Page 3 - South China Sea

Indonesia says its coast guard drove away Chinese ship in disputed waters

Indonesian patrol ships drove a Chinese coast guard vessel away from a survey vessel in a disputed area of the South China Sea for the second time in four days, Indonesian authorities said Thursday. Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency said the Chinese ship twice approached the MV Geo Coral, interrupting a seismic data survey being conducted by the state energy company PT Pertamina in a part of the South China Sea claimed by both countries. China's nine-dash line, which it uses to roughly demarcate its claim to most of the South China Sea, overlaps with a section of Indonesia's exclusive economic zone that extends from the Natuna Islands. A 2016 international arbitration ruling involving the Philippines invalidated most of China's sweeping claims in the sea, but China has ignored the ruling and called it a sham. Chinese ships have regularly entered the area Indonesia calls the North Natuna Sea, fueling tensions between the countries. Indonesian authorities said the Chinese coast gu

Taiwan detects 19 Chinese aircraft, 6 naval ships around its territory

"19 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 15 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwest

Will not renounce use of force over Taiwan, says China after recent turmoil

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future

Petronas' exploration in South China Sea to continue: Malaysian PM Ibrahim

This includes exploration activities in Petronas' Kasawari gas development off Sarawak state on Borneo, he told parliament

China conducts new military drills near Taiwan, warns of separatist acts

The drill also serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces

India, Asean urge peace as tensions continue to rise in South China Sea

China has been accused of harassment, intimidation and patrolling exclusive economic zones of Asean nations, leading to rising tensions in the South China Sea

US concerned about China's risky sea actions, Blinken warns ASEAN

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Southeast Asian leaders Friday that the US is concerned about China's increasingly dangerous and unlawful activities in the disputed South China Sea during an annual summit meeting, and pledged the US will continue to uphold freedom of navigation in the vital sea trade route. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations' meeting with Blinken followed a series of violent confrontations at sea between China and ASEAN members Philippines and Vietnam, which have fueled concerns that China's increasingly assertive actions in the waterways could spiral into a full-scale conflict. China, which claims almost the entire sea, has overlapping claims with ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan. About a third of global trade transits through the sea, which is also rich in fishing stocks, gas and oil. Beijing has refused to recognize a 2016 international arbitration ruling by a U.N.-affiliated court in the .

China seeks deeper economic ties with Asean as South China Sea row lurks

Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for deeper market integration with Southeast Asia on Thursday during annual summit talks where territorial disputes in the South China Sea are likely to be high on the agenda. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations' meeting with Li followed recent violent confrontations at sea between China and ASEAN members Philippines and Vietnam that raised unease over China's increasingly assertive actions in the disputed waters. Li didn't mention the row in his opening speech at the summit talks but said that intensifying trade relations between Beijing and ASEAN a market of 672 million people are beneficial for the bloc. The global economy is still seeing a sluggish recovery, protectionism is rising and geopolitical turbulence has brought instability and uncertainty to our development," Li said. An ultra large-scale market is our greatest foundation for promoting economic prosperity. Strengthening market coordination and synchronization is an ..

Southeast Asian leaders meet in Laos to tackle Myanmar crisis, disputed sea

Southeast Asian leaders gathered in the capital of Laos on Wednesday for an annual regional forum that will focus on tackling the prolonged civil war in Myanmar and territorial tensions in the South China Sea. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit will also be followed by meetings with global powers including China, the US and Russia, which are contending for influence in the region. The timing of the meetings in Vientiane makes it likely that talks will also touch on the escalation of violence in the Middle East, although Southeast Asia has faced only indirect fallout. ASEAN's influence has historically been limited even among its own members, but the forum has often served as a platform for dialogues among superpowers looking to engage with the region. The 10 member states of ASEAN Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos will also hold talks with their dialogue partners from elsewhere in the region including

Quad leaders' concerned about intimidating maneuvers in South China Sea

The Quad leaders added that they recommit to working in partnership with Pacific island countries to achieve shared aspirations and address shared challenges

