Southeast Asia Archives | Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

Balikatan Exercise Highlights Territorial Defense and Multilateral Approach

By Renato Cruz de Castro | April 20, 2016 | Categories: Japan, Military Exercises, Philippines, Southeast Asia, United States

This year’s military exercise reflects the changing nature of the U.S.-Philippines alliance in light of heightened tensions generated by China’s expansion in the South China Sea.

Vietnam’s South China Sea Approach after National Congress

By Do Viet Cuong | Februari 26, 2016 | Categories: South China Sea, Southeast Asia, Vietnam

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was unanimously reelected during the 12th National Congress of Vietnam’s Communist Party, held January 21-28. Trong, who is less strident than other Vietnamese leaders in his criticism of Beijing’s behavior in the South China Sea, has been seen as leading the party’s more conservative, pro-Chinese faction. But many in Hanoi […]

Regional Summits and the South China Sea: Wading Into the Storm

By Richard Javad Heydarian | November 13, 2015 | Categories: South China Sea, Southeast Asia

Ahead of this month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and ASEAN summits, regional maritime tensions have taken a dangerous turn, potentially setting off a new round of confrontation between relevant powers. A month after the meeting of Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping in Washington, during which the two leaders signed off on new confidence-building measures […]