Weekly News 15/1 - 21/1

-(SCMP 17/1) Three possible outcomes from East China Sea oil spill, according to Chinese scientists: As the oil slick from the Iranian oil tanker Sanchi continues to spread, its possible environmental impact could be limited or it could see trace pollutants reaching as far as the west coast of North America. -(SCMP 16/1) Xi Jinping calls on Donald Trump to revive economic dialogue programme: Chinese...

17/01/2018

Weekly News 22/1 - 28/1

-(Freebacon 24/1) Pentagon Denies Chinese Warship Drove U.S. Destroyer From SCS: The USS Hopper carried out an "innocent passage" not a freedom of navigation operation at Scarborough Shoal. -(Atimes 24/1) PLA boosts amphibious fleet, with eye on Taiwan and SCS: The PLA Navy has another two Type 071 landing ships under construction, which will take the fleet to seven in total.

25/01/2018

Weekly News 29/1 - 4/2

-(ASPI 31/1) Duterte’s push for joint exploration in the South China Sea: There’s talk in the Philippines of revising the constitution to amend the provisions that limit foreign investment and ownership. -(ABC News 30/1) China's era of 'hide and bide' is over: It is the only nation that can plausibly challenge American global dominance.

31/01/2018

Weekly News 6/2 - 11/2

-(Reuters 6/2) SE Asia ministers air concerns over Beijing's activities in South China Sea, noting that land reclamation continued even after talks began between their 10-member bloc and Beijing to agree a code of conduct. -(Atimes 6/2) Photos show Beijing’s militarisation of South China Sea in new detail: China accused of building ‘island fortresses’ as Philippine newspaper obtains aerial images.

07/02/2018

UK to send Royal Navy warship through disputed South China Sea in challenge to Beijing

A Royal Navy warship will sail through the South China Sea in an effort to assert freedom of navigation rights in waters where Beijing is increasingly extending its control.

14/02/2018

Weekly News 19/2 - 25/2

-(The Interpreter 22/2) “Global Britain” on the line in the South China Sea: If the UK is to influence the calculations of China and other actors in the Indo-Pacific region, it requires a sustained and regular presence, not a PR stunt intended for audiences at home. -(The Diplomat 20/2) Duterte: China's South China Sea Installations Aimed at the United States, Not the Philippines: The Philippine...

19/02/2018

Philippines: Risks rising with China challenging US at sea

A Philippine diplomat says the risks of an armed conflict have increased in the disputed South China Sea with a militarily stronger China now able to challenge the United States, which used to be the dominant power in the strategic waterway.

20/02/2018

Weekly News 26/2 - 4/3

-(Reuters 1/3) Philippines says any SCS energy deal must be with Chinese company, not government, said the spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte. -(Atimes 1/3) China senses and acts on US weakness in SCS: China is a rising power and it is only natural that it would seek to expand its areas of naval operations and political influence.

27/02/2018

Philippines identifies sites in South China Sea for potential joint exploration with China

The Philippines on Friday identified two areas in the South China Sea where joint exploration for oil and gas may be undertaken with China, including one in territory that both sides have argued over for years.

03/03/2018

USS Carl Vinson makes historic visit to Vietnam in 'routine' port call

The first visit by a US aircraft carrier in four decades is "not of military focus", but will see "cultural exchanges" between local experts and US sailors, said a US navy spokesman.

05/03/2018