Understanding the Philippines’ changing South China Sea policy: A Chinese perspective

Written by Zhou Wenxing

The Philippine ruling elites need to realise that only political channels and diplomacy can realistically solve their disputes with China.

Faultlines9DLJuly 10, 20249DASHLINE, Wenxing Zhou, South China Sea, China, Philippines, Sierra Madre, Beijing, Manila, Marcos Jr, United States, Second Thomas Shoal, SCS

Nobody likes a bully: China’s grip over the South China Sea is slipping

Written by Jonathan Dorsey

China is not just bullying its SCS neighbours but is also targeting those perceived to impede its regional dominance, with the United States Navy (USN), Japan Self-Defense Force, and even Canada having been subjected to risky encounters.

As the Philippines’ 'agency' in West Philippine Sea rises, so too does its infrastructure development

Written by Joshua Bernard Espeña

In the Philippine context, the country’s newfound middle-power position offers the Southeast Asian state the ability to navigate uncertainties based on clearly defined national interests, and doubling down on its commitment to develop its infrastructures in the West Philippine Sea is one of the ways to do it.

Southeast Asia9DLMarch 21, 20249dashline, Joshua Bernard Espeña, Philippines, Philippine sea, maritime infrastructure development, Anti-Access/Area-Denial operations, A2/AD, South China Sea, SCS, drones, imagery intelligence devices, agency, assertive transparency, revisionist moves, middle-power, Southeast Asia, national interests, Philippine Congress, infrastructure development, Martin Romualdez, economic development, resource base, natural resources, Manila, diplomacy, China, Beijing, theory of victory, strategic culture, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos Jr., National Security Policy (NSP) 2023-2028, NSP 2023-2028, multipolar world, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, resupply missions, joint exercises, construction development, John Mearsheimer, foreign policy objectives, informational spheres, like-minded allies, domestic politics, external powers, foreign policy, Philippine-US alliance, Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, EDCA, Northern Luzon, Huang Xilian, Taiwan, Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept, CADC, Armed Forces of the Philippines, AFP, Mavulis Island, Basco, Batanes province, American interests, Chinese power, Taiwan Strait, West Philippine Sea, Philippine Department of National Defence, archipelagic security, geostrategic agency, Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine-China relations, Malacañang Palace, Cheloy Serafil, Xi, Pantaleon Alvarez, appeasement, Jonathan Malaya, territory, multi-domain future warfare, warfare, As the Philippines’ 'agency' in West Philippine Sea rises, so too does its infrastructure development

Clashes in the South China Sea, looking back at the PCA Ruling

Written by Varenya Singh and Chetan Rana

China's persistent rejection of the tribunal's jurisdiction and ruling, along with its continuous assertion of sovereignty, underscores the limitations of international legal mechanisms in addressing deep-rooted geopolitical disputes.

Pacific, Power Politics9DLMarch 11, 20249DASHLINE, Clashes in the South China Sea, looking back at the PCA Ruling, Chetan Rana, Varenya Singh, South China Sea, Cold War, Europe, West Asia, Ukraine, Gaza, China, Philippines, South China Sea (SCS), SCS, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, map, standard map, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), littoral states, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines Coast Guard, Sierra Madre, Second Thomas Shoal, Spratly Islands, Filipino, grey-zone activities, non-military vessels, territorial claims, maritime militia, Beijing, Manila, vessels, maritime territorial disputes, arbitral proceedings, arbitration, Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), PCA, PCA award of 2016, PCA ruling, China’s nine-dash line, nine-dash line, Annex VII, Arbitration Tribunal under Annex VII of UNCLOS, UNCLOS, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, sovereignty, delimitation, artificially built islands, delimitation of state boundaries, Article 9, unilateral, fishermen, marine resources, fishing, 12 nautical mile, extractive, purely extractive activity, self-dependent economic activity, maritime fishing zones, coral reefs, turtle, clam, international law, dispute, ASEAN, Code of Conduct (CoC), COC, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., non-claimant states, Australia, Japan, United States, us, USA, militarising, military exercises, sea lanes, environmental crisis, securitisation, marine diversity, sustainability, realpolitik, Israel-Hamas conflict

In Forum: 2024 — the South China Sea at a crossroads

The South China Sea remains one of the most potentially explosive regions in the world. What role can regional actors and organisations play in de-escalating the conflict and putting an end to the escalatory trends witnessed in 2023?

