Greg Poling @GregPoling Twitter profile | Pikagi

Pikagi

Greg Poling

@GregPoling

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Director of @SoutheastAsiaDC & @AsiaMTI ; Author of On Dangerous Ground:

Washington, DC

https://t.co/k3UeFMwozQ

Joined August 2011

Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 months

Presenting the most updated catalogue of damage to the SCS marine environment. Topline: China has damaged at least 21,183 acres of reef, and the real total might top 60k! Congrats @_mmsato for leading this effort all year & @mabishan & team for their help!

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Deep Blue Scars: Environmental Threats to the South China Sea

A hidden crisis is unfolding in the South China Sea. As claimants maneuver to strengthen their control over disputed waters, the marine environment has suffered untold damage from overfishing,...

features.csis.org

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

They've destroyed over 40,000 acres of reef via clam harvesting > That's more than 10x as much as their island building killed. Here's a before and after (thx John McManus) of a reef near Thitu/Pagasa before & after the Chinese clam boats arrived.

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Greg Poling

5 years

The Chinese poachers aren't eating them either. They can get thousands of dollars for each shell for jewelry & figurines. They toss the meat into the sea. And in the meantime they destroy the entire reef, which will cost coastal communities their livelihoods & food security.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

This is bonkers. Manila to award a multi-billion dollar airport project, and at a strategically vital location, to the same Chinese company that illegally built an artificial island at Mischief Reef in PH waters. CCCC should be blacklisted, not courted.

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Chinese firm in Sangley airport plan had tainted record in World Bank | Inquirer News

The Chinese infrastructure giant in the consortium poised to bag the Sangley airport project has a spotty record that could raise questions about the propriety of allowing its participation in the...

newsinfo.inquirer.net

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

3 years

1) RCEP is ASEAN-led, not "China-led" (otherwise Japan wouldn't be in it). And it isn't China's plan for regional economic dominance. BRI is. 2) RCEP will have a marginal impact on trade, esp without India. Most members already have equal or better deals with each other.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

Australia rejects all Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea which are inconsistent with UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award. The CLCS note verbale equivalent of a smackdown from Canberra to Beijing.

@raylockman

Shahriman Lockman

4 years

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

Malaysia's FM says there have been no Chinese ships in Malaysian waters for 100 days. But there have been. Every. Single. Day. CCG 5203 patrolled Luconia Shoals from Apr 2; replaced by 5204 on May 22; replaced by 5202 on July 7. Here it is today.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

The Chinese Embassy in Manila recorded a music video to tout China's COVID-19 aid to the Philippines. As of this morning it had 17k dislikes and 201 likes. 加油!

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'Iisang Dagat': China embassy pens song of 'friendship' with PH during coronavirus crisis

The song comes with a music video showcasing assistance and messages of thanks from Philippine officials, including President Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, China continues to assert its claims in the...

www.rappler.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

This leak demolishes all the narratives about "vocational training" etc that many foreign leaders and civil society groups, esp in the Muslim world, have seized on as an excuse to keep quiet or even back Beijing's use of mass concentration camps.

@nytimes

The New York Times

4 years

China has detained up to a million Muslims, a campaign it calls a benevolent and routine effort against the pull of extremism. But 403 pages of Communist Party documents we obtained reveal how officials plotted to carry out a ruthless, coercive clampdown.

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Greg Poling

5 years

Imagine if the Philippine government got half as upset at the country harassing its fishermen, stealing its resources, and destroying its marine environment TODAY as it is at a close partner who let a private company mislabel garbage 6 years ago.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 years

Happy South China Sea Award Anniversary! On this day 6 years ago, the Abitral Tribunal tossed out the 9 dash line and any claim to historic rights in the SCS, establishing this as the extent of disputes around the Spratlys. (Page 231 of On Dangerous Ground, out this month!)

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 years

It's officially available for pre-order! Shipping June 7.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

6 months

This is sooo false. The PH Commonwealth govt formally staked a claim to Scarborough in 1937 and wrote to the US Depts of State and War to confirm that.

@SCS_PI

SCS Probing Initiative

6 months

Here's the ironic truth: It was not until the late 1990s that the Philippines began to claim sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

Philippine police arrest a citizen for calling President Duterte crazy on Facebook. Yes, you read that right.

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Agusan man arrested for calling Duterte ‘crazy’ online | Inquirer News

BUTUAN CITY—Police arrested a salesman in Agusan del Norte province after he cursed at President Duterte in a social media post. Reynaldo Orcullo, 41,

newsinfo.inquirer.net

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 years

THREAD > Now that Philippines has formally signed the purchase agreement for 3 Brahmos missile batteries, what will that mean for its ability to strike targets in the South China Sea? And what will it still need the US for? Some initial thoughts.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

6 years

While you were sleeping, China built facilities covering 290,000 sq. meters of the Spratlys and Paracels this year, incl. major radar & SIGINT capabilities

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

I know it's an odd time for this kind of announcement, but I'm honored to be taking on a new role as Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia at CSIS, leading the center's work on the region (in addition to continuing to lead @AsiaMTI )

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

3 years

I was just asked about the oft-heard (from Beijing) claim that no one rejected ROC/PRC claims in the SCS from the time they were made in 1947 until the 1970s. I happened to be working on manuscript rewrites and so had at my fingertips the following proofs that is a lie:

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

I can't stress enough how bad an idea this is. The Philippines lacks basic maritime domain awareness and patrol capabilities; there are a long list of unmet needs before you get to subs. Plus, the maintenance and operations costs are simply unsustainable for the AFP budget.

@ABSCBNNews

ABS-CBN News

5 years

A first: PH Navy to acquire submarines

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

Initial thoughts: 1) This is a big deal. 2) It's carefully crafted to avoid overstepping the 2016 arbitral award and maintains American neutrality on sovereignty. 3) This should be the first step in a long term campaign to highlight Chinese illegal behavior & support partners.

@W7VOA

Steve Herman

4 years

Statement released by @SecPompo on the "U.S. Position on Maritime Claims in the South China Sea."

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

So Duterte made a secret-but-somehow-legally-binding verbal agreement to allow Chinese fishing in waters where a tribunal said China has no rights in exchange for Filipinos being allowed to fish where it said they every right. This make sense to anyone?

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Get the latest breaking news on the Philippines and the world: News, Business, Overseas, Entertainment, Sports, and Lifestyle in text, video, photos, infographics and special reports.

news.abs-cbn.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

6 years

The reasoning of the Makati court in approving @TrillanesSonny 's arrest warrant borders on the surreal. This episode is far more damaging to the credibility of the Duterte govt and the Philippine judiciary than to that of the opposition senator.

@ABSCBNNews

ABS-CBN News

6 years

Makati RTC Br. 150 says Sen. Trillanes failed to present to court “primary evidence” to prove that he complied with amnesty application requirements, notes he did not present original/duplicate/photo copy of duly accomplished application form. | @InaReformina #TrillanesArrest

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Greg Poling

4 years

Japan deploys first anti-ship and anti-air missiles to Miyakojima near the Senkakus. It can't keep up with China's naval & coast guard expansion, so instead Japan plans to use its favorable geography to hold Chinese air & naval assets at risk from land

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Greg Poling

4 years

Just a reminder: China has maintained a constant maritime militia and CCG deployment around Thitu Island for 424 days and counting. Somehow this isn't on the front pages of the Manila papers.

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Greg Poling

5 years

Wow. Philippine presidential spokesperson says Vietnam shouldn't oppose Chinese encroachments in its waters b/c it risks conflict. So having said earlier this week that China is legally in possession of the SCS, Panelo is urging other states to concede too

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Greg Poling

3 years

China Coast Guard is harassing another drilling rig off Malaysia, this time just 44 nautical miles from shore. And at a very politically sensitive time for the govt in KL.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

THREAD > Someone please prove me wrong. During today's CSIS conference on the ECS, SCS, and Pacific Islands I emerged as the clear contrarian on one point: I don't buy the argument that China's artificial islands are useless in a war or would be easy for US forces to neutralize.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 years

Look what was waiting for me after vacation. They're really real!

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 years

On Dangerous Ground is now available in a limited edition cake edition, baked by the author's mom!

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

2.5 months late, 40k words over, but draft complete! Now if you'll excuse me, I should go squint at the sun and try to reconnect with my family.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

Let me deflate an increasingly popular talking point: China isn't taking advantage of COVID-19 to "increase" activities in the SCS. It is doing the exact same things it was a few months ago. Doing so amid a pandemic is just selfish enough to scandalize.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

Most vessels in the Spratlys are Chinese. Most of those serve at least part-time in the maritime militia. In my latest for @ForeignPolicy I lay out the considerable evidence for these conclusions & debunk the alternative explanations that have been floated

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China’s Hidden Navy

The evidence shows that supposed fishing boats around contested islands are part of an extensive maritime militia.

foreignpolicy.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

3 years

Upset by the AUKUS/nuclear sub announcement: China, France OK with it: US, UK, Australia, Japan, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore Conflicted: Indonesia, Malaysia Misleading press headlines: INDO-PACIFIC IN UPROAR OVER AUKUS!!!

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

A few weeks in, my two-year-old coworker and I have finally gotten our workspace sorted out.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

3 years

42 years ago today China did that thing that Chinese officials always insist the PRC has never done: invaded a neighboring country.

@ngahpham

Nga Pham

3 years

Today 42 years ago Chinese troops launched their attacks on the northern border with #Vietnam . In the photo, 2nd from right, is Takano Isao, a reporter with the Japanese communist party’s paper Akahata. He was killed 7/3/1979 by a sniper’s shot, believed to be Chinese. #borderwar

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 years

Booked my first international flight in over 2 years! Philippines, see you in a few weeks.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

6 years

China's rise is seen as threatening by 96% in ROK, 92% in VN, 89% in Japan, 86% in Aus, 77% in PHL, 74% in Indonesia, and 65% in India. Yet Chinese interlocutors confidently tell me that the region has turned pro-China since 2016. That's a potentially dangerous perception gap.

@pewglobal

Pew Research Global

6 years

4 charts on how people in the Asia-Pacific view China

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

The ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel wasn't a normal accident, it is indicative of a larger Chinese campaign of intimidation, and the Duterte gov't would be better off not trying to sweep it under the rug. My thoughts on @ANCALERTS

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

A scholar at China's Nat'l Institute for SCS Studies says, "To reiterate its sovereignty claims over the South China Sea, China coined names for 80 more features." Most (all?) of these are underwater. YOU👏CAN'T👏CLAIM👏SOVEREIGNTY👏OVER👏THE👏SEABED.

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Beijing marks out South China Sea claims by naming features

China says it is asserting its sovereignty in the disputed waters in the face of Vietnam’s ‘aggression’.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

7 months

The militia boat that collided with PCG was Qiong Sansha Yu 00003, owned and operated by state-owned Sansha Fisheries Development Corporation. This is a public vessel crewed by state employees.

@jaytaryela

Jay Tarriela

7 months

NSC Press Release Strategic Communications Office 22 October 2023 7:30pm PHILIPPINES REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING AND SECURING THE NATIONAL INTEREST, DESPITE PROVOCATIONS “We will not be deterred and we will continue to resupply our troops in BRP Sierra Madre despite…

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Greg Poling

6 years

We've overhauled our Island Tracker at @AsiaMTI . It now includes imagery of EVERY outpost in the South China Sea for EVERY claimant. That's over 90 facilities at nearly 70 features, w/ before and after shots and other relevant info

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

7 months

As usual, China's state mouthpieces refuse to recognize that Philippines (or any smaller state) has agency. Unless an issue is framed in US-China terms, Beijing can't make sense of it.

