China’s aggression over South China Sea exposes rift between Obama, top Navy advisers

Escalating tensions over China’s aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea are casting a heavy pall over major international naval exercises underway in the Pacific, exposing what some analysts say is a growing rift between President Obama and his top naval advisers over how to repulse Beijing’s provocations in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

14/04/2016

Reconciling Washington’s policy debate with effective respons

The US and its allies and partners have so far struggled to craft an effective policy response to China's island-building in the South China Sea. While differences between the White House and Pacific Command represent conflicting perspectives on how to proceed, they are not necessarily incompatible.

18/04/2016

The Philippines at Forefront of New Pentagon Maritime Security Initiative

The Pentagon recently began funding maritime security projects with countries in the South China Sea aimed at giving them the capability to monitor activities in their territorial waters and air space amidst concerns of regional Chinese expansion.

18/04/2016

Obama's Hollow Peace in the South China Sea

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea—involving China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines—are destabilizing the region. Although not a claimant, the United States has a vested interest in the outcome.

18/04/2016

Weekly Bulletin 11/04 - 17/04

Chinese continues to deploy fighter jets on contested South China Sea island; Vietnam hails G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement on security; Jokowi calls for unity among maritime forces; Russian Foreign Minister reveals its position on the South China Sea; The US, India strengthen cooperation, ensuring regional security

19/04/2016

Weekly News 19/04 - 24/04

-(SCMP 25/04) China to build up atoll in contested South China Sea, source says: Reclamation work for outpost at Scarborough Shoal off Philippines coast ‘to begin this year’ -(Reuters 24/04) China says Brunei, Cambodia, Laos agree sea dispute must not hurt ties; (Straitstimes 24/04) South China Sea consensus 'shows up Asean fault lines'

19/04/2016

Do the Obama Administration and PACOM Disagree on the South China Sea?

Over the past week, the apparent conflict between PACOM and the Obama administration has generated a pool of digital ink big enough to build a Chinese island in.

20/04/2016

Weeky Bulletin 18/04 - 24/04

China defends its military aircraft landing on disputed Spratly islands; Vietnam strongly demands China stop violating territorial sovereignty; The US criticizes China’s unilateral action in the SCS; Russia, India and China call on resolving maritime disputes through direct negotiations between the parties concerned.

20/04/2016

Did Russia Just Side With China on the South China Sea?

On April 14, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave an interview to Chinese, Japanese, and Mongolian media outlets, in which he outlined Russia’s position in the ongoing South China Sea territorial disputes.

21/04/2016

China’s Hollow South China Sea Consensus With ASEAN Laggards

While the diplomatic move is notable given the upcoming verdict on the Philippines’ South China Sea case against Beijing, a closer look at the substance of the so-called consensus reveals that it is actually quite hollow even by Chinese standards.

25/04/2016