Monthly Archives: May 2016

China ‘Extremely Dissatisfied’ With G7’s South China Sea Statement

The United States recently removed a decades-long arms ban on Vietnam during President Barack Obama’s visit to Asia. China is extremely dissatisfied with a statement by Group of Seven (G7) leaders on the contentious South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in territorial disputes with several southeast Asian countries, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. […]

Duterte to fight for country’s claim over West Philippine Sea

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 May) – Incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he will continue the efforts of the outgoing President Benigno S. Aquino III’s administration in pushing for the country’s ownership over the West Philippine Sea. Duterte told reporters early Thursday that he had a long discussion with Chinese ambassador to the Philippines […]

HOW TAIPEI SHOULD HANDLE THE TRIBUNAL RULING ON THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

The South China Sea is not at the top of Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen’s agenda, but for the sake of domestic stability, U.S.-Taiwan relations, and cross-strait relations, her newly-installed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government must exercise caution in its handling of the Philippines’ arbitration against China. How Tsai handles the ruling will prove critical for […]

Sparring over South China Sea is a dangerous game

China has been behaving aggressively in the South China Sea for some time now, in what can only be seen as the country’s efforts to assert sovereignty over disputed territories also claimed by some members of Asean. Needless to say, such behaviour is not healthy for the overall atmosphere of peace and stability in the […]

Digong: China must respect UN decision

DAVAO CITY—President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said China must abide by the ruling of the United Nations tribunal on the arbitration case lodged by the Philippines against Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over the entire South China Sea. While China has snubbed the UN proceeding, Duterte said it must respect the decision of the tribunal, which is expected […]

Little blue men: the maritime militias pushing China’s claims

China is using large numbers of irregular maritime militias, dubbed “little blue men”, to assert and expand its control over an increasingly large area of disputed and reclaimed islands and reefs in the strategically important South China Sea, the Pentagon says. The militias, comprising hundreds of fishermen and motor boats mainly based on Hainan island, […]