Author Archives: admin

US Praises Narendra Modi’s Call For Freedom Of Navigation For Peace

PM Modi has termed sea lanes passing through South China Sea as “main arteries” of global trade. SINGAPORE: The US today praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on having freedom of navigation and adhering to the international norms for peace and economic growth, amidst China flexing its muscles in the disputed South China Sea. Speaking […]

US warns Beijing on South China Sea islands

The US will not accept China’s militarisation of man-made islands in the South China Sea, Defence Secretary James Mattis has warned. Speaking at a security conference in Singapore, he said such moves undermined regional stability. China’s territorial claims in the resource-rich South China Sea are contested by several nations. At the same time, Gen Mattis […]

US Defense chief criticizes China on South China Sea

SINGAPORE—Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Saturday that North Korea posed a global threat and praised China’s efforts to influence Pyongyang, while also criticizing Beijing over its continued “militarization” of the South China Sea. President Donald Trump — who frequently denounced China on the campaign trail — has turned to Beijing to help rein in North […]

Waiting for Uncle Sam

Unlike in past years, China is not likely to be in the spotlight. Instead, it’s the United States that will be in the hot seat as observers watch what it has to say about its commitment to the region. It will be all ears when General James Mattis speaks at the first plenary of the […]

Justice Tony Carpio, hero

These past few months, in more than one occasion, President Duterte has been quoted as criticizing Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for “just talking” and not doing anything about the South China/West Philippine Sea dispute. What a strange thing to say about the man who has in fact done the most about the issue, to […]

Trump’s big mistake in the South China Sea

The South China Sea, at least until last year, was the most important strategic issue in the Asia-Pacific, and certainly in the top five of potential global hotspots. The reasons were obvious. With China flexing its muscles in an effort to dominate one of the most important bodies of water in the world — one […]

How China Tamed the Green Watchdogs

Too many environmental organizations are betraying their ideals for the love of the yuan. Scores of Chinese dredgers ground up the coral of semisubmerged reefs in the South China Sea over the past three years to build artificial islands that are now becoming military bases. The enormity of the destruction to marine biodiversity is unprecedented. […]

North Korea is helping China in the South China Sea—whether it knows it or not

Like most of the world, China is fed up with North Korea, which yesterday (May 29), in defiance of international pressure, conducted its third missile test in three weeks. The unpleasant neighbor is steadily progressing toward its goal: the ability to hit much of the world, including the US mainland, with nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles. […]