The Philippines’ largest warship arrived in China on Monday to attend a naval parade, part of a goodwill visit as China extends the hand of friendship despite regional tensions and suspicions. Beijing on Tuesday will mark 70 years since the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, where it will show off new […]
The exercise underscores growing maritime ties between the two countries. Military-to-military cooperation between India and Vietnam continued last week with the conclusion of the second iteration of a bilateral naval exercise between the two countries. The Indian Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy participated in bilateral drills off Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam between […]
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ top diplomat said he would not allow a settlement of the South China Sea dispute that would put China at an advantage in connection to giant clams in Scarborough Shoal. Chinese vessels have reportedly been extracting giant clams from Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, which locals call Bajo de Masinloc, […]
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah stressed that the South China Sea issue is still on the table in discussions with China. However, Saifuddin said Malaysia prefers to discuss the matter in an Asean platform since many members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were involved. The minister also said certain acts by China, […]
The US and India practiced hunting submarines in a joint exercise in the Indian Ocean last week. They were the first anti-submarine warfare exercises since the signing of the Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) last fall. The agreement allows for real-time intelligence sharing between the US and India, making it easier for the […]
THE PHILIPPINES is shifting its stance on the hotly disputed South China Sea by strengthening the nation’s relationship with the US. As the midterm elections in the Philippines approach, President Rodrigo Duterte is attempting to overturn his “soft” approach with China over the territory, by engaging in talks with US President Donald Trump to […]
When Rupert Wingfield-Hayes visited the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, he found Chinese fishermen were deliberately destroying coral reefs. Poachers were revving the engines on their boats sending clouds of black diesel smoke pouring into the air – and under the water, were piles of shattered white coral branches. As he reports, some […]
We fly over Mischief Reef and am totally shocked at what we find. Over 70 boats are converting a pristine Atoll into an illegal Chinese Military base. This is Philippines territory, and so far away from China. It is against all international law.
Atolls begin as an underwater volcanoes called seamounts. Over time and many eruptions the seamount grows until it rises above the water and becomes an island. Corals grow around the island and, over geologic time, the volcano goes dormant and sinks, but the coral reefs remain and continue to grow faster than the island sinks, […]
China may be on the verge of making a major mistake that would undermine its great gains in soft power in Southeast Asia. This comes at a time when China needs friends in the region more than ever as its economy slows, trade tensions with the U.S. rise, and security and financial concerns with its […]