South China Sea: News
Quad leaders launch critical minerals initiative amid China concerns
The United States, Japan, India, and Australia have agreed to work together on a stable supply of critical minerals. The move comes as China's dominance in key resources raises concerns.
China accuses US's Hegseth of 'vilifying' remarks at security forum
China has lodged a formal protest with the United States over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Philippine fighter jet disappears during anti-insurgency mission
A Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet, carrying two pilots, has mysteriously disappeared during a night combat mission.
China constructs villages near Doklam plateau in Bhutan: Satellite data
China has built at least 22 villages in Bhutan's traditional territory in the last eight years according to reports.
MH370 mystery: Can this Elon Musk-backed technology solve the case?
The disappearance of Malaysian Airways Flight MH370 continues to be one of aviation's most baffling mysteries, even after a decade.
Philippines: 24 killed as tropical storm triggers floods, landslides
Tropical Storm Trami has left at least 24 people dead in the northeastern Philippines, with most of the deaths due to drowning in the Bicol region and Quezon province.
Elon Musk dismisses theories of alien involvement in MH370 disappearance
SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, has dismissed theories suggesting extraterrestrial involvement in the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Violated sovereignty: China on US warship's presence in disputed SCS
China on Monday slammed the United States (US) after an American warship—USS Gabrielle Giffords—allegedly entered the disputed South China Sea near the Second Thomas Shoal.
Quad discussions on Hiroshima's G7 sidelines likely after Sydney cancellation
Australia has reportedly canceled the Quad summit in Sydney after United States President Joe Biden withdrew his visit to Papua New Guinea and Sydney over Washington's debt ceiling crisis.
Typhoon Rai slams Philippines, over 370 dead, several missing
After the most powerful typhoon which hit the Philippines Thursday, the death toll has soared to 375.
Rajnath Singh's subtle dig at China at INS Visakhapatnam commissioning
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday took a veiled dig at China speaking at the Western Naval Command in Mumbai.
India deploys warships to South China Sea for Malabar exercise
The Indian Navy is scheduled to deploy a naval task group to the South China Sea in a move that could possibly affront China.
Will use 'all tools' to counter China's SCS claims: US
Terming China's claims over the South China Sea "illegal," the United States on Wednesday announced to support Southeast Asian countries that believe Beijing has violated their sovereignty in the territorially disputed waters.
US shifting troops to counter Chinese threat to India, others
The United States could have a role to play in the ongoing Indo-China conflict, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the country was reviewing the position of its troops in Europe to face the threat which People's Liberation Army poses to Asian countries like India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, as well as South China Sea.
Address global concerns on cross-border terror: India, US to Pakistan
India and the US yesterday called on Pakistan to address global concerns regarding terrorism, including that emanating from across the border.
China hikes defense budget by 7.5% to $177.61 billion
China, the world's second largest military spender after the US, announced a 7.5% increase in its defense budget for this year, hiking it to a whopping $177.61 billion.
India and Vietnam to step up defense cooperation, oil exploration
India and Vietnam have decided to step up defense cooperation and oil exploration to boost their bilateral ties as they reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation and unimpeded economic activities in the South China Sea.
China, US sparring continues over South China Sea
Asserting there is no problem of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, Beijing said no country should use any excuse to engage in militarization there.
US's Jim Mattis to meet Chinese counterpart amid US-China tensions
In the wake of escalating tensions between the US and China, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis plans to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wei Fenghe, today in Singapore.
US concerned with continued militarization of South China Sea: Mattis
The US remains highly concerned with China's continued militarization in the disputed South China Sea, Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters yesterday traveling with him to Vietnam.
Obama was 'impotent' about South China Sea, says Trump
US President Donald Trump today slammed his predecessor Barack Obama for being "impotent" and not stopping China from expanding its influence in the South China Sea, saying the Chinese Navy was now posing a confrontational challenge for the US in the disputed region.
US, China to hold talks to reduce trade, military tensions
China and the US are set to hold high-level talks in Beijing, China to reduce the spiraling trade and military tensions between the world's two largest economies.
Chinese destroyer comes extremely close to US warship in SCS
A Chinese warship sailed within yards of an American destroyer, forcing it to change course, in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter as the US vessel was in contested waters in the South China Sea.
Sushma Swaraj arrives in Vietnam to deepen bilateral strategic cooperation
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday arrived in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, on the first leg of her four-day two-nation tour, which aims at deepening India's strategic cooperation with Vietnam and Cambodia.
China is waging 'quiet kind of cold-war' against US: CIA
China is waging a "quiet kind of cold war" against the United States, using all its resources to try to replace America as the leading power in the world, Michael Collins, Deputy Assistant Director of CIA's East Asia mission center, said at Aspen Security Forum in Colorado on Friday.
Chinese hackers steal highly-sensitive 'undersea warfare' data from US Navy
Chinese government hackers have stolen a massive cache of highly sensitive data related to undersea warfare from a US Navy contractor, including secret plans to develop a new submarine-launched anti-ship missile.
Indian armed forces building partnerships in Indo-Pacific region: PM Modi
Describing the Indo-Pacific as a "natural region", PM Narendra Modi said India's armed forces, especially the Navy, are building and expanding partnerships in the strategically vital region for peace, security, and humanitarian assistance.
