US: We stand by our allies
“There should be no doubt about resolve of the United States. We stand by our allies and we stand by our commitments,” Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, the top US diplomat for East Asia,...
View ArticleAFP: Normal monitoring, no new standoff at Ayungin Shoal
The military on Friday denied a supposed standoff between the Filipino garrison on the BRP Sierra Madre and Chinese coast guards at the disputed Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) off Palawan province...
View ArticleChina tops Asean agenda
President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday vowed to press anew for the rule of law in resolving territorial conflicts at the annual gathering of Southeast Asian leaders, which opens here Sunday amid a...
View Article‘Mission accomplished’: Aquino ends Europe trip, heads for Boston
President Benigno Aquino III ended his weeklong European trip on Saturday convinced that he had gathered enough support behind the Philippines’ call for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in the South...
View ArticleGazmin: Chinese ships haven’t bothered PH troops at Ayungin Shoal
Has China eased its blockade against the Philippines at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal)?
View ArticlePH losing about 60 hectares to China’s land grabbing
China’s land reclamation in four of the Philippine-claimed atolls and reefs in the West Philippine Sea area of the South China Sea, estimated to have reached more than 60 hectares, may have already...
View ArticleChina seen building 3rd airstrip in South China Sea
The dispute over the strategic waterways of the South China Sea has intensified, pitting a rising China against its smaller and militarily weaker neighbors who all lay claim to a string of isles, coral...
View ArticleRestraint urged on Spratlys
Indonesia’s president on Tuesday called for all parties in the South China Sea to exercise restraint and for China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to start discussions on the...
View ArticleAfter arbitral court ruling, PH braces for China’s response
The Philippines will stay on the “diplomatic track” despite warnings by security experts that the decision of a United Nations arbitral court to hear the country’s maritime complaint against China...
View ArticleChina tried to ‘physically expel’ PH
China’s blocking of Philippine ships bringing supplies to Filipino soldiers stationed at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) was a deliberate move to “physically expel” the Philippines and its people...
View ArticleEstrada celebrates PH victory at UN court on sea dispute
"It's time to celebrate," former president and Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada said Tuesdaynight in reaction to the UN arbitral tribunal ruling that China has no historic rights over the waters of...
View ArticleDuterte gov’t cautioned vs talks with China after UN win
A non-profit organization specializing in defense has urged the Duterte administration to think twice about engaging in direct talks with China, saying the Philippines now has the upper hand after it...
View ArticleDuterte warned: China does not respect boundaries in sea dispute
If a nation does not respect our boundaries, how can we trust them as potential partners in joint development? Trident Defense, a non-profit organization specializing in defense gave such caution to...
View Article‘Great wall’ of protection for PH
In finding China's reclamation activities illegal and scoring its destruction of the marine environment, the United Nations’ landmark ruling on entitlements in the disputed South China Sea has created...
View ArticleDFA chief tweets order for immediate filing of new protest against China
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine foreign secretary has ordered via Twitter the immediate filing of a diplomatic protest against China after Chinese coast guard ships reportedly strayed near a...
View ArticleChina Coast Guard ship seen moving back and forth near Ayungin Shoal
MANILA, Philippines — While a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel is in the country for a week-long visit to promote friendship and cooperation, one of its sister ships was spotted moving “back and forth”...
View ArticleChina Coast Guard ‘blocked and water cannoned’ PH supply boats in WPS
MANILA, Philippines — China Coast Guard vessels “blocked and water cannoned” Philippine supply boats on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine...
View Article‘They’re very aggressive’: Esperon says China militia boats escalate presence...
MANILA, Philippines—There was “an unusual presence” of Chinese militia ships near Philippine-occupied Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal for a week when China Coast Guard vessels blocked and fired water...
View ArticleChina asserts it rules PH EEZ, says Filipino boats ‘trespassed’
MANILA, Philippines—China doubled down on its sovereignty claims inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), saying its coast guard was performing “official duties in accordance with the...
View ArticlePH boats return to supply mission after harassment by China
MANILA, Philippines—Philippine supply boats harassed by the China coast guard in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal last week headed back to sea on Monday (Nov. 22) to continue their mission, a week after...
View ArticlePH boats harassed by China complete supply mission
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine boats harassed by China on their way to deliver supplies to Filipino troops have been harassed again but were able to complete their mission, reaching Ayungin (Second...
View ArticleEsperon: PH gov’t studying options on BRP Sierra Madre
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine government is looking at options on what to do with the decrepit BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, which serves as an...
View ArticleLorenzana to China on BRP Sierra Madre: ‘What commitment?’
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has not committed to remove BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea contrary to China’s claims, Defense Secretary Delfin...
View ArticleMalaya: PH is committed to maintaining position at Second Thomas Shoal
The Philippines will continue resupply missions to soldiers stationed in a grounded warship off Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea and China’s attempts to foil them will be met with a response,...
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