BRUSSELS – The Philippines’ top diplomat has underscored that the arbitral proceedings initiated by Manila to challenge China’s excessive maritime claims do not undermine the consultations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Beijing for the crafting of a Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del […]
Jonas Grätz: Resource estimates differ widely as the contested status of many areas in the South China Sea inhibits exploration. Based on known fields, proven and probable reserves have been estimated by the US Energy Information Administration at 11.2 billion barrels of oil and 5.3 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. About half of it […]
MANILA, Philippines—China is turning the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) into “one country’s lake,” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Tuesday, pressing Manila’s effort to roll back Beijing’s expansive claims in the strategic waterway. Speaking before an experts’ roundtable on maritime security in Brussels, Belgium, Del Rosario said China’s assertion of ownership over […]
STATE DEPARTMENT — U.S. and Chinese diplomats meet in Washington Wednesday for a security and economic dialogue expected to include rival territorial claims to the South China Sea. China is modernizing its navy and increasing patrols in the disputed waters of the South China Sea – where Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are all […]
China has been under withering political and legal attack for allegedly violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Although at the recent meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Brunei, Beijing declared its willingness to discuss a code of conduct for the South China Sea, there has been no change […]
Southeast Asia has seen its fair share of happenings in recent months, ranging from the maritime incidents in the South China Sea to the recurring haze problems affecting some ASEAN members. Moreover, the much vaunted ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is supposed to mold ASEAN into a single market and production base, is scheduled to […]
China’s agreement to discuss a code of conduct with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations aimed at avoiding tension and conflict in the South China Sea is a significant change of tone in relations with the 10-member group that reflects its growing role as a regional and global power. A framework for co-operation agreed between […]
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario refused to give importance to a Chinese general’s accusations against the Philippines, an official said Friday. DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said in a press conference that he consulted Del Rosario about a remark by People’s Liberation Army Major General Luo Yuan who […]
A verbal tussle in a Regional Security Forum in Brunei earlier this week did not stop Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario from inviting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Manila for “consultations.” “I indicated to him that that perhaps it’s timely for him to do this because I have been to Beijing three times […]
This week the Association of Southeast Asian Nations appeared to make progress on addressing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Following meetings in Brunei, the group announced that China had agreed to discuss a set of rules known as the “code of conduct” to avoid conflict in the disputed waters. Last year’s ASEAN forum […]