US, Lithuania concerned over China's activities in South China Sea

The leaders of two nations underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and expressed opposition to any unilateral attempt

Taiwan detects 29 Chinese aircraft, eight naval vessels near its territory

In response to Chinese incursions, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity

PM Modi to visit Singapore today: Top 5 things on agenda explained

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will start his bilateral visit to Singapore after his trip to Brunei. Singapore is a key partner in India's 'Act East' policy and in boosting Indo-Pacific engagement

China, Philippines accuse each other of ramming ships in South China Sea

No injuries were reported as a result of the collisions

US military open to escorting Philippine ships in South China Sea: Official

The US military is open to consultations about escorting Philippine ships in the disputed South China Sea, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command said Tuesday amid a spike in hostilities between Beijing and Manila in the disputed waters. Adm. Samuel Paparo's remarks, which he made in response to a question during a news conference in Manila with Philippine Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., provided a glimpse of the mindset of one of the highest American military commanders outside the U.S. mainland on a prospective operation that would risk putting U.S. Navy ships in direct collisions with those of China. Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships regularly clash with Philippine vessels during attempts to resupply Filipino sailors stationed in parts of the South China Sea claimed by both countries. As these clashes grow increasingly hostile, resulting in injuries to Filipino sailors and damage to their ships, the Philippine government has faced questions about ...

Amid tensions, Philippines demands China to halt actions in South China Sea

The escalation in the South China Sea raises concerns of a conflict that could draw in the United States

Chinese military's new doctrine: Win wars against strong enemies, opponents

From its decades-old doctrine of winning local wars, China's military is shifting its focus to winning wars against strong enemies and opponents, a top defence official has said, amidst the mounting challenges Beijing faces on multiple fronts, including from the US. President Xi Jinping has also directed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to improve its strategic ability to defend the country's sovereignty and development interests. Celebrating the 120th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping, widely hailed as the paramount leader and the architect of modern China who rebuilt the country after the disastrous Mao Zedong era, Xi not only praised his outstanding contributions to the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), the country and the world but also highlighted his emphasis to build a modern military. The best way to honour Deng is to continue advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics that he initiated, Xi, said in his address to a meeting held to mark Deng's birth ...

Fisheries plane threatened by flares from Chinese base, says Philippines

A Philippine fisheries bureau plane was threatened by flares fired from a Chinese island base while conducting a routine patrol in the South China Sea, Philippine officials said Saturday. It's the latest territorial spat between Beijing and Manila over one of the world's busiest trade routes, with confrontations spreading from the disputed waters to the airspace above. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' Cessna 208B Grand Caravan plane was flying near Subi Reef on Thursday when it spotted flares being fired from the fishing atoll, which has been transformed by China into a militarised island base, a Philippine government interagency task force said in a statement. No other details were provided, including the distance of the flares from the Philippine plane and if it proceeded with its patrol to monitor for poachers in the internationally recognised exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. The same Philippine fisheries plane was subjected to harassment on August 19 wh

US, Australia, Canada, Philippines stage hold sea drills in South China Sea

The United States, Australia, Canada and the Philippines held air and naval manoeuvre Wednesday in a show of force in the disputed South China Sea, where China has increasingly asserted its territorial claims. In an apparent response, China said it conducted air and sea combat patrols on the same day. Adm. Samuel Paparo, who heads the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and top military and defense commanders from Australia, Canada and the Philippines said in a joint statement that they stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order. They said they were staging the two-day exercises to uphold unhindered passage in the Indo-Pacific region. China has long claimed much of the South China Sea, a key global trade and security route, and vowed to defend its territorial interests at all costs. Its claims overlap those of smaller coastal states, including the Philippines and Vietnam, hampering their ..

Philippines, Vietnam holds joint exercises amid South China Sea tensions

This collaboration follows an agreement between Manila and Beijing to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea, specifically regarding Philippine resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal.