China: Marcos gov’t abandons ‘new approach’ to ease WPS tensions

Dona Pazzibungan 04/19/2024

China claimed they had an “internal understanding” and a “new approach” to ease tension at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea with the Philippines. However, they said the Marcos administration later “abandoned” it after…

US, Japan and South Korea hold drills in disputed sea as Biden hosts leaders of Japan, Philippines

04/13/2024

ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (AP) — A U.S. carrier strike group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt has held a two-day joint exercise with its allies Japan and South Korea as U.S. President Joe Biden met…

Duterte denies he ‘conceded’ anything in WPS deal with China

Charie Abarca 04/13/2024

MANILA, Philippines — Finally breaking his silence on the issue, former President Rodrigo Duterte denied “conceding” anything in the deal he supposedly forged with China on the West Philippine Sea. In a press conference aired live on …

Marcos ‘horrified’ by ‘agreement’ between China, PH on WPS

Luisa Cabato 04/10/2024

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he is “horrified” by the idea of the so-called secret agreement between China and the Philippines regarding the country’s territory. According to Marcos, his administration also has no…

PH, allies conduct joint maritime drills in WPS

Frances G. Mangosing 04/08/2024

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, along with its key security allies — the United States, Australia, and Japan — on Sunday held their inaugural joint maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), responding to rising tensions…

Pimentel: Duterte-Xi ‘gentleman’s agreement’ unconstitutional

Marlon Ramos 04/06/2024

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said that the supposed “gentleman’s agreement” between former President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the West Philippine Sea issue is unconstitutional and should not hold any weight for…

Marcos: PH sets ‘countermeasures’ against China’s WPS aggressive acts

Nestor Corrales 03/31/2024

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asserted that the Philippines will take action through unspecified “countermeasures” against China’s aggressive acts towards Filipino troops and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. He instructed the Department of National Defense (DND)…

WPS tension: Chinese vessel blocks PH research ship

Nestor Corrales 03/23/2024

A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel again made “dangerous maneuvers” on Thursday and tried to block a Philippine fishery vessel carrying marine scientists conducting research in the West Philippine Sea or WPS. Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast…

China water cannon attack hurts 4 PH Navy crew

John Eric Mendoza 03/05/2024

MANILA, Philippines — At least four Philippine Navy personnel were injured in a China water cannon attack at a Philippine ship involved in a resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday. The National Security Council (NSC)…

PH intensifies patrols to guard WPS fishing grounds

Nestor Corrales 02/17/2024

The Philippines will actively protect its traditional fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea from increasing Chinese aggression by having government ships regularly patrol Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal starting this month. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año announced that…

PCG vessel harassed again by Chinese ships in WPS

02/12/2024

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday accused the Chinese coast guard of conducting “dangerous and blocking maneuvers” in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea during a nine-day patrol early this month. Four…

Beijing’s latest tactic: 27 vessels deployed amidst PH-China maritime tensions

Jane Baustista, Nestor Corrales 01/21/2024

Beijing deployed 27 vessels in a significant maritime militia rotation in the South China Sea, specifically in areas with ongoing tensions between Philippine and Chinese vessels. This move was observed by an American maritime security expert on…

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