by Admin | Aug 25, 2014 | News
(BGF) – The tensions in the South China Sea still rise high without a solution to the disputes, despite the fact that the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, America have urged to have it resolved, however, China ignored all the calls and insists on what it wants to do.
America pointed to China for creating the tension. In return, China accused America for meddling, and encouraging countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam to beard China.However, for ASEAN countries, their foreign ministers dared not to bring themselves to name China as the source of the tension because of its overwhelming power.
Click here to read the full story reported by the Economist or visit the Economist website.
America, China and South-East Asia continue to talk past each other over the South China Sea
August 16, 2014
(Photo Credit: Michael Morgenstern, the Economist)
TENSION in the South China Sea has now reached the point where references to tension have become an issue. “Someone has been exaggerating or even playing up the so-called tension in the South China Sea,” Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, said on August 9th. By “someone”, of course, he meant America. He was speaking in Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, where the ten foreign ministers of ASEAN, the Association of South-East Asian Nations, were holding their annual meeting. So when they agreed on a communiqué referring to “increased tensions” in the sea, many scored it as a diplomatic victory for the United States.
American officials saw the inclusion of the phrase as a sign that ASEAN’s members were readier to present a united front against Chinese aggression towards rival claimants to territory in the sea. China’s “nine-dashed line”, its vague cartographic claim to most of the sea, encroaches on the claims of four ASEAN members. A State Department official cheered the group’s movement away from “diversionary issues” and “happy talk”. It was reasonable to conclude, he said, that “the Chinese are feeling the heat”. Reasonable, perhaps, but almost certainly inaccurate. If China is alarmed about the mounting regional antagonism stoked by its behaviour in the South China Sea, it is certainly not letting on.
Click here to continue reading.
by Admin | Aug 25, 2014 | News
(BGF) – The Pentagon filed a diplomatic complaint with the China People’s Liberation Army as a Chinese warplane flew within 30 feet of its Naval plane and executed aggressive move which posed a risk to the air crew, the New York Times reported on Friday.
Click here to read the full article or visit the New York Times website.
Pentagon Says Chinese Fighter Jet Confronted American Navy Plane
August 22, 2018 | By Helen Cooper
(Photo Credit: Territorial Disputes in the Waters near China)
WASHINGTON — A Chinese fighter jet flew within 30 feet of a Navy surveillance and reconnaissance plane this week in international airspace just off the Chinese coast, the Pentagon said Friday.
The encounter, known as an intercept, was “very, very close, very dangerous,” said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary.
The Pentagon filed a diplomatic complaint with the People’s Liberation Army on Friday morning, Defense Department officials said. As of Friday afternoon, it had not received a reply.
The episode, which occurred on Tuesday, began with the Chinese warplane flying closely underneath the Navy’s P-8 Poseidon. It then moved parallel to the naval plane, with the wingtips of the two aircraft separated by less than 30 feet.
As a final maneuver, the Chinese fighter executed a barrel roll, apparently to show off its weapons payload to the American pilot. A barrel roll is just as it sounds: A fighter jet rolls over and then levels out. Admiral Kirby called it an aggressive move.
Click here to continue reading.
by Admin | Aug 21, 2014 | News
(BGF) – The arms embargo to Vietnam is likely to be eased by the United States, which might allow Vietnam to acquire U.S. weapons, particularly in the field of maritime surveillance, to increase its defense abilities. According to New York Times report, The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, visited Vietnam for the first time in an effort to improve the relationship with Vietnamese military. However, the move is seen by China as going against Beijing in the contest over South China Sea.
Click here to read the full story or visit the New York Times website.
In China’s Shadow, U.S. Courts Old Foe Vietnam
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, courted Vietnam over the past several days. He was the first chairman in more than 40 years to visit the old enemy of Washington, now envisioned as a new partner that will acquire American weapons and help offset the power of China.
General Dempsey, who graduated from West Point as the Vietnam War was winding down, never served here, but his visit capped a vibrant effort by the United States and Vietnam to reconnect. A longstanding embargo on lethal weapons sales by the United States is likely to be eased, he said, and Washington would then begin discussions on what equipment Vietnam would buy, most likely in the field of maritime surveillance.
Vietnam has suddenly become more important to Washington as the United States and China are increasingly at loggerheads over the South China Sea, one of the world’s most vital trading routes. Vietnam is crucial because of its strategic position bordering China, its large population of nearly 100 million and its long coastline on that sea.
Click here to continue reading
by Admin | Aug 18, 2014 | News
(BGF) – The U.S Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped up his eight-day diplomatic trip by outlining one of its concerns is stability in the South China Sea and that a constructive relationship with China will help maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific as well as combat the climate change issue and human rights, according to a report by Matthew Lee from the AP.
Click here to read the full article or visit the AP’s website.
Kerry eyes US-China partnership despite tensions
August 13, 2014 | By Matthew Lee
(Photo credit: Rob Griffith, Pool from AP)
HONOLULU (AP) — Despite tensions and a clear but officially unacknowledged rivalry, improving U.S. cooperation with China is critical to maintaining stability and security in the Asia-Pacific as well as combating the effects climate change, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday.
Wrapping up an eight-day, around-the-world diplomatic trip and his sixth visit to Asia as America’s top diplomat, Kerry outlined renewed priorities for much of the Obama administration’s much-touted “pivot to Asia” during its final 2 ½ years, including a focus on strengthening U.S.-Chinese partnership in areas of agreement and bridging gaps in areas of contention.
“One thing I know will contribute to maintaining regional peace and stability is a constructive relationship between the United States and China,” Kerry said in an address to the East-West Center think tank in Honolulu. “The United States welcomes the rise of a peaceful, prosperous and stable China: one that plays a responsible role in Asia and the world and supports rules and norms on economic and security issues.”
“We are committed to avoiding the trap of strategic rivalry and intent on forging a relationship in which we broaden our cooperation on common interests and constructively manage our differences and disagreements,” he said.
Click here to continue reading.
by Admin | Aug 11, 2014 | News
(BGF) – Secretary of State John Kerry participates in the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Myanmar to seek to ease tension in the South China Sea which is raised after China deployed an oil rig in the waters claimed by Vietnam and implemented several aggressive actions against Vietnam marine police. This incident also raised serious question among China’s other small neighbors about its long-term strategy, according to the Boston Globe.
Click here to read the full article or visit the Boston Global website.
Kerry seeks to ease S. China Sea tension
August 9, 2014 | By Mathew Lee, AP
(Photo credit: Secretary of State John Kerry. Reuters)
NAYPYITAW, Myanmar — Secretary of State John Kerry is in Myanmar seeking to calm tensions in the South China Sea between China and its smaller neighbors.
Amid concerns about recent provocative steps taken by China and others regarding several disputed territories in the sea, Kerry arrived in Myanmar early Saturday for a Southeast Asian regional security forum. The conflicting claims are expected to be high on the agenda.
US officials with Kerry said he would be urging the Chinese and others to take voluntary steps to ease the mounting discord, while they continue to work on a binding code of conduct for activity around disputed areas.
The United States and others fear that an escalation in tension could hamper international shipping and lead to conflict. Washington has said for years that maintaining calm in the South China Sea is a US national security interest, to the annoyance of China.
The United States is calling for a freeze on actions that change the status quo, such as seizing unoccupied islands and land reclamation.
Click here to continue reading
