US Defense Secretary James Mattis accused China of “intimidation and coercion” in the Indo-Pacific and declared that the United States does not plan to abandon its role in the region during a speech Saturday in Singapore.

Last update 18:21 | 01/06/2018 vietnamnet

US Defence Minister James Mattis urged Vietnam and the US to enhance cooperation in defence industry and consider signing suitable documents to create a foundation for the collaboration.

US Defence Minister James Mattis and Vietnamese Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich (Source: qdnd.vn)

He made the proposals at a meeting with Vietnamese Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich on the sidelines of the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 1.

The US is taking into account the transfer of jet trainers and other equipment to Vietnam, the US officer said.

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Critics claim Duterte’s “defeatist” approach has emboldened China. | Photo: Reuters FILE

The secretary allayed fears and addressed criticism by stressing that the Philippines has not lost a single inch of territory to China during the Duterte administration.

The government of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has fired off a stern warning to China regarding the natural resources in the South China Sea region.

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Update: May, 22/2018 – 06:00

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Lê Thị Thu Hằng. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Hoa

– UN Study on the Naval Arms Race (Report of the General Secretary – Sept. 17, 1985)
From UN Site — From CVD

– Military Activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone: Preveting uncertainty and defusing conflict (George V. Galdorisi & Alan G. Kaufman – 2001)
From California Western School of Law — From CVD

– Military Activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone: Preveting uncertainty and defusing conflict (Hyun Soo-Kim)
From US Naval War College — From CVD

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rappler.com

The US network CNBC reports, citing sources close to US intelligence, the Chinese army installed anti-ship and air-to-air defenses on outposts also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines over the last 30 days

Agence France-Presse  @afp

BEIJING, China – Beijing Thursday, May 3, reasserted its right to build “defense” facilities in the disputed South China Sea, but declined to confirm reports it had installed new missiles on artificial islands it has built in the region.

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CSIS April 2, 2018

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China unveiled the concept for the Twenty-First Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) in 2013 as a development strategy to boost infrastructure connectivity throughout Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Indian Ocean, and East Africa. The MSR is the maritime complement to the Silk Road Economic Belt, which focuses on infrastructure development across Central Asia. Together these initiatives form the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative designed to enhance China’s influence across Asia.

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A Vietnamese fishing boat on the South China Sea. Photo by Jean-Pierre Bluteau via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).