Scuffle in the South China Sea #70

China carried out military exercises in the South China Sea with a focus on search and rescue.

China is enjoying Duterte's twist to them, but will it last?

The Chinese have allowed Filipino fishermen back to the disputed shoal after Duterte's last visit.  Originally Manila claimed the Chinese had left and the US & Philippines were looking to confirm.

The future of American-Philippines military exercises is to be determined in the next month (Duterte stating they are over).

The US chastised Duterte again.

Some are saying the US-Philippines alliance is stronger than most realize.

Philippines is attempting to get Japan to invest in Filippino defense industries.  

Duterte lashed out at the US again and wants to have joint military exercises with the Japanese.

The US COngress blocked the sale of guns to the Philippines over the rights abuses for Duterte's drug war.  Duterte referred to the congress as monkeys but stated he'd consider sticking with American weapons all the same.

Philippines' new frigates will primarily be used to hunt subs.

The Philippines special envoy to China has quit.

Australia and Indonesia are considering joint patrols of the South China Sea.

Indonesia is considering placing passive radar stations on the Natuna Islands.

Here are some general updates to the South China Sea dispute.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #68

The US Navy sent a reinforced strike group to the South China Sea.

Some defense minister are seeking to reduce tensions in the South China Sea.

The Philippines' President made comments that are troubling for the US.

Philippines President Duterte says his country will break with the US at some point.  

Duterte also has stated he may weapons from China and Russia rather than the US.

The Philippines Secretary of Defense has stated his President may be misinformed about the US-Philippines alliance.  Howver, Philippines just announced they informed the US the joint patrols and exercises are now on hold.

Japan launched the second ship for the Philippines.

The US has stated the rhetoric of the Philippines President does not match the actions of the nation.

The US-Philippines war games went forward.   Will they be the last?

Scuffle in the South China Sea #66

China claims nothing has changed with respect to the Scarborough Shoal. 

China also wants outside interference with the South China Sea to stop.

China and Russia first prepared for and then started the exercises in the South China Sea.

What Chinese ships are involved?

The Chinese amphibious warfare can be viewed through the past.

China feel confident it can improve its relations with Philippines. 

China came under pressure at the recent summit.

China is making decisions that get it cornered over the South China Sea.

The recent developments in the South China Sea.

The US Navy's Chief of Naval Operations has stated the US must continue to engage China.

Indonesia has problems with Chinese weapons.

Japan will start patrolling jointly with the USA.

Obama discussed the South China Sea on the way back from a summit and warned the arbitration ruling was binding.

Philippines' President is rejecting joint patrols between the US and Philippines navies.

Philippines has requested a clarification from China as to what they are doing with the Scarborough Shoal.

Philippines' President...oy.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #65

China is trying to suppress talk of the South China Sea dispute at summits.  ASEAN is complying with its summit.

China and Russia will hold exercises in the South China Sea.

China's Coast Guard has been involved in the clashes in the South China Sea.

The Philippines is worried because of the appearance of more Chinese boats at the disputed shoals.  Philippines is showing pictures of the intrusions.

India has given a $500 Million credit to Vietnam for weapons purchases.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #64

China is increasing its capability to attack the US base on Guam.

Here are some thoughts on China's strategic thinking. 

China has threatened Japan and Australia over the South China Sea dispute.

SecState Kerry stated there is no military solution to the South China Sea dispute and reiterated the US stands by its allies in the dispute.

The US military is stating Australia must choose between the US and China.

What are the implications of the ruling on China and the freedom of navigation acts?

Indonesia is actively trying to resolve the South China Sea disputes.

The Philippines is increasing its defense budget by 15%.

The President of the Philippines is stating talks will begin with China within a year and the dispute has not shifted its ties with the US or China.

The President also stated China must observe the tribunal ruling.

Three Taiwanese officers have been indicted for launching the antiship missile earlier this year.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #63

China has begun combat air patrols over the disputed islands in the South China Sea.

Here's a general update.

The Chinese Shenzhen destroyer has rejoined the South China Sea fleet after a major upgrade.

Some wonder if China is preparing to fight a 'people's war' over the South China Sea.

