Monthly Archives: September 2019

Vietnam’s foreign minister warns of escalation in the South China Sea in thinly veiled warning to China

  Unilateral actions risk escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said at the United Nations General Assembly, comments aimed at China that avoided mentioning China directly. “Vietnam has on many occasions voiced its concerns over the recent complicated developments in the South China Sea, including serious incidents that […]

No need to reclaim Scarborough – China

  China does not need to reclaim the Scarborough Shoal, the top Chinese diplomat in the Philippines said Thursday night. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua was reacting to the statement earlier issued by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that China may reclaim the disputed shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc, […]

China flexes muscles with show of strength in South China Sea ‘De facto control’

  CHINA is flexing its muscles in the South China Sea, making its vessels visible by purposely switching on tracking signals for long periods of time in a move widely interpreted as asserting Beijing’s sovereignty in the disputed waters – and push out rival claimants. An analysis undertaken by the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative […]

Palace to Carpio: Duterte won’t allow Chinese assault on Philippine sovereignty

  MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang Thursday dismissed as “speculation” Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s claim that China would reclaim Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down as it stressed that the chief executive wouldn’t permit any assault on Philippine sovereignty. Carpio, an outspoken critic of Duterte’s policy on China, has warned […]

DOE’s commitment to sovereignty in oil deal with China ‘unshakeable’

  The Department of Energy on Thursday said its commitment to uphold the country’s sovereignty in the proposed energy agreement with China in the West Philippine Sea is “unshakeable” amid concerns that Manila may lose control and autonomy within its own jurisdiction to Beijing. “That is something we cannot sacrifice, that is something we cannot […]

China vows peace, stability with PH

  MANILA – China is committed to maintaining peace and stability with the Philippines, saying the South China Sea is not the sum total of Philippine-China relations. During the reception marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said China wants to work with the Philippines […]