coastguard

Manila relying on ‘transparency initiative’ to offset Beijing’s moves in South China Sea

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Crew members assigned to the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Sindangan say they knew their mission would involve facing off against huge, numerous, intimidating Chinese vessels in the contested waters of the South China Sea. But that did not fully prepare them for the reality. “My heart beats up every time a clash is imminent,” … Read more

In the South China Sea, Indonesia tests the limits of non-alignment

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Indonesia is walking a fine line between bolstering ties with Beijing and preserving its long-standing non-aligned stance. As Jakarta ramps up military and coastguard cooperation with China, it sends a message of pragmatism to its Southeast Asian neighbours and the United States – but also risks raising questions about its long-standing non-aligned stance. The signal … Read more