Category Archives: West Philippine Sea

China in the South China Sea: Has Beijing overstepped the mark?

hy has China just built seven artificial islands in the strategically sensitive and economically critical South China Sea, alarming its neighbors and risking confrontation with the United States? Because Beijing believes it can get away with the nervy move and bolster an old desire for regional dominance. “China has wanted to do this for a […]

UNCLOS Part XII and protecting South China Sea’s marine environment

The Global International Waters Assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2005 identified the South China Sea as a large marine ecosystem with more than 2,500 species of marine fishes and 500 species of reef-building corals. The study also found enormously diverse platform reefs and atolls existing, most notably in the Spratly Islands, which […]

US Not ‘Neutral’ in South China Sea Disputes: Top US Diplomat

The United States is not neutral when it comes to following international law in the South China Sea and will come down forcefully to ensure that all parties adhere to the rules, Washington’s top diplomat for East Asia said Tuesday. The United States has repeatedly said that while it takes no position on competing sovereignty […]

17 Possible Scenarios That Could Happen If China Invades Manila

. President Aquino will call for a cluster meeting. Cabinet cluster meeting together with Congress, Senate and all high ranking military officials announce and sign for the declaration of war. He will immediately inform the United Nation, United States and all the allies to ask for their recommendation and help. Then he will address the […]

Philippines moves fighter jets into South China Sea

AN EPIC battle brewing in the South China Sea just went up a notch. China is creating manmade islands on reefs in the region, which has ticked off neighbouring countries The Philippines now plans to station fighter jets and frigates on a former US naval base facing the growing islands where it is engaged in […]

Philippines moves fighter jets into South China Sea

AN EPIC battle brewing in the South China Sea just went up a notch. China is creating manmade islands on reefs in the region, which has ticked off neighbouring countries The Philippines now plans to station fighter jets and frigates on a former US naval base facing the growing islands where it is engaged in […]

China refuses to back down in South China Sea dispute

China’s development of manmade islands in the disputed South China Sea is raising alarms over an increased political and possible military standoff in the region. Fox News National Security Analyst KT McFarland spoke to foreign policy experts Timothy Heath and Karen Brooks about the unraveling situation. Both suggest the fragile peace between the many countries […]

Science Diplomacy Crucible For South China Sea Disputes – Analysis

The increasingly loud accusations and declarations from Beijing and Washington over China’s ambitions to reclaim a string of small islands, coral reefs and lagoons show no signs of ending. However, given the number of international stakeholders in the region, the real promise of science for diplomacy may now be at hand in this complex geopolitical […]

Archaeology and the South China Sea

Recently, Vietnamese and Western media resumed reporting on China’s HD-981 oil rig, after it was redeployed to disputed waters, dredging up memories of the intense anti-Chinese protests in Vietnam and the diplomatic standoff that occurred last year when the rig was moved to waters between Vietnam and China for the first time. The HD-981 oil […]

Mandate of Heaven: An ADIZ in the South China Sea

Cabo Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, holds a unique distinction. According to a report issued by the U.S. Congressional Research Service, Cabo Verde is one of just 27 nations (including China) of the 167 states party to the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) that claim the ability […]