News
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Pride and dignity
I have always maintained that our economic future lies with China which is poised to become the world’s largest economy with a per capita income of $22,000 by 2028. But it doesn’t mean we should eschew our historical and economic relations with the people who have stood with us before for a longer period – the US and EU. This…
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Philippines: Duterte Faces Potential Impeachment Over Fishing Controversy In South China Sea
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte could be impeached for appearing to give Chinese fishing boats a green light to enter South China Sea waters that are internationally recognized as lying within Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), analysts and officials said Wednesday. Duterte, an ally of China’s president, suggested earlier this week that due to a need to preserve friendly relations with…
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Lacson seeks ‘balance of power’ in S. China Sea
MANILA – Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said the United States must keep China in check in the South China Sea in order to maintain the “balance of power” in the region, as the Asian power continues to assert its dominance over other claimants in the resources-rich waterway. Lacson had earlier called on the Philippines to invoke its Mutual Defense…
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South China Sea: Philippine leader caves to China amid calls for impeachment
CHINA appear to have succeeded in their diplomatic battle over the South China Sea after a prominent politician in the Philippines supported Chinese fishermen – leading to calls for President Duterte’s impeachment. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that he sees no issue with Chinese fishermen venturing into private Philippine waters – despite his country having exclusive rights to their…
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PHL not waiving EEZ rights in South China Sea to Beijing
The Philippines is not waiving its rights to exclusive waters in the South China Sea, President Duterte said on Thursday, walking back on an earlier stance allowing Chinese fishing that some officials said was unconstitutional. “The President will not relinquish our sovereign rights over our country’s exclusive economic zone,” President Duterte’s Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a news statement early…
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‘Our people should have primacy over China’: Del Rosario
MANILA – Two former senior government officials on Thursday said they are not against President Rodrigo Duterte but are only after demanding accountability from China in the West Philippine Sea. “I would like to say to him that we are here not to oppose his policies, but we are here to encourage him to do what is right for…
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Germany may join US in opposing China by sending warship through Taiwan Strait, breaking decades of military non-confrontation
Germany is considering a break from decades of military non-confrontation. High ranking officials are contemplating sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait – joining the United States and France in challenging Beijing’s claims to what the West regards as an international waterway. If Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government actually goes ahead, it will be a remarkable revision of its we-keep-out-of-conflict…
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Duterte: It’s OK to let China fishermen in PH waters
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to meet China halfway in the territorial dispute in the South China Sea and allow the Chinese to fish in Philippine waters, his spokesperson said on Tuesday. The President was asked on Monday night whether Manila would bar Chinese fishermen from Philippine waters after a Filipino boat sank in the South…
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Duterte can face impeach raps over Chinese fishers in PH waters: analyst
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte can face a fresh impeachment complaint if government agencies implement his pronouncement that Chinese fishers can venture into Manila’s waters, a maritime law expert said Wednesday. “Kung mangyari po iyun, i-implement nila iyan dahil sa statement ng Pangulo, pwede po siyang kasuhan ng impeachment,” said Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines…
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China’s intrusion worsens fish catch decline – watchdog
MANILA, Philippines — An environmental advocacy group has warned that local fisheries production might not recover soon with President Duterte’s stand allowing China to continue fishing within Philippine territorial waters. International organization Oceana said the executive department’s task is to enforce the law and prosecute violators, which is mandatory and not discretionary. “Is he not worried that soon there…
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Carpio says allowing China to fish in Philippine EEZ unconstitutional
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) — Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said it is unconstitutional for the Philippine government to allow Chinese fishermen to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. “The Philippines has exclusive sovereign right to exploit all the fish, oil, gas and other mineral resources in its Exclusive…
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Gordon to China: Abandoning our fishermen is the issue
MANILA, Philippines — “Whether it is an accident or an intentional collision is beside the point. The crux of the matter is you (China) left the fishermen in peril of the sea.” Senator Richard Gordon said this on Wednesday in reaction to China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang remark that the Recto Bank incident was an “accidental collision.” “The issue…