The Ayungin Shoal recently came into focus in the Philippine public mind when Chinese coast guard ships prevented a Philippine civilian government boat from provisioning the marine outpost aboard the derelict BRP Sierra Madre. The latter was intentionally grounded by the Philippines in 1999, four years after the Chinese troops seized the nearby Mischief Reef […]
China’s “nine-dash line,” it seems, now extends to the Dong Yu Grand Ballroom C, one of the main venues at the Boao Forum for Asia. The interrupted line drawn on Chinese maps marks its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. China has been more aggressively trying to assert its control over the area, […]
On March 30, the Philippines submitted a memorial detailing its arguments and evidence against China’s nine-dash line and other aspects of Beijing’s South China Sea claims to an arbitration tribunal at The Hague. The 10-volume, nearly 4,000-page document marks a bold step by Manila, and one that Beijing seems to have believed never would actually […]
The United States’ top Navy commander in the Pacific has launched a stinging attack on China’s ”aggressive” military growth, warning that Beijing’s assertiveness is a ”witches’ brew” for a naval standoff. In unusually strong language, Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, branded China’s establishment of a controlled flight zone around islands disputed […]
As I noted last week, one of the more interesting aspects of the international response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea was the reaction of emerging powers like China and India. Despite the importance they have long placed on respect for sovereignty, all the emerging nations refused to criticize Russia’s seizure of territory belonging to Ukraine. […]
WASHINGTON – Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan has warned the Philippines and Japan not to test China’s resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, saying the Chinese military can be assembled quickly to fight and win any battle. The Chinese official raised the warning in a joint press conference in Beijing with […]
MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations arbitral tribunal cannot enforce its ruling on the case filed by the Philippines against China’s excessive territorial claims, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday. Speaking to ANC’s Headstart, DFA Spokesman Charles Jose said whatever decision the tribunal may reach, it will be both legally binding to the […]
MANILA: China’s new ambassador to the Philippines on Tuesday met President Benigno Aquino to try to mend relations strained by a festering territorial dispute. Zhao Jianhua, who arrived in the Philippines over a month ago, briefly met Aquino after presenting his credentials, said presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte. “It went well,” she told reporters. Valte said […]
China’s efforts to antagonize Japan over the Diaoyutai islands (Diaoyu to China, Senkaku to Japan) islands dispute has only strengthened ties between Tokyo and Washington, reports the independent citizen journalism website Mingjing News. Japan is a huge beneficiary of its diplomatic ties with the US, the report said, adding that Washington has continued to provide […]
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s visit to the PLAN aircraft carrier Liaoning has received a great deal of attention in the last few days. As Shannon Tiezi points out, Hagel will struggle to improve ties with Beijing while also increasing coordination with Tokyo. And yet the project of engaging with the Chinese military is not […]