Monthly Archives: July 2015

Science Diplomacy Crucible For South China Sea Disputes – Analysis

The increasingly loud accusations and declarations from Beijing and Washington over China’s ambitions to reclaim a string of small islands, coral reefs and lagoons show no signs of ending. However, given the number of international stakeholders in the region, the real promise of science for diplomacy may now be at hand in this complex geopolitical […]

Archaeology and the South China Sea

Recently, Vietnamese and Western media resumed reporting on China’s HD-981 oil rig, after it was redeployed to disputed waters, dredging up memories of the intense anti-Chinese protests in Vietnam and the diplomatic standoff that occurred last year when the rig was moved to waters between Vietnam and China for the first time. The HD-981 oil […]

Mandate of Heaven: An ADIZ in the South China Sea

Cabo Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, holds a unique distinction. According to a report issued by the U.S. Congressional Research Service, Cabo Verde is one of just 27 nations (including China) of the 167 states party to the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) that claim the ability […]

Philippines cheers growing outcry over South China Sea

MANILA: The Philippines Sunday hailed what it termed growing international support for its efforts to counter China’s claims to most of the South China Sea. The comments from a presidential spokesman came as the U.S. Pacific Fleet released photographs of its commander in a surveillance flight over the sea, where tension is rising between Manila […]

Science Diplomacy a Crucible for South China Sea Disputes

The increasingly loud accusations and declarations from Beijing and Washington over China’s ambitions to reclaim a string of small islands, coral reefs and lagoons show no signs of ending. However, given the number of international stakeholders in the region, the real promise of science for diplomacy may now be at hand in this complex geopolitical […]

What the South China Sea Means for South Korean Grand Strategy

The South China Sea is a litmus test for South Korean grand strategy, which would benefit greatly by reorienting away from an inward obsession with North Korea and instead turning outward, to attend to the destabilizing trends in its neighborhood. Korea’s history is one of victimization at the hands of great power competition; avoiding that […]

Meet the PHL’s legal team in its arbitration case vs. China: Professor Philippe Sands QC

Professor Philippe Sands QC is one of the foreign legal experts tapped by the Philippines to handle its case against China’s claims over parts of the West Philippine Sea. Sands is currently a barrister with Matrix Chambers in London, United Kingdom, where he practices international law focusing on maritime boundary disputes, international claims relating to […]

: Can these foreign lawyers help PHL win its arbitration case vs. China? More from: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/523278/news/nation/profiles-can-these-foreign-lawyers-help-phl-win-its-arbitration-case-vs-china

The Philippine government has hired foreign legal experts as its representatives in its case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. Answering criticisms, Malacañang argued that the country needs the help of these foreign experts who have “international reputation appearing before the tribunal.” Based on GMA News Online’s research, the […]

The Philippines vs. China: The Real Fight in the South China Sea

Though China has effectively boycotted the arbitration proceedings at The Hague, the Arbitral Tribunal has (once again) given Beijing the opportunity to respond to Manila’s claims and arguments. From the Philippines’ voluminous memorial, submitted in March 2014, to the Philippines’ additional arguments, submitted a year after, China has been repeatedly given the opportunity to make […]