News
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Fighters, bombers from China-controlled reefs have whole Philippines in range
Fighter and bomber planes launched from reefs that China reportedly equipped with missile systems and military facilities have within their range not just the entire Philippines but nearby countries as well. According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras”, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said aircraft from Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief reefs may also reach Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam,…
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South China Sea: Beijing attacked by US for ‘truly disturbing’ missile test in waters
US OFFICIALS savaged Beijing for carrying out a “truly disturbing” missile test in the hotly disputed South China Sea. The Pentagon issued the ardent message to its counterparts in China following the Chinese government conducting ballistic missile testing in the waters. In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dave Eastburn said one anti-ship weapon was seen in the waters within…
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Commentary: The Reed Bank incident and the crisis in Philippines’ China policy
Just before midnight on June 9, a Chinese fishing vessel rammed and partially sank a wooden Filipino fishing boat, the F/B Gem-Vir 1, then anchored at Reed Bank in the South China Sea. After the collision, the Chinese vessel reportedly turned off its signal lights and sailed away as the Filipino boat sank. The 22 Filipino fishers were forced to…
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Carpio: Duterte-Xi fishing deal unconstitutional and lopsided
The agreement between President Duterte and China’s President Xi Jinping allowing Chinese fishermen into the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is not only unconstitutional but also lopsided and could lead to a rapid drop in Philippine fish supply, according to Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. In a statement on Thursday night, Carpio said Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.…
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PCG-Marina report pins down China crew; raps pushed
MANILA, Philippines — The government should file cases against the Chinese vessel that caused the sinking of the Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver 1 and then abandoned its 22 crew members in the open sea, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said after details of an official report on the incident were made public on Saturday. “The fact is very clear that they were…
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Duterte’s Opponents Are The Chief Warmongers in East Asia
Under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, The Philippines has experienced an upturn in its economic fortunes with both Asian and western investors looking at the potential of a consistently growing ASEAN economy that is both ideally located as well as being home to a young widely English speaking population that is hungry for new opportunities. Duterte’s foreign partnership model…
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Duterte dares US to fire ‘first shot’ at China
President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday challenged US to fire the “first shot” at China and “assemble all their armaments there in South China Sea.” “Ngayon sabi ko, dalhin mo ‘yang lahat ng eroplano mo, barko mo dito sa China, fire the first shot at nandito kami sa likod. Sige, laban tayo kung sinong mapulpog. Totoo. America,” Duterte said during the…
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China denies South China Sea missile tests
BEIJING – China’s Defense Ministry on Friday denied US accusations that the Chinese military had recently carried out missile tests in the disputed South China Sea, saying instead that they had held routine drills that involved the firing of live ammunition. The Pentagon said on Tuesday the missile launch was “disturbing” and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not…
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China fishing deal seen as preliminary to more talks
CABINET Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles called a 2016 verbal agreement on fishing rights at Reed Bank between President Rodrigo R. Duterte and China’s Xi Jinping a preliminary step to a more formalized deal, as members of the government aired conflicting positions on the validity of the arrangement. Mr. Nograles also acknowledged Wednesday that the filing of impeachment charges over…
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US stands by obligations to PH under MDT – envoy
MANILA, Philippines — The United States will “stand by” its obligations to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said on Wednesday. “Under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), all I can say is to refer to what [U.S.] Secretary of State [Mike] Pompeo made very clear during his visit to the Philippines…
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U.P. marine scientists: ‘West Philippine Sea is for Filipinos’
MANILA, Philippines– The country’s top center for marine sciences on Tuesday, July 2, urged the Philippine government to safeguard the exclusive rights of Filipinos to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). (READ: Sovereignty vs sovereign rights: What do we have in West PH Sea?) Citing the economic, ecological, and food security of current and future Filipino generations, the University…
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‘Conventional war is dead’ Expert says West is ‘wasting money’ on weapon systems
THE West is “wasting money” developing high-tech weapons systems in a world where “conventional war is dead” and a new type of “sneaky” conflict is looming, a US-based defence expert has said, citing China’s activity in the South China Sea region and Russia’s in the Ukraine. Dr Sean McFate made his remarks during a conference organised by the Washington-based Carnegie…