News
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US voices ‘concern’ over Chinese activities in disputed waters
BANGKOK — The presence of large numbers of Chinese vessels near islands and islets occupied by the Philippines is “a concern,” a senior U.S. defense official said Friday. The Philippine government protested the Chinese ship movements Thursday after its military monitored more than 200 Chinese vessels from January-March in a disputed area named Sandy Cay, which is near the Philippine-occupied…
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In snub, U.S. won’t send warships or senior officials to Chinese Navy’s 70th anniversary celebrations
The United States has decided not to send warships or senior military officers to celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy later this month, a snub by Washington even as U.S. allies Japan and South Korea are expected to send their own vessels and officials. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn told The…
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Navy Amphib Sails Through South China Sea with a Bunch of F-35s Aboard
The Navy and Marine Corps appear to be testing a concept that would turn an amphibious assault ship into a mini-aircraft carrier — and they did so while sailing through the contentious South China Sea. The amphibious assault ship Wasp made its way to the Philippines last weekend with at least 10 F-35B Joint Strike Fighter jets aboard. That’s nearly…
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Philippines mulls bringing South China Sea dispute to UN as Hague ruling fails to deter Beijing
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte may take the country’s fight for disputed islands in the South China Sea to the United Nations if Beijing blocks Manila’s access to Thitu Island. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte may raise before the UN General Assembly the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration if bilateral negotiations did not lead to a solution.…
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Impunity in the South China Sea
With the government either defending, justifying or simply doing nothing about China’s aggressive actions, the country’s giant neighbor has become even bolder to pursue its “creeping invasion” of the disputed territories in the South China Sea. After occupying, reclaiming and building virtual military bases with airstrips, radar equipment and other installations on several disputed islands in the last few years,…
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DFA hits ‘illegal’ deployment of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa Island
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called as illegal the Chinese vessels swarming around Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Thursday, the DFA said Pag-asa, seat of the Kalayaan municipal government under the province of Palawan, “is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has…
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Chinese vessels near Pag-asa part of geopolitics, Duterte says
MANILA, Philippines — Addressing concerns over the presence of Chinese ships in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte said the vessels are not directed at the country. He added the Philippines will not allow China to occupy the island, which is part of Palawan. The military earlier confirmed that hundreds of Chinese vessels,…
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South China Sea: Fears of an INVASION as 200 Chinese militia vessels swarm disputed waters
SOUTH China Sea tensions surged after Beijing sent more than 200 militia vessels to the disputed waters, sparking major concerns they are about to launch an undeclared invasion. The Philippines has condemned China for swarming the waters near a Philippine-based island in the contested seas. According to news.com.au, around 275 vessels were spotted close to Thitu island, which is part…
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South China Sea: Duterte warns Beijing of ‘suicide missions’ to protect disputed island
A military handout photo of Thitu island, also known as Pag-asa, in 2015. Photograph: PAO,AFP,GHQ/Handout Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of “suicide missions” if China touches it. Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from China, has mostly withheld his early criticism of Beijing’s…
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tells China to ‘lay off’ island in disputed South China Sea
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told China on Thursday to “lay off” an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea and said he would deploy his soldiers there if Beijing touches it. Duterte’s remarks, which he said was not a warning but rather a word of advice to a friend, follow a statement made by the foreign affairs…
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Freedom-of-navigation ops will not dent Beijing’s South China Sea claims, experts say
The guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy transits the South China Sea in February 2018. It’s too late to constrain China’s creeping militarization and sovereignty claims over dozens of islands and reefs in the South and East China seas, experts say. China’s island-building and militarization efforts began early this decade. It now claims dozens of islands and reefs in the Paracel…
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‘After Philippines protest, best for Chinese fishermen to leave’
MANILA, Philippines — Chinese fishermen around Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea should start leaving the area following the diplomatic protest filed by the Philippine government, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday. “Can you tell me what is — what other strong message can you give to them, except to leave the place,” Panelo said when asked about the…