MANILA – China has not only deployed and maintained the presence of its surveillance and navy ships in the West Philippine Sea, but has positioned advanced communications equipment as well to eavesdrop on all naval and maritime activities of the Philippine military based in Palawan. “The Chinese, using their advanced communication equipment, are now capable […]
WASHINGTON DC — For the second year in a row, the world is spending a little less on the military. Asia, however, has failed to get the memo. The region is spending more at a time when many others are spending less. Last year, Asia saw a 3.6 percent increase in military spending, according to […]
MANILA — Due to a failed bidding back in November, the Department of National Defense (DND) has called for a second round of bidding for eight new amphibious assault vehicles worth P2.5 billion. Assistant Defense Secretary Efren Fernandez said the pre-bid conference will be on April 29, while the deadline and consequent opening of the […]
WASHINGTON— As President Barack Obama travels through Asia this coming week, he will confront a region that’s warily watching the crisis in Ukraine through the prism of its own territorial tensions with China. Each of the four countries on Obama’s itinerary — Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines — has a dispute with Beijing […]
TOKYO – Japan and the United States will pledge to jointly help Southeast Asian nations boost their marine surveillance capabilities, a newspaper said Saturday, as tensions over territorial disputes in the region simmer. US President Barak Obama will discuss the issue with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit to Japan next week. A deal […]
Chinese actions in maritime Asia are raising questions about American willingness and ability to act decisively in the region. That ambiguity is bad news for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), traditionally dependent on the U.S. security umbrella and more recently enjoying rapid expansion of trade with China. Chinese perceptions of American […]
MANILA, Philippines—Japan, which is facing similar security issues with China, has reaffirmed its support for the Philippine recourse to international arbitration over its dispute with Beijing involving territories in an area of the South China Sea, called the West Philippine Sea by the Philippines, citing its basis in international law. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida […]
Next Monday the senior officials from Asean and China will be meeting in Pattaya after they met last September at Suzhou, China where they kicked off official consultation on the process of formulating code of conducts (CoC) for the South China Sea. It was a turning point as China expressed the readiness to engage Asean […]
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is pursuing its request for a 3rd Hamilton Class cutter from the United States, Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano told Rappler. “As far as we are now looking at it, there will be a positive action for getting a 3rd Del Pilar frigate as we now call the […]
MANILA, Philippines – While encouraged by the “positive” outcome of the eighth and possibly last round of negotiations with the Philippines for enhanced defense cooperation, the United States is urging Manila not to be pressured into signing an agreement by the April 28 visit of US President Barack Obama, diplomatic sources said yesterday. Sources also […]