Tag Archives: South China Sea

Military officials from both countries meet face-to-face for the first time in several years. Source link

Cagayan governor Manuel Mamba warned that hosting the US troops can make the area a ‘magnet for an attack in case a war erupts’. Source link

China is learning from Western powers that it can ignore decisions it doesn’t like and manipulate international law – as long as it cultivates an army of patriotic lawyers. Source link

Asean ministers have agreed to revive talks on the code of conduct, but they are applying international law rather than China’s preferred rules. Beijing must understand that coercion and negotiations cannot take place simultaneously if it wants to bring the code of conduct into being. Source link

Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement due to be renewed for second 10-year lease, allowing US military to access nine Philippine sites, up from current five. Source link

Coastguard said 42 vessels believed to be crewed by Chinese maritime militia were seen, while a navy vessel was observed ‘slowly loitering’ near Thitu island in the Spratly chain – a strategically important outpost in the South China Sea. Source link

The patrols could initially be ‘country-to-country’ before being expanded to a four-country bloc with the US, Manila’s ambassador to Washington said, amid concerns about China’s assertiveness. Source link

Observers say Beijing is concerned about recent developments in the region and the South China Sea but its hands are tied. Source link

Enforcing its claims harder risks international opprobrium and war while easing off to focus on commercial resource-sharing deals risks domestic criticism. But not choosing is also counterproductive as US military ties with other Asian countries continue to deepen. Source link

Manila says Chinese coastguard tried to block resupply of Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands on February 6. Source link