Tag: South China Sea

Hope China will follow 2016 South China Sea arbitral award: Australian envoy
19Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Hope China will follow 2016 South China Sea arbitral award: Australian envoy

Following Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong’s remarks, Australian High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell has said that he hopes Beijing will follow the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award and refrain from actions that unilaterally alter the status quo.“Thank you @China_Amb_India. I would hope then you follow the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award which is final and binding under international law, and also generally refrain from actions that unilaterally alter the status quo,” O’Farell tweeted.Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong expressed discontent on the remarks made by O’Farrell on the South China Sea, saying Beijing’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests conform with the international law.“Remarks by Australian HC to India on the South China Sea disreg
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China, the artless dodger
17Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

China, the artless dodger

Indulging in aggressive behaviour along the Line of Actual Control with India might have brought immediate tactical territorial gains to China, but it has lost a lot more strategically in terms of trust and goodwill. Beijing's responses have also reinforced the fact that its leaders are perennially unrepentant.This is evident in the comments that come from China over the border confrontation on 15 June in Ladakh. Four days after the clash in which both sides suffered lost their soldiers’ lives, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, "China hopes that India will work with us, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between the two leaders, abide by the agreements reached between the two governments, and strengthen communication and cooperation on properly managing the curren
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US signs MoU to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese ‘Intimidation’
17Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

US signs MoU to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese ‘Intimidation’

In another setback for China resulting out of its aggressive behaviour in claiming the South China Sea, the United States and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese intimidation.The MOU, which aims to strengthen Vietnam's fisheries management and law enforcement capabilities, came after the US released statements affirming its stance in supporting Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam in disputes with China at sea."Beijing uses intimidation to undermine the sovereign rights of Southeast Asian coastal states in the South China Sea, bully them out of offshore resources, assert unilateral dominion, and replace international law with 'might makes right'," said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.China and Vietnam have been lock...
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Australia rejects China’s claims to historic rights in South Chins Sea: Barry O’Farrell
15Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Australia rejects China’s claims to historic rights in South Chins Sea: Barry O’Farrell

Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell has said that Australia is deeply concerned by destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and that “Australia rejects China's claims to historic rights and internal waters in relation to the South China Sea”.O'Farrell also lodged a note with UN Secretary-General in July refusing China's unlawful maritime claims."We remain deeply concerned by actions in the South China Sea that are destabilizing and could provoke escalation. Last week, Australia launched a note with UN Secretary-General refusing China's unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea," he said."Following a 2016 tribunal which ruled against China's claims, Australia rejects China's claims to historic rights and internal waters," he added.The Australian government has re
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South China Sea is not China’s maritime empire, says Pompeo backing ASEAN
6Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

South China Sea is not China’s maritime empire, says Pompeo backing ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) statement calling out China to resolve the South China Sea dispute in line with the international law was welcomed by the United States with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo tweeting about it.“The United States welcomes ASEAN Leaders’ insistence that South China Sea disputes be resolved in line with international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea). China cannot be allowed to treat the SCS as its maritime empire. We will have more to say on this topic soon,” Pompeo wrote on Twitter.After the 36th ASEAN summit, a joint statement was issued by the members of ASEAN expressing concerns over the current situation in the South China Sea.The bloc leaders stressed the importance of maintaining and promotin
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Australia backs US in declaring Chinese claims over South China Sea ‘illegal’
5Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Australia backs US in declaring Chinese claims over South China Sea ‘illegal’

In a formal declaration to the United Nations, Australia has backed the United States in declaring Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea as illegal, aligning itself more closely with Washington in the escalating row.Australia said there was "no legal basis" to several disputed Chinese claims in the sea including those related to the construction of artificial islands on small shoals and reefs."There is no legal basis for China to draw straight baselines connecting the outermost points of maritime features or 'island groups' in the South China Sea, including around the 'Four Sha' or 'continental' or 'outlying' archipelagos."Australia rejects China's claim to 'historic rights' or 'maritime rights and interests' as established in the 'long course of historical practice' in the S
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Pompeo slams Chinese for bullying its neighbors in Himalayas
31Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pompeo slams Chinese for bullying its neighbors in Himalayas

In a scathing attack against China, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged "the entire world" to stand up to Beijing and slammed the Chinese leadership over the “cover-up” of the COVID-19 crisis, saying Beijing’s "exploitation of this disaster to further its own interest has been disgraceful".In a reference to India-China border standoff, Pompeo accused Beijing of bullying its neighbors and accused it of instigating a deadly confrontation with New Delhi in eastern Ladakh."We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order. You cannot go make claims for maritime regions that you have no lawful claim to. You cannot threaten countries
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As relations with US deteriorate, China seeks to improve relations with Vietnam
30Jul By Nectar GanNo Comments
Politics

As relations with US deteriorate, China seeks to improve relations with Vietnam

As relations with the United States continues to worsen every day, China has moved to improve its relations with Vietnam and other South East Asian neighbors.According to media reports, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sought to placate an increasingly hostile Hanoi in a virtual meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh. This came a day after his deputy, Luo Zhaohui, tried to reassure China's neighbors that it wanted regional peace and stability.Beijing also said it finalized talks for a free-trade pact with Cambodia.China's state run Global Times reported that the 12th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation was held via video link on July 21.Wang was quoted as saying that since the COVID-19 outbreak, China and Vietnam have given full play to...
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Science journals: China’s new tool in the South China Sea disputes
30Jul By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

Science journals: China’s new tool in the South China Sea disputes

In the South China Sea, China has not only attempted to change facts on the ground but is also seeking to gradually change the world’s mind regarding its claims there.The nine-dash line, which we usually see in the maps, is a representation of China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. The line itself is a collection of arbitrary dashes or dots without specific coordinates and China has not given any explanations regarding its precise delimitation or legal origin.Even though China’s claims of the nine-dash line has been openly rejected by Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States, and more importantly, the arbitral award of the South China Sea tribunal in July 2016, the Communist party has disregarded the ruling and insists on its claims.Taking advantage of the fact that
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Indian Americans protestors urge global powers to economically decouple from Beijing
29Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Indian Americans protestors urge global powers to economically decouple from Beijing

Dozens of demonstrators from the Indian American community on July 19 took to the streets in Washington and called out Beijing’s acts of aggression to dominate the region and urged global powers, including the United States as well as India to economically decouple from China.Wearing face masks, demonstrators stood outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington holding placards which read: "China=#Bullying #Debt Trap Diplomacy #Human Rights Violation #Colonialism #Animal Cruelty #Virus".Some of them were also heard shouting "Communist party! Down down! Chinese aggression! Down down".Manoj Srinarayan, one among the protestors and president of local Keralite group, said, "China has been perpetrating these acts of aggression against the Indian troops on the border for a while now. In the short ter
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