Monthly Archives: June 2016

How Vietnam Can Stop the South China Sea ADIZ

What is China’s next big move in the South China Sea? Ask the experts this question and tally their predictions. The action that will get the most votes is likely to be the imposition of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ). Indeed, a widespread view among the South China Sea watchers is that China will […]

World Military Leaders To Confront Beijing Over Contested South China Sea

Hundreds of defense officials are meeting in Singapore this weekend to talk about managing the widely contested, resource-rich South China Sea. That’s what the agenda says at least. The forum might actually turn into a verbal water fight over what everyone should do about China after a United Nations court rules sometime this month whether […]

NATO General Says China Should Respect Tribunal on Maritime Claim

SINGAPORE—A senior NATO general criticized China’s decision to ignore an upcoming Hague tribunal ruling on Chinese maritime claims, saying that Beijing risks fueling regional instability by unilaterally flouting international norms in dispute resolution. http://www.wsj.com/articles/nato-general-says-china-should-respect-tribunal-on-maritime-claim-1464962826

US vows ‘action’ if China builds new S. China Sea structures

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter delivers a speech titled “Meeting Asia’s Complex Security Challenges” at the 15th International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-la Dialogue, or IISS, Asia Security Summit on Saturday, June 4, 2016, in Singapore. AP PHOTO U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter delivers a speech titled “Meeting Asia’s Complex Security Challenges” at the 15th […]

Incoming SolGen ‘very hopeful’ PH will win arbitration case vs China DAVAO CITY — Incoming Solicitor General Jose Calida on Saturday said he is “very hopeful” that the Philippines will win its arbitration case against China on the disputed West Philippine Sea. “We are very hopeful that we will win this case,” Calida told reporters at Royal Mandaya Hotel. The former Justice undersecretary said he recently met with incumbent Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, who briefed him and incoming foreign affairs secretary Jun Yasay on the case. “During that meeting we only discussed the West Philippine Sea dispute with China, he said. “It’s really a complicated issue but according to the solicitor general now, around 70 to 80 percent we will win this case,” Calida said. Asked what will happen if the country wins the case with the international tribunal, Calida said, “Well we will cross the bridge when we get there. We will wait for the decision then we will make our move.” Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/139899/incoming-solgen-hopeful-ph-will-win-arbitration-case-vs-china#ixzz4AfcWgQDc

DAVAO CITY — Incoming Solicitor General Jose Calida on Saturday said he is “very hopeful” that the Philippines will win its arbitration case against China on the disputed West Philippine Sea. “We are very hopeful that we will win this case,” Calida told reporters at Royal Mandaya Hotel. The former Justice undersecretary said he recently […]

Asean should get its house in order first: Malaysia’s Defence Minister Hishammuddin

SINGAPORE – Malaysian defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Saturday (June 4) urged Asean claimants to the South China Sea to resolve their differences first before blaming China or the United States for contributing to tensions over maritime disputes in the region. “Even within Asean, there are duplicating claims [to the South China Sea]… we cannot […]

WEST PH SEA ROW | Palace: Best to wait for UN arbitral court’s ruling

MANILA – Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma on Saturday told a Radyo ng Bayan interview that it’s best to just wait for the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal to issue a ruling on the case that the Philippines brought before it regarding the territorial dispute with China. Coloma’s remarks were made in reaction to […]

South China Sea row may harm all: India

US Defense Secretary Ashten Carter on Saturday warned China against provocative behavior in the South China Sea, saying “any action by China to reclaim land in the Scarborough Shoal, an outcrop in the disputed sea, would have consequences” “I hope that this development doesn’t occur, because it will result in actions being taken by the […]

Extremely dangerous moment in South China (West Philippine) Sea

WHEN China sureptitiously took Panatag shoal (Scarborough shoal) from an unsuspecting and naïve Aquino administration in 2012, few suspected that the stealthy Chinese maneuver would set off a series of events and developments that would turn the shoal into a flashpoint for a major-power confrontation in the Asia-Pacific. Tension has been building up these past […]