Archives

CAVITE, Philippines –  The Philippines has protested the presence of a Chinese warship and other vessels off a Filipino military-occupied shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said Tuesday the Philippines denounced the “provocative and illegal presence” of Beijing’s ships off Ayungin Shoal in the South China Sea. Spokesman Raul …

It started with a common enough skirmish in the hotly disputed waters of the South China Sea. Ten days ago, a Philippine coast guard ship went too far in chasing off a Taiwanese fishing vessel in disputed waters. Such actions involve water cannons and the damage is nothing worse than a few broken portholes. This …

In January, the Philippines instituted arbitration proceedings against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with regard to disputes between the two countries in the South China Sea. China has chosen not to take part in these proceedings, claiming that the compulsory dispute settlement procedures under UNCLOS do not …

Since 1991, comprehensive Vietnam–China relations have developed but remain constrained by the South China Sea (SCS) disputes. What makes the disputes highly relevant for future bilateral relations is that they have proven intractable, leaving the possibility of an eventual solution a matter of almost infinite uncertainty. The intractability of the disputes is rooted in their …

by Ace TamayoPosted on 05/17/2013 10:24 AM  | Updated 05/17/2013 3:38 PM APRIL SUMMIT. During its summit in April, ASEAN pushed for a Code of Conduct with China. File photo by AFP MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed on Friday, May 17, that a meeting between senior officials of the Association of …

On May 21, 2013, Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, will address the U.S. Navy posture in the Asia-Pacific region in a speech entitled “Asia-Pacific Rebalance: Strengthening Regional Maritime Security and Partnerships” at the Willard InterContinental Hotel. Source

SINGAPORE: Countries in the South China Sea and East China Sea regions must boost ways for open and inclusive talks. This is one of the ways to tackle potential flashpoints, which could destabilise the regional maritime environment. Senior Minister of State for Defence, Chan Chun Sing, said this on Wednesday at the third International Maritime Security …

Competing claims to the South China Sea have for decades been a source of tension in the region. China’s increasing assertiveness in staking its claim in recent years has caused concern for neighbouring countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam. The South China Sea issue will be a top priority for Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) …

MASINLOC, Philippines – For decades, fishermen along the northwestern Philippine coast treated the teeming fishing grounds of the Scarborough Shoal as their backyard, less than a day’s boat ride away. Now, they see it as a foreign country. “I lost my livelihood when we lost ‘Kalburo’ to the Chinese,” said Mario Forones, a 53-year-old who …

The United States is criticizing China’s territorial claim around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, over which tensions between the two Asian nations remain elevated.  ”In September, 2012, China began using improperly drawn straight baseline claims around the Senkaku Islands,” the Defense Department says, “adding to its network of maritime claims inconsistent …