China’s shipyard dominance leads to geoeconomic risks

japantimes.co.jp 2025.07.02

China’s unparalleled shipbuilding capacity has the U.S., Japan and its allies — both military and economic — rightly concerned about maritime threats to trade and security.
Without a concerted effort and international cooperation to challenge Beijing’s commanding lead in the global shipbuilding industry, those threats will materialize furthering China’s alarming dominance.

According to 2024 data from the Chinese government, the country ranks first worldwide in ship completions, new orders and order backlogs — claiming global shares of 55.7%, 74.1% and 63.1%, respectively. China is also expanding its capabilities in high value-added vessels, surpassing South Korea and Japan, while consolidating its role as a “shipbuilding superpower.”

Shipbuilding is not merely an economic activity — it underpins both global trade and national defense. Civilian shipbuilding provides the foundation for training engineers and skilled workers essential to naval production. As such, the growth of China’s shipbuilding sector carries profound implications, not only for maritime commerce but also for the international security architecture.

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Will Vietnam deepen ties with China because of Trump tariffs?

China has set its sights on the Global South, and on ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asia Nations – one of the fastest growing regions in the world.

ASEAN’s fastest growing economy is now facing serious headwinds from Trump tariffs. As Vietnam sent a team to Washington to negotiate, China stepped up its diplomatic efforts here. Trade and investment between the 2 countries had been steadily growing despite differences in the South China Sea. Is this a new chapter in complex Vietnam-China relations? Tiếp tục đọc “Will Vietnam deepen ties with China because of Trump tariffs?”

Between Rocks and a Hard Place: Seabed Mining in the Pacific


: May 29, 2025


As part of efforts to achieve independence from Chinese supplies of critical minerals, the Trump administration has expressed renewed U.S. interest in deep sea mining. An April 24 executive order titled Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources aims to rapidly develop U.S. seabed mining capabilities, including expediting the process for issuing mining licenses in areas beyond national jurisdiction. But with an international regime for seabed mining on the high seas already established by 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Washington faces difficult decisions about its path toward critical mineral resiliency. Tiếp tục đọc “Between Rocks and a Hard Place: Seabed Mining in the Pacific”

Philippines declares ‘food security emergency’ to tame retail rice prices

By Reuters

February 3, 20255:50 PM GMT+7Updated 3 months ago

A farmer removes weeds growing alongside with ride stalks at a ricefield in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

MANILA, Feb 3 (Reuters) – The Philippines, among the world’s largest rice importers, declared on Monday a food security emergency to bring down the cost of rice, which it said has stayed elevated despite lower global prices and a reduction in rice tariffs last year.

The declaration, which was widely expected, will allow the government to release buffer stocks to help bring down retail prices of the national staple, Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel said in a statement, adding it would remain in effect until the price situation improves.

Despite efforts to liberalise rice imports and reduce tariffs, the agriculture department said, the domestic market has been slow to respond, with retail prices surpassing expectations.

Half of the 300,000 metric tons buffer stock the National Food Authority currently holds could be released over the next six months to ensure supply for emergencies and disaster response, it added.

The annual rate of increase in rice prices in the Philippines hit a 15-year high of 24.4% in March last year, but has since moderated to 0.8% in December, helping keep overall inflation for 2024 within the government’s 2% to 4% target.

Last year, the Philippines lowered tariffs on rice and extended existing tariff cuts on some other commodities to combat inflation and ensure ample supply

Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty

South China Sea: Escalating tensions between China and the Philippines

Al Jazeera English – 3-4-2025

The South China Sea is one of the most contested waterways in the world.

Hundreds of kilometres from its mainland, China appears to be increasingly asserting its dominance in this strategically important maritime trade route.

Many of the maritime disputes involve areas claimed by both the Philippines and Beijing.

Flashpoints are becoming more frequent, including collisions between coastguard boats and other vessels.

101 East joins the Philippine coastguard and witnesses firsthand skirmishes with the Chinese navy in the disputed waters.

Vietnam targets Chinese dolls over South China Sea ‘map’

South China Morning Post – 20-3-2025

Vietnam is stepping up inspections of a line of children’s toys over concerns that imagery on the face of one product resembles a map China uses to stake its claim to disputed areas in the South China Sea. The investigation was launched after local media reported that a version of widely sold Baby Three toys, many of which are made in China, featured a design that was viewed as similar to Beijing’s maritime map.

Tóm tắt tình hình Biển Đông năm 2024

Nghiên cứu Quốc tế – 03/02/2025 – 17:24

Những diễn biến lớn ở Biển Đông trong năm 2024 không báo hiệu điều tốt lành cho năm 2025.

Nguồn: Carl Thayer, “The State of the South China Sea: Coercion at Sea, Slow Progress on a Code of Conduct,” The Diplomat, 27/01/2025

Biên dịch: Nguyễn Thị Kim Phụng

Có bốn diễn biến chính định hình môi trường an ninh ở Biển Đông năm 2024: (1) Trung Quốc gia tăng hành vi cưỡng ép đối với tàu thuyền và máy bay của hải quân Philippines; (2) Philippines thông qua chiến lược phòng thủ biển mới; (3) Việt Nam tăng cường hoạt động xây dựng tại quần đảo Trường Sa; và (4) đàm phán về Bộ Quy tắc Ứng xử (COC) tiến triển chậm chạp.
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China confirms natural gas find in South China Sea

South China Morning Post – 9-8-2024

China announced the discovery of a major natural gas field in the South China Sea on August 7, 2024. Named Lingshui 36-1, the site is said to be the world’s first “ultra-shallow gas field in ultra-deep waters”. Located southeast of China’s southern island of Hainan, the field lies around 1,500 metres below the sea surface. Its discovery is expected to boost energy security for China, the world’s-largest natural gas importer. But developing oil and gas resources in the South China Sea could raise tensions among rival claimants to parts of the disputed waters.

