Japan's East China Sea Military Buildup Continues

He who lives by the military buildup, dies by the military buildup. Though the recent visit to Beijing by Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida suggests a thaw in Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, there remains a gulf—or more accurately, a sea—between the two Asian powerhouses.

06/05/2016

China’s new strategy in South China Sea

Clearly, Obama’s pivot to Asia to contain China (as well as Russia) came as a timely warning to Beijing to take precautionary measures against US mischief in the South China Sea.

08/05/2016

Russia's South China Sea Conundrum

On April 29, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a joint press conference in Beijing during which they strongly opposed the deployment of a THAAD anti-missile defense system in South Korea by the United States as well as outside interference by non-claimants in the South China Sea (SCS) territorial dispute. 

09/05/2016

Weekly Bulletin 02/05 - 08/05

Chinese navy to conduct drill in South China Sea; 4 Indian Naval ships to take part in Malabar exercise; Foreign Minister Kishida visits China and Southeast Asia; Voters from Truong Sa island district cast votes for deputies to the Vietnam’s 14th National Assembly and People’s CouncilsActivities of Related Parties

10/05/2016

Japan’s decisive defence development

The recent changes in Japan’s defence policy, towards being a more active player, should be of primary interest to the EU.

10/05/2016

Weekly News 09/05-15/05

-(The Diplomat 15/05) What the Pentagon Thinks of China’s Military: The U.S. Department of Defense’s 2016 report on China’s military offers a detailed look into the PLA. -(IDRW 15/05) Amid South China Sea tension, India to supply two light frigates to the Philippines Navy: Light frigates will be completed in a very challenging and tight time line of 40 and 48 months respectively.

10/05/2016

How America Picks Its Next Move in the South China Sea

Why did officials in Washington choose Fiery Cross Reef rather than Mischief Reef? There are two primary hypotheses, both of which could explain why the administration has once again eschewed such an operation.

11/05/2016

Obama's South China Sea Strategy Is Working

The Obama administration may have been caught on its back foot by China’s rapid island building in the South China Sea over the last few years, but despite its lackluster policy response, its preference for multilateralism over containment may be achieving success.

12/05/2016

China Goes on Trial in the South China Sea

The Philippines' U.N. court case against China will likely undermine Beijing's legal claims to islands in the South China Sea.

16/05/2016

Japan’s important sideshow to arbitration decision in the South China Sea

While tensions continue to rise in the South China Sea and the disputing governments nervously await a decision in the Philippines’ arbitration case against China, an important sideshow has arisen between Japan and Taiwan in the central Philippine Sea.

16/05/2016