Monthly Archives: April 2019

FACT CHECK: ‘Aircraft carrier BRP Duterte’ drives away Chinese in South China Sea

📷A screenshot of the post shared by a pro-Duterte Facebook group claiming that an aircraft carrier allegedly named BRP Duterte drove away ships in the West Philippine Sea. (Screenshot from Facebook/WE SPEAK For Duterte) A Facebook group of Duterte supporters claimed that the Philippine Navy has an aircraft carrier named “BRP Duterte” that drove away […]

Ex-DFA chief: PH-China territorial row a ‘small matter,’ see ‘bigger picture’

  Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8) — A former Foreign Affairs secretary belittled the territorial row between the Philippines and China, saying people should see the “bigger picture” in the relations between the two countries. “What is important, as we should always understand, is keeping stability and peace in the region, realizing fully well […]

Palace sees Pinoys changing hearts, minds towards China

Malacanang expressed optimism on Monday that Filipinos will soon have a “change of hearts and minds” towards China when they begin to feel the impact of the Philippines’ ties with the foreign nation. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was reacting to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that bared that 44 percent of the Filipinos do […]

Is China our ‘friend’?

  In politics, they say, there are neither permanent friends nor enemies, only permanent interests. The problem with this realpolitik cliché is that it’s only half-true. After all, interests themselves are not permanent, since our preferences and goals evolve over time, depending on our historical interactions with the outside world and internal reflections on the […]

US is Philippines’ ‘only military ally’: Foreign Affairs Sec. Locsin

MANILA — The US will remain as the “only military ally” of the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said late Monday, following reports of increased Chinese presence in disputed territory on the South China Sea. The military recently expressed concern over the Chinese “maritime militia” vessels that have been almost stationary near Pag-asa […]

Why Complaint Against China For South China Sea ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ Is Likely To Fail – Analysis

  Former Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario and former Philippines Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales have filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against China’s President Xi Jinping, its Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines for “crimes against humanity.” The plaintiffs allege that these persons perpetrated China’s […]

Climate change will end sea dispute – Locsin

  FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday claimed rising sea levels brought about by climate change would eventually wipe out structures and artificial islands built by China in the contested Kalayaan (Spratly) island group. He made the remark on Twitter in response to a news article on the prospects of floating cities amid […]

US will not send ships to China’s upcoming naval celebration

  YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The Navy will not be sending ships to China’s multinational naval celebration this month marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese navy, according to Defense Department officials. Instead, the U.S. Embassy Beijing defense attaché will represent the United States at the event in Qingdao, China, April 22-25, Pentagon spokesman […]