Tag Archives: Spratlys

Korea calls for restraint in South China Sea

Cheong Wa Dae called for a peaceful resolution between the United States and China, Wednesday, to the escalating military tension in the South China Sea. “Korea has strategic interests in the South China Sea and we’ve been strongly calling for restraint of any action that can affect peace and stability in the region,” a senior […]

South China Sea: Beijing ‘not frightened to fight a war’ after US move

China is not afraid of fighting a war against the United States in the South China Sea, a state-run newspaper with links to the Communist party has claimed. Analysis How China’s artificial islands led to tension in the South China Sea Beijing is attempting to build artificial islands, while other states in the region are […]

For US, Pacific showdown with China a long time coming

TOKYO — Tensions in the South China Sea reached a new high on Oct. 27, when the U.S. Navy sent a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Lassen, within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands built and claimed by China. Recent moves by the Navy and statements by its highest-ranking officers show that preparations for the exercise […]

A U.S. Naval Signal in the South China Sea

Recent U.S. naval maneuvers in the South China Sea signal how the United States plans to safeguard its interests in the Asia-Pacific region, says Capt. Sean Liedman, CFR’s Navy fellow and an expert in maritime strategy. Freedom-of-navigation operations conducted by U.S. warships, like the USS Lassen, are intended to push back against excessive maritime claims […]

Australia Prepares Option of Sail-Through to Test China

CANBERRA, Australia—Australian defense planners are looking at the possibility of a naval sail-through close to China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea, in case the government decides to follow its close ally the U.S. in testing Beijing’s territorial claims. Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/australia-prepares-option-of-sail-through-to-test-china-1446023112

US warship near disputed reefs leaves Xi in quandary: scholar

President Xi Jinping of China is faced with a dilemma on how to respond to a US Navy vessel’s patrol close to two reefs controlled by China in the disputed South China Sea, Ding Shuh-fan, director of the Institute of International Relations of National Chengchi University in Taipei said Tuesday. The USS Lassen sailed to […]

China is building man-made islands in the South China sea. Here’s how they’re doing it

In an attempt to lay claim to territory in the South China Sea, China has been building artificial islands and placing artillery and landing strips on them. Neighbouring nations such as Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam have also disputed the sovereignty of lands and waters in the area. Here’s how China is building its man-made islands: […]

White House Moves to Reassure Allies With South China Sea Patrol, but Quietly

WASHINGTON — For months, lawmakers and national security hawks have urged President Obama to stand up to China’s land reclamation of disputed islands in the South China Sea. But now that the Obama administration finally has, the White House does not want to talk about it. In sending a guided missile destroyer into waters China […]

Angry China shadows U.S. warship near man-made islands

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer sailed close to one of China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea on Tuesday, drawing an angry rebuke from Beijing, which said it had tracked and warned the ship and called in the U.S. ambassador to protest. The USS Lassen’s patrol was the most significant U.S. challenge yet to the […]

U.S. destroyer passes island in South China Sea

The U.S. Navy sent a destroyer within 12 miles of one of China’s man-made islands in a contested area of the South China Sea on Tuesday, a U.S. defense official told CNN. The operation has since concluded, the official said. The U.S. Navy plans to send a destroyer within 12 miles of China’s man-made islands […]