Vietnam
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China’s scrappiest enemy is a familiar foe
For the fifth time in 100 years, Vietnam is facing the prospect of being involved in a war with a larger, more powerful country. The country that took on the Central Powers, Japan, France, the United States, and China is facing the possibility of conflict with a familiar foe: China. As Beijing presses territorial claims […]
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Vietnam, Australia call for ‘self-restraint’, warn against force in South China Sea
Vietnam and Australia today called for “self-restraint” in the South China Sea and warned against the unilateral use of force – an obvious reference to China’s increasingly aggressive presence that has stirred concerns across the disputed region. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung – who met Australian counterpart Tony Abbott in Canberra to sign deals […]
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Japan flexing muscles in South China Sea disputes
China, Foreign Relations, Japan, Militarization, Military Conflict, Mutual Defense, Philippines, South China Sea Dispute, USA, VietnamJapan used to be aloof from the three-way chess game of conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea. Tokyo was pre-occupied with its own territorial dispute with China over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Daioyu in China. However, quietly encouraged by […]
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With the U.S. distracted, China builds ‘The Mischief Islands’
Artificial Islands, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, Taiwan, USA, VietnamAs if there aren’t enough territorial disputes the world over, China is — literally — manufacturing a new one in the South China Sea by transforming a series of lonely reefs into small islands. Where nautical charts once identified bumps in the sea as Mischief Reef, Gaven Reef and others, China is dredging massive amounts […]
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China Challenges ASEAN with Land Fills in South China Sea
Artificial Islands, ASEAN, Cambodia, China, Code of Conduct, Destabilization, Malaysia, Military Conflict, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, String of Pearls Strategy, VietnamA stunning series of photos released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C. offer a grim outlook for the region as Beijing ratchets-up its territorial assertions over the hotly disputed Spratly and Paracel islands. At least four major man-made structures have been erected on Itu, Gaven, Johnson South and Fiery […]
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The South China Sea ‘V-I-P’ solution
The ‘VIP’ Group of Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines all share both advantageous relations with and deep disagreements with China in the South China Sea. Working together, they could present a united front. This would include establishing Joint Development Areas allotted by auction and linked by a common-carrier open-access energy infrastructure. Each has a serious […]
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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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Dispute over the South China Sea could put East Asia at war again
Arms Buildup, Artificial Islands, Brunei, China, Fishing Rights, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Militarizaiton, Oil, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, USA, Vietnam, WarPhilippine authorities have released satellite pictures of six reefs in the Spratly archipelago that indicate that the Chinese are building artificial structures in the disputed territories of the South China Sea. According to some observers, these features could allow China to extend the range of its navy, air force, coastguard and fishing fleets into the […]
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South China Sea Manoeuvrings: More of the same in 2015?
Analysis, Artificial Islands, Brunei, China, expert analysis, IMOA, International Law, Maritime Disputes, maritime issues, Maritime Security, MIMA, Philippines, Reclamation, Regional Stability, South China Sea Dispute, Sovereignty, VietnamRead Sumathy Permal’s expert commentary on maritime issues, published by the Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy, MIMA. Explore perspectives on sovereignty, security, and international maritime law.
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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 […]