We invite several experts to assess the prospects for stability in 2024.

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Best of 2022: In Conversation

In 2022, 9DASHLINE had the pleasure of speaking with the authors of several insightful books, with topics ranging from the current US-China strategic competition to the history of mountain communities in Nepal. Here we present some of our most thought-provoking In Conversation interviews of the past year.

Editor's Picks9DLJanuary 6, 2023In conversation: Nicola Nymalm on From Japan Problem to China Threat, Nicola Nymalm, US, China, United States, Japan, In conversation: Julia Gurol on 'The EU-China Security Paradox', Julia Gurol, European Union, In Conversation: James Borton on 'Dispatches from the South China Sea: Navigating to Common Ground', James Borton, SCS, South China Sea, Mekong River, Antarctica Treaty, In Conversation: Amish Mulmi on 'All Roads Lead North', Amish Mulmi, Nepal, Beijing, Tibet, In conversation: Ramon Pacheco Pardo on 'Shrimp to Whale: South Korea From The Forgotten War to K-Pop', Korea, Ramon Pacheco Pardo, In Conversation: Katie Stallard on ‘Dancing on Bones’, Wilson Center, Russia, North Korea, Putin, In conversation: Ali Wyne, Eurasia Group, America’s Great Power Opportunity, Cold War, In Conversation: Salvador Santino Fulo Regilme Jr., Southeast Asia, Global South, Philippines, Marcos Jr.

Chinese space debris spells trouble for the South China Sea

Written by Jay L Batongbacal

While China’s accomplishments as a new space power are truly impressive, its emerging record for safety and responsibility leaves very much to be desired.

Faultlines9DLDecember 20, 20229dashline, Chinese space debris spells trouble for the South China Sea, Jay L Batongbacal, China, space debris, south china sea, Philippines, space junk, Philippine navy, Thitu (Pag-asa) Island, China Coast Guard, CCG, rocket debris, Long March 7, Tianzhou-5 cargo resupply mission, Tiangong Space Station, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, West Philippine Sea, Manila, Beijing, Vice President Kamala Harris, President Marcos Jr., united states, Philippine Senate, Wenchang Space Launch Centre, orbital missions, Hainan Island, SCS, Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter and rover, Tiangong space station, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, rocket launches, Wenchang, launching states, Long March rocket, Sulu Sea, rocket parts, Mindoro, Palawan, Samar, Outer Space Law, Outer Space Treaties, Convention on the International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, Liability Convention

Inviting Indonesia to become the Quad’s inaugural strategic dialogue partner

Written by Ridvan Kilic

Ultimately, in order to secure its maritime boundary in the North Natuna Sea, Indonesia needs the support of like-minded strategic partners from the Quad more than ever.

