U.S. President Barack Obama put tensions over Beijing's claims to the South China Sea squarely on the agenda ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit on Tuesday, pointedly visiting the main warship of close ally the Philippines shortly after he landed in Manila. While Obama affirmed a commitment to the Philippines' security and to freedom of navigation in regional waters, a senior official in Beijing said China was the real victim of the waterway dispute because other countries had illegally occupied islands there. The verbal jousting could cast a shadow over the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit of about 20 heads of state and government, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Manila has said it will not bring up the maritime dispute to avoid embarrassing Xi, but could not prevent others from doing so. Xi also arrived in Manila on Tuesday, but did not make any public comments. Shortly after Air Force One touched down in Manila, Obama boarded the Gregorio del Pilar, a Philippines … [Read more...] about Obama puts South China Sea dispute on agenda as summitry begins
Spratly islands in the south china sea
U.S. bombers flew near China-built island in South China Sea: Pentagon
Two U.S. B52 strategic bombers flew near artificial Chinese-built islands in the South China Sea this week and were contacted by Chinese ground controllers but continued their mission undeterred, the Pentagon said on Thursday. The latest U.S. patrol in the disputed South China Sea occurred in advance of President Barack Obama's visit to the region next week to attend Asia-Pacific summits where he is expected the reassert Washington's commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the area. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes every year, and the United States has said it will continue conducting patrols to assure unimpeded passage. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims in the region. In the latest mission, which occurred overnight on Nov. 8-9, the bombers flew "in the area" of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands but did not come within the 12-nautical-mile zones that China claims as … [Read more...] about U.S. bombers flew near China-built island in South China Sea: Pentagon
The importance of evidence: Fact, fiction and the South China Sea
In just a few weeks, international judges will begin to consider the legality of China's 'U-shaped line' claim in the South China Sea. The venue will be the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and the Court's first step - during deliberations in July - will be to consider whether it should even consider the case. China's best hope is that the judges will rule themselves out of order because if they don't, and the Philippines' case proceeds, it's highly likely that China will suffer a major embarrassment. The Philippines wants the Court to rule that, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China can only claim sovereignty and the rights to resources in the sea within certain distances of land territory. If the court agrees, it will have the effect of shrinking the vast 'U-shaped line' to a few circles no more than 24 nautical miles (about 50km) in diameter. China is not formally participating in the case but it has submitted its arguments indirectly, … [Read more...] about The importance of evidence: Fact, fiction and the South China Sea
China navy warns U.S. spy plane in disputed South China Sea: CNN
The Chinese navy warned a U.S. surveillance plane flying over artificial islands that Beijing is creating in the disputed South China Sea to leave the area eight times, according to CNN, which was on board the flight on Wednesday. At one stage, after the American pilots responded by saying the plane was flying through international airspace, a Chinese radio operator said with exasperation: "This is the Chinese navy ... You go!" The P8-A Poseidon, the U.S. military's most advanced surveillance aircraft, flew at 15,000 feet (4,500 metres) at its lowest point, CNN said. The incident, along with recent Chinese warnings to Philippine military aircraft to leave areas around the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea, suggests Beijing is trying to enforce a military exclusion zone above its new islands. Some security experts worry about the risk of confrontation, especially after a U.S. official said last week the Pentagon was considering sending military aircraft and ships to assert … [Read more...] about China navy warns U.S. spy plane in disputed South China Sea: CNN
China navy carries out more drills in disputed South China Sea
China's navy has in recent days carried out more exercises in the disputed South China Sea, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday, calling them routine drills. China claims almost all of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of maritime trade passes each year. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims. "The People's Liberation Army Navy in recent days organized a fleet to go to relevant seas in the South China Sea, by way of the Western Pacific, to carry out exercises," China's Defense Ministry said in a brief statement. "This action is a routine arrangement made in accordance with this year's naval training plan," it added, without elaborating. Pictures on social media accounts of Chinese state media have in recent days shown pictures of Chinese navy ships engaged in live-fire exercises in the South China Sea, without saying where exactly they took place. China periodically announces such exercises in the … [Read more...] about China navy carries out more drills in disputed South China Sea