October 2023

  • South Korea, India rebuke Beijing over South China Sea claims

    WASHINGTON — South Korea and India have joined the U.S., Japan and European countries in supporting the Philippines in its maritime disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea, as China’s recent use of water cannon against a Philippine resupply ship creates a global backlash. U.S. President Joe Biden convened a historic three-way summit with […]

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  • Philippines rejects China’s humanitarian claims in Ayungin mission

    MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines dismissed the China Coast Guard’s claims of humanitarian consideration in delivering essential provisions to troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre, stressing that Chinese ships still used “dangerous maneuvers” to block boats on a resupply mission. The Philippines on Tuesday completed a resupply mission to the remote outpost in Ayungin Shoal […]

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  • Philippine supply boats breach a Chinese coast guard blockade in the hotly contested South China Sea

    ABOARD BRP CABRA (AP) — As a United States Navy plane circled overhead, two Philippine boats breached a Chinese coast guard blockade in a dangerous confrontation Tuesday in the disputed South China Sea to deliver food and other supplies to Filipino forces guarding a contested shoal. Two Philippine coast guard vessels escorting the supply boats, […]

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  • Philippines, Aussie joint maritime patrols in South China Sea approved

    MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos and the Australian government have approved plans to conduct joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea. “We are still planning the details but in essence, (the joint patrol) has been approved by the President and the Australian leadership,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) […]

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  • PH, UK commit to further strengthen defense, maritime cooperation, other partnerships

    Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29) — The Philippines and the United Kingdom on Tuesday signed a joint statement of intent to affirm their commitment to “further elevate” defense, security, and maritime cooperation, among others. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly signed the document to upgrade the UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership, […]

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  • India lodges strong protest with China over map claiming ‘India’s territory’

    NEW DELHI, Aug 29 (Reuters) – India said on Tuesday that it had lodged a strong protest with China over a new map that lays claim to India’s territory, the latest irritant in testy ties between the Asian giants. The protest by New Delhi followed reports in the Indian media that Beijing had released an […]

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  • Duterte wants to stop joint patrols in West PH Sea

    MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants to stop joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) even after an arbitral tribunal had ruled in favor of the country’s legal claim over the territory. “We will not join any expedition or patrolling. I will not allow it because I do […]

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  • China’s new ’10-dash line map’ eats into Philippine territory

    The Philippines has protested China’s recent publication of a new “10-dash line” map that places sprawling offshore territories it claims within Beijing’s “national boundaries,” officials said Friday. In a confidential June 7, 2013 note verbale handed to the Chinese Embassy in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it “protests the reference to those […]

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  • Malaysia rejects new Chinese ‘standard map’ over South China Sea claims

    KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia rejected on Wednesday a new Chinese map that claims waters off Malaysia’s coast in the South China Sea, in the latest war of words over Beijing’s assertiveness in the waterway. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea – through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually – […]

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  • India wants to expand naval engagement with PH

    MANILA — India seeks to expand naval interaction with the Philippines as the two nation’s priorities align in keeping a free and stable Indo-Pacific region. In a press briefing on Friday, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran said he sees opportunities for cooperation in the naval domain as defense is a “relatively new area” […]

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