On May 6, 2013, the Stimson Center and the Washington Foreign Law Society co-hosted a panel on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the recent action brought by the Philippines against China at the UNCLOS tribunal. About 70 people, from foreign media to U.S. legal scholars to diplomats, attended the panel […]
MANILA, Philippines – There are no new Chinese structures in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal but four Chinese ships are still in the area, a defense expert monitoring West Philippine Sea issues revealed yesterday. Rommel Banlaoi of the Philippine Association of Chinese Studies said reports about the supposed buildup in Panatag Shoal are not true. “It’s a […]
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose L. Cuisia Jr. told the crew of the country’s newest warship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), that the Philippines will exert efforts to ease tensions in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) but will also defend its territory if needed. On Sunday, June 9, during a […]
MANILA, Philippines—Their territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) should not stop the Philippines and China from celebrating the 38th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations, Malacañang said Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said relations between the two countries were multifaceted and the territorial dispute over parts of the […]
The twenty-third Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea will be held at Headquarters from 10 to 14 June. Often referred to as “the constitution for the oceans”, the landmark Convention was adopted on 10 December 1982 and entered into force on 16 November 1994. Its 320 […]
June 25, 2012: Henry Bensurto of the Department of Foreign Affairs presentation of Philippine position. Download PDF: Bensurto_Presentation
MANILA – There is more to the relationship between China and the Philippines than the row over at the West Philippine Sea, Malacanang said, as it stressed that the country will retain a non-provocative stance amid Chinese ships still allegedly trespassing in Philippine waters. “Our relationship with our neighbor is multifaceted. And, as we’ve always […]
WASHINGTON – A US official on Wednesday voiced hope that China and Southeast Asian nations will start talks soon on a code of conduct to resolve disputes over the South China Sea after repeated flare-ups. Joe Yun, the acting assistant secretary of state for East Asia, said that China and the 10-member Association of Southeast […]
The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), launched by the Institute of International Strategic Studies (IISS) in 2002, brings together Asia-Pacific defense ministers and experts from around the world to discuss regional security challenges and opportunities for cooperation. The 12th SLD convened in Singapore from May 31 to June 2. IISS Director General and Chief Executive John Chipman […]
Yesterday, the New York Times reported that China’s mapping authority, Sinomaps Press, issued a new map of the country showing 80% of the South China Sea as internal Chinese water. What’s at issue? Each year, more than half of the world’s annual merchant tonnage passes through the South China Sea as well as a third […]