Lawmaker Urge More US Naval Operations in South China Sea

Members of Congress urged the Obama administration on Wednesday to order more naval operations close to disputed islands in the South China Sea. The State Department said Beijing risks conflict and isolation through its assertive behavior in those waters.

28/04/2016

Bracing for Beijing's Next Move

Exercise Balikatan 2016, a joint U.S. Pacific Command exercise with the Philippines that ended in mid-April, demonstrated important elements of an effective strategy to counter Chinese expansion across the South China Sea.

27/04/2016

Will Beijing's South China Sea 'land creation' lose it the peace?

China's leadership faces difficult decisions in the South China Sea. China is at some risk of achieving what it sees as a military success at the price of losing the peace.

27/04/2016

Weekly News 25/04 - 30/04

-(Straitstimes 28/04) China responds to Singapore diplomats' remarks on South China Sea: In an earlier speech, former Asean secretary-general Ong Keng Yong criticised the move as tantamount to China "meddling" in Asean's internal affairs. -(Japantimes 28/04) Tokyo queries Beijing on May visit by top Abe aide, told Japan approach to South China Sea rows a factor: China has yet to respond, saying...

26/04/2016

China’s Hollow South China Sea Consensus With ASEAN Laggards

While the diplomatic move is notable given the upcoming verdict on the Philippines’ South China Sea case against Beijing, a closer look at the substance of the so-called consensus reveals that it is actually quite hollow even by Chinese standards.

25/04/2016

The South China Sea Dispute Isn't About Oil, At Least Not How You Think

Beijing’s assertive behavior in the SCS has had a chilling effect on oil and gas exploration in disputed areas over the past decade that further suggest that developing offshore resources is not Beijing’s strategic priority.

25/04/2016

Did Russia Just Side With China on the South China Sea?

On April 14, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave an interview to Chinese, Japanese, and Mongolian media outlets, in which he outlined Russia’s position in the ongoing South China Sea territorial disputes.

21/04/2016

Do the Obama Administration and PACOM Disagree on the South China Sea?

Over the past week, the apparent conflict between PACOM and the Obama administration has generated a pool of digital ink big enough to build a Chinese island in.

20/04/2016

Weeky Bulletin 18/04 - 24/04

China defends its military aircraft landing on disputed Spratly islands; Vietnam strongly demands China stop violating territorial sovereignty; The US criticizes China’s unilateral action in the SCS; Russia, India and China call on resolving maritime disputes through direct negotiations between the parties concerned.

20/04/2016

Weekly News 19/04 - 24/04

-(SCMP 25/04) China to build up atoll in contested South China Sea, source says: Reclamation work for outpost at Scarborough Shoal off Philippines coast ‘to begin this year’ -(Reuters 24/04) China says Brunei, Cambodia, Laos agree sea dispute must not hurt ties; (Straitstimes 24/04) South China Sea consensus 'shows up Asean fault lines'

19/04/2016