Tag: South China Sea

China can’t ‘buy its way out’ of global problems: US

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — China cannot use its economic power to dodge its international responsibilities in the South China Sea and in deterring North Korea, United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned Monday. After talks in Australia, Tillerson insisted Washington wanted a productive relationship with Beijing, but said China must pull its weight on important diplomatic issues. “We desire productive relationships,” he said after annual discussions with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop in Sydney. […]

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US Defense Secretary hits China’s militarization, excessive maritime claims in South China Sea

United States Defense Secretary and Pentagon chief Jim Mattis on Saturday criticized China’s actions in the South China Sea, particularly its construction activities and excessive maritime claims, saying Beijing showed “contempt” for other nations’ interests. “The scope and effect of China’s construction activities in the South China Sea differ from those of other countries in several key ways,” Mattis told the Shangri-La regional defense summit in Singapore. “This includes the nature of its militarization… China’s […]

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China rebukes G7 over statement on seas

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China has urged the Group of Seven leading economies to “stop making irresponsible remarks” after the G7 summit expressed concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas. China has a dispute with Japan over small uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, while its claim to most of the South China Sea is challenged by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. In their closing communique in Italy […]

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China says US warship trespassed in its waters ‘without permission’

BEIJING, China (AFP) — The Chinese government charged on Thursday that a US warship had entered its waters in the South China Sea “without permission”, prompting Beijing’s navy to warn the vessel to leave. The USS Dewey sailed less than 12 nautical miles from Mischief Reef — part of the Spratly Islands — on Thursday morning local time, a US official said earlier, the first freedom of navigation operation under President Donald Trump. “The relevant action […]

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China, PHL initiate bilateral consultation mechanism on South China Sea issues

(Reuters) — China and the Philippines on Friday commenced their consultation mechanism for issues surrounding the South China Sea, by having their first consultative meeting in Guiyang in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. Representing their countries at the meeting were vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin and Philippine ambassador to China Jose Sta. Romana. The meeting was held in the wake of the China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations consultation on the framework of Code of Conduct in […]

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China-PHL hold 1st bilateral talks on South China Sea; mechanism to avoid conflict discussed

Chinese and Filipino diplomats held the first bilateral consultation on the South China Sea on Friday (May 19), where they discussed a mechanism to avoid conflict and resolve maritime dispute in one of Asia’s potential flashpoints. China said it hoped the mechanism would bring mutual trust between the two sides “The mechanism is a means for building mutual trust and fostering cooperation on the seas, and is a platform for (ensuring) safety on the seas. […]

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President Duterte blames former DFA chief Del Rosario, others for South China Sea issue

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday chastised former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and those “who keep on talking,” saying they allowed China’s construction of man-made structures in the disputed South China Sea to “blossom into something like an armed garrison now.” “Ito sila Del Rosario, and the rest of the guys, itong lahat na nagdadaldal. Where were they?” he said in his speech during the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Convention in Davao. According to Duterte, […]

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President Duterte open to South China Sea deals

President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he was open to exploring the South China Sea’s natural resources with rival claimants China and Vietnam. Duterte, who spoke upon his arrival in the country from official visits to China, Cambodia and Hong Kong, also emphasized he had no immediate plans to pressure China over an international tribunal’s ruling last year that its sweeping claims to most of the sea were unlawful. “If we can get something there with […]

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PHL, China to open South China Sea talks next week: envoy

The Philippines and China will open bilateral talks on their dispute over the South China Sea next week, Manila’s ambassador to Beijing said on Saturday. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has sought to deepen relations with China despite their territorial dispute over the waterway, a turnaround from the hardline stance adopted by his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III. “We will inaugurate the bilateral consultative mechanism on issues of particular concern to each side. This is where the sensitive […]

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Japan to offer patrol planes to Malaysia: report

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan plans to donate retired military patrol aircraft to Malaysia, a report said Friday, as alliances strengthen in response to China’s maritime claims. The two countries are among a number in the region stepping up defense cooperation against what they see as Beijing’s aggressive stance on the high seas. Beijing insists it has sovereign rights to almost all of the South China Sea — strategically vital waters, where the Philippines, Vietnam, […]

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China to work with ASEAN countries for full implementation of DOC

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said that China is willing to work with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to fully implement the declaration on the conduct (DOC) of parties in the South China Sea. In his regular press conference,  Geng Shuang said that China is also willing to deepen maritime practical cooperation to arrive at a code of conduct or COC “based on consensus at an early date.” On the occasion […]

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ASEAN releases Chairman’s statement, calls for respect for int’l laws, including UNCLOS on South China Sea

  (Eagle News) — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has issued the Chairman’s statement which contained the overview of what had been discussed and finalized during the 30th ASEAN Summit in Manila which ended on April 29, Saturday. This included the commitment to peacefully resolve disputes and respect for legal and diplomatic processes, even citing the respect for international laws such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea […]

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