South China Sea NewsWire
The aggregator service for balanced and insightful news
Security
U.S. and Philippines Hold Naval Drills with Allies in the South China Sea
17 October, 2024
The Philippines and its allies, including Canada, Japan and the U.S., kicked off the maritime phase of Exercise Sama Sama 2024 in the South China Sea this week.
Security
South Korea steps up commitment to South China Sea, with limits
16 October, 2024
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s tour of Southeast Asian countries shows Seoul has stepped up the country’s role in supporting regional security, but there are limits to what it can do to help them push back against China’s growing aggression, analysts say.
Diplomacy
Petronas’ exploration in South China Sea will continue, Malaysia PM says
15 October, 2024
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday reiterated that state energy firm Petronas will continue to conduct oil and gas exploration activities in Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, despite objections from China.
Diplomacy
Philippine defence minister doubts China’s intent on South China Sea code
14 October, 2024
The Philippines doubts China’s intention to negotiate a regional code of conduct in the South China Sea although Manila is looking forward to continuing discussions, Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro said on Monday.
Diplomacy
Blinken tells ASEAN the US is worried about China’s ‘dangerous’ actions in disputed sea
11 October, 2024
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Southeast Asian leaders Friday that the U.S. is concerned about China’s “increasingly dangerous and unlawful” activities in the disputed South China Sea during an annual summit meeting, and pledged the U.S. will continue to uphold freedom of navigation in the vital sea trade route.
Diplomacy
Philippines calls for urgency from China, ASEAN in negotiating South China Sea code
10 October, 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr pressed Southeast Asian leaders and China at a regional summit on Thursday to urgently speed up negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea, while accusing Beijing of harassment and intimidation.
Diplomacy
Blinken to discuss Myanmar, South China Sea and Ukraine at Asia summits Laos
9 October, 2024
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will represent the United States at summits with Asian leaders in Laos this week and expects to discuss human rights in Myanmar, China’s “irresponsible” behavior in the South China Sea and Ukraine, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday.
Security
China Fires Water Cannon at US Ally Near Disputed Territory
8 October, 2024
The Chinese coast guard has fired water cannons while attempting to disrupt a Philippine government mission near a contested South China Sea feature, Manila said on Tuesday.
Security
With eye on China, Malaysia pushes for new naval base in Sarawak. How will it impact their ties?
7 October, 2024
After a dormant decade, calls for a new naval base in a sleepy town in Sarawak have gathered steam in recent weeks, with Malaysia potentially eyeing a more assertive stance against Chinese pressure in resource-rich areas near the Borneo state.
Diplomacy
US bans Chinese steel and food-additives firms over Xinjiang human rights
4 October, 2024
The US is banning imports from two more Chinese companies over alleged human-rights abuses involving Uygurs, it was revealed on Wednesday, the latest development in America’s drive to eliminate goods made with forced labour from its supply chain.
Security
Vietnamese fishers beaten, robbed in South China Sea – state media
2 October, 2024
Ten Vietnamese fishers were violently robbed in the disputed South China Sea, state media reported Wednesday, with an official saying the attackers came from Chinese-flagged vessels.
Security
Crew of Vietnamese fishing boat injured in an attack in the South China Sea, state media say
30 September, 2024
Vietnam’s state media say a Vietnamese fishing boat was attacked in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, which are claimed by both China and Vietnam, and 10 crew members sustained injuries
Security
New Chinese nuclear attack submarine sank during construction, US defense official says
29 September, 2024
Satellite imagery showed that China’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank alongside a pier while under construction, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday.
Diplomacy
After China meeting, Blinken says Beijing’s talk of Ukraine peace ‘doesn’t add up’
28 September, 2024
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored strong U.S. concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base in talks on Friday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying Beijing’s talk of peace in Ukraine “doesn’t add up.”
Security
China Releases Photo of Rare ICBM Test in Pacific
26 September, 2024
In a rare move, China on Thursday published a photograph showing the previous day’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach most of the continental United States.
Security
PLA sends South China Sea commander to US for first time in over 2 years
25 September, 2024
Chinese General Wu Yanan attended Indo-Pacific defence meeting in Hawaii and had ‘candid exchange of views’ with US Admiral Samuel Paparo
Security
Russia, China warships enter Sea of Okhotsk for drills, Interax reports
24 September, 2024
A detachment of warships of Russia’s Pacific Fleet and the Chinese Navy entered the Sea of Okhotsk in the western Pacific as part of joint navy exercises, Russia’s Interfax agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Pacific Fleet’s press service.
