Monthly Archives: April 2018

The South China Sea Disputes: Will Taiwan’s Role Be Enhanced?

HAIKOU (IPP Review) — For many years, Taiwan’s interests and role in the South China Sea disputes have essentially been officially ignored. But with the election of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his appointment of John Bolton as National Security Adviser, its influence on and involvement in such issues may increase substantially. Bolton in […]

Rody assures Vietnam: No WPS cop-out

Malacañang said Saturday President Rodrigo Duterte would deal with the arbitral award on the disputed West Philippine Sea or South China Sea, as the President clarified he did not abandon the tribunal’s ruling in favor of the Philippines’ protest against China’s nine-dash line that covers nearly the whole of the disputed region. Presidential Spokesperson Harry […]

China calls out G7 for ‘irresponsible’ statement on South China Sea

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) — The Chinese government dismissed as “irresponsible” the joint statement made by a number of countries on the South China Sea dispute. “We ask the relevant countries to respect facts, especially when it comes to maritime issues. They should also respect the efforts made by regional countries to uphold […]

Vietnam demands that China remove military jamming equipment from Spratly Islands

The equipment installed by China causes radio jamming and seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty. Vietnam’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday that China has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty by installing military jamming equipment on outposts in Truong Sa, Spratly Islands off the South China Sea, commonly known as the East Sea in Vietnam. Le Thi Thu Hang […]

We, the People, Can Defend the West Philippine Sea (Commencement Speech, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, 20 April 2018)

Justice Antonio T. Carpio Excerpt: Today, a new threat has emerged, not internally but externally across the South China Sea. China, a nuclear armed state and the superpower in our region, wants to seize 80 percent of our Exclusive Economic Zone in the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared before an international […]

Is China’s Belt and Road working? A progress report from eight countries

GWADAR, Pakistan — The idea of transforming the ancient fishing village of Gwadar into a bustling port city has been around since at least 1954, when Pakistan commissioned the U.S. Geological Survey to examine its coastline. Their conclusion: Gwadar, which sits on the Arabian Sea, would be an ideal location for a deep-water port. Gwadar’s […]

Prime minister says Australia will sail in South China Sea

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s prime minister said the Australian navy has a “perfect right” to traverse the South China Sea after a media report Friday that the Chinese navy had challenged three Australian warships in the hotly contested waterway. The Chinese “challenged” two Australian frigates and an oil replenishment ship this month as the Australian […]

Australia asserts right to South China Sea passage

MELBOURNE • Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asserted his country’s right to conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea after a media report said three Australian navy warships had been challenged by Chinese forces. The Australian Broadcasting Corp said the People’s Liberation Army, conducting its largest ever naval exercises in the region […]