News
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As South China Sea tensions rise, Philippines turns to its fellow claimants
SUMMARY Surrounded by the opulent gold furnishings of the Brunei Sultan’s Istana Nurul Iman and a lavish arrangement of fresh roses, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, May 28, spoke of how the Philippines and Brunei should “plan together for our own communities… but also for the peace and stability of the region.” Marcos was […]
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FACT CHECK: No US Navy attack on Chinese warships in Panatag Shoal
SUMMARY Claim: The United States Navy hit Chinese warships during civil society group Atin Ito’s mission to sail towards Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video bearing the claim is titled, “Brutal Attack! US Ally Navy Hits China Warships in Scarborough Shoal.” As of writing, it has 12,254 views and 250 likes. […]
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LIVESTREAM: Marcos’ speech at the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s top defense summit
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will address hundreds of defense and security experts from over 40 nations on Friday evening, May 31, at the Shangri-La Dialogue, dubbed as Asia’s top defense forum, in Singapore. He becomes the first Philippine president to deliver the keynote speech of the summit since it was first held […]
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Scientists, economists, lawyers want to put price on damage in West Philippine Sea
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – As tensions continue to rise between Beijing and Manila, Filipino scientists, lawyers, and researchers are undertaking studies on the resources in the West Philippine Sea and the laws and policies that could be used to hold perpetrators liable for the environmental damage in the area. The questions they want answered: What’s […]
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Marcos calls new China coast guard rules ‘worrisome’
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Wednesday, May 29, new rules outlined by China’s coast guard that could result in the detention of foreigners in the South China Sea were an escalation and “worrisome.” China, which has maritime sovereignty disputes with the Philippines and other countries, issued new rules effective […]
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View from Manila: Kicking diplomats out won’t solve the West Philippine Sea problem
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – As a Senate panel grilled Bamban Mayor Alice Guo last week about her curious life, another committee interrogated Filipino diplomats over what it would take for the Philippines to expel a Chinese diplomat following an alleged wiretapping of his phone call with a military general. Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the dismissed […]
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Philippines hits China’s ‘unilateral’ fishing ban for raising tensions in West Philippine Sea
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Monday, May 27, that it had filed a protest over China’s “imposition of a unilateral, four-month-long fishing moratorium” that began on May 1 and is expected to stay in place until September 16, 2024. In a statement, the DFA said it “protested the […]
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Ramon Ang: Protect West Philippine Sea to help curb inflation
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Ramon Ang, one of the richest Filipino tycoons, has a proposal to curb pesky inflation: protect the West Philippine Sea and further tap its gas reserves. In an economic forum on Monday, May 27, government economic managers discussed the ways to bring inflation within target range, including managing interest rates and […]
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DFA warns China’s new coast guard regulation violates international law
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday, May 26, warned that China will be going against international law if it pushes through with its newest coast guard regulation. In a statement, DFA expressed “serious concern” about the new regulation that would enable the Chinese Coast Guard to apprehend people it […]
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DFA: Global maritime court’s advisory opinion bolsters 2016 West PH Sea ruling
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday, May 26, highlighted an advisory opinion released by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) which cited the historic 2016 Hague ruling that favored the Philippines against China. In a statement released on Saturday, May 26, DFA said the opinion […]
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[Vantage Point] The Manchurian candidates
SUMMARY Just when I thought that the Senate inquiry about the supposed “gentleman’s agreement” with China on the maritime conduct in Ayungin Shoal couldn’t get any murkier, here comes former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea claiming that the supposed agreement was made in 2013, halfway into the presidency of the late of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. His […]
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PRIMER: Marcos’ state visit to Brunei, defense summit speech in Singapore in May 2024
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is making back-to-back visits to the Philippines’ neighbors in Southeast Asia next week, in response to invitations sent by leaders of these countries. The first stop will be Brunei on May 28 to 29, followed by a trip to Singapore until the 31st. Here are the things […]