Washington Misreads Beijing's South China Sea Ambitions

The South China Sea has become increasingly contested in 2015. Prompted by China’s extensive reclamation program, the complex and multilayered dispute has become a dominant feature in regional diplomacy and strategic dialogue.

09/11/2015

U.S. navigation moves in South China Sea will continue: Carter

The United States will conduct freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea again, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a speech on Saturday, although he gave no timeline for any such actions.

07/11/2015

Redemption in the South China Sea

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is hoping to send a strong signal in the South China Sea with a visit to the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier together with Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin. But if he wants the visit to pack a real punch, he must make sure that the Obama administration gets the messaging right back in Washington - something it failed to do following last week’s freedom...

05/11/2015

US Astrategic Ambiguity in the South China Sea?

Last week, after months of public debate, the U.S. Navy finally conducted a Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea (SCS) when the USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles (nm) of Subi Reef, a low tide elevation located hundreds of miles from the Chinese mainland and one of seven massive land reclamation projects undertaken by China since late December 2013.

05/11/2015

‘Little Blue Men:’ Doing China’s Dirty Work in the South China Sea

China is pursuing a special type of hybrid warfare in the South China Sea. Similar to Russia’s “Little Green Men” during Moscow’s takeover of Crimea, China has been deploying “Little Blue Men” in the maritime domain to harass Beijing’s adversaries in the South China Sea and to press its territorial claims.

05/11/2015

Weekly Bulletin 26/10 - 01/11

US warship patrols close to Chinese artificial islands in the South China;  Aquino Hails US Patrols in South China Sea; Vietnam demands China stop wrongful acts in Paracel Islands; Press Release From The Hague On South China Sea Arbitration

04/11/2015

Weekly News 02/11 - 08/11

-(Ibtimes 08/11) US will conduct more operations in South China Sea says defence chief Ash Carter: Carter said that the US is putting its "best and newest" assets in the Asia-Pacific region to counter China's claim over South China Sea and Russia's provocation of the Baltic states -(Japantoday 08/11) Abe to raise South China Sea issues at G-20, other global meetings: as it plays an indispensable...

02/11/2015

Announcement for the 7th South China Sea International Conference

The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS) and the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association (VLA) are pleased to host the 7th South China Sea International Conference: “Cooperation for Regional Security and Development” on 23-24 November 2015 in Vung Tau city, Viet Nam.

02/11/2015

A big power game in South China Sea?

In a setback for China, the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague ruled last Thursday that it has jurisdiction to hear the case brought by the Philippines over disputed islands in the South China Sea.

02/11/2015

China Strikes Back in the South China Sea (ADIZ Style)

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) flew armed Shengyang J-11 Flankers over the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on Friday. The aircraft were apparently taking part in a live-fire exercise in the region.  

02/11/2015