News
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2 Chinese vessels shadowed PH, US ships – Philippine military
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Two Chinese navy vessels shadowed Philippine and US ships conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea, the Philippine military said on Thursday, January 4 as tensions flare in the region over disputed territorial claims. “We confirm the presence of two PLA-N (People’s Liberation Army Navy) vessels from a distance shadowing […]
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Philippines, US hold 2nd joint maritime patrol in West Philippine Sea
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and United States have commenced the second iteration of a joint maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Wednesday, January 3. From January 3 to 4, the AFP and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) will conduct passing exercises, […]
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FACT CHECK: PH, US navy did not ‘destroy’ 350 illegal Chinese vessels
SUMMARY Claim: A video claims that joint maritime military forces from the United States and the Philippines destroyed 350 illegal Chinese vessels attempting a voyage to Scarborough Shoal. Why we fact-checked this: This claim was made in a Youtube video posted on December 19 with the title, “Brutal attack! 350 illegal China vessels destroy by […]
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ASEAN foreign ministers express concern over South China Sea tensions
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Foreign ministers of Southeast Asia’s regional bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Saturday, December 30, expressed their concern over growing tensions in the South China Sea which they said could threaten regional peace and urged for peaceful dialogue among parties. “We closely follow with concern the recent developments in the South China […]
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[Hindi Ito Marites] The new joint patrols: ‘Maritime Cooperation Activity’
May bagong terminong ginagamit ang mga opisyal patungkol sa joint military patrols sa West Philippine Sea: “Maritime Cooperation Activity.” Ayon kay Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug, may bagong aspektong kaakibat ang mga maritime patrol na ito: air cover. Ngayong taon, nanumbalik ang joint maritime patrols ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos, at nagsimula naman ang sa pagitan […]
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PH actions in South China Sea ‘extremely dangerous’ – Chinese state media
SUMMARY BEIJING, China – Chinese state media accused the Philippines on Monday, December 25, of repeatedly infringing on China’s territory in the South China Sea, spreading false information and colluding with extraterritorial forces to cause trouble. The Philippines has relied on US support to continually provoke China, with such “extremely dangerous” behavior seriously harming regional […]
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US ship conducts navigation operation near Second Thomas Shoal
A U.S. naval ship conducted Monday the first known freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, a move condemned by China as “illegal.” “On December 4, the USS Giffords littoral combat ship trespassed into the waters adjacent to Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands without the […]
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[ANALYSIS] China’s increased coercive activities in the WPS: Recalibrating the PH’s security response
In the past few weeks, the tension arising from China’s coercive tactics at the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has escalated. At the Second Thomas Shoal last November 10, 38 Chinese vessels swarmed around the adjacent waters; water cannons along with reckless maneuvers were employed to harass our vessels involved in the resupply mission. In a […]
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Civilian mission to West PH Sea turns back after China’s ‘constant shadowing’
MANILA, Philippines – A historic civilian-led convoy to the West Philippine Sea won’t be pushing through after all, following the “constant shadowing” of China vessels, and the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) use of water cannons against Philippine vessels during a military resupply mission to a shoal nearby, some 105 nautical miles off the coast of […]
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PH tycoon cautious on 2024 growth outlook amid West PH Sea dispute
MANILA, Philippines -Billionaire Teresita Sy-Coson, head of the shopping mall and banking giant SM Investments Corp., is cautiously optimistic about growth in 2024 as spiking tensions in the West Philippine Sea temper the robust economic outlook. “Left to ourselves, we are going to do well but there are geopolitical tensions and climate change,” Coson, who […]
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Marcos: PH working to resolve WPS row for new energy exploration projects
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 17) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration is striving to settle the West Philippine Sea dispute so that new energy exploration projects could begin before the Malampaya gas field starts to run dry. “We are still at a deadlock right now. It is in a conflict area. So, […]
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China warns Philippines against South China Sea ‘miscalculation’
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippines that any miscalculation in their escalating dispute in the South China Sea would bring a resolute response, and urged dialogue to address “serious difficulties” between the two neighbors. Beijing and Manila have traded sharp accusations in recent months over a succession of run-ins in the […]