China wants to stage joint military exercises with Southeast Asian nations in disputed waters, according to a draft document, but insists other countries should be excluded in what analysts say is a bid to diminish the United States’ (US) influence.Beijing's suggestions, which also call for joint oil and gas exploration, as part of efforts to expand its influence in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely, and to push back at Washington which has backed countries with overla

Commercial fishing is a matter of national security. It is a source of employment and income for thousands of fishermen in Southeast Asia. The lucrative industry is also a large contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) of many ASEAN nations. The extraction of this natural resource has been the cause of many international spats in recent history. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the South China Sea. The area is biologically diverse and is home to 3,365 species of fish.

Filipino citizens were caught by surprise yesterday as large banners saying “Welcome to the Philippines, Province of China” appeared on bridges throughout Manila and other cities. The banners popped up on the second anniversary of the Philippines’ legal victory against China at the Hague.

United States (US) Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has spoken out against China’s strategy of “intimidation and coercion” in the South China Sea, including the deployment of anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and electronic jammers, and, more recently, the landing of nuclear-capable bomber aircraft at Woody Island. There are, Mattis warned, “consequences to China ignoring the international community.”But what consequences?

Verbal warnings, strongly worded statements and freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) – all seem to have fallen on deaf ears as Beijing continues its pursuit of militarising islands in the disputed South China Sea.Last week during Asia’s premier defence summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, United States (US) Secretary of Defense, James Mattis called out China for their assertive actions.

United States (US) Secretary of Defense James Mattis said the world would have to deal with China’s militarisation of the South China Sea for now, but that Beijing would face “larger consequences” in the long term that could persuade it to change track.Beijing’s deployments of missile batteries and bombers to outposts in disputed areas appear aimed at intimidating neighbours, Mattis told delegates on Saturday at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in S

China’s foreign policy exerts a certain weight in the international community, and many have, in fact, likened the country to a superpower within the Asia region. However, like superpowers of the past and present, it cannot rely on just military and economic strength alone, but must also possess considerable “soft power”, manifested in what is referred to as Beijing’s “charm offensive”.

It is no secret that China is fast expanding its influence within the Southeast Asian region as it attempts to win over nations by offering lucrative pipelines of investment and credit. Thus far, the principle benefactor of Beijing’s actions is Cambodia, which hasn’t been shy to admit that China is the country’s “most trustworthy friend.” However, often overlooked in this game of regional geopolitics is the landlocked country of Lao PDR.

Now more than ever, Southeast Asia has to be united on all fronts, with cooperation in defence and security a pivotal cog in the machinery that is ASEAN. Among the many concerns that have to be addressed are China’s persistent encroachment into the South China Sea, the creation of terrorist cells in the region, as well as the rise of cyber-attacks on ASEAN’s digital frontier. Although these apprehensions are not new, the threats to regional order from these worries are growing.

As Japan and ASEAN celebrate a bond that is now in its 45th year, the historical foundations and possible benefits of such a partnership ought to be grasped and valued. Japan has always been an important external partner for ASEAN, especially after the establishment of informal dialogue relations in 1973, which was then formalised in 1977. In fact, Japan has been one country that has expressed prolonged support for ASEAN as an institution.