IMOA
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Impunity in the South China Sea
With the government either defending, justifying or simply doing nothing about China’s aggressive actions, the country’s giant neighbor has become even bolder to pursue its “creeping invasion” of the disputed territories in the South China Sea. After occupying, reclaiming and building virtual military bases with airstrips, radar equipment and other installations on several disputed islands […]
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DFA hits ‘illegal’ deployment of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa Island
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called as illegal the Chinese vessels swarming around Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Thursday, the DFA said Pag-asa, seat of the Kalayaan municipal government under the province of Palawan, “is an integral part of the […]
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Chinese vessels near Pag-asa part of geopolitics, Duterte says
MANILA, Philippines — Addressing concerns over the presence of Chinese ships in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte said the vessels are not directed at the country. He added the Philippines will not allow China to occupy the island, which is part of Palawan. The military earlier confirmed […]
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South China Sea: Fears of an INVASION as 200 Chinese militia vessels swarm disputed waters
SOUTH China Sea tensions surged after Beijing sent more than 200 militia vessels to the disputed waters, sparking major concerns they are about to launch an undeclared invasion. The Philippines has condemned China for swarming the waters near a Philippine-based island in the contested seas. According to news.com.au, around 275 vessels were spotted close to […]
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South China Sea: Duterte warns Beijing of ‘suicide missions’ to protect disputed island
A military handout photo of Thitu island, also known as Pag-asa, in 2015. Photograph: PAO,AFP,GHQ/Handout Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of “suicide missions” if China touches it. Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from China, has mostly withheld […]
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tells China to ‘lay off’ island in disputed South China Sea
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told China on Thursday to “lay off” an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea and said he would deploy his soldiers there if Beijing touches it. Duterte’s remarks, which he said was not a warning but rather a word of advice to a friend, follow a statement […]
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Freedom-of-navigation ops will not dent Beijing’s South China Sea claims, experts say
The guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy transits the South China Sea in February 2018. It’s too late to constrain China’s creeping militarization and sovereignty claims over dozens of islands and reefs in the South and East China seas, experts say. China’s island-building and militarization efforts began early this decade. It now claims dozens of islands […]
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‘After Philippines protest, best for Chinese fishermen to leave’
MANILA, Philippines — Chinese fishermen around Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea should start leaving the area following the diplomatic protest filed by the Philippine government, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday. “Can you tell me what is — what other strong message can you give to them, except to leave the place,” Panelo […]
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Duterte sees China as a menacing friend, ever since US failed to deliver promised arms
Manila seeks to maintain close ties with Beijing despite any potential tensions in the disputed South China Sea, President Duterte said, emphasizing that the Philippines and China have no issues that can’t be resolved politically. “If I go to war my Navy will be crushed in a matter of minutes. If I wage a war […]
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Philippines protests China’s swarm of vessels in South China Sea
The Philippines has protested the presence of more than 200 Chinese vessels that were sighted from January to March near a Philippine-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea, officials said. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Department of Foreign Affairs lodged the protest after the military monitored about 275 Chinese vessels near Thitu island, […]