News
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The case of the missing jet ski: A pre-SONA commentary
Songs of praises were sung on the streets and inside households. Cries of infatuation for the enigmatic and charismatic leader from the south resonated all over. The dawn of a new political era for many, a clear break from tradition, a tradition of imperial Manila, career politicians and old guards of oligarchy. The man became the harbinger of hope…
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Vietnam criticizes China over vessels in disputed waters
HANOI — Vietnam has accused China of trespassing and demanded a Chinese survey ship in the South China Sea withdraw in the latest flashpoint over the disputed territory. The two countries have long been locked in a maritime disagreement over the resource-rich waters, with the Chinese claiming nearly all of it. But the international community has largely sided with the…
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Rise of China dominates first full day of Aspen Security Forum
ASPEN • From trade wars to real ones with missiles and warships, China is seen as America’s biggest rival, and the future of that rivalry was up for debate Thursday at the Aspen Security Forum. The annual event, in its 10th year, draws top security thinkers from around the world. Much of the first of the forum’s three days focused…
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Carpio calls on Senate to repudiate Duterte’s fishing deal with China
President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration in an interview that he and China have agreed to allow Chinese fishermen to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone bound the Philippines to his commitment, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Thursday. In an interview with GMA resident analyst Richard Heydarian, Carpio called on the Senate to immediately adopt a resolution either…
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Tito, Koko, Tolentino back Duterte on Philippines’ giving China permission to fish in EEZ
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Francis Tolentino on Thursday backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that the Philippines was granting China permission to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone. Sotto said Filipinos should also be allowed to fish in parts of the South China Sea controlled by the Chinese. “I don’t think there is…
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ASEAN expected to express concern over S.China Sea
Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are expected to express concern about Chinese activity in the South China Sea, in a joint statement to be issued at their upcoming meeting in Thailand. The foreign ministers from the 10 ASEAN member nations will meet at a series of events in Bangkok starting at the end of July. NHK…
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Defending China raw deal in SONA ‘will bind us to it’
President Rody Duterte’s fishing agreement with Xi Jinping not only is unlawful but also lopsided against us Filipinos, Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonio Carpio said. China will let us fish in our Scarborough Shoal, 150 sq. km, while it trawls our Reed Bank, 8,866 sq. km. China can even scour our whole West Philippine Sea, larger than our land territory.…
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Maritime law expert defines West PHL Sea, South China Sea
The terms West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the South China Sea (SCS) are not interchangeable, Professor Jay Batongbacal reiterated during a forum on Thursday. “The West Philippine Sea is not synonymous with the South China Sea. You do not interchange the two,” said Batongbacal, director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea. He cited Administrative…
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Philippines, US dialogue missed chance to address South China Sea ‘grey zone’ — analyst
MANILA, Philippines — While the Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their defense cooperation in their last dialogue, the two countries missed some opportunities to address issues in the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea. In a joint statement after the conclusion of their 8th bilateral strategic dialogue, Manila and Washington recalled the assurance of…
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Duterte on West Philippine Sea: I’m the owner, I’m just giving China fishing rights
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte insisted Wednesday Manila’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea despite his decision to allow China to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “As far as I’m concerned, I’m the owner, and I’m just giving the fishing rights,” Duterte told Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in his show “Give Us This Day.” The…
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Destined for war
China and the United States are currently on a collision course for war – unless both parties take difficult and painful actions to avert it. This is the basic theme of the book Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap? written by Graham Allison in 2017. This is not a book about China. It is about the…
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Editorial: Hope it does not turn into war
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said that he does not want to go to war against China on the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea. He made it clear that we do not stand a chance against a superpower nation with military resources that outnumber us and much more advanced than what we have. The Palace also stated…