News
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US senators ask Trump gov’t to counter Beijing’s behavior in South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines — US senators called on the Trump administration to do more in countering China’s aggressive activities in the disputed South China Sea. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) asked US State Secretary Mike Pompeo to prioritize discussions on the South China Sea in the […]
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China to Philippines: ‘We won’t take the first shot’
MANILA, Philippines – Amid criticism of its growing military presence in the South China Sea, China’s ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua claimed Beijing would “not take the first shot,” as he appealed to claimant countries to “be patient” when settling disputes. In a speech celebrating the 92nd anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army on Monday […]
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Duterte’s ‘agreement’ with China
MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) – One of the things many Filipinos have been waiting to hear from him is his explanation of what is right and just about the way he has handled China’s intrusion into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. He promised to give his Sona audience […]
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Defense chief: Chinese envoy denies aircraft carrier sailed past Tawi-Tawi
MANILA, Philippines — Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that it was not true that Chinese aircraft carrier CV-16 Liaoning passed through Philippine waters recently. Lorenzana and Zhao met during President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address last week. “According to him (Zhao), Liaoning did not pass through Sibutu Strait […]
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Duterte tells Coast Guard: Make sure Batanes will remain ours
MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine Coast Guard Sunday to patrol the islands of Batanes to ensure that it “will remain ours.” The President said the Coast Guard can patrol the islands from “time to time,” noting that it is the responsibility of the government to preserve the country. “You might want to […]
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Military exercises conducted in waters near Taiwan
China has started military exercises in both the East and South China Seas near coastal areas, according to two navigation restriction notices released by maritime safety authorities on Sunday and Monday. The military exercises in the East China Sea started at 6 pm on Sunday, and is scheduled to conclude at 6 pm on […]
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Vietnam briefs India about Chinese action in South China Sea
An attempt by China in 2014 to drill oil in the Paracel islands, claimed by Vietnam, had led to anti-China riots in Vietnam in which several Chinese factories were vandalised. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/vietnam-briefs-india-about-chinese-action-in-south-china-sea/articleshow/70436158.cms
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‘WPS is ours… no ifs and buts’
During his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22, President Duterte made it very clear that “… the West Philippine Sea is ours. There [are] no ifs and buts. It is ours… we have been acting [applause] along that legal truth and line. But we have to temper it with the times […]
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China deploys J-20 stealth fighter ‘to keep tabs on Taiwan’
Aircraft could also be used to counterbalance Japanese and US military activities in the region, analysts say China’s J-20 stealth fighter has been officially deployed to the country’s Eastern Theatre Command, suggesting it will be focused on the Taiwan Strait and military activities between Japan and the United States, observers said. The People’s Liberation Army […]
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LOOK: Image shows Chinese aircraft carrier passed Philippine waters
MANILA, Philippines – It appears the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning did pass Philippine waters after all, based on a map tracking the warship’s passage published by several Taiwanese media outfits. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters on Thursday, July 25, that Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua denied reports that the Liaoning passed Sibutu Strait in […]
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U.S. Coast Guard calls for push-back vs. China; PH pulls back
MANILA, Philippines – To counter China’s increasingly aggressive moves to dominate the Asia-Pacific, the US Coast Guard (USCG) called on countries to “push back” as it increases its own presence in the region. “I think there needs to be an international push-back to say you know, we reject the types of behaviors, the antagonistic, […]
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China-Philippines war over South China Sea? Duterte is fear mongering, says Hague tribunal point man Florin Hilbay
Claims that China will go to war with the Philippines if Manila stands up to Beijing’s “bullying” in the South China Sea are nothing but fear mongering by President Rodrigo Duterte. That’s the view of the man who led the Philippines to victory three years ago when an international tribunal ruled against Beijing’s territorial […]