Monthly Archives: January 2020

South China Sea: Malaysia, Indonesia, And Vietnam Beat China At Its Own Game

  Malaysia has joined Indonesia and Vietnam to beat China at its own game in the South China Sea (SCS): The use of lawfare to settle disputes. That’s according to Dr. Namrata Goswami, the Senior Analyst, and Author. Goswami is referring to Malaysia’s decision last December to extend its continental shelf by submitting a petition […]

Jokowi vows ‘no compromise’ on Natuna standoff with China

Tensions rise around Indonesian water bordering the South China Sea Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet at a summit in Beijing in 2017. The countries are involved in a spat over waters bordering the South China Sea. JAKARTA — President Joko Widodo reasserted Indonesia’s claim to its exclusive economic zone […]

Sangley surprise

  Following the staunch example of Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are grabbing international headlines these days for their vigorous pushback against Chinese encroachments into waters and territories in the South China Sea (SCS) that the two countries claim as their own. Malaysia enraged Beijing when it submitted to the United Nations on Dec. 12, 2019, […]

Indonesia deploys fighter jets, warships to disputed waters in China spat

  JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia has deployed fighter jets and warships to patrol islands near the disputed South China Sea, the military said Wednesday, escalating tensions with Beijing after a diplomatic spat over “trespassing” Chinese vessels. President Joko Widodo also headed Wednesday to the fishing-rich waters around the Natuna islands, which border the South China […]

PHL, Japan top diplomats say two countries committed to peace, rule of law amid sea row with China

  The Philippines and Japan on Thursday said they are committed to enforcing the rule of law and ensuring peace and stability in Asia amid lingering maritime disputes in the region. Both countries have had separate ongoing territorial disputes with China. The Philippines is locked in a long-running sea row with Beijing over parts of […]

Subi Reef is PH territorial sea

  Under the Rome Statute that created the International Criminal Court (ICC), individuals who commit a crime against humanity may be charged before the ICC. This is true even if such individuals are citizens of a state that is not a party to the Rome Statute, provided that the crime is committed in the territory […]

AFP: Dozens of Chinese vessels spotted near Pag-asa Island

  MANILA, Philippines — Chinese fishing vessels continue to stay near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Western Command chief Vice Adm. Rene Medina said Wednesday there were 38 stationary Chinese boats surrounding the sandbars of Pag-asa as of Tuesday night. There are three sandbars between Pag-asa and the Philippine-claimed […]

Japan and Vietnam vow to uphold rule of law in South China Sea

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, left, and Pham Binh Minh, his Vietnamese counterpart, pledged to maintain freedom of navigation in the South China Sea at a news conference in Hanoi on Jan. 6. HANOI (Kyodo) — Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh on Monday underscored the importance of maintaining […]