Monthly Archives: February 2018

Compensation amount for breach of sea law as for Ukraine to be determined by Intl Tribunal, supposed to be significant

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin says that the amount of compensation from Russia for violations of Ukraine’s rights in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait will be considerable, but the amount of compensation will be determined by the International Tribunal. “We deliberately do not call the amount, because Russia […]

The Australian Navy may be preparing for a direct venture into the South China Sea

WHEN Malcolm Turnbull met Donald Trump, China was a big talking point. It’s what our Prime Minister didn’t say that may provoke the superpower. THE Australian Navy may be preparing for a direct independent venture into the South China Sea. Australia has traditionally avoided direct participation in freedom-of-navigation exercises so as not to affect diplomatic […]

Analyst: ‘Careless dalliance’ with China could make Philippines a regional security threat

MANILA, Philippines — A lack of a coherent Philippine policy on China and its usual accommodation of Beijing’s interests may have contributed to the consolidation of Chinese military presence in the West Philippine Sea, an analyst said. According to Jose Antonio Custodio, a non-resident fellow of think tank Stratbase Albert Del Rosario Institute, a careless […]

Can China defend South China Sea island bases?

CHINA has established military bases on islands built up in the South China Sea, including the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, but can Beijing defend them in an armed conflict? The question was posed by defense and security analyst Robert Farley in his article that appeared Feb. 19 in The National Interest, an American bimonthly international […]

From Africa to South America, China’s fishing fleet outstrips the competition

Ships from mainland China amassed around 17 million hours of fishing in 2016, mostly off the southern coast of their home country, but also as far away as Africa and South America. The next-biggest operation is Taiwan’s, with 2.2 million hours of fishing. The data, collected and analysed over five years by Global Fishing Watch, […]

SC Justice: Assign NAMRIA to name Benham Rise features

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) — If the Philippines’ central mapping agency names Benham Rise features, China’s names will have no bearing, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Thursday. Carpio suggested designating the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) to approve proposed names for features in the country’s extended continental shelf, […]

SC Justice counters Duterte: Militarization in South China Sea for PH, not U.S.

SC Justice counters Duterte: Militarization in South China Sea for PH, not U.S.   Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) — China’s continued militarization in disputed islands in the South China Sea is a national threat, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned on Thursday.   “Every military and security analyst I know here and abroad […]