China and the Philippines are discussing joint mineral exploration in the South China Sea despite an ongoing territorial conflict over the strategic waterway, Manila’s foreign secretary said Friday. The two countries, long embroiled in a dispute over their competing claims to the area, are hoping talks will open the door for them to jointly tap its resources, Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said. “We are pushing it aggressively because we need it,” Cayetano told reporters, adding the countries would each form a working group to explore options for joint exploration. “Then we will find a framework under our constitution that will allow us… joint exploration,” he said. “We both want it.” The South China Sea is a major trading route and fishing ground believed to have vast mineral resources, and is also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, where the waters is known as the East Sea. Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the area but in 2016 a U.N.-backed tribunal acting on a case brought by then-Philippine leader Benigno Aquino rejected its claims. Current president Rodrigo Duterte, who took office in mid-2016, has since alarmed defence analysts and lawyers by down-playing the Philippine claim and largely setting aside the ruling so as to accomodate China — which is promising military and economic aid. But on Friday Cayetano said the Philippines would consult with “international legal experts” to make sure any accord would not hurt Philippine sovereign rights. “Whatever we do, it will not only (be) in accordance with… [Read full story]
Three Chinese coastguard ships on Sunday remained near disputed waters around a set of islands controlled by Tokyo but claimed by both countries after entering the contested zone a day earlier, Japan's coastguard said. A Chinese coast guard boat patrols along the YaluRiver near the border city of Dandong, on October 16, 2006. - AFP Four Chinese coastguard vessels have stayed in the area in the past several days, with three of them sailing into the territorial waters shortly after 5:00 pm (0800 GMT) on Saturday, the Japanese coastguard said. It was the latest in a series…... [read more]
A Chinese Coast Guard ship is seen near the disputed islets known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and Diaoyu islands in China, in a photo handed out on Dec 22, 2015. (Photo: AFP/Japan Coast Guard) (VOVworld) – Kyodo News reported on Sunday that the Japan Coast Guard spotted 4 vessels of the China Coast Guard in disputed waters near Senkaku Islands, also known as Diaoyu Islands in China. According to the Japan Coast Guard Headquarters, based in Okinawa Prefecture, Chinese vessels believed to be armed entered a contiguous zone just outside Japanese territorial waters. A Japan Coast Guard patrol…... [read more]
Hanoi, April 24 (VNA) – Vietnam and China has recently completed their joint survey of waters off the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin. The survey was conducted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Department of Survey and Mapping, and the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources’ Geological Survey Department. The surveyaims effectuate the common perception reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders. Its resu lts will serve the delimitation of the boundary of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone off the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin between Vietnam and China as well as their…... [read more]
MANILA, June 17, 2011 (AFP) - The Philippines said Friday it would send its ageing navy flagship into disputed South China Sea waters amid rising tensions with Beijing over their competing claims. However defence department spokesman Eduardo Batac insisted the deployment was a routine assignment and had nothing to do with an announcement by China on Thursday that one of its maritime patrol vessels would pass through the area. "I don't think these are connected," Batac told reporters. "The navy conducts regular offshore patrols and we should not connect the deployment of Rajah Humabon to the deployment of this maritime…... [read more]
Vietnam speaks up as ruling on Philippines-China case nears By Toan Dao  July 2, 2016 | 09:46 pm GMT+7 Vietnam said it hopes the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague will issue a fair and objective judgment on a petition filed by the Philippines contesting China’s claims to disputed waters in the East Sea. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh made the statement while answering a question about the PCA’s ruling, which is expected to be announced on July 12, the government portal reported Saturday. Vietnam has already been informed of the PCA’s schedule. As a country…... [read more]
