On Monday 14 May 2018 the Chinese Journal of International Law, an Oxford University Press journal, published an extraordinary 500 page “Critical Study” of the Awards on jurisdiction and the merits in the South China Sea Arbitration between the Philippines and China. Readers will recall the case was brought under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by the Philippines against China and that there was an awards on jurisdiction in 2015 and a final award on the merits in 2016 (discussed in many places including here, here, here, here and here). The Critical Study was produced by the joint efforts of some 70 scholars and is listed as having been authored by the Chinese Society of International Law (CSIL). It examines almost every issue raised in the case – and several that weren’t – and concludes the Tribunal was catastrophically wrong on every single point, right down to how many times the Philippines was allowed to amend its pleadings. Tiếp tục đọc “A new twist in the South China Sea Arbitration: The Chinese Society of International Law’s Critical Study”→
This critical Study analyzes in detail the award on jurisdiction and admissibility of 29 October 2015 and the award of 12 July 2016 in the South China Sea Arbitration. After briefly introducing the project and the Study and describing the background to and course of the South China Sea Arbitration and the position of the Chinese Government, the Study moves to address one by one the following matters: jurisdiction; admissibility; historic rights; the status of China’s Nansha Qundao and Zhongsha Qundao; the legality of China’s activities in the South China Sea; due process and evidence. The Study closes with the conclusion that the Tribunal’s many errors deprive its awards of validity and threaten to undermine the international rule of law. Included as annexes are five useful official documents of the Chinese government on jurisdiction, the two awards, China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and China’s adherence to the position of settling through negotiation the relevant disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Tiếp tục đọc “The South China Sea Arbitration Awards: A Critical Study”→
Over the past three years, the U.S. and China have been at odds over the status of Chinese artificial islands in the South China Sea and U.S. Freedom of Navigation Operations.
The U.S. government initiated a Freedom of Navigation Program to contest “unilateral acts of other states designed to restrict the rights and freedom of the international community.” The program includes both maneuvers designed exclusively to challenge maritime claims the U.S. considers excessive, and operations with other purposes that incidentally challenge territorial claims. Tiếp tục đọc “A Brief History of U.S. Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea”→
Guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76), guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54). US Navy Photos
Over the weekend, a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Higgins (DDG-76) sailed in a two-ship freedom of navigation operation past islands claimed by China, according to media reports first reported by Reuters.
The FON operation in the Paracel Island chain was called a “serious infringement on China’s sovereignty,” Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said in a Sunday statement.
The Pentagon on Wednesday uninvited China from a major United States-hosted naval drill in response to what it sees as Beijing’s militarization of islands in the South China Sea, a decision the Asian country called unconstructive.
“As an initial response to China’s continued militarization of the South China Sea we have disinvited the PLA Navy from the 2018 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise,” said Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, a Pentagon spokesman. Tiếp tục đọc “China Uninvited From Major US Military Exercise By Pentagon”→
The guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) transits the Mediterranean Sea in this August 31, 2012 handout photo. | Photo: Reuters
China’s Foreign Ministry urged the United States to stop such actions.
Two U.S. Navy warships sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by China Sunday, two U.S. officials told Reuters, in a move that drew condemnation from Beijing as President Donald Trump seeks its continued cooperation on North Korea.
The secretary allayed fears and addressed criticism by stressing that the Philippines has not lost a single inch of territory to China during the Duterte administration.
The government of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has fired off a stern warning to China regarding the natural resources in the South China Sea region.
The Philippines foreign ministry vows that the country will not shy away from going to war over the disputed region. The official, on Monday, stated that there are several “red lines” or actions – if crossed or taken – would be deemed unacceptable resulting in an aggressive response from Manila. Tiếp tục đọc “Philippines: We Will go to War Over South China Sea Violations”→
Large-scale waste dumping has reportedly choked Vietnamese ports, with hundreds of containers loaded with plastic and paper scraps lying unclaimed, forcing authorities to impose a temporary ban on waste imports.
Tan Cang – Cai Mep International Co., Ltd (TCIT), a terminal services company, in a letter to shipping lines and customers, said it would suspend imports of plastic and paper scrap as a similar decision earlier by another operator, Saigon Newport Corporation (SNC), had led to overcapacity at TCIT terminals.
“From 25th of June to 15th of October, TCIT will stop receiving all imports laden containers of plastic waste,” a letter signed by general director Chang Fa Wei said. Ngo Minh Tuan, deputy head of SNC, in an official communication, claimed previously that about 5,200 containers of plastic and paper waste have been stored for 90 days or longer at its port.
TCIT Port authorities are alarmed that more than 1,132 containers with plastic and paper waste have been stacked up at the port for last few months.
“Customers are not coming forward to claim the scraps. It’s a complicated situation,” Nguyen Thai Thuong, a senior employee of TCIT, told CGTN over the phone.
“The Chinese ban on waste import is the main reason behind the surge of plastic and paper waste imports, undoubtedly.”
The Chinese ban has meant a diversion to Vietnam of the now unwelcome cargo.
Five houses collapse after a landslide along the O Mon River’s in Can Tho City on May 21 – PHOTO: LE HOANG VU
CAN THO – Landslides across the Mekong Delta region are getting more unpredictable and increasing in terms of location and speed, according to the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research.
After two landslides along the O Mon River in Can Tho City this month, 12 houses sank into the river, 28 houses collapsed, 35 others were on the brink of sliding, and a long stretch of roads and riverside crops were destroyed.
According to the city’s committee for natural disaster prevention-control and search-rescue, the two landslides caused damages of some VND30 billion. The city has provided nearly VND600 million to support affected households.
Vung Liem District of Vinh Long Province nearby has also witnessed a serious landslide recently, resulting in several houses falling into the river. Following this, the provincial government has decided to ban sand exploitation at 19 sites along the rivers of Tien, Co Chien, Hau and Pang Tra with combined areas of over 1,200 hectares. Tiếp tục đọc “Landslides in Mekong Delta get more severe”→
A UN report on the region’s lack of progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is disheartening. What’s going wrong?
Asian countries are the world’s top plastic polluters, yet there is no official indicator to measure targets for life below water (Goal 14) in Asia-Pacific. Image: Shutterstock CC 2.0
The Asia Pacific region is failing to meet almost two-thirds of the targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The world’s most populous region has fallen behind on 37 out of 57 sustainable development targets, with no progress seen in efforts to protect the oceans and forests, reduce inequality or take action on climate change, according to a report from the UN released last week.
CVD 