asia. “We reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia and promoting maritime security, freedom of navigation and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance […]
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China’s nine-dash line still infringes international law
Suggestions that China could claim historic fishing rights within the nine-dash line misinterpret international law. While Sourabh Gupta’s arguments, outlined in a recent Forum article, relating to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Articles 62 and 123 have been disputed elsewhere, we argue that his argument regarding Article 56 is also […]
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Manila urges Beijing to halt reclamation work on Mischief Reef
Aritficial Islands, China, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCLOS, Unsnkable Aircraft Carriers(Reuters) – The Philippines strongly urged China to stop reclamation work on a disputed submerged reef within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said on Friday. A Philippine navy commander said on Thursday that China had started dredging around the disputed Mischief Reef, signalling Beijing may be preparing to […]
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How China Exploits a Loophole in International Law in Pursuit of Hegemony in East Asia
How is China pursuing its territorial claims in the South and East China Seas while also avoiding overt confrontations with the US and other regional powers? According to James Kraska, Beijing’s coercive actions fall short – quite intentionally – of what constitutes an ‘armed attack’ in international law. By James Kraska for Foreign Policy Research […]
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China’s Lawful Position on the South China Sea
Researchers at a key government-funded institute in China appear to have contradicted their director to lay out a moderate, or at least undecided, position for China on the so-called nine-dash line in a recent edition of Eurasia Review. This line, which was first drawn by the Nationalist government of China before 1949, appears to demarcate […]
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The Jurisdictional Rubicon: Scrutinizing China’s Position Paper on the South China Sea Arbitration – Part II
Yesterday I set out the background to the Position Paper issued by the China, on December 7, 2014, “on the Matter of Jurisdiction in the South China Sea Arbitration initiated by the Republic of the Philippines” [hereafter, “China Position Paper”] and examined China’s first objection to the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal. In this post, […]
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IYAKIN DAW | China state media calls PH a ‘crying baby’ for seeking int’l support vs island-building
Airstrips, Arbitration, Artificial Islands, ASEAN, China, Code of Conduct, Media, Philippines, Propaganda, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCLOSChina’s official news agency on Friday likened the Philippines to a “crying baby” for seeking international support against island-building in disputed waters by Beijing, denouncing its efforts as “pathetic”. The caustic commentary by the Xinhua news agency came two days after foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) voiced concern over Beijing’s land […]