Mischief Reef News, Commentary and Analysis | Asia Times

China tests Scarborough as Manila casts beyond US for help

by Gabriel Honrada June 26, 2026July 1, 2026

China’s makeshift platform at Scarborough Shoal may have disappeared, but it has exposed a far more enduring strategy to cement its control of the South China Sea. This month, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that a temporary Chinese floating platform deployed at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea has renewed international […]

China cranks South China Sea buildup while Iran consumes US

by Gabriel Honrada April 4, 2026April 8, 2026

Manila vows to block China’s militarization of Scarborough Shoal

by Jason Gutierrez October 3, 2025October 8, 2025

Philippines wants to point more BrahMos missiles at China

by Gabriel Honrada July 15, 2024July 22, 2024

South China Sea

China’s new island-building tech sure to churn South China Sea

by Gabriel Honrada May 24, 2024May 31, 2024

Australia-Philippines pact takes hard new aim at China

by Richard Javad Heydarian September 11, 2023September 15, 2023

China fully militarizes key South China Sea features

by Gabriel Honrada March 22, 2022March 23, 2022

AT Finance, Philippines

US, Philippine air drills take lofty aim at China

by Richard Javad Heydarian September 25, 2019February 18, 2020

China, United States, World

US roams South China Sea as trade talks start

by Asia Times staff February 12, 2019February 18, 2020

Chinese Marines stand at attention prior to a welcoming ceremony at the start of the ship's stop in the port of Papeete French Polynesia, on October 23, 2015. Photo: AFP/Gregory Boissy

AT Finance, Australia, Beijing, China, European Union, France, Japan, New Zealand, Northeast Asia, Oceania, South Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, World

China’s plan for conquest of the South Pacific

by Kerry K Gershaneck September 7, 2018February 18, 2020

Map of the South China Sea: iStock

AT Finance, Australia, Beijing, China, France, India, Japan, Middle East, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Philippines, Singapore, South Asia, South Korea, United Kingdom, Vietnam, World

China’s hypocritical stance on maritime militarization

by Xuan Loc Doan June 4, 2018June 4, 2018

A Chinese amphibious assault vehicle in the Seaborne Assault 2017 international competition held at Klerk training area of the Pacific Fleet. Photo: Sputnik via AFP/Vitaliy Ankov

AT Finance, Australia, China, Indonesia, Middle East, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, South Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, World

China’s amphibious ambitions emerge in South China Sea

by Kerry K Gershaneck May 31, 2018February 18, 2020

A Chinese Shaanxi Y-8 transport plane on display at a military theme park in Nanchang city in China's Jiangxi province on August 1, 2017. Photo: AFP

AT Finance, Australia, China, France, India, Japan, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Philippines, Russia, South Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam, World

Chinese military aircraft seen on Spratlys

by Bertil Lintner May 10, 2018February 18, 2020

Construction is shown on Fiery Cross Reef, in the Spratly Islands, the disputed South China Sea in this June 16 satellite image by CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Photo: CSIS/AMTI DigitalGlobe/ via Reuters

AT Finance, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Asia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, World

How to counter China’s fortified islands in South China Sea

by Stephen Bryen May 5, 2018February 18, 2020

Warships and fighter jets of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy take part in a military display in the South China Sea on April 12, 2018. Photo: Reuters

AT Finance, Australia, Beijing, China, Japan, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Philippines, South Asia, World

China’s show of force pushes Philippines back to America

by Richard Javad Heydarian April 20, 2018February 18, 2020

A vessel from the PLA's South Sea Fleet leaves its home port of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province en route to Djibouti. Photo: Chinese Navy

AT Finance, Australia, Beijing, China, Japan, Middle East, North Korea, Northeast Asia, Oceania, Philippines, Syria, Taiwan

China’s military drills raise tensions in Taiwan Strait

by Gary Sands April 17, 2018

The destroyer USS Mustin transits in formation with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship JS Kirisame in the South China Sea. Photo: David Flewellyn/U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters

Beijing, China, Middle East, World

US destroyer buzzes Chinese island in South China Sea

by Asia Times staff March 24, 2018February 18, 2020

Construction is shown on Mischief Reef in the disputed South China Sea in this June 19, 2017 satellite image released by CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Photo: CSIS/AMTI Digital Globe/handout via Reuters

AT Finance, Beijing, China, Northeast Asia, Philippines, South Asia, Vietnam, World

US raising pressure in South China Sea

by Bill Gertz August 14, 2017August 14, 2017

ormer Philippine President Fidel Ramos gestures as he speaks to journalists during a trip to Hong Kong

AT Finance, Beijing, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam

Philippines seeks formal talks with China, says Ramos

by Admin August 12, 2016August 12, 2016

AT Finance, Beijing, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam

Philippines envoy Ramos ‘optimistic’ about ice breaking China trip

by Admin August 9, 2016

Still image from United States Navy video purportedly shows Chinese dredging vessels in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands

AT Finance, Beijing, Brunei, China, Japan, Malaysia, Northeast Asia, Philippines, South Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam

New images suggest China has built ‘reinforced hangars’ on Spratlys

by Admin August 9, 2016August 9, 2016

AT Finance, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Northeast Asia, Philippines, South Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam, World

Scorched earth ruling on S China Sea

by Peter Lee July 14, 2016July 14, 2016

AT Finance, Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, South Asia, World

War of words over South China Sea militarization heats up

by Bill Gertz November 30, 2015

AT Finance, Beijing, China, Philippines, South Asia

China building third airstrip on disputed South China Sea islets: expert

by Admin September 14, 2015

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