LATEST STORIES

  • A Chinese Navy ship sailing to Iran's port city of Chahbahar last December. Even though China has rapidly built up its military capacity, says the writer, it has shown no appetite to replace the US as the world's policeman.

China and US can compete and coexist

Feb 6, 2020, 5:00 am
  • Members of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) on board their vessel at the Port of Manila on Tuesday. During an unprecedented ceremony this week, the Philippine government warmly welcomed a CCG delegation carrying relief supplies for victims of the Taal v

Philippine coast guard's pivot to China

Jan 17, 2020, 5:00 am

Why Indonesia has stake in fight to defend Unclos

Jan 17, 2020, 5:00 am

Tsai Ing-wen urges China to review Taiwan policy after election win, says Taiwan is already independent

Jan 15, 2020, 11:25 am
read more

VIEWPOINTS

Ravi Velloor
 Deceptive lull in South China Sea

  • This photo taken earlier this month shows a satellite image of what is believed to be an upgrade by Vietnam to its sole runway on Spratly Island in the South China Sea, in an apparent response to China's building of military facilities on artificial

Aileen San Pablo-Baviera
 Can anyone really rule the South China Sea?

  • Ships from China's South Sea Fleet taking part in a drill near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea in May. Both China and the US have been conducting exercises in the South China Sea, but South-east Asian states have not taken part, as most do

Malcolm Cook For The Straits Times
 The region's seas as arena for great power contest

Lydia Lim
 A country's size, culture matter in its approach to international law

Goh Sui Noi
 Asean after the tribunal ruling

Kentaro Nishimoto For The Straits Times
 The 'Constitution for the oceans' at stake

Turbulent waters ahead
While it was generally assumed that the verdict would be unfavourable to China, it could not have been more unfavourable.
IAN STOREY
http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/turbulent-waters-ahead

Tan Hui Yee
 South China Sea dispute: Asean voice drowned out as big powers pipe up

SPECIAL REPORT

A three-part special by Straits Times' foreign correspondents on South China Sea

  • A Chinese vessel (right) using a water cannon on a Vietnamese vessel near the Paracel islands in May 2014. Chinese boats reportedly rammed Vietnamese vessels near disputed waters where China had stationed an oil drilling platform. Fish produce at a m

South China Sea - Part One: Fish Wars

Related: Who claims what in South China Sea
  • (Far left) Chinese tourists Li Weixiang and wife Li Qingqing taking wedding photos when they travelled to the Paracels on a cruise. (Middle and right) Paracels travel pictures posted on microblogging site Weibo by Chinese netizens.

South China Sea - Part Two: An island that stirs their patriotic feelings

Related: Hainan is the 'tip of the naval spear'

South China Sea - Part Three: China's front-line fishermen

Related: Boom time for fishing village at the forefront of China's efforts to protect its 'ancestral sea'

HOT SPOTS

Use the slider to see construction on the disputed islands 

Fiery Cross Reef

Location: West side of Spratlys

Claimed by: China, the Philippines and Vietnam

What's on it: An airstrip was built by China in 2015. It also houses helipads, air defence guns and possibly has a radar tower under construction.

Source: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

Subi Reef

Location: North side of the Spratlys

Claimed by: China, the Philippines and Vietnam

What's on it: Until 2014, when China reclaimed land here, Subi was submerged at high tide. An airstrip is being built. Other facilities include a helipad and a lighthouse. 

Source: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

Mischief Reef

Location: One of the bigger reefs in the Spratlys

Claimed by: China, the Philippines and Vietnam

What's on it: China has occupied it since 1995. Recent activity hints at the construction of a naval base. Beijing is also reportedly building an airstrip - its third in the Spratlys.

Source: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

Cuarteron Reef

Location: Western side of the Spratlys

Claimed by: China, the Philippines and Vietnam

What's on it: Satellite images show what looks like a high-frequency anti-stealth radar installation under construction by China. Other facilities include a buried bunker and a helipad. A lighthouse was completed in October 2015.

Source: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

Johnson Reef

Location: Northwest of the Spratly Islands 

Claimed by: China, the Philippines and Vietnam
What's on it: A lighthouse which China completed in 2015. It also houses a solar farm, helipad and small harbour.

Source: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initative/ Digital Globe

Gaven Reef

Location: Near the centre of the Spratlys

Claimed by: China, the Philippines, Vietnam

What's on it: A large supply platform where ships can dock, helipads, gun emplacements, radar and communications equipment

Source: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

Hughes Reef

Location: At the centre of the Spratlys

Claimed by: China, Vietnam

What's on it: A lighthouse, helipad, radar facility under construction

Source: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe

More about the islands here

EXPLAINERS

The Hague ruling: A close look at what the judgment says about key areas of contention

Before and after satellite images: What has been built on the reefs that China occupies in the Spratlys

UN arbitration of South China Sea spat between Philippines and China: A round-up

VIDEOS