Tag Archives: Reclamation

‘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 […]

Local fishermen alarmed over dynamite fishing off Pagasa Island

MANILA, Philippines – Illegal fishing activities of the Chinese and Vietnamese in the West Philippine Sea have caused alarm with Filipino fishermen residing in the area. According to a report, the foreigners have been seen fishing near Pagasa Island which lies in the disputed waters. The Filipino fishermen would chase or warn illegal fishers away but […]

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 […]

Thoughts on the Constitution / South China Sea developments ominous for Japan

This is the second installment of a series that focuses on recent changes to Japan’s national security and the background of the government’s intentions. “Gray-zone situations” are states of increased military tension that do not involve actual armed attacks on Japan. The security-related bills that have been submitted to the Diet would enable the Self-Defense […]

U.S. looking at strategy for countering China’s moves in South China Sea

A U.S. Navy warship was closely trailed by Chinese navy vessels in the South China Sea during a rare patrol close to where China has been dredging sand to turn submerged reefs and shoals into islands it claims as sovereign territory, according to the Pentagon. China’s close surveillance this month of the Fort Worth, a […]

Images reveal Vietnam’s expansion in the South China Sea

Amid intense international focus on China’s construction projects in disputed waters of the South China Sea, new images show Vietnam has also been engaging in land reclamation on two features in the area. DW examines. Surveillance imagery recently obtained by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) shows that in recent years Vietnam has […]

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 […]