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South China Sea: Background

South China Sea: Background
The latest news, analysis and opinion on South China Sea: Background. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
16 August, 2024
People in Hanoi protest over China’s 2012 announcement that it will open nine oil and gas lots in waters in the South China Sea. Photo: AP
South China Sea

Opinion | Vietnam wants a South China Sea dispute resolution pact with teeth, not more politics

Asean member states and China are a step closer to forming a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea after years of operating a toothless diplomatic pact that has failed to reduce tensions.

South China Sea

Explainer | Who is winning the fight for the South China Sea’s resources?

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South China Sea

Explainer | What is Beijing’s 9-dash line in the South China Sea and what does it mean?

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South China Sea

Beijing is at loggerheads with Manila on South China Sea, but not Hanoi. Why?

Manila’s alliance with the US may be one reason China is taking a much tougher stance, but Hanoi’s island-building could still be a problem.

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Chinese and Philippine coastguard vessels confront each other near Sabina Shoal on Sunday. Photo: AFP
South China Sea

China vows ‘strong measures’ against Philippines in South China Sea

Sabina Shoal is latest flashpoint between Beijing and Manila as foreign ministry decries ‘infringing behaviour’.

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Asean

Opinion | Philippines will struggle to forge South China Sea alliance with Vietnam

Despite a similar outlook on maritime disputes with China and past cooperation, a US-wary Vietnam, increasingly dependent on China, is likely to resist any fully fledged alliance with the Philippines.

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Indonesia

South China Sea: Indonesia’s push to modernise military backed by US

As Jakarta’s and Washington’s defence chiefs met at the Pentagon, Jakarta said both countries are committed to peace, security and stability and ‘an open, inclusive, and rule-based order’.

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US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (right) with Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Pentagon on Thursday. Photo: via dpa
South China Sea

Opinion | How a submerged reef is emerging as a South China Sea flashpoint

Pressure is building on the US to step in at the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal with the Chinese increasingly brazen and Manila increasingly indignant. By being ambiguous, the US is increasing the risks of miscalculation.

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South China Sea

Opinion | Code of conduct should not focus on resolving South China Sea disputes

There are good reasons to leave states to resolve things bilaterally. Instead, the code should bind China and Asean into good behaviours: respecting the status quo and refraining from military activity.

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Asean

Does Beijing’s growing influence over South China Sea put Asean unity at risk?

September exercises in contested South China Sea will look at maritime security and be the first time the Southeast Asian bloc has held them.

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Members of the Indonesian Navy disembark from boats during a patrol for May’s Asean summit, which was hosted by Jakarta. The bloc is due to hold regional drills in September, its first since it was formed in 1967. Photo: EPA-EFE
South China Sea

Opinion | South China Sea: three hurdles in the way of a Philippines-Vietnam bromance

Despite Marcos Jnr’s best efforts, Manila and Hanoi will have to first overcome mistrust, strategic and ideological differences, and their lack of military operational compatibility.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China’s military

China, Singapore agree to work on phone link for ‘high-level’ military talks

Two nations sign memorandum of understanding during meeting between defence chiefs.

South China Sea

Opinion | Are China’s actions in the South China Sea lawful? It’s complicated

China should not allow its fishermen to enter Philippine EEZ without permission, to harass or block Philippine fishermen from fishing there or to try to intimidate other claimants. But in territories claimed by Beijing and Manila, both have a right to be there.

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South China Sea

Opinion | South China Sea: Asean needs to compromise with China on code of conduct

After 20 years of negotiations and growing flare-ups in the disputed waters, the delay has produced more mistrust and arguably benefited powerful parties. Compromise may be the only realistic way for Asean claimants to harvest their resources without Chinese interference.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
South China Sea

Opinion | Asean can boost ocean governance by getting US to ratify UNCLOS

Asean and Vietnam in particular are in position to bolster an effective maritime approach to regional integration to better protect the marine environment. China’s maritime actions undermine the freedoms set out in UNCLOS, making it essential for Asean to convince the US to ratify the agreement.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China-Philippines relations

Philippines redeploys South China Sea supply boats after China blockade

Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says China has told him vessels taking food to Filipino marines, with no escort, will not be blocked again.

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South China Sea

Opinion | Expect more South China Sea volatility as US encourages ‘lawfare’, conflict

Given US interference, Asean’s growing appetite for international arbitration, and little hope of concluding a code of conduct, South China Sea waters can only become more choppy and conflict-prone.

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South China Sea

Chinese diplomat elected to sea tribunal amid South China Sea tension

Duan Jielong was elected to serve a nine-year term on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea despite US argument that China disregarded international law.

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Duan Jielong was among six judges elected at Monday’s 30th meeting of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Photo: Handout
South China Sea

In South China Sea, Asean states set course for Beijing’s red line

No more Mr Nice Guy. Southeast Asian countries are turning up the heat on Beijing as the maritime row emerges as a proxy for the US-China struggle.

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South China Sea

Malaysia rebukes Beijing as South China Sea ‘lawfare’ heats up

An unusually strong statement from Malaysia reflects its rejection of China’s ‘nine-dash’ line.

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South China Sea

Manila sees ‘no sense’ in pushing South China Sea case at UN session

‘Why would you want to re-litigate something that you won? You don’t like you won?’

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An F/A-18E Super Hornet approaches one of the two American aircraft carriers that have been conducting exercises in the South China Sea. Photo: EPA
South China Sea

Editorial | This is not the time to add to tensions in South China Sea

Beijing is working on a code of conduct with fellow sovereignty claimants in the disputed waters. Such cooperation should also be the aim of the United States

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Warships and fighter jets of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy take part in a military display in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

Are Vietnam, Malaysia about to get tough on Beijing’s maritime claims?

Indonesia’s deployment of warships to the Natunas this week has fuelled speculation that the regional bloc could finally act as one against China’s maritime assertiveness.

South China Sea

Has the US already lost the battle for the South China Sea?

Beijing’s military build-up, maritime militia and island-building have caught America napping. With the PLA rapidly expanding, China may already have the ‘foundation of control’ of the waterway.

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Vietnam

South China Sea: Vietnam urges Beijing to ‘show restraint’ in 2020

Earlier this year, Chinese oil survey vessel and its escorts spent months in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, which Vietnamese diplomat called ‘very alarming’.

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Oil surveys in disputed waters have been a source of tension between China and Vietnam. Photo: AP
South China Sea

China pledges peace in sea where its Asian neighbours also stake claims

Premier Li Keqiang said China was hopeful of ‘progress’ with a South China Sea code of conduct as he met Asean leaders in Bangkok.

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Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, China's Premier Li Keqiang, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc link hands to pose for a group photo during the 22nd Asean – China Summit in Bangkok. Photo: EPA
North Korea nuclear crisis

Contempt for history grows, from Trump’s America to communist China

Beyond fake news, there’s a wider trend of people in power ignoring or excising bits of history to suit their own purposes. The North Korean nuclear crisis is one consequence of such disregard for facts

South China Sea

Beijing’s claim about its ownership of the South China Sea needs to be rebutted

Philip Bowring says Beijing’s assertions of sovereignty over the South China Sea are just ahistorical cant, and are being used to justify an unwarranted sense of superiority

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