News
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Rodrigo Duterte defends China ties in telecoms deal
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s office on Wednesday defended a controversial deal to allow a China-backed telecoms company to set up communications facilities on military bases, rejecting opponents’ warnings that it could compromise national security. The Armed Forces of the Philippines last week signed a memorandum of agreement with Dito Telecommunity Corp, the country’s new telecoms provider, to build and…
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DND: China Coast Guard blocked PH vessels in Ayungin Shoal
MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese Coast Guard ship had blocked the path of three Philippine civilian vessels on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. This was revealed in a document submitted September 13 by the Department of National Defense (DND) to Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, who earlier…
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‘Futile’ to raise PH, China maritime dispute before UN: Palace
MANILA- Malacañang dismissed Wednesday the call of the Philippines former top diplomat Albert del Rosario to raise Manila’s legal victory against Beijing over the South China Sea as world leaders gather at the 74th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. It would be “futile” to bring up the 2016 ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the…
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Pentagon Steps Up Efforts to Counter China’s Rising Power
Fifth of a series THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) under President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s watch, then headed by Albert del Rosario, practically offered to drop our decades-old claim over Sabah against Malaysia in exchange for Kuala Lumpur’s support in the Philippines’ arbitration suit filed against China in 2013. This was disclosed by high-ranking former and current DFA officials…
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Pentagon Steps Up Efforts to Counter China’s Rising Power
Maritime operations, missile tests, landing exercises: the Pentagon has been sharply stepping up its efforts to counter China’s growing military power, seen increasingly as a threat. On Friday an American warship approached the Paracel Islands, an island chain claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea, to affirm international “freedom of navigation” in the region. The USS Wayne E.…
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Ex-DFA chief: Phl should present SCS ruling before UN
MANILA, Philippines — Addressing the United Nations General Assembly next week will be an excellent opportunity for the country to seek the help of the international community in compelling China to comply with the 2016 ruling of an arbitral court on the South China Sea issue, former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said. The 74th regular session of…
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Duterte stressed need for sea code of conduct to Chinese communist party execs — Go
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte underscored the importance of having a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea during his meeting with the officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Senator Bong Go revealed Tuesday. “The President emphasized the need to fast track the Asean-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea so everybody…
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Re, “The problem with China is the USA”
Thank you Sir for mentioning my reaction letter to your column titled “60-40 or all-or-nothing” last September 13, 2019, in your today’s column (September 16, 2019) titled “The Problem with China is the USA). I know you have other important subject matters to take up in your column, but please allow me to make further enlightenment on the viability…
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The Philippines Kowtows to Beijing in South China Sea
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on September 9 that the Philippines would undertake a joint deal with China to extract oil and gas from Reed Bank, a region of the South China Sea that lies in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled in 2016 against China’s claims of ownership over Reed…
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Beware of China giving gifts: The risk of joint development of the South China Sea resources
A few weeks after his fifth visit to China, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte claimed that Chinese President Xi Jingping offered him a controlling stake in a proposed joint energy exploration in the West Philippine Sea if the Philippines would set aside the 2016 United Nation Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) award that invalidated China’s historic claim…
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South China Sea threat: Beijing building new military facilities in disputed region
CHINA is building new military facilities on disputed islands in the South China Sea amid fears it is stepping put its militarisation of the strategically important waterway, a US think-tank has warned. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, part of Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said new satellite images revealed missile shelters and radar and communications facilities were…
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DND chief unaware of telecom project in military camps
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was not aware of the signing of an agreement that would allow a China-backed telecommunications firm to build its communication facilities inside Philippine military camps, Malacañang said yesterday. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Lorenzana would look into the agreement signed last Wednesday by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Dito Telecommunity,…