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Keen Sword military exercises, joint drills held by the US and Japan every two years, began on October 26, 2020, in Japanese waters. Dozens of warships, hundreds of aircraft and 46,000 military personnel took part in the drill. The exercise, which will end on November 5, came as the US increases its military presence near the disputed East China Sea islands called the Diaoyus by China and known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan. The US has been increasingly active militarily in the Indo-Pacific region through an informal strategic alliance with Japan, India and Australia. Though formed in 2007, the “Quad” – short for Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – received renewed interest after China’s relations with its members worsened in recent years. Washington sees the partnership as the bulwark against growing Chinese influence in the region.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an online statement on July 13, 2020, in which he shared Washington’s hardened position on the South China Sea. He rejected most of Beijing’s claims within the so-called nine-dash line that encompasses 90 per cent of the strategic area. China’s foreign ministry hit back on July 14, calling the US challenge “groundless” and an effort to sow discord. Tension between the two superpowers had already been on the rise over trade, Covid-19 and human rights issues.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an online statement on July 13, 2020, in which he shared Washington’s hardened position on the South China Sea. He rejected most of Beijing’s claims within the so-called nine-dash line that encompasses 90 per cent of the strategic area. China’s foreign ministry hit back on July 14, calling the US challenge “groundless” and an effort to sow discord. Tension between the two superpowers had already been on the rise over trade, Covid-19 and human rights issues.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on July 14, 2020, that Washington is disrupting regional peace and stability in the South China Sea after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected Beijing's territorial claims in the disputed waters. Pompeo issued an online statement the previous day saying there was no legal basis for China's claims in the area and accused Beijing of using intimidatory tactics against other claimant states.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on July 14, 2020, that Washington is disrupting regional peace and stability in the South China Sea after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected Beijing's territorial claims in the disputed waters. Pompeo issued an online statement the previous day saying there was no legal basis for China's claims in the area and accused Beijing of using intimidatory tactics against other claimant states.
New footage of a 2018 encounter between an American and a Chinese warship appears to show the Chinese PLA crew preparing for a collision.
New footage of a 2018 encounter between an American and a Chinese warship appears to show the Chinese PLA crew preparing for a collision.
Earlier this year, Chinese oil survey vessel and its escorts spent months in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, which Vietnamese diplomat called ‘very alarming’.
Earlier this year, Chinese oil survey vessel and its escorts spent months in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, which Vietnamese diplomat called ‘very alarming’.
Additional US Navy video footage has been released showing a tense encounter between Chinese and US warships in the South China Sea in late 2018, offering an indication of how seriously the Chinese side were prepared for a collision with the US vessel in the contested waterway.
Additional US Navy video footage has been released showing a tense encounter between Chinese and US warships in the South China Sea in late 2018, offering an indication of how seriously the Chinese side were prepared for a collision with the US vessel in the contested waterway.
China and several of its neighbours have been involved in a decades-long dispute over who controls the South China Sea. China claims most of the sea as its territory, but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan say parts of the sea belong to them. Tensions have risen over the years and resulted in several confrontations as well as US involvement. The South China Morning Post looks at the origins of the dispute, what these countries are fighting over and what they’re doing to assert their territorial claims.
China and several of its neighbours have been involved in a decades-long dispute over who controls the South China Sea. China claims most of the sea as its territory, but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan say parts of the sea belong to them. Tensions have risen over the years and resulted in several confrontations as well as US involvement. The South China Morning Post looks at the origins of the dispute, what these countries are fighting over and what they’re doing to assert their territorial claims.
On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled Beijing’s history-based territorial claims to the South China Sea lacked legal basis and were contrary to an international maritime convention.
On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled Beijing’s history-based territorial claims to the South China Sea lacked legal basis and were contrary to an international maritime convention.
Entry is for mainland citizens only - and even then, intense screenings apply. The destination is the South China Sea's disputed Paracel Islands, an area that has become the flashpoint of a global sovereignty row. As we count down to the United Nations ruling over China's claims to the waters, the SCMP joined a one-of-a-kind cruise for a sneak peek at one of the world's most unlikely tourist hotspots. Stay tuned for more exclusive reports in the coming days.
Entry is for mainland citizens only - and even then, intense screenings apply. The destination is the South China Sea's disputed Paracel Islands, an area that has become the flashpoint of a global sovereignty row. As we count down to the United Nations ruling over China's claims to the waters, the SCMP joined a one-of-a-kind cruise for a sneak peek at one of the world's most unlikely tourist hotspots. Stay tuned for more exclusive reports in the coming days.
China Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits the Philippines for bilateral talks amid tensions in the South China Sea.
China Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits the Philippines for bilateral talks amid tensions in the South China Sea.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said US will conduct freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea again, although he gave no timeline for such actions.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said US will conduct freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea again, although he gave no timeline for such actions.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino says he "sees no issue" in a U.S. warship's patrol in the disputed South China Sea and that he welcomes a balance of power in the region.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino says he "sees no issue" in a U.S. warship's patrol in the disputed South China Sea and that he welcomes a balance of power in the region.
Beijing expresses its anger as a U.S. passes close to man-made islands in the disputed South China Sea.
Beijing expresses its anger as a U.S. passes close to man-made islands in the disputed South China Sea.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says her country is not taking a position on competing claims to the South China Sea.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says her country is not taking a position on competing claims to the South China Sea.
Japanese military patrol plane circles over disputed territories, China warns against creating tension. (Photo: Kyodo)
Japanese military patrol plane circles over disputed territories, China warns against creating tension. (Photo: Kyodo)
China says it will establish an air defense zone around disputed waters, based on the security situation in the South China Sea. (Photo: Reuters)
China says it will establish an air defense zone around disputed waters, based on the security situation in the South China Sea. (Photo: Reuters)
The US and Japan say China's island-building in the South China Sea is eroding security and regional stability. (Photo: Reuters)
The US and Japan say China's island-building in the South China Sea is eroding security and regional stability. (Photo: Reuters)
The U.S. calls for a halt to land reclamation in disputed areas of the South China Sea ahead of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security talks. (Photo: US Department of Defense)
The U.S. calls for a halt to land reclamation in disputed areas of the South China Sea ahead of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security talks. (Photo: US Department of Defense)
The U.S. military's most advanced spy plane flies over the disputed South China Sea and gets into a tense radio exchange with the Chinese navy, which tells the plane to "go away!"
The U.S. military's most advanced spy plane flies over the disputed South China Sea and gets into a tense radio exchange with the Chinese navy, which tells the plane to "go away!"
The United States and Japan "share a concern" about China's activities in the South China Sea, where Beijing has built an air strip and other structures on coral reefs, President Barack Obama said as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the White House. (Photo: Xinhua)
The United States and Japan "share a concern" about China's activities in the South China Sea, where Beijing has built an air strip and other structures on coral reefs, President Barack Obama said as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the White House. (Photo: Xinhua)
AT SEA, SOUTH CHINA SEA : Handout video shows a Chinese ship ramming and sinking a small Vietnamese fishing boat near the site of a disputed Chinese oil rig in the South China Sea.
AT SEA, SOUTH CHINA SEA : Handout video shows a Chinese ship ramming and sinking a small Vietnamese fishing boat near the site of a disputed Chinese oil rig in the South China Sea.
SINGAPORE, Singapore : US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warns Beijing against "destabilising actions" in the South China Sea, and backed its regional rival Japan's plans to take on a more muscular security role in Asia. Read the full story here.
SINGAPORE, Singapore : US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warns Beijing against "destabilising actions" in the South China Sea, and backed its regional rival Japan's plans to take on a more muscular security role in Asia. Read the full story here.
The Hong Kong government issued an amber travel warning for Vietnam after protesters there vandalised hundreds of foreign-owned factories and torched at least 15 of them. The riots followed a large protest by workers on Tuesday against China's recent placement of an oil rig in disputed waters around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Read the full story here.
The Hong Kong government issued an amber travel warning for Vietnam after protesters there vandalised hundreds of foreign-owned factories and torched at least 15 of them. The riots followed a large protest by workers on Tuesday against China's recent placement of an oil rig in disputed waters around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Read the full story here.
BRUNEI, Bandar Seri Begawan : Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calls for "peace, friendship and cooperation" in the South China Sea as he extends a hand to Southeast Asian leaders wary of Beijing's territorial claims in the strategic waters. Read the full story here.
BRUNEI, Bandar Seri Begawan : Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calls for "peace, friendship and cooperation" in the South China Sea as he extends a hand to Southeast Asian leaders wary of Beijing's territorial claims in the strategic waters. Read the full story here.
PHILIPPINES, SAN ANTONIO : The Philippines and the United States launch war games at a naval base facing turbulent waters claimed by China, as the allies seek to highlight their expanding military alliance.
PHILIPPINES, SAN ANTONIO : The Philippines and the United States launch war games at a naval base facing turbulent waters claimed by China, as the allies seek to highlight their expanding military alliance.
PHILIPPINES, Manila : Hundreds of Philippine activists accuse China of "gunboat diplomacy", demonstrating at a noisy Manila protest against the Asian giant's moves to stake its claims in the South China Sea.
PHILIPPINES, Manila : Hundreds of Philippine activists accuse China of "gunboat diplomacy", demonstrating at a noisy Manila protest against the Asian giant's moves to stake its claims in the South China Sea.