Weekly News 28/09-04/10

-(Thediplomat 04/10) One Step Closer to US Freedom of Navigation Patrols in the South China Sea: Washington’s moving closer and closer to staging freedom of navigation patrols near China’s artificial islands. -(Thediplomat 04/10) US to Support Taiwan in South China Sea Per 2016 Defense Budget Bill: U.S. support for Taiwan will extend into the South China Sea.

29/09/2015

What Does China Really Think About the South China Sea

While it’s still rare to hear Chinese representatives in any capacity directly contradict the Party line on particularly sensitive topics, in recent years they have nevertheless demonstrated a greater degree of flexibility and candor in discussing matters of strategic import.

26/09/2015

Weekly Bulletin 14/09 - 20/09

China appears to be working on third airstrip on disputed South China Sea islets; Vietnam's Party Chief Holds Talks with Japanese Prime Minister; Philippines Hails Japan Security Bill; Carter calls China 'out of step' in South China Sea.

25/09/2015

U.S. Gears Up to Challenge Beijing’s ‘Great Wall of Sand’

Washington has quietly avoided sending U.S. ships near China’s artificial islands. The Obama administration is now mulling a more muscular approach.

24/09/2015

Weekly News 21/09-27/09

 -(CNBC 28/09)  White House declares truce with China over AIIB: The commitments were laid out, albeit in vague terms, in a joint "fact sheet" about the two countries' economic discussions during Mr Xi's two-day visit to Washington. -(Flashcritic 27/09) Unit 78020: New PLA cyber attack unit linked to Beijing’s South China Sea takeover campaign: The cyber operations by Unit 78020 are part of “a...

21/09/2015

Weekly Bulletin 07/09 - 13/09

Vietnam protests China’s installing 4G coverage in the Hoang Sa archipelago China; Philippines Says South China Sea Not on APEC Agenda; Japan, U.S. running undersea listening post to detect Chinese subs

16/09/2015

Beware of China's "Little Blue Men" in the South China Sea

While Russia has employed “Little Green Men” surreptitiously in Crimea, China uses its own “Little Blue Men” to support Near Seas claims. As the U.S. military operates near Beijing’s artificially-built South China Sea (SCS) features and seeks to prevent Beijing from ejecting foreign claimants from places like Second Thomas Shoal, it may well face surveillance and harassment from China’s maritime militia.  

16/09/2015

China's Fake Islands in the South China Sea: What Should America Do?

While China conducts innocent passage around real U.S. islands of Alaska, the U.S. is apparently unable to do so around China’s fake islands in the South China Sea. The transit by Chinese warships in innocent passage through the territorial sea of Attu Island in the Aleutian chain has added an additional wrinkle to U.S. policy in the South China Sea.

15/09/2015

Chinese activity in South China Sea poses complications for Obama

China appears to be taking new steps to lay down airfields on two reefs in a disputed area of the South China Sea on the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Sept. 24 arrival in Washington for a state visit.

14/09/2015

Weekly News 14/09-20/09

-(BusinessInsider 20/09) China is continuing to militarize the South China Sea despite promising to stop: The continuation of construction and dredging on the islands, despite China’s promises to stop, will likely cast a cloud over Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit later this month -(Wantchinatimes 20/09) US preparing for potential conflict in South China Sea: Ashton Carter, said Washington...

14/09/2015