Philippines' Duterte cancels visit to disputed South China Sea island

Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has canceled a planned visit to an island the Philippines claims in the disputed South China Sea, after Beijing warned him against the visit.

13/04/2017

Weekly News 10/4-16/4

-(Reuters 13/4) Philippines' Duterte cancels visit to disputed South China Sea island, after Beijing warned him against the visit. -(India-Briefing 12/4) Indian Navy Set to Patrol Malacca Straits Gateway to South China Sea: The move also signals that India is ready to take on greater responsibilities in acting as a counterweight to the perceived Chinese naval might.

10/04/2017

Weekly Bulletin 27/3-2/4

China’s big three near completion; China calls for cooperation on South China Sea; Philippine military gets 2 additional FA-50 fighter jets; PH, China to tackle maritime row in May...

05/04/2017

Weekly News 3/4-9/4

-(Reuters 6/4) China fighter plane spotted on South China Sea island: “This isn’t a first, but it’s the first time in a year," said AMTI director Greg Poling. -(CNN 6/4) Duterte orders Philippines military to occupy islands: Duterte's comments seem to mark a departure from his previous policy, and suggests a desire to pursue the type of militarization Beijing has been accused of bringing to the...

04/04/2017

Weekly News 27/3-2/4

-(The Bangkok Post 31/3) Asean, China debate South China Sea code: All 10 Asean members and China will take the draft document home, with discussions on it to resume at a meeting of senior officials in May to be held in China. -(Vietnamplus 30/3) Vietnam protests Taiwan (China)’s live-fire drill in Vietnam’s waters, demanding that Taiwan not to repeat such activity.

27/03/2017

Raging Waters in Benham Rise

Philippine secretary of national defense Delfin Lorenzana stirred up a political maelstrom in Manila last week with the revelation that Chinese survey vessels were apparently conducting oceanographic research work off the east coast of Luzon, the largest island of the Philippines. 

23/03/2017

Indonesia-Australia Ties: Joint Patrols in the South China Sea?

A proposal for “joint patrols” between Indonesia and Australia in the eastern part of the South China Sea, which was raised in October 2016, became highly publicised just before President Joko Widodo’s visit to Australia in February 2017. Notwithstanding the hype, it is in reality a distant prospect.

22/03/2017

Weekly News 20/3-26/3

-(AMTI 22/3) Raging Waters in Benham Rise: As the Benham Rise controversy begins to subside, the two governments may have learned that in the future, it would be best to tread very carefully in these raging waters. -(RSIS 22/3) Indonesia-Australia Ties: Joint Patrols in the South China Sea? Notwithstanding the hype, it is in reality a distant prospect.

21/03/2017

Weekly Bulletin 13/3-19/3

China plans station on disputed South China Sea shoal; Wary of China, Duterte tells navy to build 'structures' east of Philippines; U.S. Senators introduce bill targeting Chinese aggression in South China Sea; U.S. Secretary of State visits China…

21/03/2017

Weekly News 13/3-19/3

-(PhilStar 17/3) China plans station on disputed South China Sea shoal: A local Chinese government says it plans to build an environmental monitoring station Scarborough Shoal. -(US Senate 15/3) Rubio, Cardin Introduce Bill Targeting Chinese Aggression in SCS

13/03/2017