@globaltimesnews

Global Times

@globaltimesnews

7 months

#Opinion : If the Marcos Jr administration continues to drift off course in the South China Sea and drives China-Philippines relations into the vortex of conflicts, then this will not only lead to a disaster for the Philippines, but also bring new uncertainties to bilateral ties…

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

1 year

"Why is President Marcos Jr deepening the alliance with the US?" China:

@LyleJMorris

Lyle Morris

1 year

Here is the footage of the CCG vessel's unsafe and unprofessional maneuver to block the PCG vessel from replenishing the BRP Sierra Madre. China is a signatory to COLREGs, which is meant to prevent such unsafe practices. video courtesy of @AP .

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Greg Poling

6 years

Appreciate the shout out, but the recent aerial photos by @inquirerdotnet weren't from @AsiaMTI . We don't have a plane. Also, I remember when defending PHL rights under intl law was a PHL interest too.

@ABSCBNNews

ABS-CBN News

6 years

Cayetano: Photos of Chinese reclamation in disputed areas are from US Think Tank; it has American interests.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

@dandrezner I'll keep my anger in check and just point out that @FDRLST uses an Oxford comma in its own Twitter bio.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

The conventional wisdom on China's island bases is dangerously wrong. Given current US posture, they would be prohibitively difficult to neutralize and make the SCS a no-man's land for US forces at the start of a conflict -- My latest for @WarOnTheRocks

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The Conventional Wisdom on China’s Island Bases Is Dangerously Wrong - War on the Rocks

Last month, during a conference on China’s maritime ambitions, I was asked a question I often get about Beijing’s artificial island bases in the South

warontherocks.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

After China's MFA last month asserted "there is no so-called median line" in the Taiwan Strait, a keen-eyed Taiwanese aircraft spotter reported that a U.S. Air Force plane has helpfully traced it for Beijing.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

7 years

China: $7 mil in guns & ammo; US: $60 mil/year in military asst. China: $300,000 for Marawi rehab, plus trucks; US: $15 mil for rehab...

@piaranada

Pia Ranada

7 years

@rapplerdotcom Duterte: I want to officially thank United States and Israel [for Marawi assistance]. It was only China who gave it on time and plenty.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

8 months

Anwar reassured that China really wants to resolve its maritime claims with SEA neighbors amicably. I hope no one tells him about the last 25 years of failed negotiations...

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Anwar Says China’s Explanation of Controversial Map ‘Reassuring’

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said China’s explanation of a new map that appeared to expand its claims over disputed land and waters in the South China Sea was “reassuring,” as he advocated...

www.bloomberg.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 years

We've mapped all publicly-available Chinese survey activity in the SCS over the last 2 years. Here are the retaliatory and illegal seabed surveys that made the news. (1/2)

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

What can China see and strike from its artificial island bases? We've retooled our interactive map, including adding the sensing capabilities displayed by Beijing's deployment of KJ-500s to the Spratlys earlier this year.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

Carpio calls on citizens from Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei to join a "truth movement" to counter Chinese propaganda & tell the true history of the SCS

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Carpio calls for South China Sea 'truth movement'

'The truth will secure forever our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea,' says Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio of the Supreme Court

www.rappler.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 months

In case you've been wondering how dangerous the China Coast Guard's high pressure water cannons can be.

@jovilandxrita

Joviland Rita

2 months

WATCH: The windshield of 🇵🇭Philippine boat Unaizah May 4 shatters as 🇨🇳China Coast Guard vessels fire water canon at it during its rotation and reprovisioning mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on Tuesday, March 5. 🎥: Armed Forces of the Philippines. @gmanews

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

In a new @CSIS Critical Questions, I try to make sense of the new US position on the South China Sea, how it differs from previous policy, and what impacts it might have.

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How Significant Is the New U.S. South China Sea Policy?

On July 13, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced an important shift in U.S. declaratory policy on the South China Sea. CSIS’s Greg Poling breaks down the new U.S. position and what it means for...

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

7 years

This is the Philippines' Justice Secretary describing a murdered 17-year-old as "collateral damage."

