Category Archives: West Philippine Sea

South China Sea: Asean states set course for Beijing’s red line

It’s like a fuzzy red line that China imposes on its weaker neighbours involved in the South China Sea dispute: protest all you like about the militarisation and artificial island-building, just don’t mention the international court ruling that rejected Beijing’s far-reaching territorial claims. It’s like a fuzzy red line that China imposes on its weaker […]

Donald Trump’s national security adviser calls Beijing’s South China Sea claims ‘ridiculous’

  “ridiculous” and announced upcoming meetings with his counterparts in Japan, India and Australia to strengthen defence partnerships in the region.US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser called Beijing’s claims in theSouth China Sea Robert O’Brien said China’s claim to nearly the entire ocean that Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries claim […]

China angry: Philippines opens new airstrip to bring in US aircraft to near South China Sea island

THE PHILIPPINES has unveiled plans to spend £20million on building more structures on a disputed island in the South China Sea in a move which is bound to raise hackles in Beijing. Top defense officials of the Philippines inaugurated Tuesday a cemented pier that would let its ships dock on Pag-Asa (Thitu) Island, whose waters […]

Fuga Island: Between Chinese money and national security

MANILA, PHILIPPINES An economic slump is making government eager for new investments. But the risk is real. Critics of a Chinese company’s proposed investment on Fuga Island renewed warnings against the project amid an economic slump that has made the government eager for new investments. Fuga is a 10,00-hectare private island with pristine white beaches […]

Philippine town gives official names to 4 sandbars, 2 coral reefs around Pag-asa Island

The local government of Kalayaan in Palawan has named 4 sandbars and 2 coral reefs in Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, whose surrounding waters are continuously being claimed by China despite a 2016 arbitration award invalidating Beijing’s sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea. Pag-asa Island, located some 285 miles west of mainland Palawan, hosts […]

To The Brink Of War With China?

Observers of United States (US)-China relations increasingly talk of a new cold war. On top of a long-running trade war, the two countries now find themselves in a destructive cycle of mutual sanctions, consulate closings, and increasingly bellicose official speeches. Efforts to decouple the US economy from China’s are underway as tensions mount in both, […]