All posts tagged: South China Sea

China seeks detention of foreigners in disputed South China Sea | South China Sea News

China seeks detention of foreigners in disputed South China Sea | South China Sea News

Philippines files new legal submission before the UN, asserting its own entitlements while challenging China’s claim. New maritime rules issued by China that allow its coastguard to detain foreigners for trespassing in the disputed South China Sea have taken effect – but their international legitimacy is being questioned by neighbouring countries. China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines and a 2016 ruling by an arbitration tribunal in The Hague, which declared that its stance had no legal basis. The Chinese government has been deploying the country’s coastguard and other boats to patrol the waters it claims as its own, and has turned several reefs into militarised artificial islands. In recent years, Chinese and Philippine vessels have had a series of confrontations in disputed areas that have raised fears of a wider conflict. From Saturday, China’s coastguard can detain foreigners “suspected of violating management of border entry and exit”, according to the new regulations published online. Detention is allowed for up …

G7 leaders set their sights on migration on final day of summit

G7 leaders set their sights on migration on final day of summit

The Group of Seven leading industrialized nations turned their attention to migration, artificial intelligence, economic security and the Indo-Pacific region on Friday, the second and final day of their summit in Italy. The G7 leaders stressed their determination to meet global challenges “at a crucial moment in history.” The gathering in a luxury resort in Italy’s southern Puglia region also discussed other major topics, such as financial support for Ukraine, the war in Gaza, climate change, Iran, the situation in the Red Sea, gender equality and China’s industrial policy and economic security. “We are working together and with others to address the pressing challenges of our time,” the G7 leaders said in a final communique, noting their solidarity with Ukraine, support for a deal that would lead to an immediate cease-fire and release of hostages in Gaza, investment in sustainable infrastructure in Africa and commitments to address climate change and migration. Divisions did emerge during the summit, however, notably over the lack of a reference to abortion in the summit’s final declaration.  04:45 Business © …

Is Russia proving today how China can win Taiwan tomorrow?

Is Russia proving today how China can win Taiwan tomorrow?

The term “useful idiot” was first coined in the Cold War to describe unwitting supporters of the Soviet Union. Since then the phrase has morphed into other areas of everyday life, but is still largely rooted in the fields of politics and international confrontation.  China is learning all sorts of useful stuff from the war in Ukraine about how far to push against established international norms; how to inoculate one’s country from a global backlash against bad behaviour and how to drive a wedge between one’s adversaries.  All this has come at virtually no cost to Beijing as the Kremlin has copped most of the flak. So, as he casts a hungry eye at Taiwan, does Xi Jinping see Vladimir Putin as a very useful idiot indeed? In this episode of Defence in Depth, Dominic Nicholls, The Telegraph’s associate editor, explains how, by invading Ukraine, Putin has shown his Chinese counterpart where the edges of Western tolerance for aggression lie. Watch Dominic’s video analysis above. Find more episodes of Defence in Depth on The Telegraph’s …

Philippines, US fire at ‘invasion’ force in South China Sea war games

Philippines, US fire at ‘invasion’ force in South China Sea war games

“DESTABILISING CONDUCT” Maritime confrontations between China and the Philippines have raised fears of a wider conflict that could involve the United States and other allies. Monday’s exercise came days after the defence ministers of the Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia met in Hawaii and issued a joint statement on their strong objections to the “dangerous and destabilising conduct” of China in the South China Sea. The ministers “discussed opportunities to further advance defence cooperation” and to “work together to support states exercising their rights and freedoms in the South China Sea”. Last week, US forces taking part in the Balikatan exercises fired HIMARS precision rockets into the South China Sea from the western island of Palawan, the nearest major Philippine landmass to the hotly disputed Spratly Islands. The US Marine Corps said the manoeuvre was a rehearsal for the rapid deployment of the missile system across the Philippines’ South China Sea coast to “secure and protect Philippines’ maritime terrain, territorial waters and exclusive economic zone interests”. The confrontations between the Philippines and China …

Philippine ship damage, injury to crew ‘irresponsible behaviour’, says US Defense Secretary Austin

Philippine ship damage, injury to crew ‘irresponsible behaviour’, says US Defense Secretary Austin

HONOLULU: Damage to Philippine vessels and injuries to their crew in the South China Sea is “irresponsible behaviour” in disregard of international law, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday (May 2), weighing in on the latest flare-up involving China. Manila and Beijing have traded barbs almost daily since Tuesday’s confrontation at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, where China’s coast guard used water cannon against two vessels from the Philippines, prompting outrage from its government. “We’ve been very clear to everyone, to include Beijing, that the kind of behaviour that we’ve seen, where Filipino crews are put in danger … sailors have been injured and property damaged, that is irresponsible behaviour,” Austin told a joint press conference in Hawaii. Austin reiterated the United States would continue to support its former colony the Philippines, as outlined in a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty. “Our commitment to the treaty is ironclad and we stand with the Philippines,” he said after a meeting with defence counterparts of the Philippines, Australia and Japan. Appearing alongside Austin, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto …

Philippines denies deal with China over disputed South China Sea shoal

Philippines denies deal with China over disputed South China Sea shoal

MANILA: The Philippines on Saturday (Apr 27) denied a Chinese claim that the two countries had reached an agreement over an escalating maritime dispute in the South China Sea, calling the claim propaganda. A spokesperson at China’s embassy in Manila said on Apr 18 that the two had agreed early this year to a “new model” in managing tensions at the Second Thomas Shoal, without elaborating. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday that his department was “not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China” since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022. Defence department officials have not spoken to any Chinese officials since last year, Teodoro said in a statement. China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Teodoro’s comments outside office hours. Beijing and Manila have repeatedly clashed in recent months at the submerged reef, which the Philippines says is in its exclusive economic zone but which China also claims. Source link

Taiwan to discuss new arms funding with US as Chinese warplanes again near island

Taiwan to discuss new arms funding with US as Chinese warplanes again near island

Taiwan’s military said on Sunday it will discuss with the United States how to use funding for Taipei included in a $95 billion legislative package mostly providing assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as Chinese warplanes again got close to the island. Issued on: 21/04/2024 – 11:29 2 min The United States is Taiwan’s most important international supporter and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. Democratically governed Taiwan has faced increased military pressure from China, which views the island as its own territory. Taiwan’s government rejects those claims. The defence ministry expressed thanks to the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the package on Saturday, saying it demonstrated the “rock solid” U.S. support for Taiwan. The ministry added it “will coordinate the relevant budget uses with the United States through existing exchange mechanisms, and work hard to strengthen combat readiness capabilities to ensure national security and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”. Taiwan has since 2022 complained of delays in deliveries of U.S. weapons such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as manufacturers focussed …

China hosts foreign naval officials amid South China Sea tensions

China hosts foreign naval officials amid South China Sea tensions

QINGDAO, Shandong: The Chinese Navy on Sunday (Apr 21) kicked off a biennial meeting of top foreign naval officials in the port city of Qingdao, in a show of military diplomacy that will be closely watched for signs of more engagement between China and the United States. The four-day event with delegations from 30 countries comes during heightened tensions in the South China Sea, as US treaty ally Manila is in an increasingly fraught standoff with Beijing over the strategic waterway, which could be a potential flashpoint for US-China relations. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler will attend the Western Pacific Naval Symposium on behalf of the United States, according to a source familiar with the matter. Other country delegations include Australia, France, India, South Korea, Russia and Britain, state media reported. Participants will hold closed-door talks on Monday, with seminars on topics such as addressing maritime security challenges. They will also discuss the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, a set of guidelines formulated a decade ago, meant to de-escalate tensions between militaries at …