Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called as illegal the Chinese vessels swarming around Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Thursday, the DFA said Pag-asa, seat of the Kalayaan municipal government under the province of Palawan, “is an integral part of the […]

MANILA, Philippines — Addressing concerns over the presence of Chinese ships in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte said the vessels are not directed at the country. He added the Philippines will not allow China to occupy the island, which is part of Palawan. The military earlier confirmed […]

SOUTH China Sea tensions surged after Beijing sent more than 200 militia vessels to the disputed waters, sparking major concerns they are about to launch an undeclared invasion. The Philippines has condemned China for swarming the waters near a Philippine-based island in the contested seas. According to news.com.au, around 275 vessels were spotted close to […]

  A military handout photo of Thitu island, also known as Pag-asa, in 2015. Photograph: PAO,AFP,GHQ/Handout Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of “suicide missions” if China touches it. Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from China, has mostly withheld […]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told China on Thursday to “lay off” an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea and said he would deploy his soldiers there if Beijing touches it. Duterte’s remarks, which he said was not a warning but rather a word of advice to a friend, follow a statement […]

The guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy transits the South China Sea in February 2018. It’s too late to constrain China’s creeping militarization and sovereignty claims over dozens of islands and reefs in the South and East China seas, experts say. China’s island-building and militarization efforts began early this decade. It now claims dozens of islands […]

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese fishermen around Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea should start leaving the area following the diplomatic protest filed by the Philippine government, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday. “Can you tell me what is — what other strong message can you give to them, except to leave the place,” Panelo […]

Manila seeks to maintain close ties with Beijing despite any potential tensions in the disputed South China Sea, President Duterte said, emphasizing that the Philippines and China have no issues that can’t be resolved politically. “If I go to war my Navy will be crushed in a matter of minutes. If I wage a war […]

The Philippines has protested the presence of more than 200 Chinese vessels that were sighted from January to March near a Philippine-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea, officials said. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Department of Foreign Affairs lodged the protest after the military monitored about 275 Chinese vessels near Thitu island, […]

MANILA (BLOOMBERG) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is maintaining a friendly tone towards China, even after defence officials raised concerns over an increased Chinese presence around a disputed island in the South China Sea. China isn’t after Philippine territory and hasn’t asked for anything in exchange for the weapons and aid it has given the […]