News
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[OPINION] China resurrects its false claims on the South China Sea islands
SUMMARY China’s most mind-boggling claim to the South China Sea is the nine-dash line, which encloses about 85.7% of the waters of the South China Sea. China’s narrative is that it owned all the islands, oil, gas, fish and other resources within the nine-dash line 2,000 years ago. Never mind that it was only in the mid-20th century that people learned oil…
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China insists on PH vow to tow grounded ship
MANILA, Philippines — China on Tuesday reiterated its earlier claim that the Philippines had promised to take out the World War II-era warship it had grounded since 1999 at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal — prompting an official to assert the contrary and question Beijing’s credibility about its claim. Beijing also repeated its exhortation to Manila to stop its resupply mission…
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Old US ship home to Filipinos in China standoff
ABOARD BRP SIERRA MADRE, Spratly Islands (AP) — On board the crumbling carcass of this World War II-era warship, Filipino marine 1st Lt. Mike Pelotera and his eight men make their way to a mid-level deck to raise the Philippine flag up a leaning pole and then salute it. Across the calm, turquoise waters, two Chinese coast guard ships lurk,…
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China ‘unreachable’ during water cannon incident in West Philippine Sea – DFA
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) — The Philippines could not reach China when it tried to contact Beijing through the hotline established between the two countries when Chinese vessels fired water cannon and blocked Philippine boats at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. “The DFA also expressed our…
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Pro-China ‘political elite’ in the Philippines enables Chinese aggression in WPS — expert
MANILA, Philippines — Efforts of the “political elite” in the Philippines to gain greater influence with the Chinese government have contributed to the apparent failure of bilateral talks to deter Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a political analyst said. Political scientist Cleve Arguelles said this is most recently illustrated in China’s water cannon attack on members of the…
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‘Stop bullying us’: Duterte ally Go hits China after water canon incident in West PH Sea
MANILA (UPDATED) — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday urged China to “stop bullying” the Philippines after a Chinese Coast Guard ship used a water canon against a Philippine vessel delivering supplies to Ayungin shoal. “Kinukondena po natin ito… Stop bullying us,” said Go, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who forged closer ties with Beijing. Read More–>‘Stop…
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US: China’s water cannon attack in WPS ‘threatening regional peace and stability’
MANILA, Philippines — The United States on Sunday said it stands with the Philippines after the China Coast Guard (CCG) fired a water cannon at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and military supply ship bound for Ayungin Shoal, calling the attack a threat to regional peace and stability. ADVERTISEMENT In a statement, the US Department of State said that the…
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U.S. Support for the Philippines in the South China Sea
The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of dangerous actions by the Coast Guard and maritime militia of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to obstruct an August 5 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking maneuvers, PRC ships interfered with the Philippines’ lawful…
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Senate Resolution 718: An act of patriotism
From what we hear, the meeting that took place between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former president Rodrigo Duterte last Wednesday was very good and cordial, and one of the issues discussed was the recent meeting of former president Duterte with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing last July 17. President Bongbong had earlier expressed hopes that the meeting between…
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Philippines, US expected to start joint patrols in West Philippine Sea by year-end — NSC
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is set to conduct joint patrol operations with the United States before the end of 2023, according to an official from the National Security Council (NSC). In a report by GMA news program “24 Oras”, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said that some logistical issues are still being addressed but he is optimistic that…
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Carpio wants Chinese company banned from PH
Chinese Communication Construction Co. (CCCC), which currently has several projects in the Philippines, should be banned from doing business in the country, retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said. Carpio told the Inquirer on Friday that the China state-owned company was allegedly involved in Manila’s maritime conflict with Beijing in the South China Sea. Read MCarpio wants Chinese company banned…
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UNGA adopts PH-led measure recognizing PCA’s role in dispute settlement
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) — The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution spearheaded by the Philippines, which recognizes the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s crucial role in the peaceful settlement of international disputes. “PH spearheaded this campaign, together with core group members Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary, and Thailand,” said PCA Administrative Council’s acting president and Philippine…