@mariaressa

Maria Ressa

7 years

Aguirre: Kian case overblown, any war has collateral damage - via @rapplerdotcom

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

@cyberdean07 Some are gone forever, but many could replenish given a decade or more left alone. Institutes like @upsystem Marine Sciences are growing giant clams in wet labs and could transplant back to reefs, but the poaching will need to stop first.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

Uh oh. I just found my daughter watching Abominable. Guess it's time for our first talk about the 9-dash line. I'd hoped she'd be older...

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Greg Poling

5 years

Proud to launch our upgraded Maritime Claims of the Indo-Pacific map. Now covering 39 countries, it's the most comprehensive, accurate map of claims available to the public. And kudos to the @AsiaMTI & @CSIS Idea Lab teams for months of painstaking work!

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Greg Poling

4 years

Oh, well as long as they pinky promised.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

6 years

Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque says the Aquino govt started "militarization" of SCS by deploying a navy ship to arrest Chinese poachers at Scarborough in 2012. I'm not going to list all the facts that disprove that. I'm just going to say wow.

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Noynoy Aquino started militarization in South China Sea —Palace

Malacañang on Monday accused former President Benigno Aquino III of starting the "militarization" of the South China Sea even as the Duterte administration insisted on its friendly overtures to China.

www.gmanetwork.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

Australia completes laying of undersea cables to Solomon Islands & PNG. This is how you compete: don't like the idea of your neighbors being overly dependent on Huawei? Provide a viable alternative

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Australia snubbed Huawei and completed its undersea cable project to bring high-speed internet to...

Australia agreed to pay for the majority of the $92.5 million infrastructure project in 2018 after China's Huawei had expressed an interest.

www.businessinsider.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

PHL Presidential spokesperson: Chinese fishers can stay around Pag-asa/Thitu, but the militia should leave. OK, but one problem: They 👏 are 👏 the 👏 same 👏 thing 👏

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Get the latest breaking news on the Philippines and the world: News, Business, Overseas, Entertainment, Sports, and Lifestyle in text, video, photos, infographics and special reports.

news.abs-cbn.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

This week's SCS fun fact: the PRC joined the UN Seabed Committee in December 1971. It took part in all subsequent preparatory work leading to UNCLOS III, which began 2 years later. So not only did Beijing help write the rules it now disavows; it helped set the agenda!

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

That USS America and USS Bunker are operating near an ongoing standoff between Malaysia and China is an important signal. That 2 Malaysian govts over 5 months have pretended the standoff isn't happening is a different kind of important signal.

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Two US warships in South China Sea during China-Malaysia stand-off

A Chinese government research ship was spotted last week conducting a survey close to an exploration vessel operated by Malaysia’s state oil company Petronas.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

China's 80 newly-named SCS features sure seem like a slap at Vietnam. Not a coincidence that all 50 underwater banks are on VN's shelf. Which has me wondering how much the data from last fall's Haiyang Dizhi 8 survey was used to make that list. Certainly a lot of overlap:

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 months

Look at those pristine decks. These "fishing boats" probably haven't fished a day of their lives.

@jaytaryela

Jay Tarriela

5 months

PCG MONITORS ILLEGAL PRESENCE OF MORE THAN 135 CHINESE MARITIME MILITIA VESSELS IN JULIAN FELIPE REEF On November 13, the PCG monitored 111 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) swarming the area of Julian Felipe Reef, and this number increased to 125 based on the last monitoring of…

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

11 months

Sec Galvez going harder than I expected. Says the 2016 arbitral award is binding and indisputable; PH will defend its sovereignty against all challenges; decries coercion and grey zone challenges; welcomes intl partners who have voiced support on the SCS.

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Greg Poling

4 years

I count 4 falsehoods in this one 1 sentence.

@MFA_China

Spokesperson发言人办公室

4 years

China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have been formed in a long historical process & claimed by all Chinese administrations, which are also in line with UN Charter & UNCLOS. Accusations of China’s lawful claims are groundless.

