March 27, 2020 image of a Chinese Installation on Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea. Maxar Image
The State Department’s “Limits in the Seas” is the legal underpinning for Washington to debunk China’s extensive maritime claims in the South China Sea, department officials said. Read More
The following is the January 2022 Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in the U.S. Department of State report, Limits in the Seas No. 150 People’s Republic of China: Maritime Claims in the South China Sea. Read More
Ships from Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group sail in formation while conducting security and stability operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in October. Navy photo.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Navy’s stepped-up freedom of navigation transits in the South China Sea sends an unmistakable message to China and other nations in the region, a State Department official said this week.
The following is the Aug. 9, 2018 Congressional Research Service report, Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs: FY2019 Budget and Appropriations. Read More
USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) launches a Standard Missile (SM) 2 during a live-fire test of the ship’s Aegis weapons system on Feb. 8, 2014. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to include information on an Aegis Weapon System sale to Australia, announced a day after the Spanish deal was approved.
Spain has received U.S. State Department approval for an estimated $860.4-million purchase of five Aegis Weapons Systems to install on five frigates, and Australia was approved for a $185-million Aegis purchase of its own.
The following is the June 8, 2018 Congressional Research Service report, Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs: FY2019 Budget and Appropriations. Read More
A F-35 A Joint Strike Fighter. Lockheed Martin Photo
THE PENTAGON — During the run-up to the recent Shangri-La defense summit in Singapore, the U.S. Department of State’s lead for foreign arms sales pitched Indo-Pacific allies and partners on buying more American-made weapons systems.
Udaloy-class anti-submarine warfare destroyer Admiral Tributs arrives in Manilla. Philippine Navy Photo
As the U.S. relationship with the Philippines has come under rhetorical assault from President Rodrigo Duterte, Moscow has moved closer to Manila offering to sell arms and to start a bilateral military exercise program. Read More
President-elect Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
With an upset win President-elect Donald Trump has an opportunity to positively reset deteriorating U.S.-Philippines relations. The news of his victory was received with much elation by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. While the two executives may appear to be birds of a feather—certainly in their personalities, tactical use of strong language and statements of extreme policy—there are key differences that bring clear limits to the honeymoon period. Read More
Anti-American graffiti on the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran in 2009. Photo by Phillip Maiwald
While Tehran is sticking to the “four corners of the deal” over its nuclear weapons program, neither Iran nor the United States is ready to go much beyond the agreement in normalizing relations, a panel of experts on the region agreed Wednesday. Read More
