South China Sea NewsWire Archive
Monthly Archive of Previous News Articles
Diplomacy
Philippines accuses China of damaging its vessel in disputed South China Sea shoal
30 April, 2024
The Philippines on Tuesday accused China’s coast guard of harassment and damaging one of its boats in a disputed area of the South China Sea, and rejected Beijing’s position that it had expelled two vessels from the hotly contested shoal.
Security
US-French-Filipino armada begins Balikatan exercise in South China Sea
28 April, 2024
A U.S. Navy amphibious ship, a French frigate and a pair of Philippine vessels have kicked off the at-sea portion of a joint-force exercise taking place throughout the Philippines this month.
Diplomacy
China confronts Japanese politicians in disputed E. China Sea area
28 April, 2024
China’s coast guard confronted Japanese lawmakers in waters claimed by both countries in the East China Sea, China’s embassy in Tokyo and Japanese media said on Sunday, the latest in a series of maritime disputes involving China and its neighbours.
Security
China Building New Outpost on U.S. Doorstep, Leaked Documents Reveal
27 April, 2024
On a Caribbean island just 220 miles from the shore of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a black-clad Chinese security guard swept an arm at more than a thousand acres of woodland and a glittering, aqua-green marine reserve beyond.
Diplomacy
100 civilian fishing boats to join Scarborough Shoal convoy
27 April, 2024
A total of 100 civilian fishing boats will join the Scarborough Shoal convoy on May 15, culminating in the installation of assertive buoys amid mounting tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Security
Japan expands counter-China coastguard training from Southeast Asia to Pacific islands
23 April, 2024
Japan’s coastguard has extended an initiative designed to help other nations’ counter Chinese expansion in the South China Sea to two Pacific island countries: the Marshall Islands and Micronesia.
Security
US and Philippine forces launch combat drills in the disputed South China Sea
22 April, 2024
American and Filipino forces launched their largest combat exercises in years Monday in a show of allied firepower near the disputed South China Sea that has alarmed Beijing.
Security
China hosts foreign naval officials amid South China Sea tensions
21 April, 2024
The Chinese Navy on Sunday kicked off a biennial meeting of top foreign naval officials in the port city of Qingdao, in a show of military diplomacy that will be closely watched for signs of more engagement between China and the United States.
Diplomacy
Blinken to discuss N. Korea, Taiwan, Middle East during China visit next week: official
20 April, 2024
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China next week to discuss an array of issues, including North Korea’s “threatening” rhetoric and “reckless” actions, a senior US official has said.
Security
India delivers first batch of BrahMos supersonic missiles to Philippines
19 April, 2024
India on Friday delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, in reflection of the growing military ties between the two countries amid China’s military muscle-flexing in the South China Sea.
Security
China rebukes US deployment of missiles in Indo-Pacific
19 April, 2024
Beijing officials are decrying the deployment of U.S. medium-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time since the Cold War.
Security
Philippines, New Zealand eye forces deal, share concern over South China Sea
18 April, 2024
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon agreed on Thursday to deepen defence cooperation and expressed serious concern over the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have had maritime run-ins.
Diplomacy
US, China officials discuss Middle East, Taiwan, South China Sea
15 April, 2024
The top U.S. diplomat for East Asia discussed Middle East developments, the South China Sea and Taiwan issues with Chinese counterparts in Beijing, the State Department said on Monday, the latest effort by the two countries to stabilize rocky ties.
Diplomacy
US top diplomat for East Asia to visit China amid tensions in South China Sea
14 April, 2024
US Assistant State Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink is set to begin his visit to China today (Sunday) to meet Chinese officials as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the two countries.
Diplomacy
Beijing accuses US and Japan of ‘smears’ over Taiwan and South China Sea after Biden-Kishida summit
11 April, 2024
Beijing has accused the United States and Japan of a “smear campaign” after the leaders of the two allies pledged to improve military and economic ties to counter China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific.
Security
Biden pledges to defend Philippines from any attack in South China Sea
11 April, 2024
Joe Biden has pledged to defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea, as he hosted the first joint summit with Manila and Tokyo amid growing tensions with Beijing.
Diplomacy
Expect more joint South China Sea patrols, US says ahead of summits with allies
10 April, 2024
More joint patrols can be expected in the South China Sea after drills by the United States, Australia, the Philippines and Japan last weekend, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, ahead of U.S. summits this week with the Japanese and Philippine leaders.
Diplomacy
Aquilino ‘very concerned’ about Chinese aggression in South China Sea
9 April, 2024
The head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said on Tuesday that he was “very, very concerned” about China’s aggression toward Philippine forces near disputed islands in the South China Sea.
Diplomacy
Philippines will continue dialogue with China to ease South China Sea tensions, says president
8 April, 2024
Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday called on China to talk to prevent more incidents like ramming vessels and the use of water cannons in the South China Sea.
Security
China conducts military exercises in contested South China Sea
7 April, 2024
China’s military conducted “combat patrols” in the disputed South China Sea on Sunday, as announced by its army. This coincided with joint drills held by the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia on the same day.
Security
Philippines beefs up northernmost defences amid China tensions
7 April, 2024
The military detachment on the Philippines’s northernmost island faces northwest, towards the setting sun – and the country’s biggest potential adversary.
Diplomacy
With wary eye, China courts Indonesia’s incoming leader Prabowo
3 April, 2024
Soon after Indonesia’s incoming leader Prabowo Subianto won the February presidential election, the Chinese embassy in Jakarta sent him a cat tree and a stuffed toy for his beloved pet Bobby, according to the cat’s official Instagram page.
Security
Philippines preparing for ‘worst case scenario’ in South China Sea
2 April, 2024
The Philippines said its navy was preparing for the “worst-case scenario” in the South China Sea to counter China amid growing military tensions in the disputed waters.
Diplomacy
Biden, China’s Xi speak by phone in latest bid to address bilateral tensions
2 April, 2024
President Biden held telephone talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, which included what the White House described as “candid and constructive” discussions on Chinese coercion of Taiwan and growing tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Diplomacy
Philippines to boost diplomacy and defence capability as South China Sea ‘countermeasures’
1 April, 2024
Countermeasures by the Philippines to China’s conduct in the South China Sea will entail strengthening its defence capabilities with allies and exhausting all diplomatic measures to resolve disputes, a security official said on Monday.
Security
US, Japan, Philippines plan joint South China Sea naval patrols
1 April, 2024
The U.S., Japan and the Philippines will launch joint naval patrols in the South China Sea later this year, according to a U.S. official and a foreign diplomat familiar with the planning. It’s a major move to counter China in the region — and one likely to elicit a strong response from Beijing.
