The South China Sea is a strategic and resource-rich waterway that is claimed by several countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. China claims almost the entire sea, based on its historical rights and its nine-dash line, which was rejected by an international tribunal in 2016. The other claimants base their claims on the United Nations Convention …

China has a lot of legal weapons to challenge Manila’s claims in the South China Sea, according to an international law expert who spoke at a webinar hosted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Tuesday.  The expert, Professor Bing Ling, said that China could use various legal arguments and strategies to counter the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated …

President Ferdinand Marcos delivered a robust statement in Hawaii, emphasizing the Philippines’ commitment to territorial integrity amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea. The remarks followed a recent encounter with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an Asia-Pacific summit in San Francisco, where maritime disputes took precedence. President Marcos depicted a concerning scenario in the South China Sea, highlighting China’s …

In a high-stakes geopolitical maneuver that would make chess grandmasters envious, the enigmatic Vice-Chair of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, delivered a cryptic rebuke to a global audience, shrouding his words in layers of intrigue and hidden meanings during the enigmatic Xiangshan Security Forum. While extending an olive branch to the United States, Zhang’s veiled message set the stage …

A recent collision between a Chinese coast guard vessel and a Philippine resupply boat near the Second Thomas Shoal has brought attention from across the world to the South China Sea. The question of whether these South China Sea episodes could spark a more serious conflict between China and the US is constantly brought up. This piece aims to examine …

The conflict between states has recently taken a new and worrying turn, spreading waves across the South China Sea.  A Philippine Navy ship was cruising near China’s Huangyan Island when it was attacked by the strong China Coast Guard (CCG). This tragic occurrence has left a long shadow on China and the Philippines’ ongoing tug of war. You see, the …

In a tale that mirrors David versus Goliath, the Philippines has fervently dismissed China’s recent claim of expelling a Philippine Navy ship near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The dispute, riddled with intrigue and defiance, paints a vivid picture of a nation’s resolve against an imposing superpower. “Even as we’re double-checking their story, there’s simply no …

In the tumultuous theater of global geopolitics, the South China Sea once again takes center stage, but this time, the script is far from ordinary. With Beijing’s audacious ten-dash line stealing the limelight and the Philippines conducting a multi-billion-dollar military makeover, a storm of intrigue swirls around the resupply mission to the enigmatic BRP Sierra Madre. This grounded warship, left …

Beijing’s assertive territorial claims in the South China Sea have garnered international attention and raised concerns among neighboring countries. If left unchecked, the situation could potentially lead to a full-blown conflict that could disrupt the fragile regional stability.  As China continues to flex its muscles and bully its neighbors out of their rightful sovereignty over parts of the South China …

Recent developments have once again brought attention to how tense the South China Sea still is. On August 6, 2023, the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannon at Philippine ships delivering supplies to the Spratly Islands’ Second Thomas Shoal. In retaliation, the Philippines denounced China’s actions as “illegal” and “dangerous,” accusing it of putting lives in danger and breaking international …