US sends naval warships near China-claimed SCS islands
Even as US President Donald Trump continues wooing China for cooperation on North Korea, the US sent two Navy warships sailing near South China Sea islands today, a move likely to anger Beijing.
China begins large-scale mining at Arunachal Pradesh border
China has begun large-scale mining operations on its side of the border with Arunachal Pradesh where a huge trove of gold, silver, and other precious minerals valued at about $60 billion has been found, said a media report.
China using Taiwan to gain more control, isolate India, Japan
China will turn Taiwan into a major nuclear and conventional military base and use it to gain more control over the disputed South China Sea to "isolate" both India and Japan, warned Richard D Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center yesterday.
China will not concede "a single inch of land": Xi
Soon after being re-elected for a second five-year term with prospects of continuing as the President of China for life, Xi Jinping asserted that his country will not concede "a single inch of land" and guard its sovereignty.
China downplays India's friendly ties with ASEAN countries
ASEAN leaders have descended in India to enjoy a three-day jamboree comprising bilateral meetings, India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit and Republic Day celebrations.
China's new maritime surveillance network: Should we be worried?
China has reportedly developed a new underwater surveillance network to help its submarines navigate and locate targets better.
World's largest amphibious plane makes maiden flight
The world's largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600, made a successful one-hour-long maiden flight today from Zhuhai airport in the Guangdong province on the South China Sea coast.
Tillerson: US has elevated its relationship with India in Indo-Pacific
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said the US has elevated its engagement with India as part of its policy to create a "free and open Indo-Pacific" region.
Australia looks at greater India engagement to balance China
Australia said it will strengthen ties with India, Japan, and the US in the Indo-Pacific region under the quadrilateral dialogue between the four countries.
Swaraj condemns North Korea in India-Japan-US trilateral meet
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in New York.
South China Sea: Are India and Japan changing positions?
Keeping China's expansionist tendencies in check is one of the common interests driving the India-Japan relationship.
Why India and China agreed to settle the Doklam crisis
The months-long standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers at Doklam came to an end yesterday, with both sides agreeing to withdraw their troops.
Amid Doklam standoff, India's BrahMos supply to Vietnam irks China
India and China are locked in a tense border standoff in Doklam since mid-June; experts say they are "dangerously close" to their worst military conflict.
North Korea: Plan to bomb Guam will be ready soon
The war of words between America and North Korea continues unabated.
South China Sea: Beijing diplomatically scores over ASEAN
In a new development, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to China's terms for negotiations and refrained from insisting the legal bindingness of the South China Sea (SCS) Code of Conduct.
#SouthChinaSea: Vietnam ends drilling in gas field over China threats
Strong threats from China have led Vietnam to reportedly end a gas-drilling expedition in a disputed area of the South China Sea.
China has problems with most neighbors, not just India
The ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction area near Sikkim has placed the spotlight on Beijing's territorial disputes.
China fumes as US sends warship close to disputed island
USS Stethem, a US Navy guided-missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island, a disputed island in the South China Sea.
Why the growing Indo-US friendship has irked China
Indian PM Narendra Modi's visit to the US and his meetings with President Donald Trump have signalled the increasing Indo-US bonhomie.
#ModiInUSA: PM says surgical strikes prove Indian can defend itself
PM Narendra Modi, who was attending a reception by the Indian-American community in Virginia, said India has successfully explained the threat of terrorism to the world.
Modi-Trump meeting: China warns India, US on South China Sea
Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's Washington visit, China warned India and the US not to disturb peace in the contested South China Sea.
US warship sails past disputed SCS island
In the first provocative action since Donald Trump took office, a US warship sailed 12 nautical miles away from an artificial island that China constructed on a disputed part of the South China Sea.
SIMBEX 2017: India, Singapore naval exercises commence in the SCS
India and Singapore flagged off their 24th annual naval exercise "SIMBEX", in the disputed South China Sea on Thursday.
China installs rocket-launchers on disputed SCS reef
China has installed rocket launchers on a disputed reef in the South China Sea, in the latest move that has sparked fresh tensions in the region.
Philippines to hold military drills with the US
The Philippines military announced it will hold annual exercises with troops from its US ally.
India US relations: Doval in Washington to improve security ties
Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Washington to meet his counterpart McMaster and US defence secretary James Mattis, in an attempt to strengthen bilateral security ties.
Xi Jinping calls for further modernization of China's armed forces
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for further modernization of China's armed forces, saying "Efforts should be made to provide greater science and technology support for the People's Liberation Army."
Trump seeks to hike US defence spending by 10%
President Donald Trump is looking to increase American defence spending by 10% in his proposed budget plan for 2018.
Indonesia, Australia restore military ties
Indonesia and Australia restored full military ties weeks after Indonesia cut off all cooperation with Australian defence forces.
India and Vietnam increase cooperation across various sectors
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two day visit to Vietnam, said both countries recognized the growing need for cooperation in order to respond to emerging regional challenges.
Malaysian oil tanker 'Vier Harmoni' hijacked
On Tuesday, the Malaysian Maritime officials said that a Malaysian oil tanker, Vier Harmoni, carrying 900,000 litres of diesel had been hijacked and taken to Indonesian waters.
Vietnam gives India the go-ahead for oil exploration
Despite Beijing objecting, Vietnam has given India the green signal for oil exploration in the South China Sea (SCS).