Philippines’ Defence Secretary, Delfin Lorenzana at a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in late December last year spoke of the need for a review of the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT) with the United States given the growing security concerns in the South China Sea. The Defence Secretary had mentioned, given the ambivalent stand of […]

A British naval presence in the South China Sea strengthens global security and Britain’s global role. But it must be matched with a more systematic approach to the region, and to China’s defiance of legal norms. Last summer, the HMS Albion, an amphibious assault ship colloquially described as one of the Royal Navy’s ‘Swiss Army […]

The muted Philippine response has exacerbated existing concerns about the regional response to Beijing’s maritime claims. In late January, Chinese state media announced the establishment of yet another new facility in a South China Sea feature. Though the unveiling was just another manifestation of an old aspect of Beijing’s broader strategy in advancing its position […]

The South East Asian nation has had a rollercoaster relationship with Beijing as the nations are at odds over the South China Sea. However in an address on the eve of Chinese New Year, the leader of the Philippines said the “friendship and cooperation forged between the Philippines and China” had led to “greater prosperity […]

THE world could be on the brink of a devastating conflict because the US is not a society organised for “war, conquest and foreign policy” and the country’s recent disinterest in global issues has sparked instability and chaos around the world, a documentary claims. Last December, US President Donald Trump ordered a full and rapid […]

In the first quarter of 2019, the next round of negotiations between China and ASEAN on the Code of Conduct (COC) on South China Sea is expected to be finalised. If the leaked document of the negotiating draft of the COC is to be believed, China could drastically change its approach and activities across the […]

China announced on January 29 that it has opened a maritime rescue facility on one of its artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, as the nation works to tighten its control over the strategic trade route. The rescue hub is on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands, which is also claimed by […]

Finally, a different tone is emerging from the Department of Foreign Affairs on China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea. On Saturday, Foreign Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin said the Philippines must protest China’s establishment of a maritime rescue center on the contested Kagitingan Reef in the Spratly Islands. Locsin, just recently the country’s ambassador […]

Incident happened as China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi was hosting Japanese envoy in Beijing A Chinese fishing boat captain has been arrested in waters close to Japan, according to state media in the island nation. Chen Wenting, 40, was detained by the Japanese coastguard on Saturday morning on suspicion of violating Japan’s fishing rights and […]

BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) — Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, has stressed building a strong and modernized maritime law enforcement force. Xu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while extending his Spring Festival greetings to officers and soldiers at […]