SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – A motion to create a “marine peace park” in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) has been filed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Antonio Claparols, president of the Ecological Society of the Philippines, confirmed this to Rappler on Wednesday, September 7. His group was among those […]

HANGZHOU, China — An unusually large number of Chinese vessels have been positioned close to a disputed reef in the South China Sea near the coast of the Philippines for the last week, despite warnings by the United States that China should stay away. The Philippine Defense Department has photographs of four Chinese Coast Guard […]

President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) criticism of a recent international court ruling that Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) was legally a “rock” has tainted Taiwan’s image in the international law community, highlighted the legal bind of Taiwan’s claim to sovereignty over Itu Aba and allied Taiwan with China in a South China Sea territory dispute, […]

The Philippines has asked China to explain the increased presence of Chinese vessels near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the defense secretary said Sunday, expressing “grave concern.” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said a Philippine Air Force plane saw four Chinese coast guard ships, two barge-like vessels and two suspected troop ships […]

VIENTIANE – The Philippines expressed “grave concern” on Sunday and demanded an explanation from China’s ambassador over what it said was an increasing number of Chinese boats near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. A Philippines Air Force plane flew over the rocky outcrop on Saturday and spotted more boats than usual […]

China’s president Xi Jinping has rejected criticism from US President Barack Obama over Chinese policy in the South China Sea. The rejection comes amid ongoing US-China tensions on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Summit being held in China. In discussions before the G20 summit with Obama, Xi urged the US to play rather […]

China has told Japan it will not accept “excessive” criticism over issues involving the East and South China seas when their leaders meet on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit, diplomatic sources said Saturday. The two countries are trying to arrange the meeting of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Xi Jinping on […]

According to satellite images released Thursday, China has expanded the construction of artificial islands atop disputed reefs in the South China Sea. Jeremy Page and Julian Barnes at The Wall Street Journal report: The images provide the first visual evidence that China has built an artificial island covering 75,000 square yards—about 14 football fields—and including […]

US President Barack Obama has urged China to abide by its obligations under an international treaty in its activities in the South China Sea. He made the comments during a “candid exchange” with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Hangzhou before the G20 summit, the White House said. In July, an international tribunal ruled against […]

There’s one topic on which President Duterte has admitted censoring his normally uninhibited language: China. “I’m sure, as your President,” he told his audience the other day at the inauguration of the new Davao International Container Port, “I would not lead you to trouble, or I would not cause you shame. There will be a […]