Tag: South China Sea

ASEAN a perennial quiet achiever

Author: Rodolfo Severino, ISEAS (Courtesy East Asia Forum) — On 12 November 2014, ASEAN leaders will gather in Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s new capital, for their twice-yearly summit. High on the ASEAN agenda for this November’s summit is, of course, the South China Sea. Failure to achieve consensus on the subject in the 2012 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (the annual formal and regular meeting of the association’s foreign ministers) under the Cambodian foreign minister’s chairmanship caused the non-issuance of […]

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India tightens Vietnam defense, oil ties ahead of China’s Xi’s visit

(Reuters) – India extended a $100 million export credit to Vietnam for defense deals and tightened energy ties on Monday, signaling a more confident foreign policy ahead of a visit this week by China’s President Xi Jinping. India’s new accords with one of China’s rivals for influence in the South China Sea came as Xi visited the nearby islands of Sri Lanka and the Maldives, a reminder of the geostrategic jostling that is becoming an […]

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Philippines displays ancient maps to debunk China’s sea claims

(Reuters) – The Philippines on Thursday put on display dozens of ancient maps which officials said showed that China’s territorial claims over the South China Sea did not include a disputed shoal at the center of an acrimonious standoff. The Philippines is in dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, an area believed to be rich in oil and natural gas as well as fisheries resources. China seized […]

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China rebuffs U.S. efforts on South China Sea tensions

(Reuters) – China appeared to rebuff pressure from the United States to rein in its assertive actions in the South China Sea on Sunday as Southeast Asian nations declined to overtly back Washington’s proposal for a freeze on provocative acts. The lack of progress in resolving the maritime tensions at Asia’s highest-profile diplomatic meeting so far this year shows the tough task Washington faces in persuading smaller Asian nations to risk antagonizing the region’s rising power. Foreign […]

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China says Philippines stirring tensions after Aquino expressed support for Japan

(Reuters) — China on Wednesday (June 25) accused the Philippines of creating tension in the region and urged Manila to show “sincerity” in upholding stability after President Benigno Aquino welcomed Japan’s more assertive military policy. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made it clear on Tuesday (June 24) he wanted an early agreement with his ruling party’s dovish junior partner to ease constitutional curbs that have keptJapan’s military from fighting abroad since World War Two. Aquino said after meeting Abe on Tuesday that “nations of […]

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Philippines says China’s new official map shows “unreasonably expansive claim”

MANILA, Philippines — China’s newly unveiled official map, which includes an expanded claim in the South China Sea, violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a Palace official said on Thursday.China appears to have extended its maritime claims from the original nine-dash line to a ten-dash line, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing. “To put it simply, dinrowing lang nila ‘yon. Lahat naman ng drawing […]

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Philippines, U.S. to hold naval drills near disputed shoal in South China Sea

(Reuters) – Philippine and American troops are set to hold naval exercises this month near a disputed shoal, which will almost certainly anger China with tension already high in the South China Sea. China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, potentially rich in oil and gas and fisheries. The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim parts of the waters, and China has viewed with suspicion what it sees as U.S. moves to “provoke” tension […]

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China says Vietnam, Philippines’ mingling on disputed isle a ‘farce’

(Reuters) – China denounced Vietnam and the Philippines on Monday for getting together on a disputed island in the South China Sea to play soccer and volleyball, calling it “a clumsy farce” and demanded both countries stop causing trouble. The comments by a foreign ministry spokeswoman were China’s first response to the gathering on the Vietnamese-held island of Southwest Cay on Sunday. Philippine naval officials described the meeting of soldiers from the two sides as […]

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