News
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Philippines, Aussie joint maritime patrols in South China Sea approved
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos and the Australian government have approved plans to conduct joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea. “We are still planning the details but in essence, (the joint patrol) has been approved by the President and the Australian leadership,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.…
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PH, UK commit to further strengthen defense, maritime cooperation, other partnerships
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29) — The Philippines and the United Kingdom on Tuesday signed a joint statement of intent to affirm their commitment to “further elevate” defense, security, and maritime cooperation, among others. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly signed the document to upgrade the UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership, which was launched in 2021,…
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India lodges strong protest with China over map claiming ‘India’s territory’
NEW DELHI, Aug 29 (Reuters) – India said on Tuesday that it had lodged a strong protest with China over a new map that lays claim to India’s territory, the latest irritant in testy ties between the Asian giants. The protest by New Delhi followed reports in the Indian media that Beijing had released an official “standard map” showing the…
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Duterte wants to stop joint patrols in West PH Sea
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants to stop joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) even after an arbitral tribunal had ruled in favor of the country’s legal claim over the territory. “We will not join any expedition or patrolling. I will not allow it because I do not want my country to…
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China’s new ’10-dash line map’ eats into Philippine territory
The Philippines has protested China’s recent publication of a new “10-dash line” map that places sprawling offshore territories it claims within Beijing’s “national boundaries,” officials said Friday. In a confidential June 7, 2013 note verbale handed to the Chinese Embassy in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it “protests the reference to those dash lines as China’s national…
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Malaysia rejects new Chinese ‘standard map’ over South China Sea claims
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia rejected on Wednesday a new Chinese map that claims waters off Malaysia’s coast in the South China Sea, in the latest war of words over Beijing’s assertiveness in the waterway. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea – through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually – despite an international court ruling…
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India wants to expand naval engagement with PH
MANILA — India seeks to expand naval interaction with the Philippines as the two nation’s priorities align in keeping a free and stable Indo-Pacific region. In a press briefing on Friday, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran said he sees opportunities for cooperation in the naval domain as defense is a “relatively new area” of engagement between New Delhi…
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Imee on China’s ’10-dash line’ in new map: ‘Hindi natin tinatanggap’
Sen. Imee Marcos has criticized China’s new standard map for including a “10-dash line” that extends its claims in the disputed South China Sea, saying it is unacceptable not only for the Philippines but other neighboring countries. The lawmaker and sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. was asked about the topic on the sidelines of the graduation rites of the…
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Chinese Coast Guard water cannon attack on Vietnamese fishing boat leaves 2 injured
Two Vietnamese fishermen were injured when a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at their boat near the contested Paracel Islands, the latest casualties in China’s aggressive campaign to expand its control in the South China Sea. Tuesday’s incident, ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Vietnam on Sept. 10, happened as the fishing boat was moving…
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Philippine, US navies hold bilateral sail in Palawan
The Philippine Navy and the United States Navy are now conducting a bilateral sail in the Philippine waters west of Palawan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Monday. In a statement, the AFP said the AFP Western Command’s Naval Task Force 41 and the US 7th fleet will carry out a Division Tactics rehearsal to enhance the…
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How To Decode China’s Imperial Map —And Stop It From Becoming Reality
China has mapped out its imperial ambitions—literally. Last Monday, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources released its new “standard map,” which includes not only Taiwan, but also parts of the maritime zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It also includes land that China disputes with India—and even some Russian territory. China’s map release is an annual event, which…
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Duterte: Jet ski promise just a campaign joke, stupid
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte admitted on Monday that his 2016 pledge to ride a jet ski to the Spratly Islands and plant a Philippine flag there was a “pure campaign joke,” calling those who believed him “stupid.” “Panahon ‘yan sa kampanya ‘yan. At saka ‘yung biro na ‘yun, ‘yung bravado ko, it was a pure campaign joke at…