KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia cannot remain neutral on the South China Sea issue because it is a direct claimant on the maritime area, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman. “In this case, we cannot remain neutral because we are one of the claimants. So, the issue of neutrality should not arise,” he said in reply […]
At the weekend, a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship allegedly rammed a Chinese fishing boat to pry it loose from an Indonesian patrol boat that had seized it for illegal fishing near the Natunas in what Jakarta said was its waters. The incident has shone a spotlight on the CCG, which has been expanding its […]
KUALA LUMPUR: Taking the issue of overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will only be the last resort if negotiations fail between the countries involved. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Malaysia, however, was confident that the negotiation process between the ASEAN countries involved and […]
When Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull launched the 2016 Defence White Paper one month ago he said that ‘it sets out a clear eyed and unsentimental appraisal of our strategic environment, the threats and the opportunities.’ Last night’s Lowy Lecture, delivered by Mr Turnbull, was an attempt — perhaps overdue — to put his personal […]
The imminent prospect of a final award in the Philippines v. China arbitration case on the South China Seahas prompted much speculation on what China will do after the award is issued. One of the more disconcerting scenarios that has been put forth in the event of an unfavorable award is China’s denunciation of the […]
The naval clash between Vietnam and China over Johnson South Reef aka Gac Ma Island was the last battle between the two communist neighbors.It occurred on March 14 1988 when Chinese forces launched an attack on the island that was formerly under Vietnamese control. This resulted in the deaths of 64 Vietnamese soldiers the sinking […]
FOR years China has sought to divide and rule in the South China Sea. It worked hard to prevent the countries challenging it over some or all of its absurdly aggrandising territorial claims in the sea from ganging up against it. So when tensions with one rival claimant were high, it tended not to provoke […]
KUALA LUMPUR – About 100 China-registered boats and vessels were detected in Malaysia’s waters near Beting Patinggi Ali in the South China Sea on Thursday (March 24), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim amid rising regional tensions over the contested waters. Shahidan was quoted by state news agency Bernama as saying that […]
In future conflicts, America’s merchant fleet could find itself outnumbered and outmaneuvered on the high seas, say the authors of a new paper on U.S. maritime security. The paper, released November 19 and entitled “Sea Strangulation: How the United States Has Become Vulnerable to Chinese Maritime Coercion,” highlights the defense risks of a reduced American […]
A panel of experts on Asian and maritime issues predicted to a March 21 National Press Club Newsmaker audience that tension in the South China Sea will increase after an international court ruling expected in the next few months. China has claimed large areas of the South Chinese Sea, including the Spratly Islands also claimed […]