The Philippines is not waiving its rights to exclusive waters in the South China Sea, President Duterte said on Thursday, walking back on an earlier stance allowing Chinese fishing that some officials said was unconstitutional. “The President will not relinquish our sovereign rights over our country’s exclusive economic zone,” President Duterte’s Spokesman Salvador Panelo said […]

  MANILA – Two former senior government officials on Thursday said they are not against President Rodrigo Duterte but are only after demanding accountability from China in the West Philippine Sea. “I would like to say to him that we are here not to oppose his policies, but we are here to encourage him to […]

  Germany is considering a break from decades of military non-confrontation. High ranking officials are contemplating sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait – joining the United States and France in challenging Beijing’s claims to what the West regards as an international waterway. If Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government actually goes ahead, it will be a […]

  MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to meet China halfway in the territorial dispute in the South China Sea and allow the Chinese to fish in Philippine waters, his spokesperson said on Tuesday. The President was asked on Monday night whether Manila would bar Chinese fishermen from Philippine waters after a Filipino […]

  MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte can face a fresh impeachment complaint if government agencies implement his pronouncement that Chinese fishers can venture into Manila’s waters, a maritime law expert said Wednesday. “Kung mangyari po iyun, i-implement nila iyan dahil sa statement ng Pangulo, pwede po siyang kasuhan ng impeachment,” said Jay Batongbacal, director of […]

  MANILA, Philippines — An environmental advocacy group has warned that local fisheries production might not recover soon with President Duterte’s stand allowing China to continue fishing within Philippine territorial waters. International organization Oceana said the executive department’s task is to enforce the law and prosecute violators, which is mandatory and not discretionary. “Is he […]

  Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) — Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said it is unconstitutional for the Philippine government to allow Chinese fishermen to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. “The Philippines has exclusive sovereign right to exploit all the fish, oil, gas and other […]

MANILA, Philippines — “Whether it is an accident or an intentional collision is beside the point. The crux of the matter is you (China) left the fishermen in peril of the sea.” Senator Richard Gordon said this on Wednesday in reaction to China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang remark that the Recto Bank incident was […]

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines loses nearly P68.5 billion annually to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, according to US Agency for International Development (USAID) Environment Office chief John Edgar. The United Nations also said that the Philippines’ fish production is on the decline due to competition from China and Vietnam. Approximately 60 percent of Filipinos […]

  MANILA (UPDATE)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday berated Antonio Carpio, calling the Supreme Court Associate Justice “so stupid” for saying Chinese fishermen are not allowed to exhaust the Philippines’ resources in its exclusive economic zone. “Sabi ko nga, ‘Alam mo, Justice Carpio, napaka-estupido mo.’ That is why hanggang diyan ka lang talaga. He’s from Davao. […]