In The News

Is ASEAN Losing Its Way?

Amitav Acharya September 24, 2015
The charter for the Association of Southeast Asia Nations emphasizes economic growth and principles that support cooperation, renunciation of the use of force, mutual respect for members, and rejection of external interference or coercion. ASEAN’s track record for peaceful resolution of disputes through consensus may be at risk as unity erodes, warns author and researcher Amitav Acharya. Members...

World Wildlife Federation: Fish Numbers on “Brink of Collapse”

Alister Doyle September 17, 2015
A study by the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London suggests that ocean fish stocks have decreased by half since 1970. The decline is linked to over-fishing, mismanagement and climate change. “Damage to coral reefs and mangroves, which are nurseries for many fish, add to problems led by over-fishing,” reports Alistair Doyle for Reuters. “The study said the world's fishing...

Defiant Chinese Admiral’s Message: South China Sea “Belongs to China”

Marcus Weisgerber September 16, 2015
Naval officers from around the globe attended the Defence & Security Equipment International conference in London, and admirals from the United States and China offered views on security in the South China Sea. According to an article in Defense One, Yuan Yubai, who commands the North Sea Fleet for the People’s Liberation Army Navy, pointed out the body of water’s name suggests that the sea...

Diplomacy at the Top of the World

James F. Collins, Ross A. Virginia and Kenneth S. Yalowitz August 31, 2015
Foreign ministers will convene to discuss the Arctic region August 31. James Collins, Ross A. Virginia and Kenneth S. Yalowitz, writing for Project Syndicate, point out the common interests for Russia and the United States. While at odds over the former’s interventions in Ukraine, the two cooperated on negotiating a deal on Iran’s nuclear program. Russia, the United States along with Canada,...

What China Has Been Building in the South China Sea

Derek Watkins August 6, 2015
Sections of the South China Sea are under dispute. After literally shoring up some of its claims by expanding reefs and islets, China has announced an end to the reclamation work. “Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan have all expanded islands in the Spratlys as well, but at nowhere near the same scale as China,” reports Derek Watkins in a report for the New York Times. “So far China has...

Temperatures in the South China Sea Continue to Rise

Gregory Poling August 6, 2015
China announced on July 20 plans to conduct military exercises in areas of the South China Sea, including those under dispute with Vietnam. “The exercises overlapped with a high-level gathering of senior officials from China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, in Tianjin for their ninth meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of...

US Not “Neutral” in South China Sea Disputes: Top US Diplomat

Prashanth Parameswaran July 28, 2015
A US assistant secretary of state insists that the country won’t take a position on competing claims for small bits of land in the South China Sea, but does expect international law to be followed. In a speech, Daniel Russel explained “that the United States was currently encouraging relevant parties in the South China Sea to create the atmosphere and conditions necessary to manage the disputes...