Author Archives: admin

China’s Plan for Lawfare in the Maritime Domain

China will set up an “international maritime judicial center” to protect the country’s maritime rights and sovereignty claims, China’s top judge told the National People’s Congress on Sunday. Zhou Qiang, the chief justice of the Supreme People’s Court, made the comment while delivering the annual SPC work report. China’s Foreign Ministry clarified that the center […]

The three tests powers must pass to avoid Asian tragedy

Asean, China and the US must reach agreement on rules, resource management and maritime operations in the South China Sea The three powers via for influence in our region – the US, Asean and China – are now entangled in the South China Sea territory disputes one way or another. Four Asean members have overlapping […]

South China Sea Controversy: Japan’s Expanding Role With Aid To Philippines, Raises China’s Ire

U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships USS Bonhomme Richard, bottom, and USS Boxer, second from top, are underway with the Republic of Korea Navy Dokdo Amphibious Ready Group in the East Sea during exercise Ssang Yong 2016, March 8, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS/U.S. MARINE CORPS/CPL. DARIEN J. BJORNDAL The Chinese government criticized Japan’s growing role in the […]

China able to project ‘substantial offensive power’ from Spratlys in months—US

WASHINGTON – China will be able to project “substantial offensive military power” from artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea’s disputed Spratly Islands within months, the director of U.S. national intelligence said. In a Feb. 23 letter to John McCain, chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, James Clapper said Chinese […]

Beijing’s Blunder China’s aggression in the South China Sea actually created an opportunity for the U.S.

The news that China deployed surface-to-air missiles and fighter jets to the disputed Paracel Islands is only the latest example of Beijing’s increasingly aggressive posture over its claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea. China’s island-building and subsequent militarization efforts are part of a broader strategy to reduce American influence in the region, but […]

China gaining ‘substantial power’ in South China Sea

China will be able to project “substantial offensive military power” from artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea’s disputed Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島) within months, the director of US national intelligence said. In a Feb. 23 letter to US Seantor John McCain, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Director […]

Court verdict looms in Philippines v China dispute in South China Sea

In the sleepy days between Christmas and New Year, an intrepid flotilla of young activists set out from Palawan Island in the Philippines for a tiny island in the Spratlys, to protest China’s activities in the South China Sea. A creative approach, but it was successful, in its way. The Philippines government, while it noted […]

South China Sea Dispute Looms Over Philippine Elections

Candidates struggle to balance tough stance on sovereignty with desire to mend ties with China MANILA—China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea is putting Philippine presidential candidates in a tricky situation, as they struggle to balance tough talk on national sovereignty with a desire to improve ties and boost trade with their country’s powerful […]

Taiwan sees increasing militarization in South China Sea

In rare public comment on territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Taiwan’s defense ministry warned on Wednesday that countries in the region were spending more on bolstering their military strength as tension in the area increased. Taiwan’s claim to the South China Sea reflects that of mainland China, with both staking their territorial assertions […]