Undated photo of ships of the China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in 2012. PLAN Photo via Press TV
China’s ambiguous claim to the South China Sea, approximately demarcated by a series of hash marks known as the “nine-dashed line,” faced objections from an expanding number of parties over the past two weeks. While a challenge from the United States came from an unsurprising source, actions by Indonesia and Vietnam were unexpected in their tone and timing. Read More
The following is the Dec. 5, 2014 U.S. State Department Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs report, China: Maritime Claims to the South China Sea. Read More
Chinese soldier near the Johnson South Reef. Xinhua Photo
A new Chinese military outpost located in the South China Sea is again inflaming tensions between Beijing and and its regional neighbors in the Pacific. Read More
Philippine and U.S. Marines participating as part of Exercise Balikatan 2013. US Marine Corps Photo
Days after Washington and Manila struck a new defense pact to increase U.S. military presence in the Philippines, thousands of American troops are streaming into the southern part of the country for a new round of large-scale military exercises. Read More
A P-3C Orion. US Navy Photo
A Monday report alleges U.S. Navy P-3C Orion aircraft are flying in support of the Philippines over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
A classified document — seen by the Japanese Kyodo News service — said the surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew over the Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratley Island chain. Read More
