Tag Archives: Military Conflict

PH alarmed as China soon completes island building

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines urged China on Wednesday, June 17, to “desist” from its reclamation activities in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) after Beijing said it is set to finish its island building. “We reiterate our serious concern over China’s massive reclamation activities and planned construction of facilities in those features,” […]

As Tensions With U.S. Grow, Beijing Says It Will Stop Building Artificial Islands in South China Sea

BEIJING — By declaring Tuesday that it would soon complete its contentious program of building artificial islands in the South China Sea, Beijing hopes to diminish tensions with the United States while reassuring its home audience that it has delivered on its pledge to resist American military pressure, experts said. Leaders from the United States […]

China Announces South China Sea Takeover ‘Complete’ as Tension with Vietnam Grows

The Chinese government announced in an official statement on Tuesday that it would “complete” the usurpation of Philippine, Vietnamese, and territory of other nations in the South China Sea “soon.” No timeline was given, nor were any geographic limits set to the expansion in the Spratly and Paracel Islands. “China will complete its reclamation project […]

China to Build Military Facilities on South China Sea Islets

BEIJING—China said it is shifting work on disputed South China Sea islets from the dredging of land to the construction of military and other facilities as it pushes forward with a program that has aggravated tensions with the U.S. and neighbors. In a statement on its website Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry said land reclamation on […]

Luconia Breakers: China’s new “southernmost territory” in the South China Sea?

In a vivid illustration of how dynamic the status quo in the South China Sea can be, an apparently new Spratly island, formed by the forces of nature, has become a source of tension between China and Malaysia. Luconia Breakers (Hempasan Bantin / 琼台礁) is just over 100km north of James Shoal, the shallow patch […]

China says about to finish some land reclamation in South China Sea

China will soon complete some of its land reclamation on the Spratly islands in the disputed South China Sea, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, indicating that Beijing is close to setting up new outposts in the maritime heart of Southeast Asia. The United States, which has called for a halt in China’s island building […]

Land reclamation work in part of South China Sea is near completion, China says

China is about to complete some of its land reclamation work on the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday, shedding light on a controversial project that has inflamed regional tension. The announcement is likely to rattle the Philippines and the US, both of which have clashed with […]

China to Build Military Facilities on South China Sea Islets

BEIJING—China said it is shifting work on disputed South China Sea islets from the dredging of land to the construction of military and other facilities as it pushes forward with a program that has aggravated tensions with the U.S. and neighbors. In a statement on its website Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry said land reclamation on […]

Rules and Rocks: The US-China Standoff Over the South China Sea Islands

The long-running, multi-party dispute over control of islets in the South China Sea (SCS) is worsening both in rhetoric and provocative activity. Meeting in late May at the Shangri-La Dialogue on regional security, US and Chinese defense officials sparred over responsibility for the increased tension, though they stopped short of issuing threats. In fact, all […]