When leaders of the Group of 7 countries meet in Quebec on Friday, the United States can expect a chilly reception. The other G-7 countries — France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada — have already expressed “unanimous concern and disappointment” with President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum in a joint statement issued by […]

The reported harassment of Filipino fishermen of by Chinese coast guards may not be enough a basis to file a diplomatic protest against China for its intrusion in the Scarborough Shoal. This was according to Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who, in a radio interview this afternoon, said he does not see that the recent […]

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is verifying reports that a Chinese military aircraft landed at the Davao City International Airport last week. “We would have to check with the Intelligence and Security Unit of the Department, which is in charge of issuing diplomatic clearances for all foreign military aircraft entering Philippine […]

President Rodrigo Duterte said he was unaware of the harassment of Filipino troops by Chinese forces at Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly archipelago last month, which Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines had protested. In a talk with reporters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday night after returning from an official visit […]

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano days earlier told lawmakers that President Duterte had given ‘strong instructions’ after hearing about the harassment incident in Ayungin Shoal NO KNOWLEDGE? President Rodrigo Duterte sits with Cabinet members during a gathering of Filipinos based in South Korea. Malacañang photo MANILA, Philippines – Despite his own Foreign Secretary telling lawmakers […]

The latest harassment of Philippine troops by China in Ayungin is part of a pattern. In 2013, the Armed Forces had already reported that China eyed to occupy the shoal which lies within the country’s EEZ. Gary Alejano, the Magdalo party-list member in the House of Representatives, has become our eyes and ears in the […]

France and Britain are set to sail through the South China Sea next week, joining international efforts to stand up to the Asian military superpower. MANILA, Philippines – France and Britain announced they will sail through the South China Sea next week to join international efforts to stand up to China’s increasing aggressiveness in the […]

Countries in Asia should “band together” in voicing out their concerns against China’s militarization of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, said Tuesday “I think what should happen is for the claimants Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei to band together to build a stronger voice to make our wishes heard,” […]

  President Rodrigo Duterte admitted on Tuesday night that he was not aware of the reported harassment of Filipino soldiers by Chinese forces in Ayungin Shoal last May. “I don’t know about that incident. I was busy talking to Korean officials. What kind of harassment?” Duterte said in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport […]

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 4) — Former President Benigno Aquino III denied the claim of his successor, Rodrigo Duterte, that his administration has done nothing to resolve the territorial dispute in the South China Sea. “Wala akong ginawa? [I did nothing?] Who filed the arbitration? Who campaigned amongst the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian) […]