West Philippine Sea
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China statement on PH boat ‘an insult to intelligence’ of Filipinos
MANILA, Philippines – China’s statement on the sinking of a Philippine boat in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) insults the intelligence of Filipinos, said a leading maritime law expert, as he enumerated falsehoods made by China. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, also said China’s statement…
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Carpio sees Sino militia at work, urges ‘strong signal’ to China
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should send a strong signal to China that a repeat of the ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel in the South China Sea could lead to a break of diplomatic ties, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Saturday. A staunch critic of China’s maritime claims and conduct…
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Sea militia attacks could trigger US obligations under defense treaty
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign government-sanctioned attacks initiated by militia or armed civilians in the South China Sea may trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) of the United States and the Philippines, US ambassador to Manila Sung Kim said. Kim, in an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on Cignal TV’s One News on Friday night, reiterated the US commitment to…
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Turbulent seas
For sure President Duterte is aware of the comments: he’s ready to declare war over garbage sales contracted by private parties, but his silence is deafening when Chinese believed to be maritime militias hit and sink a Filipino fishing boat and then abandon the fishermen to the elements. The sinking in Recto or Reed Bank is particularly sensitive because it…
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Philippines Turns to UN After Boat Collision in South China Sea
The Philippines has asked the United Nations to make protecting life at sea a priority after the collision this month between a Filipino fishing boat and a Chinese vessel in the South China Sea. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, in a post on his Twitter account, said he authorized the Philippine embassy in London to make an “appeal” to the…
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Hontiveros urges Duterte to recall PH officials in China over ‘hit and run’ sea incident
MANILA – Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to withdraw the Philippine ambassador and consuls in China following an incident where Chinese crewmen abandoned Filipino fishermen after a collision in the West Philippine Sea. She condemned the acts of the Chinese crew as “grossly despicable and inhumane,” saying “it was treacherous and intended to harm…
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Duterte mum on West PH Sea ‘collision’
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte made no comment Thursday on the “collision” of a Chinese ship and Filipino fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea. Duterte, in his speech in General Santos City, touched on several issues hounding the country such as communist rebels, the trash shipment from Canada, and investment scams but made no mention of the collision. Presidential…
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Beijing downplays boat collision, calls it ‘ordinary maritime accident’
MANILA (2nd UPDATE)—Beijing on Thursday played down the incident involving a Chinese fishing boat that collided with a Philippine vessel and left 22 Filipino fishermen abandoned in the disputed South China Sea. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said it was an “ordinary maritime accident” and he warned against “irresponsibly politicizing” the collision. He said China is investigating the incident. Presidential…
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PHL Navy chief says ramming of another vessel at sea must be ‘strongly condemned’
Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad on Thursday joined Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in condemning the incident at Reed Bank where a Filipino fishing boat sank after it was reportedly hit by a Chinese vessel on Sunday. Empedrad underscored that it would never be acceptable for any vessel, regardless of its country of origin, to hit another vessel and…
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Owner claims Chinese hit PH vessel ‘intentionally’
The owner of the Philippine fishing boat and a relative of the boat’s captain believe a Chinese vessel “intentionally” rammed the boat and abandoned its crew when it sank in the South China Sea on Sunday. “How could they (Chinese) not see it when the boat had its lights on?” said Rocky Insigne, a cousin of Junel Insigne, 43,…