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Greg Poling

5 years

The Palace will claim the press is reporting Duterte too literally, but the subtext is clear: He believes China has already won, resistance is futile, and if it weren't for domestic opposition, he'd concede the SCS to Beijing for whatever he could get

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Duterte says China 'already in possession' of South China Sea, tells US to end military drills

SINGAPORE - President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday (Nov 15) China was "already in possession" of the South China Sea, and that military drills by the United States and its allies were creating...

www.straitstimes.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 years

First dredgers spotted at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia. Big development at the facility which China is upgrading, reportedly in exchange for access.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

And the Philippines joined Cambodia as the only states in SEA supporting China on Hong Kong. They were also the only two to support China's mass internment policies in Xinjiang last year's vote.

@AnnaPowles

Anna Powles

4 years

No Pacific island states were part of the “Pakistan bloc” in support of China’s Hong Kong national security law; Nauru, Marshall Islands and Palau were part of the “German bloc” opposing the law. Kiribati had earlier supported China re. Xinjiang.

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Greg Poling

5 years

Philippines to exclude Chinese companies from bidding for Hanjin's shipyard in Subic Bay amid national security concerns

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Manila set to block Chinese bidders from largest shipyard

National security concerns over Subic Bay outweigh warmer bilateral ties

asia.nikkei.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

7 years

The reported location of the Chinese seizure of a US Navy UUV was not only int'l waters, it was outside 9 dash line!

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

3 years

This is, to my knowledge, unprecedented. I know of no other case of China deploying a PLAN vessel (as opposed to CCG or the old FLEC) to pursue/drive away a civilian ship in the middle of another claimant's EEZ. @chiarazambrano , always blazing trails.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

Reducing the risk of violence in the South China Sea doesn't primarily require new rules, it requires China to stop ignoring the ones we already have: COLREGs, CUES and UNCLOS. Great read from colleagues @BonnieGlaser & Jeff Benson

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Opinion | China’s conduct heightens the risk of conflict in South China Sea

US freedom of navigation operations do not, in and of themselves, raise the risk of a maritime incident. From the 1972 ‘Rules of the Road’ to the 2014 bilateral agreement on the rules of behaviour,...

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

2 months

I'm cautiously optimistic about the SCS in 2024. China's gray zone coercion seems to have reached its limits and momentum has shifted in favor of SEA claimants.

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China loses strategic waters in the South China Sea | East Asia Forum

As some Southeast Asian claimants have stopped ceding strategic ground in the South China Sea, China must dial back coercion in favour of pragmatic cooperation — a shift that is highly unlikely.

eastasiaforum.org

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

6 years

Meanwhile $0 of a pledged $36 billion in Chinese aid and investment from Duterte's Beijing visits has so far materialized.

@nktpnd

Ankit Panda

6 years

Manila Subway project moves forward as Japan, PH exchange notes

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Greg Poling

4 years

US to establish embassy in Maldives, presumably on Hulhumale. Power will come from a Chinese-built grid, staff will live in Chinese-funded housing, they'll arrive at an airport upgraded by China, and drive home across a Chinese-built bridge.

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U.S. to Establish Embassy in the Maldives (Published 2020)

Competing for influence in the region with China, the United States will for the first time have an embassy in the tiny nation of islands off the shore of India.

www.nytimes.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

Chinese fishing vessel sinks a Philippine boat and leaves the 22 crew to the elements. Luckily Vietnamese fishers rescued them. This is the inevitable result of Beijing deputizing hundreds of fishing boats as a militia force. And it will happen again.

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Chinese vessel sinks Philippine boat in West PH Sea 'collision'

(5th UPDATE) 'We condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly action of the Chinese fishing vessel and its crew for abandoning the Filipino crew. This is not the expected action from a responsible and...

www.rappler.com

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Greg Poling

6 months

This is one of the most unprofessional in a long string of unprofessional acts by the PLA in international waters of late.

@AndrewBGreene

Andrew Greene

6 months

Australian personnel have sustained minor injuries after being subjected to sonar pulses from a Chinese destroyer “Despite acknowledging HMAS Toowoomba’s communications, the Chinese vessel approached at a closer range. Soon after, it was detected operating its hull-mounted sonar”

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Greg Poling

5 years

The thing is, the Palace really needs this to be true. Because if it isn't, and Vietnam and Malaysia, can stand up to China without provoking military force, then Filipinos will rightly ask why their govt has been sitting on its hands for 3 years.

