SOUTH CHINA SEA

May 28 2025POLITICS

How the South China Sea Disputes Shape China's Reputation in Southeast Asia

The South China Sea has been a hotspot for tension. It's a place where several countries have overlapping claims. This has led to some complex relationships, especially between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors. The Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT) has been tracking events in this region from 2010 to 2024. This data offers a unique perspec...

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Mar 28 2025POLITICS

U. S. Strengthens Ties with Philippines to Counter China's Moves

The U. S. is stepping up its game in the South China Sea. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently visited the Philippines. He made it clear that the U. S. is ready to work with allies to counter threats, especially from China. Hegseth believes that past administrations have been too soft on China, allowing it to become more aggressive. He wants to change that by rebu...

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Feb 05 2025POLITICS

Political Drama Unfolds in the Philippines: VP Faces Senate Trial

Imagine a political standoff in the Philippines. Vice President Sara Duterte's political career has taken a dramatic turn. The House of Representatives has formally impeached her. The decision came from a group of legislators, many of whom were allies of the president. The group alleged 215 lawmakers signed a petition. That number is way above the minimum requir...

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Jan 07 2025POLITICS

China's Massive Coast Guard Ship at Disputed Reef

In a recent development, China has deployed one of the world's largest coast guard ships to Scarborough Shoal, a reef in the South China Sea that is claimed by both China and the Philippines. This massive vessel, nicknamed the "monster ship, " is over 12, 000 tons and 541 feet long. It's equipped with guns, making it a formidable presence in the disputed waters. Sca...

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Dec 04 2024POLITICS

Philippine Patrol Vessels Face Chinese Coast Guard Attacks

In the South China Sea, Chinese coast guard boats backed by navy ships performed aggressive actions against Philippine patrol vessels. They fired high-pressure water cannons, blocked paths, and even sideswiped one boat, named BRP Datu Pagbuaya. This incident restarted tensions after a brief pause due to rough seas from storms. Despite the dangers, the Philippine coas...

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Nov 02 2024POLITICS

The South China Sea: Trade Routes and Tensions

The South China Sea is a busy waterway where several countries, including China, have been arguing about who owns it. China claims almost all of it, but other countries like the Philippines and Vietnam disagree. This dispute has become more serious in recent years, and some experts worry it could even lead to a war. The U. S. isn't directly involved, but they might g...

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Nov 01 2024POLITICS

China's Navy Takes Its First Dual Aircraft Carrier Operation Out for a Spin

Imagine this: China's navy, the world's largest, just did something brand new. They took two of their aircraft carriers out for a ride in the South China Sea. This isn't just any ordinary cruise, though. The navy was practicing how to work together with both carriers. The stars of the show were CNS Liaoning, China's first operational aircraft carrier, and CNS Shandon...

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Oct 25 2024POLITICS

Indonesian Coast Guard Kicks Out Chinese Ship in Disputed Waters

Recently, Indonesia's coast guard chased away a Chinese ship that was bothering one of their survey vessels in a disputed area of the South China Sea. This isn't the first time this has happened in just a few days. The Chinese ship, called the CCG 5402, kept trying to get close to the Indonesian vessel, called the MV Geo Coral, while it was doing some important work....

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Oct 18 2024POLITICS

U. S. and Philippines Hold Joint Drills as China Flexes Muscle Around Taiwan

Recently, the U. S. and the Philippines kicked off their annual joint military exercises, known as Kamandag, or Venom. This happened just after China held massive drills near Taiwan and a Chinese vessel collided with a Filipino patrol boat. Taiwan's defense ministry reported a record number of Chinese military aircraft, 153, near their island in a single day. These e...

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Oct 18 2024POLITICS

China's Aircraft Carrier Liaoning Spotted Near Taiwan, Then Moves On

On Tuesday, Japan's military shared that the Chinese aircraft carrier, Liaoning, had moved away from Taiwan and was heading back to the South China Sea. The Liaoning had been taking part in major military exercises near Taiwan, which included simulated attacks on sea and land targets. It was spotted in the Philippine Sea, roughly 304 miles south of Japan's nearest is...

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