Tag: South China Sea tensions

ASEAN wants demilitarization of S. China Sea, unsettled by China’s weapon systems in region

  (Reuters) — Southeast Asian countries see China’s installation of weapons systems in the South China Sea as very unsettling and want to prevent militarisation and urge dialogue to stop “recent developments” from escalating, the Philippines said on Tuesday (February 21). Foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) were unanimous in their concern about Beijing’s reclamation and militarisation of manmade islands, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said. Yasay did not […]

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China defends right to carry out ‘normal’ missile tests

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China said on Thursday it was “normal” to carry out ballistic missile launches, after a US media report accused Beijing of having test-fired an intercontinental weapon last week. US media site Washington Free Beacon, citing unidentified Pentagon officials, reported that China had carried out a test of its DF-41 long-range missile on April 12. The report linked the tests to tensions between Washington and Beijing over the South China Sea, noting […]

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Chinese foreign minister Wang blames Philippines for South China Sea tension

WASHINGTON D. C., United States (Reuters) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assailed the Philippines on Friday (February 23) as the instigator of tension in the South China Sea. “It is exactly one country, and let me not avoid mentioning the name: that is, the Philippines has violated the stipulation of Article 4 of DoC (the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea) and has given up on the dialogue and […]

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Obama calls for ‘tangible steps’ to lower South China Sea tensions

by Andrew BEATTY RANCHO Mirage, United States (AFP) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for “tangible steps” to reduce tensions in the South China Sea, after a two day summit with Southeast Asian leaders concerned at Beijing’s military build-up. “We discussed the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions,” Obama said after the meeting, calling for “a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarization of disputed areas.” China’s actions in […]

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Philippines might elevate violations of agreement to ASEAN, says President Aquino

(PUERTO PRINCESA CITY) — President Benigno S. Aquino III said he is against developments being done by other claimant countries in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) and that the Philippines might bring the issue to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). Vietnam, Malaysia, China and other countries are building or improving facilities in islands or atolls they claim, which President Aquino said […]

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