Tag Archives: China

South China Sea seen as potential area of conflict

China’s deepwater drilling rig in the South China Sea, which Vietnam considers is its territorial water, has been condemned as illegal by the latter and ordered to be removed. The USD 1 billion rig is owned by China’s state-run CNOOC oil company and this country claims almost the entire oil and gas rich South China […]

International arbitration the way to go for Asia’s maritime disputes

Media attention during Barack Obama’s four-nation Asian trip focused, understandably perhaps, on the three countries that are US allies – Japan, South Korea and the Philippines – and, in particular, on developments with military significance, such as the American president’s assurance that the US-Japan security treaty covered the Senkaku, or Diaoyu, islands claimed by China. […]

China media threatens Vietnam over oil rig row

BEIJING, China – China should give Vietnam a “lesson it deserves to get” if Hanoi ratchets up tension in the South China Sea, an aggressive editorial in state-run media said Tuesday, May 6. The editorial in the Global Times newspaper comes after Vietnam reacted furiously to a decision by Beijing to move a deep-water drilling […]

Carlisle: China’s Aggressive Stance on Islands Causes ‘Concern’

The Air Force’s top Pacific Commander said China’s behavior in the Pacific is both provocative and cooperative regarding its military posture and stance on disputed territories in the region. “I think the territorial disputes and the way they are being handled are things we have concern over. At the same time, they are engaging. There […]

Japan delegation leaves for Beijing to mend ties with China

TOKYO – A delegation of senior Japanese lawmakers left for Beijing Sunday on a mission to mend ties between the two neighbours amid a territorial dispute, which has prevented a leaders’ summit The bipartisan delegation, led by Masahiko Komura, former foreign minister and vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, departed from Tokyo’s Haneda […]

5 Chinese vessels deployed near shoal

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan, Philippines – China has deployed five vessels – a survey ship, a frigate and three surveillance vessels – close to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. A Philippine Air Force (PAF) Nomad plane saw the Chinese deployment while delivering provisions to the Marine troops on the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin […]

Where Did All China’s Asian Friends Go?

Until recently, Japan was a country where national law forbade it from using war as a way to settle international disputes. The Philippines was on the U.S. piracy list. Indonesia was a neutral country. And no U.S. president had visited Malaysia in 48 years. All of this has now changed, as President Barack Obama wrapped […]

5 Chinese vessels deployed near shoal

UERTO PRINCESA, Palawan, Philippines – China has deployed five vessels – a survey ship, a frigate and three surveillance vessels – close to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. A Philippine Air Force (PAF) Nomad plane saw the Chinese deployment while delivering provisions to the Marine troops on the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin […]

Will New Defense Pact Impact US Support for Philippines in Sea Disputes?

MANILA — The newly signed defense agreement between the Philippines and the United States is widely seen as a boost for the Philippines’ military at a time of increased tensions with China. But analysts say the extent of U.S. support remains ambiguous, making it unclear how the pact might affect future confrontations between Manila and […]

Manila Welcomes U.S. Muscle to Counter Beijing

After an absence of more than 20 years, American forces will return to the Philippines under a 10-year agreement reached between the two countries on Monday in conjunction with U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent visit to Manila. The Enhanced Defense Cooperation agreement seeks to broaden U.S. access to bases on a rotational, temporary basis, and […]