China is opposing the South China Sea be brought up at the G20 summit.

The US & South Korea had meetings over the South China Sea.

The first US destroyer to visit China since the South China Sea ruling by The Hague has docked.

The US has called for military transparency.

Canada is being called on by some to speak up on the South China Sea dispute.

Philippines has called on China to respect international law.  Japan joined that call.

Philippines seeks to negotiate with China.

Vietnam has supposedly shipped rocket launchers to its garrisons in the South China Sea.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #62

China has reiterated its claims to the South China Sea.

China has also stated it will prosecute 'trespassers' in the South China Sea. 

China continues to fly bombers over the South China Sea.

The undersea competition in the South China Sea.

Russia and China will be exercising in the South China Sea in September. 

Here is a snapshot of China's Southern Theater Command, the command responsible for the South China Sea.

And here's a look at Sino-ASEAN dialogues over the last 25 years.

The Philippines will be acquiring additional helicopters.

Some are claiming the roots of the modern Chinese territorial ambitions in the South China Sea stem from the Opium Wars.

Malaysia is participating in exercises with the US Navy.

Vietnamese forces are practicing retaking islands.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #61

China is calling for more talks.

China has asked for US help to get the Philippines to start negotiations.

China is depending on outside experts like everyone else in the government business.

The meetings between US and Chinese admirals are conditional on the Chinese maintaining professionalism and safety at sea during encounters.

China is removing SAMs from Woody Island.

The US has vowed more patrols in the South China Sea.

China is upset with the Republican Platform's stance on the South China Sea.

Wait!  What?!  The South China Sea spat has impacted...KFC & Apple.

China is planning on sending up to 8 civilian cruise ships to the South China Sea regularly.

China has set up a South China Sea environmental protection fund.

China's nationalism is driving the South China Sea disputes.

What's next for Manila in the South China Sea dispute after the victory over China in The Hague ruling?

Philippines is upgrading old US Coast Guard ships for use in the South China Sea.

The Philippines would like to exploit oil and natural gas in the South China Sea, but the reserves are in the disputed region with China.

Philippines new president is threatening China.  Or at least upsetting enough people that he's getting a very harsh piece written about him.

 ASEAN met with Chinese representatives.

ASEAN had heartburn over an anti Chinese statement about the South China Sea.  Cambodia initially blocked the statement.  Vietnam called the South China Sea dispute the defining moment for ASEAN.  In the end, ASEAN released a watered down rebuke.  Very watered down.  This was a diplomatic win for China.  Philippines says it was not a win.  SecState Kerry is happy with the statement.

US, Japan and Australia called out China when ASEAN did not. 

The US Presidential aid sent to China has asked for reduced tensions in the South China Sea.

SecState Kerry urged both sides to find ways to find diplomatic ways to reduce tensions.  China and ASEAN agreed: both sides said restraint was necessary for the South China Sea.

The ruling is seen has having made matters worse, not better.

Just how militarily relevant are the Chinese features in the South China Sea.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #60

China is digging in its position. 

China has made it clear it will not stop building islands.

China has stated the freedom of navigation operations may end 'unfortunately.' 

China is again closing part of the South China Sea for military exercises.

China has admitted it sent H-6K bombers over the Scarborough Shoal.

Can China actually enforce an ADIZ in the South China Sea?

China will conduct regular combat air patrols over the South China Sea.

China has dismissed calls for boycotting Filipino trade over the ruling.

China is floating the island of placing nuclear reactors in the South China Sea.

China is criticizing the intra China protests against the ruling even though they are supportive of the regime.

Top admirals of the US and China met to discuss the South China Sea dispute.

Is it time for the US to take a stand on the Scarborough Shoal?

The Philippines won't sacrifice its recent ruling victory in its negotiations with China. 

Philippines declined a conditional negotiation with China.

Philippines stated its fishermen are still blocked from the Scarborough Shoal.

Japan and Vietnam both agree the ruling must be observed.

China replied Japan must not interfere with the situation in the South China Sea.

The EU's statement on the South China Sea ruling reflects on its internal divisions.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #58

The ruling is likely to exacerbate the problems between the US and China.

