An international arbitration panel’s decision on the contested waters of the South China Sea so far is fueling regional tensions rather than tamping them down. In the ensuing 11 days, China has responded to the sweeping victory for the Philippines by flexing its military might. The Philippines faces pressure both at home and abroad not […]

Canada believes that whether a country agrees or not in the ruling of the Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding the West Philippine Sea issue, the country should abide with the decision which was based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “On July 12, 2016, the tribunal […]

VIENTIANE, Laos – Southeast Asian foreign ministers will hold crunch talks in communist Laos on Sunday at a summit already overshadowed by infighting over Beijing’s sabre rattling in the South China Sea. The gathering in Vientiane is the first major regional talks since the UN-backed tribunal ruled earlier this month that China did not have […]

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday said that while the Philippines will engage China bilaterally “to find mutually acceptable arrangements” following a favorable ruling of the arbitral court, it maintained that the country’s “sovereign economic rights” are “non-negotiable.” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said engagement with China must comply “with the Constitution, International Law and the rule […]

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday stressed that negotiations with China over the dispute on the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea must be compliant with the Constitution, international law and rule of law. Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay Jr. earlier revealed that his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, offered to hold talks to resolve the […]

U.S. military forces will continue to operate in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson said on Wednesday during a visit to a Chinese naval base. China has refused to recognize a ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague that invalidated its vast territorial […]

BEIJING — For the past several years, US marine scientist John W. McManus has been using satellite imagery to track China’s fishing practices and construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea. Earlier this year, after viewing images of reef destruction, he decided to go see it for himself. In February, he ventured to […]

Australia’s Air Force chief says he wants to see warships and planes continue to regularly sail and fly into the South China Sea, despite the rising military tensions in the disputed waterway. Key points: No change to previous number of flights, Air Marshal Leo Davies says Continues as Australia’s contribution to preserving regional security and […]

The July 12 arbitration award in the Philippines case against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) isn’t only significant for East Asia and maritime law. It will also have implications for public international law and the peaceful settlement of international disputes generally. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-wisdom-of-the-hagues-south-china-sea-decision-1468943819