Diplomacy
US Ally Mounts Fresh Challenge to China at Disputed Territory
23 September, 2024
The Philippines has successfully resumed its coast guard presence at Sabina Shoal, of the South China Sea’s Spratly Islands that is fiercely contested by China.
Special Briefing
Biden and Japan’s Kishida discuss shared concerns over South China Sea
21 September, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed diplomacy with China and their shared concerns over “coercive and destabilizing activities” in the South China Sea during a meeting on Saturday at the Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, the White House said.
Special Briefing
Editor’s Briefing on Significance of Quad Meeting in Delaware
20 September, 2024
SCSNW Editor-in-Chief James Borton opines on the recent meeting of Quad Leaders with U.S. President Joe Biden in Delaware. Borton further offers his thoughts on the importance of the Quad as a geopolitical grouping in the South China Sea in the face of Chinese aggression in the region.
Diplomacy
Biden, ‘Quad’ leaders to talk maritime security as China tensions grow
20 September, 2024
Tensions brewing in Asia’s trade-rich waters top the agenda as U.S. President Joe Biden welcomes leaders from Australia, India and Japan to his Delaware hometown for a diplomatic push to counter China in the waning months of his presidency.
Diplomacy
US lawmakers highlight China’s malicious intentions against US, allies in South China Sea
19 September, 2024
US lawmaker and the Chairman of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition With China, John Moolenaar has highlighted China’s interventions and malicious intentions of harming the US and countries located in the South China Sea.
Security
Philippines to continue to deploy vessels in contested South China Sea shoal
18 September, 2024
The Philippines will continuously deploy vessels in the contested Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, its coast guard said on Monday after a Philippine ship returned to port after a five-month deployment there.
Security
Philippines vessel departs disputed South China Sea shoal
17 September, 2024
The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua has left Escoda Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea, following a five-month deployment, according to a Sunday announcement from the Philippine government. This mission, described as successful by National Maritime Council (NMC) Chairperson and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, marks the conclusion of an extensive operation.
Security
US Trains for Drone War in Contested South China Sea
16 September, 2024
The U.S. Air Force revealed last week that its drone units have been training for an “unmanned” war in the contested South China Sea as regional tensions continue to rise.
Security
US-China military leaders hold routine talks to discuss South China Sea tensions and other issues
15 September, 2024
Military leaders from the U.S. and China met in Beijing for routine talks that only resumed in January after being suspended for two years as ties between the two countries soured. The meetings ended on Sunday and officials discussed ongoing issues such as Taiwan, the Russia-Ukraine war and clashes in the South China Sea.
Security
Manila Withdraws Coast Guard Flagship from Sabina Shoal, AIS Shows
14 September, 2024
A five-month standoff between Manila and Beijing over a disputed maritime feature in the South China Sea has entered a new phase after the Philippine Coast Guard flagship has withdrawn, according to ship spotters.
Security
Warships in South China Sea signal Germany’s willingness to counter China’s threats
13 September, 2024
Two German naval vessels are en route from South Korea to the Philippines through the South China Sea in what analysts describe as a show of Berlin’s resolve to confront Chinese threats that now extend as far as Europe.
Security
China to ‘crush’ foreign encroachment in South China Sea: military official
12 September, 2024
China will “crush” any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory including in the South China Sea, a senior Beijing military official said Thursday on the sidelines of a defence forum.
Security
Philippines calls summit of Pacific allies amid fears one ‘wrong move’ could trigger war in South China Sea
11 September, 2024
Twenty allies of the Philippines are meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York amid fears that one “wrong move” could escalate tensions in the South China Sea.
Security
US military warns Beijing against ‘dangerous’ South China Sea moves in talks
10 September, 2024
A senior US military official warned his Chinese counterpart against Beijing’s “dangerous” moves in the South China Sea during the first talks of their kind between the commanders.
Diplomacy
China says ties with Philippines at a crossroads over South China Sea
10 September, 2024
China called on the Philippines to “seriously consider the future” of a relationship “at a crossroads” in a Monday commentary published by the People’s Daily, the newspaper of the governing Communist Party, amid tensions in the South China Sea.
Enviroment
Yagi sets record as strongest autumn typhoon to hit China since 1949
9 September, 2024
Experts explained that a rare combination of factors intensified Yagi’s unprecedented strength, including active monsoons in the South China Sea, the strong moisture injected from tropical cyclones, as well as the favorable atmospheric conditions.