The Philippines & China clash at South China Sea. Will the US intervene?

CNA Insider – 23-7-2024

On 17th June 2024, Filipino and China Coast Guards clashed at sea. Armed with knives and axes, this is the worst clash in recent memory. With tensions running high, many question if the USA will step in, and whether Manila will invoke the mutual defense treaty it has with the US.

As confrontations with China increase in frequency, the Philippines has deepened its partnership with Australia, and also Japan. On 8th July 2024, Japan and the Philippines signed the reciprocal access agreement, which is a landmark defence deal that allows both nations to hold joint military drills in each other’s territories.

Why have there been so many clashes between Philippines and China in the South China Sea in the last 2 years? How are countries like the US, Japan and Australia related to the South China Sea conflict?

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Why China fears an Indo-Pacific alliance

South China Morning Post – 10-7-2024

Japan and the Philippines have signed a historic defence agreement, allowing both countries to station troops on each other’s soil. The pact is the first of its kind for Japan in the region. At the same time, Tokyo and Manila have been strengthening their alliances with the US and its allies in the region, including South Korea, India and Australia. China, which seeks to extend and maintain its influence in the region, has denounced any alliance-building. Why has the latest agreement sounded alarm bells in Beijing?

Marcos’ Philippines Confronts China In South China Sea: Is Conflict Imminent?


CNA Insider
– 4-62024

It has been two years since President Marcos Jr won the Philippines’ Presidential race, and tensions are high in the South China Sea. Each day brings new confrontations between Chinese and Filipino vessels in the disputed waters. In a departure from his predecessor, President Duterte’s stance, President Marcos Jr has had a tumultuous relationship with China. From cancelling BRI projects to brinkmanship in the South China Sea, relations between Manila and Beijing have deteriorated. At the same time, the Philippines draws closer to the US, potentially changing the complexion of US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific. As each side assert their claims, are we one miscalculation away from armed conflict?

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Vietnam open to talks with Philippines over claims in South China Sea

CNA – 21-6-2024

Vietnam says it is ready to hold discussions with the Philippines regarding Manila’s claims to an extended continental shelf in the South China Sea. Philippine assertions overlap with those from China and Vietnam. While clashes between Beijing and Manila have been high profile and sometimes violent, the Philippines and Vietnam have relied on diplomacy to settle their dispute. Buena Bernal reports.

Việt Nam lần đầu giới thiệu ứng viên thẩm phán Tòa án Quốc tế về Luật Biển

VNE – Thứ sáu, 14/6/2024, 16:01 (GMT+7)

Việt Nam giới thiệu Viện trưởng Viện Biển Đông Nguyễn Thị Lan Anh ứng cử vào vị trí thẩm phán Tòa án Quốc tế về Luật Biển (ITLOS) nhiệm kỳ 2026-2035.

Thứ trưởng thường trực Bộ Ngoại giao Nguyễn Minh Vũ cho biết thông tin trên tại sự kiện thuộc khuôn khổ Hội nghị các nước thành viên Công ước Liên Hợp Quốc về Luật Biển (UNCLOS) lần thứ 34 ở New York.

Đây là lần đầu tiên Việt Nam giới thiệu ứng viên thẩm phán ITLOS. Tòa án bao gồm 21 thẩm phán, được bầu chọn trong số những người có uy tín cao và năng lực cao nhất, được công nhận trong lĩnh vực luật biển. Phó giáo sư, Tiến sĩ Nguyễn Thị Lan Anh hiện là Viện trưởng Viện Biển Đông thuộc Học viện Ngoại giao.

Bà Nguyễn Thị Lan Anh phát biểu tại hội thảo về Biển Đông tại Washington năm 2022. Ảnh: VOV
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Mỹ dẫn đầu 4 nước tập trận ở Biển Đông

ANTG – Thứ Hai, 22/04/2024, 11:21

Mỹ, Nhật Bản, Australia và Philippines đã tổ chức cuộc tập trận chung chính thức đầu tiên ở Biển Đông hôm 7/4. Các nhà lãnh đạo Mỹ, Nhật Bản, Philippines cũng đã tổ chức hội nghị thượng đỉnh 3 bên đầu tiên tại Washington vào ngày 11/4 và dự kiến sẽ công bố lịch tuần tra chung ở Biển Đông trong năm nay.

Theo báo cáo, cuộc tập trận này nhằm duy trì trật tự quốc tế, tự do hàng hải và hàng không trong khu vực Ấn Độ Dương – Thái Bình Dương, đồng thời sẽ giúp tăng cường khả năng tương tác của 4 nước trên các phương diện lý thuyết, chiến thuật và kỹ năng. Theo tin tổng hợp từ các nguồn tin như Bộ Quốc phòng Philippines và Đại sứ quán Nhật Bản tại Philippines, các yếu tố cơ bản của cuộc tập trận lần này gây được sự chú ý và có vẻ được thiết kế một cách cẩn thận.

Tổng thống Mỹ Joe Biden tiếp Tổng thống Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. và Thủ tướng Nhật Bản Fumio Kishida tại Nhà Trắng, ngày 11/4.
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