US asserts right to fly, sail amid SCS tensions

  FORCEFUL PRESENCE. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), with its deck full of fighter planes, sails across the West Philippine Sea in this file photo provided by the nuclear-powered ship’s Public Affairs Office. Rear Admiral Karl O. Thomas, the Commander of Battle Force 7th Fleet that includes the Reagan, said the US Navy was ‘a […]

Vietnam foreign minister warns of escalation in South China Sea

  Unilateral actions risk escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said at the United Nations General Assembly, comments aimed at China that avoided mentioning China directly. “Vietnam has on many occasions voiced its concerns over the recent complicated developments in the South China Sea, including serious incidents that […]

Japan-based U.S. aircraft carrier in South China Sea ahead of key Chinese anniversary

  In a move likely to stoke anger in Beijing just days before it marks a key anniversary, the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier is conducting operations in the disputed South China Sea, near China’s man-made islands, new images have shown. Satellite images posted to social media showed what appeared to be the Reagan and […]

AFP chief says sea row issue best left to DFA

  MANILA, Philippines — The country’s maritime issue with China is best handled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) rather than by the military, the newly-installed commander of the country’s 148,000-strong military said. Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, said that any monitored intrusions of foreign ships inside the […]

Malaysia PM says can’t provoke Beijing on South China Sea, Uighur issue

  KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia does not want to take a confrontational stance toward China over the disputed South China Sea and Beijing’s alleged mistreatment of its minority Uighur Muslims, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in an interview published on Saturday. Malaysia is too small to face up to the Asian powerhouse, even though […]

Vietnam’s foreign minister warns of escalation in the South China Sea in thinly veiled warning to China

  Unilateral actions risk escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said at the United Nations General Assembly, comments aimed at China that avoided mentioning China directly. “Vietnam has on many occasions voiced its concerns over the recent complicated developments in the South China Sea, including serious incidents that […]

No need to reclaim Scarborough – China

  China does not need to reclaim the Scarborough Shoal, the top Chinese diplomat in the Philippines said Thursday night. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua was reacting to the statement earlier issued by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that China may reclaim the disputed shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc, […]