Tag Archives: Philippines

Through diplomacy, conflict in the South China Sea can be avoided

When a U.S. Navy P8-A surveillance aircraft recently flew near Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, it was warned eight times by the Chinese navy to leave the area. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that “China’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as […]

DND: West PHL Sea video to instill nationalism in defense of sovereignty

Beijing may find Manila’s video production on the West Philippine Sea offensive, but the Philippine Defense Department sees the documentary as a tool to instill nationalism among Filipinos and to raise their awareness of the issues surrounding disputed marine areas now under the shadow of China’s ambitious ownership claim. Commenting on the video aired last […]

China to turn Mischief Reef into ‘Pearl Harbor of the South China Sea’

The following is based on a translation of a report in Chinese media: The “On Military and War” column of news.ifeng.com published an article titled “Turning Mischief Reef into the Pearl Harbor of the South China Sea is of vital importance” on the advantages of the artificial island reclaimed there in serving as China’s forefront […]

Pentagon renews call for China to end island building in South China Sea

WASHINGTON – U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter met a top Chinese general on Thursday and repeated a U.S. call for a halt to land reclamation in the South China Sea while stressing that the Pentagon remained committed to expanding military contacts with China. In the meeting with General Fan Changlong, a deputy head of China’s […]

Philippines Protesters Decry China Sea Claims

MANILA— On Friday’s independence day holiday in the Philippines, hundreds of leftist protesters decried China’s claims to most of the South China Sea. But the various groups opposed to China do not agree on whether they should rely on the United States as a deterrent to China’s increasing assertiveness. A theme song calling on Filipinos […]

Philippines airs program about sea disputes with China

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government broadcast a television program on Friday aimed at boosting public opposition to China’s increasingly assertive moves to press its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. The broadcast of the first episode of a three-part series, titled “Freedom,” on the state-run TV network coincided with the Philippines’ independence […]

US-China relations losing ground the more China reclaims

China and the United States had a heated exchange over the South China Sea issue originating from comments made at the Asia Security Summit or Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 29-31, where the main topic since 2011 has been the maritime territorial dispute. The US defense secretary, Ash Carter, said during the forum that […]

Anxious About China, Asian Nations Buy More U.S. Military Hardware

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, right, and Vietnam’s Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh review the guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Hanoi, Vietnam, on June 1. The U.S., Russia, France, the U.K. and other countries are all jockeying to sell military equipment to Southeast Asian countries. Hoang Dinh Nam/Reuters/Landov […]

Bishop warns on South China Sea

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop has played down the prospect of conflict between China and the US over the South China Sea but warned Beijing not to declare an air defence zone (ADIZ) in the region. Speaking to the Lowy Institute in Sydney, the Foreign Minister expressed hope that China and the US would avoid conflict. […]

Confrontation looms as two fortresses rise in South China Sea

MANILA: — In just two years, China has poured billions of dollars into reclamation work and military structures on three reefs in the contested Spratlys, implying that it is there to stay. Recently it warned the United States not to attempt to stop the construction, or “there will be war”. China needs oil badly. Without […]