By Ian Storey For more than two decades Beijing has pursued a consistent policy in the South China Sea composed of two main elements: gradually strengthening the country’s territorial and jurisdictional claims while at the same time endeavoring to assure Southeast Asian countries of its peaceful intentions. Recent moves by China to bolster its maritime […]
Government backed Chinese media criticized US today, over raising tensions in the South China Sea. With the Communist Party’s top newspaper going as far as telling Washington to “Shut up”, and charging it with “fanning flames” of division in the region. An overseas section in Chinese newspaper, People’s Daily read “We are entirely entitled to shout […]
China, Japan stretch peace pactsBy Kosuke Takahashi TOKYO – Asia’s two giants, China and Japan, are playing a dangerous game, each indicating they are prepared to use force in defense of islands they both claim as their own. With a side glance at China expanding its effective control of the disputed Paracel and Spratly islands […]
This file photo shows Chinese government house in Sansha, China’s newest city, anchored on a remote tropical island with coral reefs, palm trees and white sand beaches giving it the allure of a tourist idyll, under the administration of southern Hainan province. Map showing the disputed Paracel and Spratly islands in the South China Sea. […]
The US State Department’s declared “close” monitoring of increased tensions in the South China Sea has caused problems with the authorities in Beijing. Chinese state media have hit out at US “trouble-making” on the South China Sea, two days after Beijing summoned a US diplomat on the issue. One commentary told the US to “shut […]
Author: Rommel Banlaoi The Honorable Chairperson and distinguished members of this committee. It is my pleasure to appear before you today to offer my scholarly insights on the agenda of this public hearing, particularly in the light of the on-going standoff with China in Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, which the international community […]
Could valuable oil and gas deposits in the South China Sea be behind the growing military build-up in the region? The South China Sea is a strategically important and resource-rich area in Asia. Around half of the world’s merchant fleets pass through every year carrying an estimated $5 trillion worth of trade. The area is […]
Foreign Minister Natalegawa Out Front in Regional Mediation Indonesia is distinguishing itself as a voice of moderation and mediation in the troubled waters of the South China Sea. Even as the rival territorial claims over the sea was splitting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Cambodia last month, Indonesia refused to quit acting as […]
by David Johnston Our submarines are so operationally fragile that competing in exercises with allies has become a case of going in with fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong. Photo: Supplied The cheeky headline last week from Defence media read “HMAS Farncomb celebrates successful sinking at RIMPAC” and I quietly cheered for the crew of the submarine for […]
Continue reading the main story Related Stories Philippines and Cambodia in spat Philippines to auction sea blocks China approves troops for islands China has summoned a senior US diplomat in a dispute over the South China Sea. On Friday, the US state department said Beijing was risking an escalation in tensions by establishing a garrison […]