South China Sea NewsWire Archive
Monthly Archive of Previous News Articles
Diplomacy
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Express Concern Over South China Sea Tensions
30 December, 2023
Foreign ministers of Southeast Asia’s regional bloc ASEAN on Saturday expressed their concern over growing tensions in the South China Sea which they said could threaten regional peace and urged for peaceful dialogue among parties.
Security
Carrier USS Carl Vinson Back in the South China Sea After Singapore Port Visit
28 December, 2023
Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and its escorts are back underway in the South China Sea following a short port visit to Singapore. The Vinson Carrier Strike Group is one of the few extra-regional naval forces currently operating in South East Asia over the Christmas period with other navies having all wrapped up their deployments.
Security
China warns rocket remnants to hit South China Sea
28 December, 2023
China warned that remnants of a rocket would hit an area in the South China Sea on Tuesday, following the sixth deployment of its most powerful launch vehicle eleven days ago.
Security
South China Sea: Marcos shrugs off Beijing’s warning, says Philippines will assert maritime rights
21 December, 2023
President Marcos Jnr said Manila ‘remains a force and voice of reason’ despite ‘many attempts at provocation’. His remarks came after China warned the Philippines against colluding with ‘malicious external forces’.
Security
US-China military dialogue resumes for first time in over a year as top American officer talks with counterpart
21 December, 2023
The video call between US General CQ Brown and China’s General Liu Zhenli is first senior military communication between countries since August 2022. Focus will be on restoring US-China relations to the condition they were in before ‘spy balloon saga’ and Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, says expert.
Diplomacy
What we don’t understand about China’s actions and ambitions in the South China Sea
20 December, 2023
China’s actions in the South China Sea, including collisions with Filipino vessels and sonar pulses near an Australian ship, have raised concerns among the US and its allies, who view this as evidence of China challenging the maritime order.
Economics
China to conduct sea trials for first ultra-deepwater drilling ship
18 December, 2023
China will on Friday (Dec 22) conduct sea trials for its first ocean research drilling vessel, capable of drilling at depths of more than 10,000m (32,800 feet), a key step towards beefing up the country’s deep-sea oil and gas exploration capabilities.
Security
US Indo-Pacific commander ‘concerned’ about China-Russia military ties
18 December, 2023
He urged China to stop escalating maritime confrontations with its neighbors, and said its increasing military activity with Russia is a serious concern during Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Diplomacy
Improved Communications Between China and U.S. Leave Ambassador to Beijing ‘Hopeful’
18 December, 2023
The U.S. ambassador to China is hopeful relations between Washington and Beijing will continue to improve in military-to-military communications and cabinet-level exchanges on key issues such as trade and cracking down on fentanyl precursor exports, but “we need to see how things develop.”
Security
Philippines ‘expects more coercive actions’ from China and is ‘brainstorming’ as stand-offs intensify
14 December, 2023
Alberto Carlos, chief of Philippines’ Western Command, said Manila was conducting war games drills and academic discussions on what actions China might take. Ties between the two countries have deteriorated this year after several collisions and repeated stand-offs near disputed features of the South China Sea.
Diplomacy
Xi Jinping tells Vietnam it is a ‘diplomatic priority’ as he seeks to strengthen China’s ties with Hanoi
12 December, 2023
Xi also used his first visit since 2017 to urge the two countries to seek a ‘mutually beneficial’ solution to their long-running dispute in the South China Sea.
Security
Marcos vows to defend the Philippines’ sovereignty amid China’s ‘aggression and provocations’
12 December, 2023
The Philippines Maritime Task Force accused Sunday the China Coast Guard of “severely damaging” one of its vessels that was “directly targeted” by water cannon, and of ramming another.
Security
Manila embarks on ‘name and shame’ strategy to counter Beijing
7 December, 2023
The Philippines has been leading a campaign of “assertive transparency” in dealing with China in the South China Sea, deemed successful by analysts and officials.
Security
Beijing accuses US of threatening peace and stability after warship passes disputed South China Sea reef
4 December, 2023
Chinese military says the USS Gabrielle Giffords entered waters near Second Thomas Shoal, violating ‘China’s sovereignty and security.’ The US ‘severely undermined regional peace and stability’, China’s Southern Theatre Command says.
Security
Philippines opens a surveillance base in the South China Sea to watch Chinese vessels
3 December, 2023
The Philippine coast guard has opened a new monitoring base on a remote island occupied by Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea as Manila ramps up efforts to counter China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the strategic waterway.
Security
Philippines, France agree to ramp up defense ties
3 December, 2023
The boost to bilateral defense cooperation includes seeking authority from leaders of both countries to negotiate a status of visiting forces agreement.
Security
South China Sea: Philippines says over 135 Chinese boats ‘swarming’ reef off its coast
3 December, 2023
Manila said it counted 111 ‘Chinese maritime militia vessels’ on November 13. On Saturday the number had increased to over 135, the coastguard said.
Security
China Set for Showdown With US Ally’s ‘Christmas Convoy’
1 December, 2023
Volunteers in the Philippines plan to defy Chinese claims in the South China Sea with a mission to bring Christmas cheer to Coast Guard members and fishermen on December 5, taking them through a disputed part of the waterway where Chinese forces routinely confront supply missions.
