WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Navy warships twice sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea in the past few days, the U.S. military told Reuters on Thursday, at a time of heightened tension between the world’s two largest economies. The busy waterway is one of a number of flashpoints in the […]

  BEIJING- China on Friday accused the US of “provocative” conduct after 2 US warships sailed near islands claimed by Beijing this week, adding to tensions between the global powers. The US Navy regularly conducts “freedom of navigation operations” in the disputed South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have […]

SOUTH CHINA SEA tension soared this week after US President Donald Trump gave the green light for littoral combat ships to enter the region, with China feared to be working on its own military capabilities with an ambitious plan that could cause the US serious issues. The Chinese Navy could be planning submersible missile-laden arsenal […]

  The U.S. will provide a second high-endurance Coast Guard cutter to Vietnam next year in a move that’s aimed at strengthening its capabilities amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea. Calling for China to end to its “bullying and unlawful activities” in the disputed waters, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said in […]

  The United States is giving Vietnam’s coastguard a second cutter vessel, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday, vowing to maintain a routine military presence in the disputed South China Sea. The new security ship “represents another concrete symbol of our strengthening relationship”, Esper said at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam after a tour […]

THE UNITED States has stoked tensions with China after Defence Secretary Mark Esper confirmed it was providing Vietnam with another coast guard cutter for its growing fleet of ships, boosting Hanoi’s ability to patrol the South China Sea amid tensions with China. And Mr Esper also upped the stakes by accusing China of “bullying” its […]

  MANILA, Philippines – The U.S. defence chief has urged governments affected by China’s sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea “to take a very public posture” and assert their sovereign rights, adding that acting collectively is the best way to send a message “to get China on the right path.” Defence Secretary Mark […]

  US Defence Secretary Mark Esper yesterday vowed more support for the Philippines in efforts to modernise the country’s military and improve maritime security as tensions build over the disputed South China Sea. Esper, who was in Manila for a one-day visit, said he and Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana discussed various ways to strengthen […]

United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has urged all nations, especially claimants to the hotly contested South China (West Philippine) Sea, to take a stand publicly by asserting their sovereign rights and to adopt public postures. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Esper cited the recently concluded Association of […]

The US Navy is strengthening its presence in the South China Sea by deploying two Independence-class ships specialising in nearshore operations. This deployment of the littoral combat ships suggested that the US strategy had switched from reconnaissance and deterrence to increasing its attack capability, a Beijing-based think tank said. The USS Gabrielle Giffords left Singapore’s […]