Weekly Bulletin 11/04 - 17/04

Chinese continues to deploy fighter jets on contested South China Sea island; Vietnam hails G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement on security; Jokowi calls for unity among maritime forces; Russian Foreign Minister reveals its position on the South China Sea; The US, India strengthen cooperation, ensuring regional security

19/04/2016

Reconciling Washington’s policy debate with effective respons

The US and its allies and partners have so far struggled to craft an effective policy response to China's island-building in the South China Sea. While differences between the White House and Pacific Command represent conflicting perspectives on how to proceed, they are not necessarily incompatible.

18/04/2016

The Philippines at Forefront of New Pentagon Maritime Security Initiative

The Pentagon recently began funding maritime security projects with countries in the South China Sea aimed at giving them the capability to monitor activities in their territorial waters and air space amidst concerns of regional Chinese expansion.

18/04/2016

Obama's Hollow Peace in the South China Sea

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea—involving China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines—are destabilizing the region. Although not a claimant, the United States has a vested interest in the outcome.

18/04/2016

China’s aggression over South China Sea exposes rift between Obama, top Navy advisers

Escalating tensions over China’s aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea are casting a heavy pall over major international naval exercises underway in the Pacific, exposing what some analysts say is a growing rift between President Obama and his top naval advisers over how to repulse Beijing’s provocations in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

14/04/2016

China's 'Great Wall of Sand' in the South China Sea: History Repeating Itself?

For many outside observers, the Great Wall of China is a symbol of ancient China's strength, military might and power. The Xi Jinping Administration is currently undertaking land reclamation in the South China Sea, which has been dubbed by some as the 'great wall of sand'.

14/04/2016

Back to Basics in the South China Sea

As the debate around Chinese activities grows more complex, a murky understanding of both Chinese claims and how they relate to international law and accepted international norms persists among the general public. It may, therefore, be useful to revisit some of the basics.

13/04/2016

Tension on the South China Sea draws concerns. So should submarine warfare underneath.

Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter is in Asia this week, making stops in India and the Philippines to bolster relationships that the United States could call on in a time of crisis.

13/04/2016

Weekly News 11/04 - 17/04

-(AFR 15/04) Beijing warns Malcolm Turnbull to be 'careful' on South China Sea: Mr Turnbull raised Australia's concerns over China's inflammatory land grab in the region and he planned to raise it again. -(BusinessInsider 15/04) The US is about to spend a lot more time patrolling the South China Sea: Demonstrating that the two countries are increasing security cooperation amid joint concerns over...

12/04/2016

Weekly Bulletin 04/04 - 10/04

Vietnam asks China to stop actions complicating East Sea situation; China's army planning trip for Chinese public to visit Paracels; Aquino warns against int’l apathy in sea row; France opposes any escalation in South China Sea; EU concerns over the disputes in the South China Sea

12/04/2016