China has reasserted its claims, stated the ruling has no impact its claims and stated it has the right to set up an ADIZ.

China says American moves in the South China Sea are coercive.

China says Philippines' claims are baseless and that Philippines is the one causing problems.

Clinton welcomes the ruling.

The US still sees China militarizing the South China Sea.

China has long used military force to get its way in the South China Sea.

Interestingly, an aside, the US has not ratified the UN Laws of the Sea.  Democrats are pushing it.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #57

The Hague has ruled in favor of the Philippines over the dispute in the South China Sea.

Beijing has rejected the ruling and then some..  Taiwan has also rejected the ruling.

Japan has stated the ruling is final and binding.

Vietnam has welcomed the ruling while pushing for their own claims.

The US has urged all sides to adhere to the ruling since the US considers it legally binding.

Some are calling for the US to not push hard on CHina after the ruling.  Others want increased sail-bys.

Even so, China claims it will maintain the peace in South China Sea.

China has continued to prep the civilian airports in the Spratley Islands.

Japan will be closely watching what China will do next.

Japan's coast guard cutter has arrived in the Philippines.

Here is a timeline of the events leading up to the decision and some background information.

Why The Hague case matters.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #56

The eve of the ruling by The Hague has the world wondering what China will do.  The signals China has been giving are making everyone nervous. Here's some more background.

Here's a look at China's claims.

How China might react to the ruling.  The US Navy, says though, that it really does not know how China will react to the ruling.

The US should do nothing, so sayeth Beijing, to dispute China's claims in the South China Sea. 

China has stated there will be a price to pay for the US over its confrontation with China over the South China Sea. 

Beijing has made it clear discussions of the South China Sea are not going to happen at the EU-PRC summit.

Some are expressing hope the US and China can get along in the South China Sea.

China has been exercising in the South China Sea.  Here are some pictures and video. China issued a 'no sail zone' warning for the exercise area.  This is nothing new.

Here's a video of the H-6 bomber test firing a YJ-12 antiship missile during the exercise.

WiB takes a look at China's Little Blue Men, ahem, fishing militia.

US Navy destroyers routinely cruise by the Chinese claimed islands now.

The US has stated the ruling presents a choice for Asia on the future.

US Navy Growlers (EA-18Gs) have left the Philippines.

The Philippines has expressed a willingness to share the South China Sea.

The UN has expressed hope China will be peaceful with regards to the ruling.

What countries have sided with China over the South China Sea territorial dispute?

Scuffle in the South China Sea #55

China is sending strong but somewhat mixed signals: on the one hand, they are stating they ought to be ready to fight in the South China Sea.  On the other, China states they want peace.

China has a naval exercise underway just before the ruling from the tribunal.  Vietnam is protesting those Chinese naval drills in the South China Sea.

China and Russia may hold a joint naval exercise in the South China Sea.

The Taiwanese navy accidentally fired an antiship missile and destroyed a fishing boat.

The Philipines is ready to talk to China after the tribunal makes its ruling over the South China Sea.  China has offered to negotiate if Philippines ignores the tribunal.

The Philippines has disqualified an Indian firm from its frigate procurement.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #54

China has stated the Hague has no jurisdiction over the South China Sea disputes and will not accept the arbitration.

Mapping China's rise with regards to its blue water navy.

The Chinese Maritime Militia gets profiled.

The US has countered it does support the arbitration.

The USS Coronado, an Independence class LCS/corvette, has been fitted with Harpoon antiship missiles and is being deployed to the Western Pacific.  It will, in part, patrol the South China Sea.

Philippines hopes for a 'soft landing' in the arbitration.

The Economist's take on Indonesia's annoyance over the South China Sea issue.

This is the Indonesian F-16 that intercepted the Malaysian C-130 over the South China Sea.

Scuffle South China #53

China is going on a media offensive over the South China Sea.

China is using its fishing fleets to expand its claims to the South China Sea. 

China conducted its own exercises in the South China Sea.

China ranted about the US carrier op.  Consider it a message received on their end then.

A bit more about China's plans to have civilian cruise ships tour the contested Spratley Islands.

