India participated with the navies of the Philippines, the US and Japan for their first joint naval exercise on Thursday in the disputed South China Sea waters where Beijing has allegedly occupied many disputed territories. Five vessels of the four participating countries navigated through international waters to Changi in east Singapore bordering the contested South China Sea. The vessels included Indian destroyer INS Kolkata and tanker INS Shakti, a guided missile destroyer from the US Pacific Fleet, Japanese aircraft carrier Izumo and the Philippines patrol vessel Andres Bonifacio. The Indian Navy tweeted about the drills and posted pictures of the warships that participated in the six-day group sail. The second phase of the naval drill, ASEAN-Plus Defense Meeting-Plus Combined Maritime Exercise, took place in Changi after the first round was conducted in Busan in South Korea, the Philippine Navy said in a statement cited by Efe news. This is the first time that the four countries … [Read more...] about India joins Philippines, US, Japan in South China Sea drills
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Philippines warship in quadrilateral drill in South China Sea
Philippines warship in quadrilateral drill in South China Sea Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) - May 10, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Navy (PN) patrol ship and five other warships from Japan, India and the US are currently conducting a quadrilateral cooperative naval drill in the South China Sea. PN spokesman Capt. Jonathan Zata yesterday said the naval exercise now underway in international waters is not directed towards any country in the disputed region. “It’s being held in international waters of the West Philippine Sea. We’re not trying to pick on one country but we are just highlighting the fact that we are cooperating with other navies,” Zata said. Zata added the naval flotilla is headed to Singapore for the second phase of ASEAN-Plus Defense Ministers’ Meeting Maritime Security Field Training Exercise scheduled to open on Monday. The first phase … [Read more...] about Philippines warship in quadrilateral drill in South China Sea
Two US warships sail in disputed South China Sea
WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The US military said two of its warships sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Monday (may 6), a move that could anger Beijing at a time of tense relations between the world's two biggest economies. The South China Sea is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which also include a trade war, US sanctions and Taiwan. US President Donald Trump dramatically increased pressure on China to reach a trade deal by announcing on Sunday he would hike US tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods this week and target hundreds of billions more soon. The US guided-missile destroyers Preble and Chung Hoon travelled within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly Islands, a US military spokesman told Reuters. Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the Seventh Fleet, said that the "innocent passage" was "to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by … [Read more...] about Two US warships sail in disputed South China Sea
US destroyers sail in disputed South China Sea
WASHINGTON: The US military said two of its warships sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Monday (May 6), a move that could anger Beijing at a time of tense relations between the world's two biggest economies.The South China Sea is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which also include a trade war, US sanctions and Taiwan.The US guided-missile destroyers Preble and Chung Hoon traveled within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly Islands, a US military spokesman told Reuters.Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the Seventh Fleet, said that the "innocent passage" was "to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law". … [Read more...] about US destroyers sail in disputed South China Sea
Palace: Bilateral talks best way to address South China Sea row
Palace: Bilateral talks best way to address South China Sea row MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang believes holding bilateral talks is still the best option to resolve the South China Sea row even if China's aggressive actions in disputed areas persist after the creation of a bilateral mechanism intended to settle the dispute. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said no other party wants to intervene in the the long-standing dispute. "No other party is trying to resolve it right? Nobody wants to intervene. So perhaps, the two countries should just talk," Panelo said in a press briefing. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China have been working towards a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, a first draft of which is supposed to be completed this year. "In the meantime, ASEAN and China continue to reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and … [Read more...] about Palace: Bilateral talks best way to address South China Sea row