MANILA, Philippines – To counter China’s increasingly aggressive moves to dominate the Asia-Pacific, the US Coast Guard (USCG) called on countries to “push back” as it increases its own presence in the region. “I think there needs to be an international push-back to say you know, we reject the types of behaviors, the antagonistic, […]
Claims that China will go to war with the Philippines if Manila stands up to Beijing’s “bullying” in the South China Sea are nothing but fear mongering by President Rodrigo Duterte. That’s the view of the man who led the Philippines to victory three years ago when an international tribunal ruled against Beijing’s territorial […]
“I will end my term fighting,” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte exclaimed in his fourth state-of-the-nation address, which lasted close to two hours. It was his most disciplined and sombre speech yet, surprisingly bereft of the characteristically colourful language which animated his previous addresses. There were no cusses and insults against his critics, nor the […]
Public distrust toward China rose 14 points, a June survey by Pulse Asia found, up from its poll results in December last year. The survey was conducted on June 24-30, following the June 9 sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese trawler near Recto (Reed) Bank. It showed 74 percent distrusted China, […]
Malacanang said it was not surprised with the results of a recent Pulse Asia survey showing most Filipinos believe that the Philippines cannot trust Russia and China. The June 24-30, 2019 survey also revealed that there was a predominant sentiment toward Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. “As […]
Basking in the glory of his record-breaking high approval ratings in the latest opinion surveys, President Duterte began his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) by highlighting the minuscule 3 percent that disapprove of his performance. But it is not really the numbers that matter, he added, trying hard not to gloat. It is […]
China has taken delivery of a new long-range research vessel which it says heralds a “new era” in maritime exploration, though the news may set alarm bells ringing in the region as Beijing remains locked in a number of territorial disputes with its neighbours in the South China Sea. With a top speed of 16 […]
The presence of the Hakuryu-5 rig on Vanguard Bank has become a bone of contention for China and a symbol of national sovereignty for Vietnam. Photo: Japan Drilling CompanyThe presence of the Hakuryu-5 rig on Vanguard Bank has become a bone of contention for China and a symbol of national sovereignty for Vietnam. Photo: Japan […]
The 2016 arbitral ruling that upheld the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea provided for traditional fishing rights for several countries in the Panatag Shoal, or Scarborough Shoal, but only Filipinos may fish in its exclusive economic zone. Former Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales made the remark in […]
Riding on an 85 percent approval rating, President Duterte probably thought he could convince Filipinos about the wisdom of his much-criticized policy towards China in the matter of the country’s territorial claim in the South China Sea. He devoted a lot of time on the issue of West Philippine Sea in his State of […]