Photo from the Permanent Court of Arbitration shows Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario addressing the tribunal in The Hague last July. Behind him is the counsel team for the Philippines and the empty seats for China’s representatives. MANILA, Philippines – In a legal setback for Beijing, an arbitration court in the Netherlands ruled on […]
BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) — The Foreign Ministry on Friday said in a statement that a ruling by the Arbitral Tribunal on Thursday on the jurisdiction and admissibility of the South China Sea is null and void, and has no binding effect on China. The tribunal, established at the request of the Philippines, ruled that […]
ASEAN members are stepping up criticism of China’s island-building in the South China Sea. © Getty Images/Kyodo SINGAPORE — Malaysia, Indonesia and others are stepping up criticism of China’s island-building in the South China Sea, abandoning previously neutral stances and potentially swinging the balance of opinion in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations against the […]
Both powers rebalancing with a tilt towards the Pacific but neither wants conflict On Tuesday, the United States Navy sent its state-of-the-art guided-missile destroyer, USS Lassen, into waters within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, which China claims. Chinese naval vessels shadowed the USS Lassen until it left the waters around Subi Reef and Mischief […]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The chief counsel for the Philippines in its Hague tribunal case against China over competing claims in the South China Sea said on Friday a final ruling could come as early as June next year. Paul Reichler said he also believed that in spite of China’s rejection of the case, international pressure […]
Beijing did not take action against the transit of a US warship within 12 nautical miles of a disputed reef claimed by China in the South China Sea because it intends to remain vague about its legal position, says Duowei News, a US-based Chinese political news outlet. On Tuesday morning, the USS Lassen passed within […]
The US began on October 27th its first freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) near China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea. This whole exciting story would be seen for the comic farce it is were the situation not so dangerous. Read more: http://www.jeromecohen.net/jerrys-blog/2015/10/30/what-states-should-do-to-resolve-the-current-high-noon-scenario-in-the-south-china-sea-bombard-the-headquarters-in-beijing-with-international-law-claims
American military aircraft have flown over the disputed waters of South China Sea nearly every day this year to monitor Chinese activities in the region from five air bases in the Philippines, Japan’s Yomiuri Shinbun reported on Oct. 27. Between 300 and 400 reconnaissance sorties have been carried out by patrol planes like the Boeing […]
The U.S. Freedom of Navigation (FON) Program has recently drawn significant attention in the United States and the international community. During this period of focused attention, some observers have questioned the legality of U.S. FONOPs. This author has previously outlined the legality and legitimacy of the U.S. FON Program, including FONOPs conducted as part of […]
A few days ago, the U.S. Navy reported that it had detected five Chinese naval ships near the Aleutian Islands. The vessels – supposedly three Chinese combat ships, a replenishment vessel and an amphibious landing ship – were spotted transiting U.S. territorial waters near Attu, which is the easternmost island belonging to the U.S. in […]