Tag Archives: UNCLOS

South China Sea Disputes Enter a Dangerous Phase: The U.S. Pivot Gathers Steam

“At what point do you say: ‘Enough is enough’?” Philippine President Benigno Aquino exclaimed in an exclusive interview with the New York Times. It was a forceful call for international support amid intensifying territorial disputes with China. Quite shockingly, he even compared China to Nazi Germany, cautioning the Western powers against appeasing Beijing over disputed […]

US envoy warns against altering status quo in South China Sea

The United States’ top envoy to the Philippines on Monday warned against changing the status quo in the disputed South China Sea and other contested areas in the region and called on all rival nations to adhere to international law. Defying China’s position against Washington’s involvement in the disputes, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg maintained that […]

‘Nine-dash’ line talks needed: academic

A leading US academic with close ties to the White House is urging the US to open talks with Taiwan on the “nine-dash line.” Senior Fellow in International Diplomacy at the Brookings Institution Jeffrey Bader made the call in his new paper on ending ambiguity in the South China Sea. The so-called “nine-dash” demarcation line […]

Call them Chinese

As expected, President Benigno “Noy” Aquino III renewed his administration’s vow to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). At the same time, President Aquino reiterated his push for more improvements in the benefits being received by each and every man and woman in uniform. The twin promises were made during the latest change […]

China intentions perplexing – Noy

MANILA, Philippines – Beijing’s intentions in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea are perplexing, but would not distract the Philippines from its resolve to defend its territory through peaceful means, President Aquino said in an interview with The New York Times last Tuesday. In the interview, Aquino also said he would like the […]

Might doesn’t make right – Phl

MANILA, Philippines – Right is might, and not the other way around, Malacañang said yesterday amid a territorial row with China. “There is a need for all to stand up for what is right,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said, stressing that “it should be right is might.” The sentiment was echoed […]

Hegemony vs. Cooperation in enclosed seas

During President Ferdinand Marcos’ State Visit to China in 1975 to establish diplomatic relations, among China’s leaders he met was First Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping. During this meeting, Marcos raised the issue of the Spratlys but Deng said that this issue should be left to future generations to discuss. China lays claim to all of the […]

Tangling With China

The Philippines is resisting China’s claims in the South China Sea by filing its case with the United Nations arbitration tribunal of judges, which has agreed to hear the case in March at The Hague. President Benigno S. Aquino III has appealed to the international community to support his effort to settle the territorial dispute […]

The U.S. and China’s Nine-Dash Line: Ending the Ambiguity

For the first time, the United States government has come out publicly with an explicit statement that the so-called “nine-dash line,” which the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan assert delineates their claims in the South China Sea, is contrary to international law. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Danny […]

An opportunity for diplomatic negotiations thrown away

There are always two sides to the question. This is especially true with the recent Chinese reiteration of rules about fishing in the South China Sea. The rules are not new. It has been there for decades but those who were more interested in escalating conflict between the two countries worked overtime to interpret it […]