Monthly Archives: February 2016

‘India wants to find solution to South China Sea dispute under UNCLOS’

Panaji, Feb 28: The Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that India wants to find a solution to the South China Sea dispute in a peaceful manner under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It may be recalled that China is in the process of deploying advanced radar systems to its man-made […]

Spratly as maritime protected area eyed

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio spoke to students of Silliman University in Dumaguete City recently, and flipped back the pages of history to guide the students as to who really owns the Spratly Islands as part of SU’s General Integrative Lecture series. “We’ve worked so hard for this arbitration so we don’t want to see […]

ASEAN ministers resent China’s moves to ‘militarize’ S. China Sea

VIENTIANE – ASEAN foreign ministers adopted a statement Saturday expressing veiled resentment over China’s building of artificial islands and fortifying of its garrison in the South China Sea, without specifically naming the country. “The ministers emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities” in the disputed waters, Lao Deputy Prime Minister […]

China’s military is prepared ‘to defend sovereignty’ in South China Sea: military chief

China is capable of fighting to defend its sovereignty in the South China Sea, a Chinese military chief has said amid rising tensions in the region. In his first public remarks as commanding officer of the newly-established Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army, General Wang Jiaocheng saidthe army would be highly vigilant towards […]

What China Has Been Building in the South China Sea

China has placed runways and radar facilities on new islets in the South China Sea, built by piling huge amounts of sand onto reefs. The construction is straining already taut geopolitical tensions. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/30/world/asia/what-china-has-been-building-in-the-south-china-sea-2016.html?_r=1

US think tank: Court apt to rule vs China

A UNITED Nations arbitration tribunal will most likely rule against China in the case brought by the Philippines against Beijing’s nine-dash-line claim to almost the entire South China Sea region, according to the director of a Washington-based think tank. But while China may refuse to recognize the ruling, it would not want to be “branded […]

U.S. to boost South China Sea freedom of navigation moves, admiral says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States, which is worried by China’s military buildup to assert dominance in the South China Sea, will increase freedom-of-navigation operations there, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday. “We will be doing them more, and we’ll be doing them with greater complexity in the future and … we’ll fly, sail […]

US, Australia Builds Up Defense In South China Sea

While other countries mull and worry over the Syrian conflict, another war is brewing in the South China Sea. According to reports, the United States and Australia are looking to beef defenses in the region in light of China’s continued militarization. US has been concerned over Beijing’s military buildup in the South China sea that […]

South China Sea: Defence White Paper prompts Kevin Andrews to call for warships to test Beijing’s claims

Former minister Kevin Andrews has used today’s release of the long-awaited Defence White Paper to pressure the Turnbull Government to send warships within 12 nautical miles of contested islands in the South China Sea. The 2016 Defence White Paper maps a course towards a total of $195 billion in Defence capability or equipment by 2020-21, […]

South China Sea: Beijing ‘dissatisfied’ with ‘negative’ remarks in Australia’s Defence White Paper

China has responded angrily to the Federal Government’s Defence White Paper. Key points: China said South China Sea comments in the Defence White Paper were “negative” Defence Minister Marise Payne said the Government knew the South China Sea was a “point of difference” Meanwhile, US said it would increase freedom of navigation operations in the […]