UNCLOS
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US slams Beijing’s wholesale reclamation
MANILA, Philippines – The United States has slammed the “wholesale reclamation” being undertaken by Beijing in the South China Sea, saying it is the “source of clear anxiety and instability” in the contested region. In a press conference at the New York Foreign Press Center on Sept. 26, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel said the…
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Philippines takes ‘triple action plan’ on sea row to UN
MANILA — The Philippines has decided to take its triple action plan (TAP) for the resolution of the maritime dispute in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to gain international support. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario rallied member-states during the General Debate of the 69th session of the…
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South China Sea conundrum: US and China’s differing views
Last Friday, The Straits Times ran a commentary by Mark Valencia titled “Separating fact from fiction in South China Sea conundrum”. Mr Valencia, a maritime policy specialist, is an adjunct senior scholar at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies in Haikou, China. In the article, he highlighted several oft-repeated statements on the South China Sea dispute between China…
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China looks to next PH govt for improved relations
The Chinese government does not see better relations with the Philippines under President Benigno Aquino III, saying it would rather wait for the next administration in 2016 amid territorial disputes in the region. Wu Shicun Top South China Sea expert Wu Shicun said the mainland will not abide by any decision of the United Nations International Tribunal on the Law…
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France, PHL denounce use of force in South China Sea
Philippines and France, during the visit of President Aquino to France, made a stand to support peaceful settlement of maritime spats in South China Sea. Both countries uphold the rule of law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. “As President, I believe that with these concerns come the necessity for all countries in the region…
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EU backs PH tack on sea dispute
BRUSSELS—The Philippines and the European Union are on the same page on how to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea: the manner should be peaceful and rules-based. This was made clear when President Aquino sat down Monday, Sept. 15, with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso at the Berlaymont here, as both leaders emphasized the need to…
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Why We Must Defend UNCLOS
A quick addendum to Wednesday’s column about language and the law of the sea. We err if we place too much faith in the power of written documents such as constitutions, laws, and international covenants of various types. Putting the right words on the page constitutes part of the challenge. That’s what lawmakers and diplomats do. But succeeding generations of…
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Global Theft of the Global Commons
Arbitration, China, environmental protection, Geopolitical Challenges, global commons, global theft, History, international cooperation, International Law, Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Maritime Security, resource management, shared resources, South China Sea Dispute, Territorial Disputes, UNCLOSSpeech delivered on the 75th anniversary of the College of Law of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, 30 August 2014. Discover the alarming reality of maritime disputes and resource exploitation in the South China Sea. Explore how territorial claims affect global commons and the urgent need for international cooperation.
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China’s Occupation on Disputed South China Sea Continues, Says Philippines Government
Calderon Reef, China, Gaven Reefs, Mabini Reef, Philippines, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCLOS, VietnamThe Philippines government has released a latest picture of reclamation work being done by China on one of the disputed Kennan [Chigua] reefs in the South China Sea. Obtained from intelligence sources in the government, the picture shows huge cranes, construction raw material, tin containers to be used as shelter for people and a cemented portion that the Philippines government…
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Singapore and the Sea of Discontent
Southeast Asia is home to roughly 630 million people, who combined produce a GDP of around 2.4 trillion dollars. It is also a region beset with complicated territorial squabbles, stemming from border to sea-lane disputes. There are many fault lines in this region, and none are more volatile than the South China Sea, a misnomer by some accounts but also…