The South China Sea Dispute Isn't About Oil, At Least Not How You Think

Beijing’s assertive behavior in the SCS has had a chilling effect on oil and gas exploration in disputed areas over the past decade that further suggest that developing offshore resources is not Beijing’s strategic priority.

25/04/2016

Weekly News 25/04 - 30/04

-(Straitstimes 28/04) China responds to Singapore diplomats' remarks on South China Sea: In an earlier speech, former Asean secretary-general Ong Keng Yong criticised the move as tantamount to China "meddling" in Asean's internal affairs. -(Japantimes 28/04) Tokyo queries Beijing on May visit by top Abe aide, told Japan approach to South China Sea rows a factor: China has yet to respond, saying...

26/04/2016

Will Beijing's South China Sea 'land creation' lose it the peace?

China's leadership faces difficult decisions in the South China Sea. China is at some risk of achieving what it sees as a military success at the price of losing the peace.

27/04/2016

Bracing for Beijing's Next Move

Exercise Balikatan 2016, a joint U.S. Pacific Command exercise with the Philippines that ended in mid-April, demonstrated important elements of an effective strategy to counter Chinese expansion across the South China Sea.

27/04/2016

Lawmaker Urge More US Naval Operations in South China Sea

Members of Congress urged the Obama administration on Wednesday to order more naval operations close to disputed islands in the South China Sea. The State Department said Beijing risks conflict and isolation through its assertive behavior in those waters.

28/04/2016

How the Next US President Should Handle the South China Sea

Beijing will test the mettle of the next U.S. administration in the South China Sea. At a minimum, China is determined to use “passive assertiveness” to exercise greater control over this jugular of international commerce.

02/05/2016

Playing by the rules in the South China Sea

China’s adventurism in the South China Sea has prompted a change in Australian policymaking that merits wide international attention. In making maintenance of a “rules-based global order” a core strategic priority, Australia’s new defense white paper adopts language not often found at the heart of national defense charters.

02/05/2016

Weeky Bulletin 25/04 - 01/05

China will start reclamation work at Scarborough Shoal; Singapore stresses on resolving disputes through legal and diplomatic processes; Cambodia refutes new SCS-related agreement with China; Presidents Barack Obama criticize China’s behavior at sea; The 5th CICA upholds the principles of international law in resolving disputes.   

03/05/2016

Weekly News 02/05 - 08/05

-(ABC 08/05) Fishing boat and cargo ship collision leaves 17 missing, two dead in East China Sea: China has detained 20 crews from the freighter Catalina, however they did not state their nationalities. -(Gmanetwork 08/05) China carries out military drill in South China Sea: China periodically announces such exercises in the South China Sea as it tries to demonstrate it is being transparent about...

04/05/2016

Why Malaysia's South China Sea policy seems confused

In March this year, Malaysia's National Security Minister Shahidan Kassim revealed that surveillance by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) had discovered about 100 Chinese vessels sailing close to the Luconia Shoals, which Malaysia claims.

05/05/2016