Tag Archives: Militarization

High stakes for Australia in limiting China’s South China Sea incursions

A structure built by China in one of the islands in the Spratlys: China’s island building has alarmed its neighbours. Photo: Reuters Rising tensions in the South China Sea are not simply driven by disputes over reefs, hydrocarbon resources and fisheries. China is seeking to exercise greater control over the waters and airspace in ways […]

China bid to jam drones foiled

MOSCOW—China tried to electronically jam drone flights of the United States military over the disputed South China Sea in order to prevent surveillance on man-made islands Beijing is constructing as a part of its land reclamation initiative, U.S. officials said. US officials announced the attempt as US Vice President Joe Biden criticized China for unilaterally […]

Lower the temperature in the South China Sea

During oral testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 13, United States Assistant Secretary of Defence David Shear mentioned that as part of a set of military measures to respond to China’s provocative acts in the South China Sea, United States Air Force B-1 bombers would be deployed to Darwin. This caught officials […]

U.S. threatens peace in South China Sea, Beijing says

(CNN) — The Chinese government is calling U.S. surveillance flights over the South China Sea a threat to peace in the region and warning that they could lead to accidents in the air or at sea. The message was delivered after the U.S. military on Wednesday (May 20) undertook a reconnaissance flight on which a […]

China in South China Sea and Indian Ocean: A quest for pre-eminence in Asia

NEW DELHI/BEIJING: After it stunned the world last year with its own disclosure that it had sent submarines into the Indian Ocean, China has thrown the Asia-Pacific another curve ball with the revelation that it is looking to set up a naval base in the strategically located Djibouti on the Horn of Africa. This time […]

Manila keeps diplomatic tack in West PHL Sea, but concedes higher risks of tension

MANILA – The Philippines is staying on the diplomatic track in the South China Sea issue even with tensions heightened by reports the Chinese military shooed away US personnel flying a surveillance plane over Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef last Wednesday. ”Habang kinikilala natin na mayroong tensyon, pursigido pa rin tayo at determinado pa rin tayong […]

China sends bombers on long-range test near Japan amid tensions over South China Sea

China’s air force sent a group of strategic bombers through the Miyako Strait south of Okinawa in a long-range drill for the first time yesterday as part of military exercises in the western Pacific. The manoeuvre came as US-based CNN reported that the Chinese navy repeatedly warned a US surveillance plane to leave airspace over […]

Why is China Militarising the South China Sea?

What really explains Beijing’s decision to build military installations in the disputed waters of the South China Sea? Sukjoon Yoon thinks that we should view China’s militarization of the region as a misguided political choice rather than a desire for increased military flexibility. By Sukjoon Yoon for RSIS This commentary was originally published by the […]

Solons: ‘Double-dealing’ US will not defend Philippines from China

MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers urged the House of Representatives committee on foreign affairs and national defense to look into the necessary actions to counter China’s massive reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea. Bayan Muna Partylist Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate on Wednesday filed House Resolution 2031, citing that the Philippines cannot rely […]

Asia defense spending: New arms race in South China Sea

The Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan are beefing up their military in the face of increasingly bold incursions in the region by China. But most of that spending is not going to weapons makers in the United States. Getty Images An Indonesian naval vessel. China has over recent years declared increasing levels of […]