Tag: South China Sea

Malaysian armed forces chief says South China Sea island construction “unwarranted provocation”

China’s construction work on islands in the disputed South China Sea is “unwarranted provocation”, Malaysia’s armed forces chief said on Sunday (October 18), a country which has its own claims in the seas but which generally says little in public about the spat. China’s relations with several Southeast Asian countries, especially the Philippines and Vietnam who have competing claims in the South China Sea, have been strained over Beijing’s increasingly assertive tone in an area […]

Bishop: US and Australia want stability in South China Sea

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop said the U.S. and Australia aren’t taking a position on the competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, but are simply focused on stability in the region. “What we are concerned about is maintaining the relative peace and stability in the South China Sea. And from Australia’s perspective we have a direct national interest in peace and stability in the South China Sea because about two thirds of our […]

U.S., Australia warn China over sea claims

Pacific allies the United States and Australia has issued a warning to china, saying they remain committed to freedom of navigation that includes in the disputed South China Sea where china has built islands. “Together our nations favor peaceful resolutions to disputes and oppose coercion and infringement on well-established international norms, especially in the face of rising tensions in the east and South China Sea.   Now, make no mistake, the United States will fly, sail […]

Philippines backs U.S. plan to sail navy ship near disputed sea

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the U.S. plan of sending a navy ship within 22 kilometers (14 miles) of the artificial island in the Spratly islands “would be consistent with international law and a rules-based order for the region.” It said that it’s important for the international community to safeguard freedom of navigation in the disputed waters. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also warned that “failure to challenge false claims […]

Media reports say U.S. set to conduct patrols in South China Sea

U.S. media reports have said that the United States will imminently send patrols in areas claimed by china in disputed territories of the South China Sea. A U.S. defense official said last Thursday (October 8) that Washington is considering sailing warships close to china’s artificial islands to signal it does not recognize Chinese territorial claims over the area. The financial times newspaper cited a senior U.S. official as saying U.S. ships would sail within 12-nautical-mile […]

Kerry calls for halt in land reclamation, militarization and construction in South China Sea

  (Eagle News) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday (August 6) called on China and all claimants to the disputed South China Sea to refrain from further “land reclamation, militarization and construction projects” in the area. This came about as the Philippine government expressed its thanks that the international community is seeing the realities of the South China Sea dispute and that the other affected countries are responding in an appropriate manner. […]

Malacanang says Phl position on South China Sea gaining support from int’l community

  (Eagle News) — Malacanang has said that the Philippines’ position in the South China Sea issue is  gaining support from members of the international community with stakes in the maritime dispute which are responding in the “most appropriate manner.” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said countries calling on China to stop its reclamation work in the South China Sea are beginning to understand the current realities as no less than the Association of South […]

China, ASEAN to speed up consultations on South China Sea

AUGUST 6 (Reuters) — China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on Wednesday (August 5) to speed up consultations on a Code of Conduct (CoC) for the disputed South China Sea, the foreign ministers of China and ASEAN member Thailand said. “The ASEAN nations promise to a full implementation of DoC (Declaration on Conduct) and speed up the discussion on CoC (Code of Conduct). And we’ll discuss about the risk management and […]

ASEAN foreign ministers meet in Malaysia

(Reuters) — Foreign Ministers of 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) kicked off a three-day meeting in Malaysia on Tuesday (August 4). The meeting is hosted by 2015 rotating chair, Malaysia. Attended by foreign ministers of the regional bloc, the group will discuss multi-lateral cooperation on the economy, policies and international issues. Key issues relating to the region are expected to be tabled, including the long-standing South China Sea issue. […]

Malaysia calls for unity and amicable settlement in South China Sea issue

(Reuters) — Malaysia urged partners from Southeast Asia to unite and look into an “amicable” settlement on the territorial dispute with China as foreign ministers of the regional bloc meet for three-day talks in Malaysia on Tuesday (August 4). In the opening ceremony attended by all Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) ministers and foreign dignitaries like Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who was in the country for a state visit, Malaysia Foreign Minister Anifah […]

China, ASEAN to work together to safeguard peace, stability in South China Sea

(Courtesy Chinese Central Television news)  — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that China is committed to working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and enhance consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) to maintain peace and stability in the sea. Wang, who is currently on a two-day visit to Singapore, made the remarks at […]