News
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FACT CHECK: US and PH Navy did not attack a Chinese Coast Guard ship
SUMMARY Claim: The US Navy and Philippine Navy attacked a Chinese Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook video bearing the claim has gained 1.3 million views, 35,700 reactions, and 3,700 shares as of writing. The video shows soldiers aboard a ship firing at a target not shown […]
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View from Manila: Will the real gentleman – or agreement – please stand up?
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Last week, the Philippines began a “new trilateral chapter” with the United States and Japan – two countries which, once upon a time, were its colonizers. The White House was host to the first-ever trilateral leaders summit between US President Joe Biden, Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and Philippine President Ferdinand […]
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What if Russia wins? What the Ukraine war means for Filipinos
SUMMARY This reporting tour of Ukraine was conducted upon the invitation and with the support of the Ukraine Crisis Media Center, a non-government organization based in Kyiv, with assistance from the Indonesian Association for Media Development, an NGO based in Jakarta. Last of 2 parts Part 1 | The brutality of Ukraine’s fight for existence: […]
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Marcos to Duterte: What did you compromise in ‘secret agreement’ with China?
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has several questions for former president Rodrigo Duterte on his “gentleman’s agreement” with China on Ayungin Shoal, among them, why he kept it a secret to the Filipino people and what the deal entailed. “Para sa akin maliwanag na may tinago – may usapan sila na tinago […]
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US, Japan, Philippines trilateral deal to change dynamic in South China Sea, Marcos says
SUMMARY WASHINGTON/MANILA – A cooperation agreement by the Philippines, the United States, and Japan will change the dynamic in the South China Sea and the region, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday, April 12, while seeking to assure China it was not a target. “I think the trilateral agreement is extremely important,” Marcos […]
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Marcos defends Sara Duterte’s silence on China aggression in West PH Sea
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has defended Vice President Sara Duterte from criticism about her silence over China’s aggression against Philippine government vessels and fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos said in an interview with Philippine media in Washington, where he had attended a trilateral summit with US President Joe Biden […]
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In US meeting, Philippines says it will assert South China Sea rights
SUMMARY WASHINGTON, USA – The Philippines is determined to assert its sovereign rights in the South China Sea, its foreign secretary said on Friday, April 13 at a meeting with US allies to show support for Manila over an increasingly fraught standoff with China in the strategic waterway. Speaking at the US State Department, Philippine […]
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US, Japan, Philippines condemn Beijing’s South China Sea moves in summit
SUMMARY WASHINGTON, USA – Long-simmering tensions between China and its neighbors took center stage on Thursday, April 11, as leaders of the US, Japan and the Philippines met at the White House to push back on Beijing’s stepped-up pressure on Manila in the disputed South China Sea. US President Joe Biden’s administration announced new joint […]
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Biden warns on Beijing’s South China Sea moves in Philippines-Japan summit
SUMMARY WASHINGTON, USA – Long-simmering tensions between China and its neighbors took center stage on Thursday, April 12, as leaders of the US, Japan, and the Philippines gathered at the White House to push back on Beijing’s stepped-up pressure on Manila in the disputed South China Sea. US President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to […]
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[EXPLAINER] South China Sea: Why are China and Philippines tensions heating up?
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – An escalating diplomatic row and recent maritime run-ins between China and the Philippines, a US treaty ally, have made the highly strategic South China Sea a potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing. The issue will be a focus of trilateral meeting between US President Joe Biden, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. […]
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In The Public Square: Are we edging toward armed conflict in the West Philippine Sea?
On February 29, in his address before the Australian parliament, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the Philippines as the “front line” – suggesting that the country is in a battle, quote, “against actions that undermine regional peace.” With China’s increasing use of more aggressive measures such as lasers, water cannons, and even the outright ramming […]
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WATCH: Filipino fisherfolk face fear of China harassment in Recto Bank
PALAWAN, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and 25 Filipino fishing vessels installed fish aggregating devices in Recto Bank – all under the watch of and the occasional harassment from the China Coast Guard. As fisherfolk from Palawan are forced to venture farther and farther away to […]