Monthly Archives: April 2015

South China Sea: China’s Unprecedented Spratlys Building Program

High-resolution satellite images from April 17, 2015 reveal that in the space of ten weeks China has built an island on top of Subi Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands group. The dimensions and shape of the land fill, which is still underway, are compatible with a potential airstrip 3,300 meters long, similar to the […]

Asean’s pragmatism is playing into China’s hands

With its economic clout and trade power, Beijing continues to brush aside criticism on south china sea, while other countries in the region look the other way When Asean leaders gather this weekend in Kuala Lumpur, their agenda will be dominated by the launch of the 10-year roadmap toward the realisation of the Asean Community. […]

China’s South China Sea Disaster

Until the past five years, the Philippines and Vietnam had minimal strategic ties other than working together, through ASEAN initiatives, on a range of nontraditional security issues. The two countries had very different styles of leadership—the Philippines is a vibrant democracy with one of the freest media markets in the world, while Vietnam remains run […]

PH military accuses Chinese vessel of ‘aggressive’ action vs patrol aircraft

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has accused China of being “aggressive” in challenging a Philippine patrol aircraft in West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) early this week. “Nababahala rin tayo bakit icha-challenge tayo sa sarili nating teritoryo. Ito ay aggressive action dun sa part ng Chinese vessel (We’re worried why we are being challenged […]

China ship tells PH Navy: Leave Chinese territory

MANILA – The Philippine military has accused China of committing an aggressive act for flashing powerful lights on a Philippine Navy plane that was on patrol at the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea last Sunday. Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office chief, said the incident involved an […]

Carpio: China’s reclamation poses ‘national crisis’ for PHL

China’s aggressive reclamation over the West Philippine Sea may result in a national crisis for the Philippines, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said. In a lecture on Thursday, Carpio explained that China’s efforts, intended to give teeth to its “nine-dashed line” claim over nearly the entirety of the South China Sea, have “grave implications […]

China takes steps to control South China Sea

Beijing’s new land-reclamation strategy in the South China Sea has been ringing alarm bells in the region and has prompted the U.S. to accuse China of attempting to force its way to de facto control of disputed waters. Several high-definition satellite images surfaced this month of China’s land reclamation and construction on Mischief Reef in […]

AFP denies China warship fired at PAF plane over Pag-asa Island

A CHINESE frigate supposedly fired shots at a Philippine military aircraft early this week in Pag-asa Island (Thitu) West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “There was a near disastrous incident between a Chinese frigate and PAF patrol aircraft early Monday. The frigate fired an illumination round on the PAF aircraft which necessitated grounding all military […]