All articles tagged with #disputed territory
Thailand deployed fighter jets and launched airstrikes against Cambodian military targets amid escalating border clashes over disputed territory, resulting in injuries, evacuations, and diplomatic tensions between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire at a disputed border area near Ta Muen Thom, with both sides blaming each other for initiating the conflict. The clash has escalated tensions, leading to injuries, diplomatic protests, and a deterioration in bilateral relations, which are at their worst in over a decade.
Satellite photos reveal that dozens of Chinese maritime militia ships are occupying a disputed territory in the South China Sea, known as Whitsun Reef, which is claimed by both China and the Philippines. The reef is located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, but China's maritime militia is using fishing boats to assert control over the area. The fleet has been accused of engaging in unsafe and aggressive actions by the US State Department. The Chinese ships were seen rafted together near the reef, establishing semi-persistent floating outposts. The presence of the militia boats is part of China's strategy to gradually expand its reach in the South China Sea.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro plans to authorize oil exploration in the disputed territory around the Esequibo river, despite the ongoing territorial dispute with Guyana. This comes after a referendum where voters rejected the International Court of Justice's jurisdiction over the disagreement and supported the creation of a new state in the potential oil-rich region. The ICJ has barred Venezuela from taking any action that changes the status quo in the area. State oil company PDVSA and state iron and steel maker CVG will establish divisions for the disputed region and grant operating licenses for oil, gas, and mining exploration.
The United Nations' top court has ordered Venezuela not to take any action that would alter Guyana's control over a disputed territory, but did not explicitly ban Venezuela from holding its planned referendum on the territory's future. The court ruling falls short of mentioning the referendum but states that Venezuela must refrain from modifying the current situation in the disputed Essequibo region. The ruling remains in place until a case brought by Guyana against Venezuela is considered, which could take years. Both countries interpret the ruling as largely supporting their own positions.
China and the Philippines have accused each other of causing collisions in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines claimed that a Chinese Coast Guard ship carried out dangerous maneuvers, causing collisions with Philippine vessels. China accused the Philippines of violating international marine law and threatening the navigation safety of Chinese ships. These incidents add to the ongoing tensions between the two countries in the disputed waterway, where China claims almost all of the South China Sea despite a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal in favor of the Philippines.
The Philippines has condemned China for installing a floating barrier near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which violates the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fishermen. The Philippines has vowed to take appropriate actions to remove the barriers and protect its sovereignty and the livelihood of its fisherfolk. China claims 90% of the South China Sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of several other countries. The Chinese embassy in Manila has not responded to the issue.
The Philippines has condemned China for installing a "floating barrier" in a disputed area of the South China Sea, preventing Filipino boats from entering and fishing in the area. The barriers violate the Philippines' traditional fishing rights affirmed by a 2016 international tribunal ruling against China's South China Sea claims. China defended its actions, claiming sovereignty over the area and accusing the Filipino vessel of "intruding" without permission. Bajo de Masinloc, also known as the Scarborough Shoal, is a strategic reef and fishing ground in the South China Sea, subject to territorial disputes.
Taiwan has denied reports of a Chinese nuclear submarine crashing near the Taiwan Strait, downplaying the rumors. The reports emerged shortly after China conducted military drills near Taiwan as a show of force. Taiwanese officials stated that there is no evidence of a submarine crash, and Beijing has not confirmed the incident. Tensions between China and Taiwan have been escalating, with China considering Taiwan a renegade province to be brought back under its control.
China has called on the Philippines to remove a grounded World War II warship, which Manila uses as a makeshift military base, from a reef in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines accused China's coastguard of firing water cannon at boats on a mission to resupply the Philippine garrison stationed on the grounded vessel. China has urged the Philippines to immediately remove the warship, stating that its requests have been ignored. The Philippines has responded by saying it will not abandon the disputed area. The Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, has been a longstanding flashpoint between the two countries.