South china sea disputed islands

They said the fact that some parties to the South China Sea dispute are increasingly militarizing the area is the biggest threat to regional stability. This process is not only taking place on the sea, but under it and in the air, said experts attending a conference held in Vietnam’s central city of Da Nang late last week. Vietnam calls the South China Sea the East Sea. The conference aimed to discuss potential solutions for settling the East Sea disputes. Delegates noted that in addition to competing for marine resources like fisheries, and oil and gas, the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles is creating new legal arguments. Dr. Collin Koh Swee Lean, a research fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said the gathering of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance has so far received little interest in comparison to other superficial activities in the process of building forces in the South China Sea. The importance of those activities … [Read more...] about Hi-tech militarization of South China Sea alarming, experts say

China has for the first time landed several bombers on an island in the disputed South China Sea, a move that could provoke renewed tensions between countries bordering the strategically vital maritime region. Several bombers of various types - including the long-range, nuclear strike capable H-6K - carried out landing and take off drills at an unidentified island airfield after carrying out simulated strike training on targets at sea, the Chinese airforce said in a statement on Friday. Wang Mingliang, a defense expert cited in the statement, said the takeoff and landing exercises on islands in the South China Sea will help the air force "strengthen its combat capability to deal with martime security threats." The move comes weeks after U.S. network CNBC reported that China had installed anti-ship and air-to-air defenses on outposts in the Spratly Islands that are also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines, citing sources close to U.S. intelligence. Washington warned that Beijing … [Read more...] about Chinese bombers make debut landing on disputed South China Sea runway

U.S. news network CNBC reported on May 2, 2018 that China had installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the Spratlys, namely Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef. The report substantiates the concern among regional observers that China may soon start a new round of escalation in the South China Sea after a relatively calm period. Since the release of the arbitral tribunal ruling on the Philippines vs. China case in July 2016 until early this year, China kept a low profile on the South China Sea issue by quietly completing its seven artificial islands in the Spratlys and refraining from major assertive actions. Beijing even showed good will and made efforts to accelerate discussions with ASEAN on a Code of Conduct for the sea. China’s wish to counter adverse ramifications generated by the 2016 ruling as well as its emphasis on the successful organization of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 19th congress … [Read more...] about Vietnam facing China’s renewed assertiveness in South China Sea

China's reportedly deploying missiles in the Spratly Islands outposts could mean an act closer to declaring an Air Defense Identification Zone in the disputed waters and Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam should raise voices to protect their rights, experts said. U.S. news network CNBC reported on Wednesday that China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea. The report quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to U.S. intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. "If the story is correct, this is a significant step of China toward militarization of Spratly Islands," Euan Graham, Director of International Security Program at Lowy Institute, told VnExpress. He said the missiles would be a stage before China launching combat aircraft later this year, and declaring an excercise restriction area. The approach is … [Read more...] about China completing militarization in South China Sea by deploying missiles to Spratlys: experts

In a span of 20 minutes, 20 F-18 fighter jets took off and landed on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, in a powerful display of military precision and efficiency. The nuclear-powered warship, leading a carrier strike group, was conducting what the U.S. military called routine training in thedisputed South China Sea on Tuesday, headed for a port call in the Philippines, a defense treaty ally. The United States is not alone in carrying out naval patrols in the strategic waterway, where Chinese, Japanese and some Southeast Asian navies operate, possibly increasing tensions and risking accidents at sea. "We have seen Chinese ships around us," Rear Admiral Steve Koehler, the strike group commander, told a small group of reporters on board the three-decade-old carrier. "They are one of the navies that operate in the South China Sea but I would tell you that we have seen nothing but professional work out of the ships we have encountered." Navies in the western Pacific, including … [Read more...] about After China’s massive drill, US patrols disputed South China Sea

The territorial dispute with Beijing over the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea, remained a security challenge despite an improvement in bilateral ties, the Philippine defense chief said on Monday as he accepted three maritime surveillance planes from Japan. Delfin Lorenzana, in a speech at a naval base south of the capital Manila, said the three Japanese donated second-hand TC90 planes will definitely boost the navy’s capability to gather intelligence in the disputed sea. “We must admit that much still has to be done to boost our military capability equipment in order to meet a number of persistent maritime security challenges,” Lorenzana said, identifying territorial disputes with China, and other countries, over resource-rich areas in the disputed waters. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, where about $5 trillion worth of sea-borne goods pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have … [Read more...] about Philippine defense chief says China sea dispute still a challenge