Monthly Archives: January 2019

China must follow international rules during naval encounters at sea: US

The chief of US naval operations, Admiral John Richardson said today that he had urged Chinese authorities to follow international rules during naval encounters at sea to ensure safety as tensions over China-US relations in the South China Sea continued. Richardson added that sending US aircraft carrier to Taiwan Strait remained an option for the […]

US Navy chief hints aircraft carrier could be sent through Taiwan Strait, despite threat of new Chinese missiles

Operation would inevitably raise tensions between world’s largest superpowers The US Navy could still send an aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait in spite of Chinese military technology advances which pose a greater threat to American warships than ever before, the US chief of naval operations has said. Such an operation would inevitably increase the […]

Lorenzana sees ‘lower tension’ in West Philippine Sea until Duterte ends term

MANILA, Philippines — Tension between the Philippines and China on the West Philippine Sea would be lower in the final half of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. “I think there will be lower tension. I think everybody understands already what’s the role there, we already talked,” Lorenzana said in an interview […]

Fact check: China claims being a ‘role model’ in observing international rules

MANILA, Philippines — Beijing considers itself a “role model in observing regional and rules” while it has been blatanly ignoring an arbitration ruling on the South China Sea. In response to a report by the US Department of Defense stating that Beijing might use its military expansion to compel Taiwan into a reunification with the […]

Vietnam Gains Bargaining Power Over China in Conduct at Sea Talks

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Vietnam’s tough stance against China over sovereignty of the South China Sea will put Beijing on the defensive during regional talks on easing the regional maritime dispute, people who follow the process say. Officials in Hanoi have suggested establishing a code of conduct that, among other things, would bar construction on artificial […]

ASEAN ministers rock no boats in Myanmar, South China Sea

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Friday hewed to the group’s practice of reaching the least provocative consensus possible in discussions of such divisive issues as Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis and China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. A two-day Foreign Ministers’ Retreat was the regional […]

Carpio: China still after Philippines’ exclusive economic zone

MANILA, Philippines – “China is still after our exclusive economic zone.” Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio issued this warning on Thursday, noting that China’s seemingly slow march towards the contested areas of West Philippine Sea is “just temporary.” “The intention of China is very clear. They want to control the West Philippine Sea,” […]

Don’t let Chinese firm take over Hanjin shipyard – Trillanes

MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday, January 17, warned against letting a Chinese company take over Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines’ shipyard in Subic Bay, citing its serious implications on Philippine national security. Trillanes made the statement in a Senate media forum, while responding to questions about a possible government […]