South China Sea

US ‘pivot’ to Asia hits the rocks

8th November 2016 Socialist Action 0

By Jude Woodward

The US foreign policy establishment is reeling after its strategy to reassert itself in Asia and contain the rise of China received a hammering from an unexpected quarter – its long-term ally, former colony and reliable stooge, the Philippines.

The US, UNCLOS and the militarisation of the South China Sea

21st July 2016 Socialist Action 0

The following article on the US militarisation or the South China Sea, by Jude Woodward, was originally published by New Cold War.org.

On 12 July, the Arbitration Court at The Hague handed down judgment on the case brought under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by the Philippines against China. In a pre-arranged declaration, the Court ruled comprehensively against China’s claims in the South China Sea.

The US escalates tensions in South China Sea

9th November 2015 shoreditchadmin2 0

At the end of October the USA escalated tensions in the South China Sea by sending an American destroyer within the 12-mile coastal limit of Chinese held islets. Having been threatening to take some form of action against China in the South China Sea for several months, the US action when it came was rather limited. But nonetheless it was a provocative act and elicited a strong verbal response from China.