TAIPEI, TAIWAN — A Philippine opposition party legislator has been drawing attention for the release of privileged information that suggests China is infringing on offshore islets that the two countries dispute, a potential threat to a recently strengthened diplomatic relationship.   But some people reading his feed suspect personal political motives, including an effort […]

Earlier this week, the United States carried out the fourth freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea so far this year, after resuming the operations after a seven-month break in May. A U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS Chafee, challenged excessive Chinese maritime claims in the Paracel group in the […]

KOTA SAMARAHAN, Oct 12 ― Malaysia believes that the South China Sea issues are complex, multi-faceted and highly sensitive and therefore, overlapping claims in the South China Sea should be addressed through peaceful means and in accordance with the relevant principles of international law. Its Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Brunei Darussalam, the […]

  Australia and Timor-Leste will be finalizing their Timor Sea maritime-border agreement this month through the first time use of a compulsory conciliation clause that is part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). Moreover, the reconciliation effort of Indonesia and Timor-Leste has led to, among other things, successful negotiations […]

An MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter passes the USS Chafee (DDG 90) while delivering supplies to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a vertical replenishment mission with the USNS Bridge in the Pacific Ocean on Jan. 2, 2012. Petty Officer 2nd Class James R. Evans, US Navy WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Navy destroyer sailed […]

  China sent a frigate and fighter jets to warn and drive away a US Navy destroyer, after the latter sailed near islands in the South China Sea on Tuesday, China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Wednesday.   The frigate Huangshan, two J-11B fighters and one helicopter were sent in response to the US […]

MANILA- Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Friday insisted that the presence of Chinese ships near the Philippines’ Pag-asa island is “highly suspicious” and “dangerous” even after Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said it is only “quite natural.” Alejano said the real issues on the recent reported presence of Chinese ships near Pag-asa are the activities of […]

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Four Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan, all of which lay claims to the contested, resource-rich South China Sea, are still grappling with incidents among themselves despite a focus on their common rival, China. The suspected shooting deaths late last month of two Vietnamese fishermen in waters 34 nautical miles from the Philippines […]

As reports that Chinese vessels are increasing in number near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the South China Sea, Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte has hinted at a possible reconciliation with the U.S. Duterte made a surprise announcement that he wanted to be “friendly” with the U.S., a view which contrasts to earlier statements. On several previous […]

The Philippines Armed Forces will upgrade the airstrip on Thitu Island, among other improvement. The Philippines will begin important upgrades to its primary outpost in the disputed Spratly group in the South China Sea. According to Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization Program will finance the paving of the […]