Tag Archives: Philippines

‘Simply Brilliant’: China’s Creeping Invasion of the South China Sea

In the past 12 months, China has provoked considerable attention with its reclamation activities in the South China Sea, particularly in the Spratlys where it controls seven maritime features. China’s history of salami-slicing presents a dilemma to regional countries as well as external powers with regional interests: do they escalate an incident each time China […]

Tensions Renew Between Vietnam and China over South China Sea

Vietnam said it will not respect a fishing ban imposed by China in the Gulf of Tonkin. Tensions sparked once again Sunday after Vietnam refused to abide by China’s fishing ban on the disputed maritime area. Since 1999, China has imposed an annual fishing ban to promote and maintain the fishing industry, however, Hanoi believes […]

Palace to Beijing: What exaggeration? Facts speak for themselves

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has been presenting nothing but facts to reveal China’s massive reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), and it is up to the global community to determine its implications on the security of the region, Malacañang stressed yesterday. China’s Foreign Ministry accused the Philippines of working together […]

US, China clash over disputed South China Sea

BEIJING (REUTERS) – The United States and China clashed over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea yesterday, as China’s foreign minister asserted its sovereignty to reclaim reefs saying its determination to protect its interests is “as hard as a rock”. After a private meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, China’s Foreign […]

US, China clash over disputed South China Sea

BEIJING (REUTERS) – The United States and China clashed over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea yesterday, as China’s foreign minister asserted its sovereignty to reclaim reefs saying its determination to protect its interests is “as hard as a rock”. After a private meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, China’s Foreign […]

South China Sea: Beijing’s ‘low-intensity coercion’ and Southeast Asia’s response

This week the annual report to the US Congress on China’s Military Power was released. It noted Beijing’s use of ‘low-intensity coercion’ across the South China Sea and East China Sea. Its assessment stated that: China often uses a progression of small, incremental steps to increase its effective control over disputed territories and avoid escalation to military […]

China demands US warships keep away from disputed South China Sea islands

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said last night that the US needs to clarify its stance on proposed new patrols around the islands being used to establish a claim on key strategic oil and fish stocks. China urged “the relevant country” to “refrain from taking risky and provocative actions to maintain the regional peace […]

Why the world is wary of China’s ‘great wall of sand’ in the sea

(CNN)The leaders of Southeast Asian nations recently took the extraordinary step of warning China that its island-building activities in the contested South China Sea “may undermine peace, security and stability” in the region. That’s strong language from the usually reticent 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and shows just how high tempers are flaring […]

West Philippine Sea: Are we running out of options?

For decades, China’s foreign policy has been shaped and guided by Deng Xiaoping’s – the late Chinese paramount leader, who was responsible for opening up the country to forces of globalization – famous dictum: “Hide your strength, bide your time.” Recognizing the imperative of national development, after decades of disastrous policies under the megalomaniac Mao […]

Antonio T. Carpio: The South China Sea Dispute

Madrid, 11 May 2015 – Antonio Tirol Carpio, Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, talks to Mario Esteban, Elcano Royal Institute, on the South China Sea dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the Paracels and the Spratlys – two island chains claimed in whole or in part by […]