Monthly Archives: September 2015

South China Sea – A Hot Debate On The Horizon

The latest satellite imagery of the South China Sea clearly shows that the Chinese have stepped up a notch in terms of completing the construction of an artificial island in a bid to gain a stranglehold of the region, a measure that has really annoyed quite a few regional players and has also ruffled a […]

China’s President Pledges No Militarization in Disputed Islands

WASHINGTON—China’s President Xi Jinping made a public commitment for the first time on Friday not to “militarize” artificial islands that Beijing has been building in the disputed South China Sea. Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-completes-runway-on-artificial-island-in-south-china-sea-1443184818

US Calls to Halt Land Reclamation, Building Facilities in South China Sea

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States urges all parties claiming the Spratly islands in the South China Sea to stop reclaiming land and building new facilities on the disputed territories, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice stated on Monday. “We call upon all claimants to reciprocally halt land reclamation, construction of new facilities and militarization […]

China committed to resolving South China Sea disputes peacefully: Xi

“Islands in the South China Sea since ancient times are China’s territory. We have the right to uphold our own territorial sovereignty and lawful and legitimate maritime rights and interests,” Xi said after a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama. “We are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, managing differences […]

China’s President Pledges No Militarization in Disputed Islands

WASHINGTON—China’s President Xi Jinping made a public commitment for the first time on Friday not to “militarize” artificial islands that Beijing has been building in the disputed South China Sea. Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-completes-runway-on-artificial-island-in-south-china-sea-1443184818

Xi reaffirms right to South China Sea, Obama criticises China’s human rights record

WASHINGTON – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday insisted that Beijing’s claims to islands in the South China Sea are legitimate and said it would defend those claims in the face of rival claims by its neighbours. “Islands in the South China Sea, since ancient times, are China’s territory. We have the right to uphold […]

Walking the walk in the South China Sea

On September 17th, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs David Shear testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on US security strategy in Asia.  In written testimony, Shear stated: Between 2013 and 2014, we increased global FON [freedom of navigation] operations by 84 %, the majority of which were conducted in […]

China’s Artificial Islands in the South China Sea Are Killing Ocean Life

Marco Rubio raised fears about China’s “artificial islands” blocking ocean traffic in the South China Sea during the recent GOP debate, but scientists think shipping lanes are the least of our concerns. A new article in the journal Science points out that the man-made islands are already taking a huge toll on the environment. China’s […]

Xi Jinping White House Visit: South China Sea Dispute Will Be Central To Talks With Obama

Sept 24 What was once a group of obscure, almost entirely submerged rocks and reefs on the fringes of the Spratly Island group in the South China Sea are now set to become a major point of contention in the upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House Thursday evening.  Over […]

Chinese Military Behind South China Sea Cyber Espionage Attacks

Add one more contentious cyberattack issue to the mix for tomorrow’s meeting in Washington, D.C. between President Obama and Chinese president Xi Jinping: researchers have identified a member of a Chinese military unit that they say is behind an infamous cyber espionage attack campaign against governments in Asia as well as the United Nations. Researchers […]