@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

Wow. Philippine presidential spokesperson says Vietnam shouldn't oppose Chinese encroachments in its waters b/c it risks conflict. So having said earlier this week that China is legally in possession of the SCS, Panelo is urging other states to concede too

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

4 years

This whole time I was claiming to be Southeast Asia researcher Gregory Poling, or maritime security analyst Gregory Poling. But it turns out I've been "prominent China critic Gregory Poling" all along! How dastardly!

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Should China compromise on South China Sea? - Asia Times

Analysts outside China are now arguing that it would be in China’s long-term strategic interests to dial down its aggressive approach and compromise with

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

3 years

Most reports claim all 11 CPTPP signatories must approve entry for China or Taiwan (or UK). But that doesn't seem to be true. It's only the 8 who have ratified. Which means Brunei and Malaysia, 2 of those most vulnerable to Chinese pressure, don't get a vote. Good news for Taiwan

@GregPoling

Greg Poling

3 years

I don't think we're talking enough about Taiwan and China both having applied to join CPTPP. The former is much more likely to actually meet the requirements. But the latter will exert enormous pressure to prevent that.

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Greg Poling

5 years

"Neither I, my VP, nor my Secretary of State could be bothered to attend your summit. But I invite all 10 of you to fly on short notice to see me. Also, ASEAN centrality is key to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

@duandang

Duan Dang

5 years

Trump invites ASEAN leaders to 'special summit' in US after skipping Bangkok meet

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

"“I said presently, perhaps if all the countries of the world will unite and pressure China, who knows?" Except most countries WERE ready to pressure China on the ruling until the Duterte govt basically told them not to worry about it. Here's the numbers:

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Arbitration Support Tracker | Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

Update 11/7/2023: In light of a statement of support made by Portugal’s Foreign Minister on July 28, 2023, Portugal has been moved from the “Positively Acknowledging Ruling” category to “Supporting...

@ABSCBNNews

ABS-CBN News

5 years

Palace: 'No power on earth' could enforce PH victory vs China over S. China Sea

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

1 year

Beijing's default response to crisis is to shut down communication. That should worry us. I've lost count of all the hotlines and communication mechanisms announced between China and US/Vietnam/Philippines/Japan/etc over the years. They don't matter if the phone goes unanswered.

@JackDetsch

Jack Detsch

1 year

NEW: China has turned down a request for a secure call between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and PRC Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe requested by the Pentagon after U.S. fighter jets downed a Chinese spy balloon on Saturday: DoD statement

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Greg Poling

5 years

PH won't raise 2016 arbitral award at the UN b/c it would be "futile." Tell that to Nicaragua which dragged US into compliance w/ a 1986 ICJ decision by bringing it before the UNSC & then responding to US veto w/ 4 UNGA resolutions

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Get the latest breaking news on the Philippines and the world: News, Business, Overseas, Entertainment, Sports, and Lifestyle in text, video, photos, infographics and special reports.

news.abs-cbn.com

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Greg Poling

3 years

Must-read on how China's dredging fleet has since mid-2020 worked to exhaust Taiwan's coast guard and undermine administrative control of waters around Matsu Islands.

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China’s latest weapon against Taiwan: the sand dredger

Chinese dredging boats are swarming the Matsu Islands of Taiwan as part of Beijing's campaign against Taipei

www.reuters.com

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Greg Poling

3 years

We've ID'd more than 120 Chinese maritime militia vessels in the SCS in partnership with @C4ADS & Tabitha Mallory of COI. Tune in on Nov 18 for the public launch of the most comprehensive study to-date of militia activities, funding, ownership, and more!

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Pulling Back the Curtain on China’s Maritime Militia | CSIS

Please join us for the launch of the report, Pulling Back the Curtain on China’s Maritime Militia.

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Greg Poling

3 years

Another reminder that 96% of Chinese vaccine deliveries are commercial purchases, not donations, and Beijing is providing almost no support to Covax.

