News
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France challenges China by sending warships to South China Sea
France is increasing its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, sending warships through the South China Sea and planning air exercises to help counter China’s military build-up in disputed waters. In late May, the French assault ship Dixmude and a frigate sailed through the disputed Spratly Islands and around a group of reefs that China has turned into islets to…
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Chinese missile launchers reappear on disputed South China Sea island
(CNN)A series of Chinese missile systems have reappeared on a disputed island in the South China Sea, days after satellite imagery appeared to show they had been removed. The initial discovery of their disappearance was made by ImageSat International (ISI) in early June, who provided images showing bare sand where previously there had been a large number of missile launchers.…
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Military expert: Chinese plane that landed in PH was here to probe
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) — The Chinese plane that refuelled in Davao City was here to probe the Philippines, a military historian warned on Tuesday. Security expert Jose Custodio told CNN Philippines’ The Source that it was a way for the eastern giant to “see how our reactions would be.” “They could have refuelled in those artificial…
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Despite strong words, the US has few options left to reverse China’s gains in the South China Sea
At a top regional security forum on Saturday, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said China’s recent militarisation efforts in the disputed South China Sea were intended to intimidate and coerce regional countries. Mattis told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China’s actions stood in “stark contrast with the openness of [the US] strategy,” and warned of “much larger consequences” if China continued…
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Dr M’s stance on South China Sea: The Star columnist
KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – It was just a one liner among a host of policy shifts announced by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the weekly Cabinet meeting. Malaysia, said the Prime Minister, preferred if there were no warships within its waters in the South China Sea and Straits of Malacca. When pressed, he said it was unhealthy…
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France challenges China’s dominance in South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines — Staying true to its commitment to uphold freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea, France might be leading other European nations to stand up against China’s aggression in the region. China, however, continues to guard international ships passing through the South China Sea, which they claim as their own. In an article published in The…
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Chinese coast guard continue to harass Filipino fishermen in Scarborough — report
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:14 p.m.) — Despite the “red lines” that the Philippines has set for China, the Chinese continue to harass Filipino fishermen in Panatag or Scarborough Shoal. Cayetano hails fishermen’s access to West Philippine Sea; Alejano questions continued harassment Duterte clueless on Chinese harassment of Filipino troops on Ayungin Shoal In the report, a Chinese coast guard speedboat…
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America, Hold On to Your Allies. You’ll Need Them.
When leaders of the Group of 7 countries meet in Quebec on Friday, the United States can expect a chilly reception. The other G-7 countries — France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada — have already expressed “unanimous concern and disappointment” with President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum in a joint statement issued by their finance ministers last week.…
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‘Stealing’ from Filipino fishermen not a basis to protest vs China — Pimentel
The reported harassment of Filipino fishermen of by Chinese coast guards may not be enough a basis to file a diplomatic protest against China for its intrusion in the Scarborough Shoal. This was according to Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who, in a radio interview this afternoon, said he does not see that the recent actions by Chinese patrol vessels…
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Chinese military aircraft lands in Davao City?
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is verifying reports that a Chinese military aircraft landed at the Davao City International Airport last week. “We would have to check with the Intelligence and Security Unit of the Department, which is in charge of issuing diplomatic clearances for all foreign military aircraft entering Philippine airspace,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary…
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Duterte unaware of Chinese harassment of PH troops on shoal
President Rodrigo Duterte said he was unaware of the harassment of Filipino troops by Chinese forces at Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly archipelago last month, which Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines had protested. In a talk with reporters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday night after returning from an official visit to South Korea, the President…
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Duterte contradicts Cayetano, says he’s unaware of Ayungin incident
Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano days earlier told lawmakers that President Duterte had given ‘strong instructions’ after hearing about the harassment incident in Ayungin Shoal NO KNOWLEDGE? President Rodrigo Duterte sits with Cabinet members during a gathering of Filipinos based in South Korea. Malacañang photo MANILA, Philippines – Despite his own Foreign Secretary telling lawmakers he was briefed about the…