Dennis Blair made the recommendation to a Senate panel, a day after an worldwide tribunal invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
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The Defense Ministry vowed to “firmly defend Taiwan’s territory and sovereignty” and said there would be no change to Taiwan’s claims in the strategic seas because of the ruling. An editorial titled “Blustering US a paper tiger in S China Sea” in the state-run Global Times said that the US has voiced the strongest support for the verdict against China on Tuesday by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
China has warned opposing parties “not to turn the South China Sea into a cradle of war” and declared it had a right to set up an air defence zone over the disputed waters.
A similar zone set up in 2013 in the East China Sea riled Japan, the United States and its allies.
Though the ruling is binding, the Permanent Court of Arbitration has no power to enforce its decision.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, in a report, said Secretary General Jose Calida is expected to provide a “complete and thorough” interpretation of the arbitration ruling in five days.
Filipino activists used the #Chexit slogan while holding protest rallies in front of the Chinese Consulate in the Philippine national capital Manila in the days leading to the ruling.
His statement comes after DAP member Hew Kuan Yau came under fire for saying that “South China Sea belongs to China!”
China justifies its sovereignty over the sea – outlined in a vague map – by claiming it was the first country to discover, name and exploit it. However, its territorial claims overlap with those of Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei.
He also called for renewed dialogue with the Philippines – on the basis of recognition of China’s historical claims.
It was in direct contradiction to the ruling in The Hague on Tuesday, which said that “there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or their resources”. President Xi Jingping said China “refused to accept” the decision.
One official said new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remains “somewhat of an unknown quantity” who has been alternately bellicose and accommodating toward China.
Yes. The United States is not a claimant but it has in recent years been sending warships and military aircraft to the disputed waters in a show of force that has angered China.
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Mr Duterte has adopted a more conciliatory approach than his predecessor Benigno Aquino, saying the Philippines would be willing to share natural resources with China in contested areas if the tribunal ruled in its favour.
