Will The Philippines Hedge, Balance, or Bandwagon? Previewing Duterte’s South China Sea Policy

After garnering at least 15.9 million votes last May 10th, Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte was elected as the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines. He will assume office at noon on June 30, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. 

20/05/2016

China’s Nuclear Subs Are Ready to Terrorize the Sea

Beijing will soon be able to launch nuclear missiles from the sea. And that’s going to make it harder to deter any future Chinese aggression.

18/05/2016

Weekly News 16/05 - 21/05

-(Gmanetwork  20/05) PNoy on Duterte’s stance on sea dispute: President Benigno Aquino said he would like to believe that incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, would “do what is best for our country” in dealing with the sea dispute in the South China Sea. -(Nikkei 20/05) China pushes back against US over South China Sea: China's latest move to keep American meddling in check comes ahead of Friday's...

17/05/2016

Weekly Bulletin 09/05 - 15/05

Taiwan enters South China Sea legal fray; Vietnam firmly opposes to Taiwan’s sovereignty violations; Australia supports US warship exercised right FONOPS; ASEAN officers join training course on protection of EEZ; Japan - U.S. navies agree on cooperationActivities of Related Parties

17/05/2016

Charmless, Offensive: Beijing's Bogus South China Sea PR Campaign

There’s a new Chinese charm offensive underway in Southeast Asia, Beijing’s officials are trying to spread love. They’re trekking around the world spinning a story in which China is the virtuous actor in the South China Sea, suggesting that the only reason for all the trouble there is Washington’s arm-twisting of its dupes in the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

17/05/2016

China Goes on Trial in the South China Sea

The Philippines' U.N. court case against China will likely undermine Beijing's legal claims to islands in the South China Sea.

16/05/2016

Japan’s important sideshow to arbitration decision in the South China Sea

While tensions continue to rise in the South China Sea and the disputing governments nervously await a decision in the Philippines’ arbitration case against China, an important sideshow has arisen between Japan and Taiwan in the central Philippine Sea.

16/05/2016

Obama's South China Sea Strategy Is Working

The Obama administration may have been caught on its back foot by China’s rapid island building in the South China Sea over the last few years, but despite its lackluster policy response, its preference for multilateralism over containment may be achieving success.

12/05/2016

How America Picks Its Next Move in the South China Sea

Why did officials in Washington choose Fiery Cross Reef rather than Mischief Reef? There are two primary hypotheses, both of which could explain why the administration has once again eschewed such an operation.

11/05/2016

Weekly News 09/05-15/05

-(The Diplomat 15/05) What the Pentagon Thinks of China’s Military: The U.S. Department of Defense’s 2016 report on China’s military offers a detailed look into the PLA. -(IDRW 15/05) Amid South China Sea tension, India to supply two light frigates to the Philippines Navy: Light frigates will be completed in a very challenging and tight time line of 40 and 48 months respectively.

10/05/2016