Diplomacy
PM Anwar Says Malaysia Will Not Halt Oil and Gas Exploration in South China Sea
6 September, 2024
The PM’s comments came after the publication of a leaked Chinese diplomatic note ordering the country to cease exploration activities in the South China Sea.
Diplomacy
Malaysia to continue South China Sea oil exploration despite Beijing’s infringement claims
5 September, 2024
Malaysia will continue its oil exploration in the South China Sea, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said, as his government launches a probe into the source of a leaked protest note sent to the country’s embassy in Beijing by China’s foreign ministry.
Diplomacy
Malaysia to investigate leak of Chinese diplomatic note over South China Sea row
4 September, 2024
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry called Wednesday for a police investigation into a leaked diplomatic note from China over the South China Sea dispute.
Security
Analysts: China Tests US Commitment to Indo-Pacific with Maritime Operations
4 September, 2024
China’s recently increased maritime and aerial operations near the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan is part of Beijing’s attempt to gauge the United States’ commitment to supporting allies in the Indo-Pacific region, say analysts. They noted the increased activity comes as Tokyo and Washington gear up for elections in the coming weeks.
Diplomacy
China Doubles Down After Ship Collision at South China Sea Flashpoint
3 September, 2024
China has doubled down on its claim that the Philippines is to blame for the latest coast guard collision over the weekend at what has emerged as the latest hot spot in the neighbors’ escalating territorial dispute.
Diplomacy
China urges EU to be ‘objective and fair’ on South China Sea issue
2 September, 2024
China urged the European Union to be “objective and fair” and careful with words and actions on issues in the South China Sea, after the bloc remarked on an incident that occurred over the weekend.
Security
Chinese and Philippine vessels collide at a disputed atoll and governments trade accusations
31 August, 2024
China and the Philippines accused each other of causing a collision between their two vessels Saturday in the latest flareup of tensions over disputed waters and maritime features in the South China Sea.
Diplomacy
US, China discuss possible Biden-Xi meeting, South China Sea tensions
28 August, 2024
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met for a second day in Beijing Wednesday, holding talks that touched on topics that included a potential meeting between the two countries’ heads of state and tensions in the South China Sea.
Security
U.S. military open to escorting Philippine ships in South China Sea amid clashes with China, commander says
27 August, 2024
The U.S. military is open to the possibility of escorting Philippine ships in the disputed South China Sea, depending on consultations under the allies’ 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Tuesday amid a spike in hostilities between Beijing and Manila in the disputed waters.
Security
Malaysia Warship Sinks in Mishap in South China Sea
26 August, 2024
A Malaysian warship has sunk in the South China Sea near its southern coast after suffering “severe flooding” caused by leaks on Sunday, the country’s naval service announced
Security
China, Philippines clash in South China Sea despite efforts to rebuild trust
25 August, 2024
The Philippines and China clashed in disputed waters of the South China Sea on Aug 25 over what Manila said was a resupply mission for fishermen, the latest in a series of sea and air confrontations in the strategic waterway.
Security
Philippines says China fired flares at its South China Sea plane
24 August, 2024
The Philippines accused China on Saturday of recently firing flares at one of its aircraft as it patroled over the South China Sea.
Diplomacy
Sullivan heads to Beijing to address concerns about Russia ties, South China Sea tensions
23 August, 2024
National security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Beijing next week and meet with top Chinese officials, as Washington seeks to reinforce lines of communication with its foremost adversary and worries mount about Chinese interference in the U.S. election.
Security
US Ally Faces China’s ‘Countermeasures’ at South China Sea Flashpoint
22 August, 2024
The Senate is likely to boost funding for the armed forces and the Philippine Coast Guard next year to beef up Manila’s defenses amid growing tensions with China, a senator said on Thursday.
Security
US Ally Faces China’s ‘Countermeasures’ at South China Sea Flashpoint
21 August, 2024
An ex-mayor accused of spying for China and having ties with criminal syndicates has fled the Philippines, stirring fury.
Security
US Ally Faces China’s ‘Countermeasures’ at South China Sea Flashpoint
20 August, 2024
China on Friday reiterated that it would take “forceful measures” to back its territorial claims after reports that the Philippines might deploy another of its large coast guard ships to a hotspot in the South China Sea.
