Page 2 - South China Sea

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.

China reports 7 more deaths from torrential rains brought by tropical storm

Torrential rains have left at least seven people dead and three others missing in southeastern China, state media said on Tuesday, raising the death toll from a tropical storm to 22. All the deaths have been in Hunan province. Heavy rains have been falling on eastern Hunan for days as Tropical Storm Gaemi moved inland after making landfall at typhoon strength in neighbouring Fujian province on the Chinese coast. Four deaths and three missing people were reported in four villages in Zixing city, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The rain has damaged hundreds of homes in the city and prompted the evacuation of more than 11,000 people, Xinhua said. The bodies of three other missing people were found in a village in a nearby city, state broadcaster CCTV said in an online report. They were victims of a sudden mudslide caused by the rain, according to CCTV. The seven deaths are in an area south of a summertime tourist region where a mudslide killed 15 people and injured six others af

Taiwan detects 4 Chinese aircraft, surge in activity near its territory

Amid the growing threat, Taiwan, starting Monday, began military exercises to test its war-fighting capabilities

Southeast Asian diplomats meet China's Wang Yi over maritime dispute

Top diplomats from Southeast Asia met Friday morning in Vientiane with China's Foreign Minister for talks that come as friction continues to escalate over Beijing's growing effort to press its sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea. Several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation have disputes with China, which has led to direct confrontations that many worry could lead to broader conflict. One wrong step in the South China Sea will turn a small fire into a terrible firestorm, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi ahead of the talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all have conflicts with China over its claims of sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world's most crucial waterways for shipping. Indonesia has also expressed concern about what it sees as Beijing's encroachment on its exclusive economic zone. The United States and its allies, meanwhile, have bee

Eyeing strategic advantages near China sea, US builds Australia's bases

Tender documents show that intelligence briefing rooms, upgraded runways for bombers, warehouses, data centres and maintenance hangars are in the works

Myanmar violence tops discussion as Southeast Asian diplomats meet in Laos

Southeast Asian foreign ministers and top diplomats from key partners including the United States and China were gathering in the Laotian capital on Thursday for the start of three days of talks expected to focus on the increasingly violent civil war in Myanmar, tensions in the South China Sea and other regional issues. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are expected to hold one-on-one talks on the sidelines of the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Vientiane, which come as both Beijing and Washington are looking to expand their influence in the region. Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith thanked ASEAN members and partners for their unwavering collective effort that has led to its past achievements and emphasized the importance of the bloc's continuous work to promote peace and stability. In light of the rapid and complex geopolitical and geoeconomic changes, we need to further enhance ASEAN centrality and unity so

Taiwan begins military exercise with combat drills amid rising China threat

The five-day drill is being held even as China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) flew a record number of aircraft close to the island this month

Tensions rise in South China Sea as Taiwan rejects Philippines' claims

MOFA said the claims made by the two nations were unacceptable and stressed the sovereign rights of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to its islands in the South China Sea

Taiwan tracks 18 Chinese military aircraft, 8 vessels near its territory

So far in July, the Taiwan's MND has detected Chinese military aircraft 294 times and naval ships 84 times