West Philippine Sea
-
Experts find new solutions to South China Sea dispute
With prevailing international legal measures producing stalemate and tension in the South China Sea (SCS), ASEAN and Indonesian experts are looking for innovative solutions to reach stable peace in the disputed waters. Many regional and global options were discussed during the 2nd High Level International Workshop on Thursday, but particular attention was given to a […]
-
Philippines plans 14% defense budget rise to beef up maritime security, fight rebels
VIENTIANE – The Philippines is proposing a 14 percent increase in defense spending next year to buy new ships and aircraft to boost its fight against Islamist militants and enhance maritime security in the disputed South China Sea. According to internal documents seen by Reuters on Monday, about 130 billion pesos ($2.8 billion) or 96 […]
-
Is China Getting Ready to Build a New Military Base in the South China Sea?
Photos of Chinese ships deployed near a key disputed reef in the South China Sea surfaced over the weekend as U.S. and Chinese leaders met at the Group of 20 nations summit and discussed maritime disputes. The Philippines Defense Ministry published photos of 11 Chinese ships near Scarborough Shoal that include vessels that some reports […]
-
Pacific Shoals of Trouble
China sends a flotilla to Scarborough Shoal even before the G-20 is over. China didn’t finish hosting the G-20 summit in Hangzhou until Monday but already on the weekend it was moving to advance its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Add new U.S.-Philippine tensions thanks to mercurial new President Rodrigo Duterte, and the […]
-
Beijing’s South China Sea claims scrutinised at summit
Southeast Asian leaders meet amid tension over Beijing’s increasingly assertive claims to territory in South China Sea. The Philippines and Japan have both expressed serious concern over China’s actions in the South China Sea at a regional meeting of Asian leaders in Laos. Hours before leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) […]
-
DND releases photos of Chinese boats at Scarborough before ASEAN meet with China premier
VIENTIANE — The Department of National Defense released pictures on Wednesday showing what it said were Chinese boats near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, just hours before leaders of Southeast Asian nations were due to meet China’s premier in Laos. There was no explanation for the timing of the release, but […]
-
Commentary: Philippines spat plays into China’s hands
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attends a welcome dinner at the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos September 6, 2016. If you’re a historic U.S. ally under mounting pressure from an emerging superpower like China, it’s probably not a good idea to use a crude sexual epithet to describe the American president. Filipino leader Rodrigo Duterte, though, […]
-
Envi groups: Declare ‘marine peace park’ in South China Sea
The motion filed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature recommends the suspension of the ‘exploitation of natural resources’ in the disputed sea MANILA, Philippines – A motion to create a “marine peace park” in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) has been filed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). […]
-
Back-channel talks on after Chinese ships spotted in Scarborough
The Philippines said on Wednesday “back-channel talks” were underway to clarify the alleged presence of Chinese ships near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The Philippine government released pictures of the ships in the Scarborough Shoal area to the media just hours before Southeast Asian leaders, including President Rodrigo Duterte, met with Chinese […]
-
10 Chinese ships spotted in Panatag
(Scarborough) Shoal off the coast of Zambales last week have remained in the area based on an aerial monitoring over the shoal, according to an official. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said it is possible that China is pushing through with its plan to conduct reclamation in the shoal, which a UN-backed arbitral court has declared […]