Pacific9DLDecember 12, 20229DashLine, Inviting Indonesia to become the Quad’s Inaugural Strategic Dialogue Partner, Ridvan Kilic, Indonesia, Quad, strategic dialogue partner, non-alignment, ASEAN, ASEAN centrality, Jakarta, US-China hegemonic competition, US, China, Southeast Asia, North Natuna Sea, North Natuna Sea Exclusive Economic Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone, EEZ, sovereignty, strategic partnership, Quad countries, rules-based maritime order, Indo-Pacific, alignment, inaugural strategic dialogue partner, Joko Widodo, President Joko Widodo, Widodo, Jokowi, Global Maritime Fulcrum, GMF, economic cooperation, trade partners, Beijing, Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, infrastructure development, regional maritime power, Indonesian navy, maritime security, nine-dash line, South China Sea, SCS, non-claimant state, gas field, oil and gas drilling, Garuda Shield exercise, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Nusantara, Natuna archipelago, Makassar Strait, air force, navy capabilities, regional military capabilities, Washington, advanced fighter jets, Chinese assertiveness, Batam, Anthony Blinken, Retno Marsudi, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, freedom of navigation, japan, Natuna Islands, growing military build-up, military equipment and technology, bilateral relationship, india, Shared Vision of Maritime Cooperation, Andaman Sea, Sabang Deep Seaport, Aceh, Australia, Canberra, comprehensive strategic partnership, 2021 Australia-Indonesia security deal, Albanese Labor Government, Australia-Indonesia strategic partnership, Bahasa, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Penny Wong, Anthony Albanese, military training, joint exercises, military hardware, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indo-Pacific Partnership Maritime Domain Awareness, IPMDA

South China Sea: An environmental tragedy of the commons

Written by Sabrina Moles

Tensions in the South China Sea are creating a dangerous, competitive pattern in the relations among the countries involved. Sovereignty claims, together with the urgent demand for food, energy resources, and profits are all defining a set of priorities that are increasingly disregarding environmental damage.

Faultlines9DLDecember 7, 20229DashLine, South China Sea: an environmental tragedy of the commons, Sabrina Moles, Philippines, Permanent Court of Arbitration, China, Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Beijing, sovereignty, maritime claims, South China Sea, nine-dash line, Chinese islands, Manila, environmental degradation, military activities, territorial disputes, fish scarcity, energy demands, Climate Change, pollution, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, SCS, economic interests, intense fishing, Brunei, Cambodia, indonesia, malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, thailand, vietnam, fishing industry, IUU fishing, Illegal, unregulated, and unreported, FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization, UN, IUU fishing index, fish stocks, fishing vessels, exclusive economic zone, EEZ, Vietnamese fishing vessels, Chinese ships, fishermen, maritime NGOs, cyanide, Dr Wilfredo Y. Licuanan, Automatic Identification System, AIS, Milko Mariano Schvartzman, maritime energy nationalism, US Energy Information Agency, Southeast Asia, Center for Naval Analyses, China-Vietnam, maritime law enforcement agencies, marine traffic, oil and gas drilling, offshore oil rigs, US Energy Information Administration, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal, UN Ocean Conference, WTO, James Borton

In Conversation: James Borton on 'Dispatches from the South China Sea: Navigating to Common Ground'

9DASHLINE recently sat down with James Borton to discuss his fascinating new book Dispatches from the South China Sea: Navigating to Common Ground, in which he argues that the South China Sea can become a body of water that unites, rather than divides.

South China Sea dispute: The three challenges to ASEAN’s position

Written by Kalvin Fung

ASEAN members such as Indonesia might find themselves mired in a quagmire: recognising a regime lambasted for its terrible human rights record might save ASEAN unity but could draw further condemnation from the West and international media; rejecting the junta might jeopardise regional unity and delay the long-awaited COC.

In Conversation: Rory Medcalf on Indo-Pacific Empire

It is fair to generalise that most Indo-Pacific countries welcome the new style of European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific, which is about partnership and cooperation, helping us consolidate the reality that this is a sea of many flags that no one power is entitled to dominate.

In Conversation9DLApril 26, 2021Rory Medcalf, Indo-Pacific, China, Australia, Cold War, Japan, Pacific, South China Sea, SCS, COVID-19, Taiwan, East Asia Summit, Quad, India, G7, D10, EU, European Union, Germany, Trump, United States, Africa, Indonesia, Netherlands, Britain, France, US, UNCLOS, Cyber, Capitol Riot, Biden, Obama, Kurt Campbell, Mira Rapp-Hooper, 9dashline