Security
China says Philippine vessel ‘deliberately collided’ with Chinese vessel in the South China Sea
19 August, 2024
China’s Coast Guard said a Philippine vessel that had ignored its repeated warnings “deliberately collided” with a Chinese vessel in an “unprofessional and dangerous” manner, according to statements on Monday.
Diplomacy
Vietnam president lands in China on 3-day visit, to meet Xi Jinping amid South China Sea concerns
18 August, 2024
Vietnam’s top leader To Lam arrived in China on Sunday for a three-day visit, according to Chinese state media, which Beijing’s foreign ministry has said will include meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Security
US Ally Faces China’s ‘Countermeasures’ at South China Sea Flashpoint
16 August, 2024
China on Friday reiterated that it would take “forceful measures” to back its territorial claims after reports that the Philippines might deploy another of its large coast guard ships to a hotspot in the South China Sea.
Diplomacy
Singaporean president calls for rule of law in South China Sea
15 August, 2024
Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Thursday called for the rule of law to be upheld in resolving the issues surrounding the South China Sea.
Security
U.S. Navy’s newest air-to-air missile could tilt balance in South China Sea
14 August, 2024
The U.S. Navy’s deployment of new extremely long-range air-to-air missiles in the Indo-Pacific could erase China’s advantage in aerial reach, experts say, part of an intensifying focus on projecting power amid high tensions in the region.
Enviroment
China Admits Container Ship Damaged Baltic Sea Gas Pipeline
13 August, 2024
China has admitted for the first time that Hong Kong-flagged container ship Newnew Polar Bear is responsible for the damage inflicted to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline in October.
Security
AFP chief: China fighters ‘endangered’ PAF plane
12 August, 2024
Chinese fighter jets recently made a “dangerous” move against a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane, firing flares into its path as it was flying over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine military chief said on Saturday.
Diplomacy
Philippines slams Chinese air force actions in South China Sea
11 August, 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday condemned Chinese air force actions in waters of the South China Sea claimed by both countries, calling the actions “unjustified, illegal and reckless”.
Diplomacy
Philippine military condemns China air force for ‘dangerous’ acts in South China Sea
10 August, 2024
The Philippine military strongly condemned “dangerous and provocative actions” by China’s air force, while the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it acted in a professional and legal manner.
Security
PCG to send ship to Vietnam for maritime drills before yearend
9 August, 2024
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will send a ship to visit Vietnam before the end of 2024 as Manila and Hanoi continue to enhance their maritime cooperation due to shared threats and despite overlapping claims in the South China Sea.
Security
Canada and Australia, eyeing China, signal more military cooperation
9 August, 2024
Canada and Australia, expressing alarm at China’s claims over the disputed waters of the South China Sea, on Thursday said they would increase their military and defense industry cooperation.
Security
Chinese Warships Shadow U.S. and Allies in South China Sea
8 August, 2024
Two of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvettes and a Type 054A Jiangkai II-class frigate were observed monitoring the international flotilla, according to USNI News. The daily news service of the U.S. Naval Institute reported that sailors were told not to take personal cellphones onto their ship’s flight deck due to the Chinese presence.
Security
South China Sea: Philippines, Vietnam join forces but Hanoi policy a stumbling block?
7 August, 2024
Hanoi and Manila are set to hold their first joint maritime drills as part of a four-day goodwill visit by the Vietnam Coast Guard, seen as the latest in a series of steps between the Southeast Asian neighbours to peacefully settle their maritime disputes amid Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Observers say, however, that in the event of any escalation of tensions with China, joint action between the Philippines and Vietnam remains unlikely as Hanoi’s defence policy prohibits it from forming alliances to oppose another nation.
Security
US, Australia, Canada, Philippines stage naval and air force maneuvers in disputed South China Sea
7 August, 2024
The United States, Australia, Canada and the Philippines held air and naval maneuvers Wednesday in a show of force that they said aimed to promote the rule of law in the disputed South China Sea, where China has increasingly asserted its territorial claims.
Security
Philippines, US navy conduct joint maritime exercise
5 August, 2024
It featured the USS Mobile (LCS 26) and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16).
The exercise included a series of events designed to enhance communication and operational coordination between the two navies.
Security
Germany, Philippines agree defense pact over South China Sea
4 August, 2024
The Philippines and Germany agreed a new defense deal Sunday as Manila seeks to bolster its diplomatic support to counter Beijing’s vast maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Security
Philippines fortifies South China Sea outpost to keep it standing for 10 more years
3 August, 2024
The Philippines has carried out substantial reinforcements on a grounded World War II-era ship in the contested South China Sea, enough to make the outpost at the centre of tensions with Beijing last at least another decade, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Security
Japan, Philippines hold first joint naval exercise
2 August, 2024
The Philippine and Japanese navies held their first joint exercise on Friday in the South China Sea, as the two US allies boost security ties in the face of China’s growing pressure.