The US Navy's carriers practiced 'high end' combat exercises in the above ranted about deployment.

The US called on all sides to be calm when the UN ruling about the South China Sea is issued.  This is expected to happen in the next several weeks.

Indonesia has been fighting those Chinese fishing boat incursions by destroying them.

Indonesia's president visited their claimed islands to help assert Indonesia's ownership.

Sometimes it is easy to forget the other nations of the South China Sea have their disputes over territory, too: its not just China vs everyone else.  Indonesian fighters intercepted a Malaysian C-130.

Vietnam acquired more armed patrol boats for its Coast Guard.

Vietnam may be buying the P-3Cs it wants from Japan rather than second hand from Lockheed.

Europe is considered irrelevant for Asian security issues including the South China Sea.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #52

China is apparently willing to pay the price for defying the international community in the South China Sea.

China has started shadowing US Navy ships.

China will be launching passenger cruises through the South China Sea.

The US Third Fleet is expanding its roles based in part due to increased Chinese aggression.

US Navy fighters have arrived in Philippines for drills.

Two US aircraft carrier battlegroups are exercising in the South China Sea near the Philippines.  The admiral in command of the groups used to fly together in A-6 attack planes.  Chinese warships are shadowing the US carriers.

B-52s are also involved in the exercise apparently.

Should the US Coast Guard patrol the South China Sea?

Here's one take on how to step up US presence and activities in the South China Sea.

The US ought to prepare for China's reaction to the UN ruling because the ruling itself might make the situation worse..

Vietnam lost an Su-30 in the South China Sea. China has sent naval ships to help in the search.  The body of the pilot has been recovered.

Here's more on the US lifting its arms embargo.

Boeing is pretty cool to the ending of the arms embargo for Vietnam.

Indonesia's navy has started major drills in the South China Sea.

Indonesian ships fired on Chinese fishermen.  Indonesia vows to stand firm on its claimed corner of the South China Sea.

ASEAN was released and retracted an anti China statement over the South China Sea. Chinese pressure is seen as the root cause for the retraction.

A Chinese Intel Ship Entered Japanese Territorial Waters

A Chinese naval intelligence ship temporarily entered Japan's territorial waters in the early hours of 15 June, Japanese officials said. This is the first time a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel has been confirmed as entering Japan's 12 n mile territorial seas since a Han-class nuclear-powered attack submarine entered Japanese waters off Ishigaki Island in 2004.

link.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #51

What does the rise of China mean for South East Asia?

China is meeting with South East Asian nations over security concerns.
Will China reduce the tensions in the South China Sea?

China is planning a deep sea lab in the South China Sea 10k ft below the ocean surface.

The Chinese prevented Philippines nationalists from raising flags on the disputed shoals.

The Chinese are adding more ships to their South China Sea fleet.

Malaysia, Philippines & Thailand are all interested in the Russo-Indian BRAHMOS hypersonic antiship missile.

Japan is readying the first MMV patrol vessel for the Philippines.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #50

A Chinese J-10 fighter conducted another unsafe intercept of a US Air Force RC-135. China is looking into the incident.

China is urging the US to stop recon flights in the South China Sea.

China is accusing the US of using the incidents in the South China Sea as propaganda.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #49

China slams the Philippines definition of 'reef.'

The new Chinese Coast Guard cutters are likely to operate in the South China Sea.

China has stated it will ignore the Philippines' lawsuit decision by The Hague.

 China is pushing its own agenda at the Singapore security summit.

The Summit was dominated by the South China Sea scuffle.

China says the US is provoking it in the South China Sea.

The US will not back down in the South China Sea and will respond to China.  In fact, if China does more, the US has vowed action.

This one shoal may be the line in the sand for the South China Sea.

The US SecDef is saying China is building a Great Wall of Self-Isolation.

The US is proposing a security framework for Asia and asked China to join.

The interaction between the US & China is being called the  'Dialogue of the Deaf.'

The American P-8 and the South China Sea.

McCain is pushing the US to respond more to China in the South China Sea.

Vietnam will be formally asking for P-3 patrol planes.