IMOA
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View from Manila: West Philippine Sea part of ‘most ambitious, complicated’ Balikatan war games
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The navies of the Philippines, United States, and France will sail together in the West Philippine Sea by end-April, as part of the 2024 Exercise Balikatan. It’s just one of many firsts for what US Exercise Director Lieutenant General William Jurney described on Monday, April 22, as the “most effective, most ambitious, and most complicated” version…
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The trilateral boost and Recto Bank
SUMMARY The Philippines has good friends and will not go it alone especially at a time of escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), triggered by China’s reckless and aggressive behavior. That was the resounding message of the first-ever meeting of the heads of states of the US, Japan, and the Philippines, a milestone in the 10-month flurry of trilateral meetings and…
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Philippines thanks G7’s support in rejecting China’s ‘baseless, expansive claims’ in disputed sea
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines expressed its gratitude to the G7 foreign ministers for rejecting China’s “baseless and expansive” claims of the West Philippine Sea. “The Philippines welcomes the G7 Foreign Ministers’ reiteration of their collective commitment to the rule of law and to the rules-based maritime order anchored on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of…
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Año: ‘Gentleman’s agreement’ with China harmful to PH interests, Constitution
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – If proven true, the so-called “gentleman’s agreement” between former president Rodrigo Duterte and China is harmful to Philippine interests and the Constitution, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said on Saturday, April 20. “The President has been very clear: This administration is not aware of any secret or gentleman agreement and if there was such done…
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[Newspoint] The lucky one
SUMMARY Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is one lucky president, indeed, probably luckier than any other – so far, anyway. Gloria Arroyo had her own share of unusually good fortune, stepping up from vice-president to replace an impeached president in midterm (2001), then managing to stay on for a regular six-year term (up to 2010) – by a rigged vote. But after…
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Hindi Ito Marites: Duterte’s ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ with China
Could a secret pact with the Chinese government be the reason why the China Coast Guard now keeps pounding Philippine naval resupply boats with water cannons in the West Philippine Sea? Rodrigo Duterte, former president of the Philippines, apparently forged a “gentlemen’s agreement” with the People’s Republic of China, according to his own former spokesperson, Harry Roque. A Chinese official…
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FACT CHECK: US has engaged with other countries besides PH in South China Sea dispute
SUMMARY Claim: Despite other countries also claiming parts of the South China Sea, the US is engaging only with the Philippines and supporting its pushback against China because the Western superpower has a “hidden agenda” against China. Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook video was uploaded on April 13 by a page with 57,000 followers. As of writing, it has…
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In The Public Square with John Nery: Danger in the gray zone
The United States, Japan, and the Philippines recently concluded their inaugural trilateral summit held in Washington. The landmark event helped to draw attention to other aspects of the maritime conflict with China, where Ayungin Shoal – a feature in the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone – is one of the current flashpoints. In this episode of In…
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Navy to probe reservist Alvarez over call to withdraw support from Marcos
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Navy on Tuesday, April 16, said it ordered an investigation into remarks made by one of its reservists, Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, who had called on the military to “withdraw [their] support” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over his policy in the West Philippine Sea. “We take exception to the…
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US, China officials discuss Middle East, Taiwan, South China Sea
SUMMARY WASHINGTON, USA – The top US diplomat for East Asia discussed Middle East developments, the South China Sea and Taiwan issues with Chinese counterparts in Beijing, the State Department said on Monday, April 15, the latest effort by the two countries to stabilize rocky ties. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink met with…