HO CHI MINH CITY – Since December 2013, China has added more than 1,200 hectares to islands in the South China Sea. The geopolitical implications of these land reclamation efforts are well documented: The majority of the activity has taken place on the Spratly Islands, an archipelago in the waters between Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, all […]
KUALA LUMPUR — China is finding that nobody likes a pushy neighbor. Beijing’s aggressive posturing in the South China Sea, where it is nursing territorial disputes with multiple Southeast Asian nations, is stirring up particular resentment in the region — and pushing more countries into the waiting arms of the U.S. Pushed too far Malaysia […]
Indonesia will strengthen its weaponry systems on Natuna Island in order to anticipate future threats from the South China Sea dispute. Natuna, located 550 kilometers east of Batam Island, borders Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. The island is on the border of Indonesia that is nearest to the South China Sea. “We will equip Natuna […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government is considering whether to send military ships and planes close to China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea. The government is leaning that way in the wake of Chinese navy vessels’ recent passage through U.S. territorial waters off Alaska. Washington is also considering possible sanctions against China in response […]
The five Chinese naval ships spotted in the Bering Sea off Alaska coast have begun their return journey, The U.S. Navy said Friday. “They already had one of their icebreakers up in that area and they weren’t that far away with an exercise, and they’ve already started their return transit,” Chief of Naval Operations Admiral […]
MANILA: Beijing must offer more than hollow promises if it wishes to secure peace in the disputed South China Sea and beyond, a spokesman for the Philippine defence department said Sunday. The remarks came days after China flaunted its military might with a massive parade to mark the end of World War II, though President […]
A group of Chinese naval vessels transited U.S. territorial waters near Alaska this week, a Pentagon official said Friday, in an unusual maneuver that underscores the potential for increased U.S.-Chinese friction at sea. A U.S. military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of the Chinese naval movements, said the group […]
The South China Sea is a sensitive terrain especially following China’s militarisation efforts. Australia called out such move as a form of aggression and intimidation while looking over to India to emphasise its role in maintaining order not just in the Indian Ocean region, but also on a global scale. “Territorial disputes continue to […]
TAIPEI – China is building two aircraft carriers that will be the same size as its sole carrier, a 60,000-tonne refurbished Soviet-era ship, according to a new Taiwanese Defense Ministry report on the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Little is known about China’s aircraft carrier program, which is a state secret, although Chinese […]
Navigating the stormy waters of the South China Sea will require a realistic U.S. foreign policy anchored by comprehensive power, deep engagement, and enduring principles. The South China Sea is center stage for Asia’s intensifying maritime competition. China is incrementally but inexorably moving to assert its claim over the vast majority of that semi-enclosed body […]