Monthly Archives: June 2018

China warned Tuesday that the creation of a Space Force would lead to a military competition in outer space.

  “Outer space is an asset shared by all mankind. China always advocates the peaceful use of outer space and opposes the placement of weapons and an arms race in outer space,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. “In particular, we oppose turning outer space into a battlefield.” Trump said on Monday that he […]

Reading the South China Sea

Two recent books offer a helpful guide to Southeast Asia’s most complex maritime dispute. Asian Waters, the new book by veteran Asia journalist Humphrey Hawksley, recently became my ideal travel companion on a long flight to Australia, en route to the South China Sea. For any other reader hoping to navigate those troubled waters, or […]

Rodrigo Duterte says Chinese military island bases are there to oppose US, not Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tried to allay fears over China’s construction of military bases on man-made islands in the South China Sea, saying they are a defence against the US, not made to attack Asian states. “It’s not intended for us,” he said in a speech to Chinese-Filipino businessmen on Monday. “The contending ideological powers […]

In China, universities seek to plant ‘Xi Thought’ in minds of students

BEIJING (Reuters) – Armed with interactive online courses, generous funding and new dedicated research institutes, China’s universities are on the frontlines of an effort to promote the thinking of President Xi Jinping to China and the world. Since October, many universities across China have placed “Xi Thought” at the core of their curricula – the […]

Ideas That Divide the Nation: Address to the 2018 Graduates on Recognition Day National College of Public Administration & Governance University of the Philippines, 22 June 2018

Allow me to warmly congratulate the 2018 graduates of the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) of the University of the Philippines. I have high hopes that you will contribute greatly to the advancement of public governance in our country, especially in insuring the development of our nation as a united and undivided […]

How Beijing is winning control of the South China Sea

Erratic US policy and fraying alliances give China a free hand SINGAPORE — Even by his outspoken standards, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s account of a conversation he had with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, was startling. During a meeting between the two leaders in Beijing in May 2017, the subject turned to whether the Philippines […]

Pimentel: We need more facts on South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines — Amid reports that China has installed anti-cruise ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles and electronic jammers in the South China Sea, the Philippine government still need more information on the militarization in the disputed waters, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Monday. The Senate is set to hold a hearing on President Rodrigo Duterte’s […]