Security
Vietnam, Philippines to hold South China Sea exercises
1 August, 2024
A Vietnamese coast guard vessel is en route to the Philippines for joint training exercises, Hanoi said, the first such exchange between the countries in dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea.
Diplomacy
‘Quad’ top diplomats decry situation in South China Sea
31 July, 2024
Top diplomats from “the Quad” group of nations on Monday pledged to boost maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region as they criticized what they called the “militarization” of the disputed South China Sea, in a move seen as targeting China’s growing assertiveness in the strategic waterway.
Security
Philippines conducts resupply mission to disputed shoal
31 July, 2024
The Philippines said it had successfully resupplied troops stationed at a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, a week after reaching a deal with China over the shoal at the center of sharply rising tensions between the neighbors.
Diplomacy
Blinken to celebrate Biden legacy, reassure allies in Asia after president drops out of 2024 race
26 July, 2024
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to celebrate the Biden administration’s expanded commitment to Asia and the Indo-Pacific region as he visits Laos, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Mongolia. Blinken has modified his travel schedule twice since the announcement of the trip, and is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi but has no plans to see Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Despite assertions that the decision by President Joe Biden will not impact the administration’s foreign policies, questions remain about his successor’s priorities and future.
Diplomacy
Manila will still assert South China Sea rights after China resupply deal
22 July, 2024
The Philippines has reached a “provisional arrangement” with China regarding its resupply missions to the contested Second Thomas Shoal. The agreement was not disclosed, but Manila insists it will continue to assert its rights in the South China Sea. The deal was done in good faith and the Philippines remains ready to implement it, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stated.
Diplomacy
China, Philippines agree on ‘provisional arrangement’ for South China Sea resupply missions
21 July, 2024
The Government of the Philippines announced that it has reached an understanding and provisional arrangement with China on resupply missions to the Philippine naval ship Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal. The agreement follows an escalation of tensions between Beijing and Manila in recent months over the disputed territory.
Security
China’s electronic warfare surge shocks US in South China Sea
18 July, 2024
China’s cutting-edge electronic warfare (EW) capabilities are transforming the balance of power in the South China Sea, as shown by a recent encounter between US and Chinese forces.
Security
China, Russia hold simultaneous joint naval drill, patrol
14 July, 2024
The navies of China and Russia are holding a joint exercise in the South China Sea and a joint maritime patrol in the Pacific Ocean in moves experts said on Sunday aim to enhance military cooperation and safeguard peace and stability.
Security
Confrontations in South China Sea surge, raising fears a miscalculation could lead to conflict
13 July, 2024
Reports of aggressive and dangerous conduct by Chinese vessels in the fiercely contested South China Sea have surged over the past 17 months, as tensions mount in one of Asia’s biggest flashpoints.
Security
US renews call on China to stop aggressive actions in disputed sea, where hostilities have flared
13 July, 2024
The United States on Friday renewed its call on China to stop its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, saying a broader web of security alliances has emerged to preserve the rule of law in the disputed waters.
Diplomacy
China’s coast guard says ‘allowed’ Philippines to evacuate sick person in S.China Sea
10 July, 2024
China’s coast guard said it had on humanitarian grounds “allowed” the Philippines to evacuate a person who had fallen ill on a rusting warship beached on the Second Thomas Shoal, a claim Manila’s coast guard said was “ridiculous”.
Enviroment
China claims Philippine warships damaged reef at atoll in South China Sea
8 July, 2024
China said on Monday “illegal” beaching of Philippine warships at the Nansha islands in the South China Sea had “gravely damaged” the coral reef ecosystem in the area, as both countries tussle over disputed territory at atolls in the vast waterway.
Each month, South China Sea NewsWire identifies and features the most crucial articles on political, economic, and other developments in the South China Sea and surrounding regions. We provide top-level summaries of articles for easy access to selected news, conferences, podcasts, videos and integrated media. We offer a reading experience that favors discovery over opinion. South China Sea NewsWire is powered by article data from the Perigon News API. Perigon’s AI-enriched technology provides structured, intelligently classified news data in real time from over 80,000 global sources.