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Is China's Covid-19 Diplomacy Succeeding? | ChinaPower Project

This ChinaPower feature provides a comprehensive assessment of the scope and impact of China's Covid-19 medical aid and vaccine diplomacy.

chinapower.csis.org

@GregPoling

Greg Poling

3 years

In the last week, the Philippines received over 4.5 million Pfizer doses donated by the US through Covax. It also received 400k doses of Pfizer & 2.5 million Sinovac directly purchased.

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Greg Poling

2 years

The Philippines summoned China's ambassador over the "illegal intrusion and lingering presence" of a PLAN Electronic Reconnaissance Ship in Philippine archipelagic waters FOR 3 DAYS.

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Greg Poling

4 years

As ASEAN Chair, Vietnam introduces some important new language smacking down China's claim to "historic rights," with the implicit backing of the rest of ASEAN: "UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which ALL activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out."

@JeffreyOrdaniel

Jeffrey Ordaniel

@JeffreyOrdaniel

4 years

But indeed, stronger reference to UNCLOS than before: “We reaffirmed that the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for determining maritime entitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and legitimate interests over maritime zones." Not a consensus document, but who can disagree with this?

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Greg Poling

4 years

A dark day for both the Philippines and US; a pretty good one for Abu Sayyaf and China. But 6 months is a long time and it ain't over till it's over.

@inquirerdotnet

Inquirer

@inquirerdotnet

4 years

BREAKING: President Rodrigo Duterte has instructed Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to ask the DFA to send the US the official notice to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement. | @DJEsguerraINQ

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Greg Poling

8 months

Marcos Jr: "Narratives that frame the disputes in the SCS solely through the lens of strategic competition between two powerful countries...not only denies us of our independence and agency, but also disregards our own legitimate interests.”

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South China Sea not just about US-China rivalry, Philippines says

President Marcos Jnr says misleading narratives deny the Philippines its independence and agency, and disregard its legitimate interests.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

7 years

Chinese infrastructure projects in Vietnam prove too good to be true: delays, cost overruns, shoddy work.

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China's projects in Vietnam earn reputation for poor quality, delays

Hanoi stuck with rising costs on 'cheap' projects with poor expectancies

asia.nikkei.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

State Dept takes important step with today's on Chinese harassment of VN oil and gas ops and use of militia to destabilize the SCS. Overdue change of tone from singular focus on freedom of navigation to make clear US cares about all lawful uses of the sea.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

1 year

THREAD > Every claimant except Philippines is moving forward with oil and gas projects in disputed waters of the South China Sea. Vietnam, despite years of CCG harassment, is seeing new work from Zarubezhneft, Harbour, Idemitsu, and potentially Exxon.

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Greg Poling

3 years

THREAD > @AsiaMTI IDs 23 of the Chinese militia vessels swarming Whitsun Reef by cross-referencing media released by the Philippine govt w/ commercial AIS. Let's start with these five: Yuemaobinyu (粤茂滨渔) 42881, 42882, 42883, 42885, and 42886.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

5 years

I'm old enough to remember 2 tweets ago when the ambassador joined Twitter to engage more constructively with Americans. Those were more innocent times...

@AmbCuiTiankai

Cui Tiankai

5 years

#Taiwan is part of #China . No attempts to split China will ever succeed. Those who play with fire will only get themselves burned. Period.

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

1 year

Would senior officials from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam hold a similar public meeting with the other sides of Myanmar's civil war (NUG and EAOs)? If not, this is legitimizing one side in clear violation of ASEAN's principle of non-interference.

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Thailand hosts Myanmar junta figures in talks, key ASEAN nations skip

Thailand hosted regional talks on Thursday to discuss the crisis in army-run Myanmar including rare international appearances by junta ministers, but several key members of the Association of...

www.reuters.com

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@GregPoling

Greg Poling

6 years

China's ambassador to the UK blasts foreign countries for sending "warships & aircraft all the way to the SCS to create trouble." Meanwhile here's a map of uninvited PLA ops in foreign EEZs through 2017. The irony is apparently lost on Beijing.

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