By Jeoffrey Maitem Manila’s long-time ally, the United States, has launched a training programme aimed at strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) operational strategies and maritime law enforcement capabilities. The move, however, could deepen dependence on Washington under the guise of civilian capacity-building, according to some observers, who point to a familiar “pattern” inherent in […]
Read MoreThe Philippine and Indian navies have sailed together for the first time in the South China Sea, officials said on Monday, as President Ferdinand Marcos left Manila for New Delhi for a state visit. The Philippines has conducted “maritime cooperative activities” with foreign navies since late 2023 as part of its push to counter China’s […]
Read MoreUS aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea on Monday morning heading west, according to data from ship tracking website Marine Traffic, after a reception for its planned port call in central Vietnam was cancelled. The carrier had planned to visit Danang City later this week, but two sources, including one diplomat, said […]
Read MoreBy Alyssa Chen Tensions are mounting in the South China Sea – a hotly contested and globally significant waterway that’s become a flashpoint for conflict. In the third instalment of a four-part series we look at some of the claimants’ legal efforts to support their case. In recent weeks, two of the countries with competing […]
Read MoreThe Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN met in Laos on Wednesday as it seeks to advance a stalled bid to resolve a crisis in Myanmar and cool tensions in the South China Sea, days ahead of a gathering of top diplomats from the world’s biggest powers. The meeting of the foreign ministers from the Association of […]
Read MoreBy Alyssa Chen Beijing should set a definitive time frame for Manila to withdraw from Second Thomas Shoal, taking a big step towards ending the long-standing “cat-and-mouse game” over the contentious submerged reef, a leading Chinese maritime expert said. Describing persistent confrontation over the shoal as “a bleeding wound”, Wu Shicun, founder of the Hainan-based […]
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