Australia urged China not to create a proprietary air zone over the disputed South China Sea, with defusing tensions in the waters a priority, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said. “The Asean countries have been discussing this and I believe they’ve made their position quite plain that they would be deeply concerned if there was any […]
THITU ISLAND, South China Sea (Reuters) – As the Philippine military C-130 transport plane made its approach to the country’s most precious outpost in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, it flew past a reef which China is quickly turning into an island. At least two cranes and two dredgers were visible on Subi […]
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines’ military chief flew to a Filipino-occupied island in the South China Sea on Monday and vowed to defend the territory and help develop tourism and marine resources there amid disputes with China. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, accompanied by journalists and other military officials, said he visited Pag-asa Island to […]
Environmentalists trooped to the Chinese Consulate in Makati City on Monday to demand China to stop its reclamation works in the West Philippine Sea which damage the marine ecosystem in the area. Holding banners written with the call “China Out of Philippine Seas Now,” about 20 members of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment […]
Washington: China’s hastily expanding campaign to reclaim land in the South China Sea for potential military use now totals 800 hectares, the US has said, stressing that the move to build artificial islands in the disputed area is inconsistent with the region’s desire for peace and stability. “We currently assess that China has reclaimed approximately […]
May 9 (Reuters) – China embarked upon extensive land reclamation efforts at five outposts in the disputed Spratly Islands last year, adding huge amounts of terrain to bolster its civil and military presence in an area claimed by rivals, a new Pentagon report said on Friday. Chinese building and land-filling efforts have accelerated this year, […]
China reserves the right to establish an Air Defense Identification Zone over the South China Sea, a move that would raise tensions in a region wracked by territorial disputes. “China is entitled to set up ADIZs,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday. “A decision in this regard depends on whether the air safety […]
May 8 (Reuters) – Newly released images show Vietnam has carried out significant land reclamation at two sites in the disputed South China Sea, though the scale and pace is dwarfed by that of China, a U.S. research institute said. In response, China condemned Vietnam’s actions, and said its work in the region was part […]
The Philippines has done some minor “repairs and maintenance” work in Filipino-occupied areas within the country’s exclusive economic zone which is allowed under international law unlike the massive land reclamations by China which are far from its territory and grossly violates the law, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Tuesday. At the same time, Del […]
In the past, China’s presence in the disputed South China Sea waters was based on what it says are historical claims to the area. Now, China is shifting its narrative from a so-called regional military “reclamation” effort based on sovereignty claims to one that boasts humanitarian contributions for the region. Despite international criticism, China has […]