One-time presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R.-Fla.) introduced a billTuesday that would slap sanctions on China for its destabilizing actions in the East and South China Seas, where Beijing has built artificial islands and airfields and warned neighboring countries to stay out.
Vietnam opposes Taiwan’s drill in Spratlys; China to make documentary on South China Sea ecology; Trump takes on China in tweets on South China Sea; US Coast Guard chief seeks expanded Asia-Pacific role…
-(The Diplomat 05/12) Donald Trump Just Gave Chinese Hawks a Great Talking Point on the South China Sea: Donald Trump’s brief remark on the South China Sea may be more significant than you think. -(Reuters 05/11) Who collects costs for Trump's Taiwan call? The Global Times said punishing Taiwan was the best way to convey a message to Trump.
-(Nikkei 31/11) Trump should get tough in the South China Sea: Smart diplomacy could produce stronger, more self-reliant Asian allies -(Bloomberg 30/11) China-Singapore Tensions Spill Into Open After Customs Spat: The seizure “kills two birds with one stone by demonstrating China’s displeasure with Taiwan’s military engagement with other countries.”
Vietnam, Italy share views abouth the South China Sea disputes; Philippines, U.S. agree to reduce joint military drills; Japan to train Philippine naval pilots; Vietnam’s President calls for peaceful resolutions for the SCS disputes…
The South China Sea is one of the most important waterways in the world. Every year, $5 trillion worth of goods pass through it, including almost all of the oil imported by China, Japan, and South Korea. Tens of millions of people depend upon its fisheries for either food or livelihood. It is the strategic gateway between the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
A colorful graphic insert from the June 2016 Chinese naval magazine Naval and Merchant Ships [舰船知识] offers a troubling glimpse of one possible future for the South China Sea.
Xi tells Duterte that Scarborough Shoal will stay open to Philippine fishermen; China to begin building two research vessels; USPACOM chief eyes coastal defence artillery for South China Sea; Japan announces plans to enhance defence cooperation with ASEAN…
President-elect Donald Trump is set to make his mark on U.S. foreign policy. As a sign of the great anxiety that has taken hold across the Asia-Pacific, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has scurried across the Pacific to be the very first foreign leader to meet the president-elect.
-(Reuters 24/11) China will defend WTO rights if Trump moves on tariffs: "China will take a tit-for-tat approach then." the Globaltimes warned. -(Nationmultimedia 23/11) Beijing may test Trump over South China Sea: Looking back to the experiences in 2001 and 2009 after George W Bush and Barack Obama took office respectively, China has had a habit of testing incoming administrations.