MANILA, Philippines — The territorial row between China and its neighbors, including the Philippines, over the South China Sea has become less intense in the past weeks, the US Department of State said Friday. Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson, confirmed the observation that rival claimants have “toned down,” not exchanging statements asserting their claims and not […]
After many months of taking increasingly bold actions at the expense of its neighbors in East Asia, there are recent indications that Beijing may be adopting more conciliatory policies. China has unexpectedly removed a controversial oil-drilling rig that it had deployed in waters near Vietnam. In late June, Chinese president Xi Jinping conducted a high-profile […]
The 18th Party Congress in November 2012 produced new leadership for China, but it did not produce much optimism for the future of China’s relationship with its East Asian neighbors or the United States. Chinese President Xi Jinping frequently refers to the “Chinese Dream,” or “the great resurgence of the Chinese nation.” Coinciding with this, […]
Last October, during a visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung promised to buttress “political trust” between the two South China Sea (SCS) claimants. Last week, while I was speaking at a conference in Da Nang, Vietnam where the Chinese were visibly absent, verbal accusations were flying both on land […]
Global conflicts are increasingly fuelled by the desire for oil and natural gas and the funds they generate. Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, South Sudan, Ukraine, the East and South China Seas: wherever you look, the world is aflame with new or intensifying conflicts. At first glance, these upheavals appear to be independent events, driven by their […]
After weeks of trying to gain an insight into the thought process of the military junta in Thailand, it seems there is always someone around here who needs a wakeup call. Although I wanted to question the wit of those who approved visa-free entry to Chinese without reciprocal action from our giant neighbour to the […]
South China Sea has emerged as an explosive regional and global flashpoint endangering the security and stability of the wider Indo Pacific region. This arises mainly from China’s propensity to use force to settle territorial disputes. Paracel Islands under full military occupation of China and Spratlys Islands under partial military occupation of China coupled with […]
WE tend to look at China and the territorial dispute we have with them as a bilateral or regional problem. But an examination of the bigger picture may show something different. Maybe you have lived near someone we will call Mr. Nasty Neighbor. A few months ago he got into a shouting match with someone […]
The South China Sea (SCS) has emerged as one of the major flashpoints with a host of countries making claims to parts or the whole of the area. The reason behind this dispute is because of the results of a report some years ago that testified that the area contains huge amounts of oil and […]
Like Vietnam, the Philippines also have maritime disputes with China over territorial claims on the South China Sea. The basis of China’s territorial claims has been covered in the first part of this two-part article and need not be repeated here. This much will suffice to mention however is that the basis of China’s claims […]