Down and Duterte: Shakeup in the South China Sea

On June 30, Rodrigo Duterte was inaugurated as the 16th President of the Philippines. During Duterte’s nomination and election, most commentators focused on his domestic policy platform and controversial human-rights record as the mayor of Davao.

17/10/2016

Beijing seeks new ways to assert South China Sea authority

Beijing could employ controversial measures to control the disputed airspace over the South China Sea, according to a leading expert with close ties to the Chinese government, as it seeks new ways to assert its authority in the contested region.

12/10/2016

Weekly News 10/10-16/10

-(Reuters 12/10) China urges Australia to be 'cautious' on South China Sea, and that its words and actions on the matter match each other. -(Inquirer 12/10) Duterte determined to stop joint patrols in South China Sea, despite Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s reminder that the Constitution mandated the state to protect the country’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.

11/10/2016

Weekly Bulletin 26/9-2/10

US concerned over Philippines' sea row agenda; Chinese tabloid riles Singapore in South China Sea spat; Philippines accuses China of harassing Filipino fishermen…

11/10/2016

Weekly Bulletin 3/10-9/10

Vietnam opposes China’s election in so-called Sansha city; Philippines tells US no joint patrols in South China Sea; US Navy holds exercise in the South China Sea…

11/10/2016

Could China build the world’s smallest nuclear power plant and send it to the South China Sea?

A top mainland research institute is developing the world’s smallest ­nuclear power plant, which could fit inside a shipping container and might be installed on an island in the disputed South China Sea within five years. Researchers are carrying out intensive work on the unit – dubbed the hedianbao, or “portable nuclear battery pack”. Although the small, lead-cooled reactor could be placed...

11/10/2016

A path for dispute resolution in the South China Sea

Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, the South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea surrounded by China and several small and militarily weaker Southeast Asian powers such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

07/10/2016

The South China Sea Showdown: What Should America (and the Region) Do About It?

Regional politics underwent a phase change last July, when jurists in The Hague struck down China’s claim to “indisputable sovereignty” over some 80-90 percent of a major waterway. The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling constituted a diplomatic defeat of epic proportions for China.

05/10/2016

Weekly News 3/10-9/10

-(ABC News 7/10) Philippines Tells US No Joint Patrols in South China Sea: The Philippine defense chief said Friday that the U.S. military has been told that plans for joint patrols and naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea have been put on hold as the country's new president desires. -(Reuteres 6/10) Amid South China Sea uncertainty, Indonesia stages a show of force: Indonesian warplanes...

03/10/2016

Navy Chief Pushes for ‘Compromise’ to Stop ‘Problematic’ Actions in South China Sea

The chief of U.S. naval operations underscored the need to pursue “compromise” in the South China Sea when asked to expand on the U.S. military strategy to deter “problematic” behavior like China’s island-building.

03/10/2016