UK plans to send aircraft carrier to Asia Pacific as tensions with China rising - Reports

Moscow/Sputnik: The UK military intends to send new aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth to the Asia Pacific as tensions with Beijing continue to rise, The Times newspaper reported, citing sources.

Expert alerts SE Asian countries to keep eye on China's Bihai 2020 before it turns to source of conflict

Singapore: An expert has warned that China might be using the eight-month-long “Bihai 2020” (or “Blue Sea 2020”) initiative which commenced on April 1  as another justification for the increased presence of Chinese law enforcement vessels in the disputed South China Sea.

PLA drills on South China Sea: Philippines warns Beijing of 'severest response'

Manila:  The Philippine foreign secretary has warned China that it might face severe response in case the ongoing Chinese military exercises in the disputed South China Sea spill over to Philippine territory.

Myanmar latest to call out China for arming insurgents amid outrage by Vietnam and Philippines

Naypyitaw/IBNS: At a time when China is being viewed with increased suspicion for its aggression in the South China Sea, its role in Covid-19, and more recently the violent face-off with India, the country's closest ally Myanmar has alleged that China is arming the insurgent groups in the country with sophisticated weapons and sought international intervention to tackle the situation.

Australian PM cites 'rising strategic competition' in Indo-Pacific region behind 40 pc increase in defence spend; mentions India-China standoff

New Delhi/IBNS: Australia has increased its defence budget by a whopping 40 per cent to 270 billion dollars for a ten-year period, the country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while he launched the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and the 2024 Structure Plan on Wednesday.

Advantage COVID-19: China takes 'aggressive' stance on South China Sea, Vietnam voices concern

Hanoi/IBNS: While the world calls out China for its role in the global transmission of COVID-19, the Asian giant is following an aggressive stance on South China Sea (SCS) region drawing protest from Vietnam which asked Beijing to maintain its sovereignty.

ASEAN foreign ministers discuss South China Sea

Bangkok, July 31 (UNI): Foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations discussed tensions in the South China Sea and the Rohingya refugee crisis at a meeting here on Wednesday.

Senior officials of China, ASEAN nations meet on South China Sea cooperation

Hangzhou, May 19 (Xinhua/UNI) Senior officials from China and ASEAN member countries met in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, to further coordinate on the South China Sea, agreeing to continue efforts for peace, tranquility and common development in the area.

‘Historically, legally ours': China claims sovereignty over Spratlys

Beijing, Apr 12 (UNI): China's  ministry of foreign affairs has asserted its new sovereignty over the Spratlys Islands in the South China Sea citing historical and legal basis, a foreign ministry spokesperson said.