Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea BEIJING — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves: ___ EDITOR’S NOTE: This […]
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released U.S. Navy Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met his Chinese counterpart Thursday to discuss a host of tense issues. The meeting focused heavily on the South China Sea, but tensions persist. Speaking with allies Friday, the secretary called on US partners to counter Chinese […]
SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said Malaysia would continue to insist on the South China Sea to remain a free zone from any military competition and enhancement. Speaking to Bernama, Mohamad said Malaysia was firm on its stance despite the big powers, like the United States and China giving their assurance to make the international […]
The United States, China and several other countries on Saturday agreed in principle to guidelines on preventing unplanned warplane encounters, the latest effort to avoid military confrontations in Asia. Risks of chance encounters between military aircraft spiralling out of control have risen in recent years as Beijing becomes ever more assertive in the South China […]
SINGAPORE – The South China Sea should not be a theater for the United States and China to show off their military capabilities as they vie for influence in the region, Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu said Saturday. “Warships, B-52s, anything, we don’t want them to show force in this area. They understand our […]
South-east Asian defence chiefs were worried enough about tensions between China and the US in the South China Sea to seek an explanation from the two powers at a just-concluded key security summit, and received some reassurance in return. Speaking to reporters at the end of the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and its expanded […]
SINGAPORE – China and Southeast Asian states will hold their first joint maritime exercises next week, officials said Friday, in a move aimed at easing tensions but which may spark US alarm. Beijing’s expansive claims to the South China Sea have long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia, as well […]
SINGAPORE: ASEAN defence ministers inked the world’s first multilateral air guidelines on Friday (Oct 19), in a move aimed at managing unexpected encounters between military aircraft especially over contested areas like the South China Sea. The ministers also strengthened regional counter-terrorism cooperation and established a network against chemical, biological and radiological threats. The defence chiefs […]
Two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers fly over the Pacific Ocean during a routine training mission Pacific Air Forces Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and his Chinese counterpart Gen. Wei Fenghe, the Chinese defense minister, met Thursday to discuss a number of issues, particularly their disputes in the South China Sea. Two days prior, […]
China and Southeast Asian states will hold their first joint maritime exercises next week, officials said Friday, in a move aimed at easing tensions but which may spark U.S. alarm. Beijing’s expansive claims to the South China Sea have long been a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia, as well as Washington […]