Weekly Bulletin 22/02 - 28/02

China is building powerful radar on disputed islands; China sends fighter jets to contested island in South China Sea; China CNOOC tenders 18 offshore blocks, mostly in South China Sea; Vietnam calls for responsible actions in East Sea; India protests unilateral actions in the South China Sea; Japan, Australia, India share concern over S. China Sea tensions

01/03/2016

South China Sea Militarization: Not All Islands Are Created Equal

Chinese military assets in the South China Sea have been widely publicized of late, with reports focusing in particular on the deployment of HQ-9 missile batteries and J-11 fighter jets to Woody Island in the Paracels. That, in turn, has sparked a fresh round of criticism of Chinese “militarization” of the South China Sea, particularly from U.S. officials.

01/03/2016

U.S. Proposes Reviving Naval Coalition to Balance China’s Expansion

The chief of the United States Pacific Command, Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., on Wednesday proposed reviving an informal strategic coalition made up of the navies of Japan, Australia, India and the United States, an experiment that collapsed a decade ago because of diplomatic protests from China.

02/03/2016

U.S., India, Japan Plan Joint Naval Exercises Near South China Sea

The U.S., India and Japan will conduct joint naval exercises in the northern waters of the Philippine Sea, an area close to the East and South China Seas where Beijing is locked in an increasingly tense standoff with Washington.

03/03/2016

We Need Europe's Help In The South China Sea

Rather than reliance on a Code that will probably never come into being, and is in any event likely ineffective, a better way to place diplomatic pressure on China would be for Europe to lead a collective chorus against Beijing’s policies and actions.

06/03/2016

Chinese Expansion in South China Sea Concerns Japan, U.S.

When looking to the future of U.S. and Japanese security “the importance of the periphery to China cannot be overstated,” a former U.S. chief of naval operations said.

06/03/2016

Weekly News 07/03 - 13/03

-(JapanTimes 11/03)  Amid South China Sea spat, Japan foreign aid white paper stresses importance of sea lanes, the paper also listed strengthening the rule of law, maritime security, cybersecurity and peace-building measures, among others, as ways of boosting Japan’s ties with Southeast Asia. -(The Diplomat 11/03) How Chinese Analysts Understand Taiwan’s Geostrategic Significance: As the world...

07/03/2016

Weekly Bulletin 29/02-06/03

China blames US escalating tension in South China Sea; Vietnam protests against China's plan to invite foreign oil bids in a disputed SCS; The Philippines called on China to respect the Hague ruling; The US warns China agaisnt militarization in the South China Sea

08/03/2016

Chinese Militarization in S. China Sea Aimed at Rapid Power Projection

China’s military buildup on disputed islands in the South China Sea is nearly finished and supports Beijing’s plan to rapidly project power in the region, according to intelligence made public this week.

10/03/2016

China able to project 'substantial offensive power' from Spratlys in months: U.S.

China will be able to project "substantial offensive military power" from artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly Islands within months, the director of U.S. national intelligence said.

14/03/2016