Vietnam is extending a runway on an island it claims in the South China Sea in apparent response to China’s building of military facilities on artificial islands in the region, a U.S. think tank reported. Satellite images taken this month showed Vietnam had lengthened its runway on Spratly Island from less than 2,500 feet (760 […]

The head of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, said that he wants the U.S. Army to create new ship-killing units to threaten U.S. adversaries’ surface warships in the Western Pacific including in the East China Sea and South China Sea. “I believe that the army can do a lot in cross-domain fires,” the admiral […]

In October a U.S. navy warship sailed near islands claimed by China in an attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing’s efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters. The guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur challenged “excessive maritime claims” near the Paracel Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which […]

Maritime and law experts on Monday warned the Philippine government against unwittingly ceding Scarborough Shoal to China and isolating itself by pushing away allies like the United States. Dr. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines (UP) Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (IMLOS), told reporters that the Philippines should […]

The fallout, though significant, will likely be more limited than the rhetoric had suggested. As I’ve repeatedly pointed out, for all the headlines that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte generates – including on his “separation” from the United States – more often than not his rhetoric does not translate well into reality (See: “The Limits of […]

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Carpio (left) and Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario (right) received the “Outstanding Leadership in Diplomatic Service Award” on Saturday from the Miriam College Department of International Studies for their work in the successful arbitration case against China on the West Philippine Sea. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former […]

Amid a rising global tide of nationalism and self-interested states, Andrew Hunter reflects on history to praise the value of international institutions and cooperation. “Japan, a country that places importance on the rule of law, trusts that the outcome of this case upholds stable multilateralism…but when one morning you find your state bound by the […]

Philippine officials who defended the country’s rights over South China Sea said Donald Trump’s presidency may or may not have an impact on the territorial dispute, depending on his policies on foreign affairs. “It’s difficult to say what the relations between the United States and the Philippines would be under a Trump presidency,” former Foreign […]

The recent trade deals may put us in a better position to negotiate with Beijing, says an IDEAS official. Azrul-Mohd-KhalibKUALA LUMPUR: An official of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) says the recent signing of trade agreements between Malaysia and China presents a new opportunity for Putrajaya to find a solution to the […]

Donald Trump’s election has created significant uncertainty about the future of U.S. strategy in the South and East China Seas. While there is no Trump agenda for this issue in particular, the President-Elect’s discussions with regional leaders and statements from influential surrogates begin to paint a picture of the new administration’s policy. “Peace through strength” […]