We Need Europe's Help In The South China Sea

Rather than reliance on a Code that will probably never come into being, and is in any event likely ineffective, a better way to place diplomatic pressure on China would be for Europe to lead a collective chorus against Beijing’s policies and actions.

06/03/2016

U.S., India, Japan Plan Joint Naval Exercises Near South China Sea

The U.S., India and Japan will conduct joint naval exercises in the northern waters of the Philippine Sea, an area close to the East and South China Seas where Beijing is locked in an increasingly tense standoff with Washington.

03/03/2016

U.S. Proposes Reviving Naval Coalition to Balance China’s Expansion

The chief of the United States Pacific Command, Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., on Wednesday proposed reviving an informal strategic coalition made up of the navies of Japan, Australia, India and the United States, an experiment that collapsed a decade ago because of diplomatic protests from China.

02/03/2016

Weekly Bulletin 22/02 - 28/02

China is building powerful radar on disputed islands; China sends fighter jets to contested island in South China Sea; China CNOOC tenders 18 offshore blocks, mostly in South China Sea; Vietnam calls for responsible actions in East Sea; India protests unilateral actions in the South China Sea; Japan, Australia, India share concern over S. China Sea tensions

01/03/2016

South China Sea Militarization: Not All Islands Are Created Equal

Chinese military assets in the South China Sea have been widely publicized of late, with reports focusing in particular on the deployment of HQ-9 missile batteries and J-11 fighter jets to Woody Island in the Paracels. That, in turn, has sparked a fresh round of criticism of Chinese “militarization” of the South China Sea, particularly from U.S. officials.

01/03/2016

Weekly news 29/02 - 06/03

-(UPI 03/03)Philippines borrowing planes from Japan to patrol South China Sea: Five surplus TC-90 training planes are expecting to join the Philippine Navy -(Washingtonpost 03/03)Navy aircraft carrier group moves into contested South China Sea: Navy Cmdr. Clay Doss, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Fleet said the carrier is carrying out a routine patrol of the South China Sea, where China has in recent...

29/02/2016

Hint of shift in Canberra's stance on South China Sea

Tucked away on page 46 of Australia's new 189-page Defence White Paper is a delicately worded clue to Canberra's position on one of the region's most pressing security questions.

29/02/2016

PACOM Needs More Subs, Long-Range Missiles To Counter Chinese Threats

China’s recent actions to militarize the South China Sea have changed the operational landscape, and the U.S. Pacific Command needs more attack submarines and long-range surface missiles to keep up with the evolving threat. PACOM commander Adm. Harry Harris told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

25/02/2016

Weekly Bulletin 15/02 - 21/02

China sends surface-to-air missiles to contested island in provocative move;Vietnam called to terminate unilateral actions that complicate South China Sea situation; U.S. and EU warn China on need to respect South China Sea ruling

24/02/2016

Weekly News 22/02 -28/02

-(Inquirer 26/02) Candidates must state position on S. China Sea—Carpio: Whether they stay the legal course or surrender sovereignty and agree to a joint development with China in the disputed South China Sea? -(Japantimes 26/02) Draw a line in the South China Sea: More countries should be sending the same message to China, making clear to Beijing that its intrusions into international waters and...

23/02/2016