West Philippine Sea
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How Beijing is winning control of the South China Sea
Erratic US policy and fraying alliances give China a free hand SINGAPORE — Even by his outspoken standards, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s account of a conversation he had with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, was startling. During a meeting between the two leaders in Beijing in May 2017, the subject turned to whether the Philippines would seek to drill for…
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Pimentel: We need more facts on South China Sea
MANILA, Philippines — Amid reports that China has installed anti-cruise ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles and electronic jammers in the South China Sea, the Philippine government still need more information on the militarization in the disputed waters, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Monday. The Senate is set to hold a hearing on President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy toward China but no…
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A full-blown trade war between America and China looks likely
As Donald Trump threatens further tariffs on Chinese imports, the prospect of a deal is receding IT IS becoming increasingly likely that the phoney trade war between America and China will develop into the real thing. On June 15th the Trump administration published two lists of Chinese products it plans to hit with tariffs of 25%, worth $50bn in 2018.…
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FORGET THE WARSHIPS: MALAYSIAN PM MAHATHIR’S PEACE FORMULA FOR SOUTH CHINA SEA
‘Someday, somebody might make some mistakes and there will be a fight, some ships will be lost, and there might be a war,’ warns the Malaysian prime minister Keep out the warships and instead have joint small-boat patrols – that is Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s prescription for maintaining peace in the disputed and resource-rich South China Sea. “I think…
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States was turning a blind eye to abuses across the world.
“China expresses regret at the U.S. decision to withdraw from the U.N. Human Rights Council,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing. “China will continue, working with all sides, to make its contribution to the healthy development of human rights around the world via constructive dialogue and cooperation,” he added. Asked about U.S. criticism of China’s rights…
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Duterte: China taking of PH fisherman’s catch ‘not outright seizure’
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte downplayed the taking of Filipino fishermen’s catch by the China Coast Guard, saying it was a “barter” exchange and thus does not count as seizure. “It was a barter in exchange for fish. The problem is the valuation…We could not understand each other here. It was not an outright seizure,” he said on…
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Rodrigo Duterte says Chinese military island bases are there to oppose US, not Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tried to allay fears over China’s construction of military bases on man-made islands in the South China Sea, saying they are a defence against the US, not made to attack Asian states. “It’s not intended for us,” he said in a speech to Chinese-Filipino businessmen on Monday. “The contending ideological powers of the world or the…
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Philippines lost Sandy Cay to China, Alejano tells Cayetano
MANILA, Phillippines — Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list) on Tuesday reminded Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano that the Philippines effectively lost control of Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea under the Duterte administration. The Magdalo lawmaker was responding to the DFA secretary’s challenge to prove that the country lost an island to Beijing in the time of President…
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Cayetano: PH ‘co-controls’ Scarborough with China
WIN-WIN DEAL Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano support joint venture in the South China Sea. —AFP Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) and Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. AFP FILE The Philippines and China “co-control” the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Monday night, despite reports of purported harassment by…
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Cayetano: Many diplomats still don’t follow Duterte policy
Foreign Secretary Alan Cayetano admitted that many of the country’s career diplomats still had “a hard time” following President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy. A senator before he was appointed the country’s top diplomat a little over a year ago, Cayetano thanked officers and staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for being professionals. “To those of you who embrace…