MANILA, Philippines – It was an ambitious and historic dream: to travel to the West Philippine Sea, an area where the Philippines exercises sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone. But the journey – from getting the green light from government to actually making it to Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea – was […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – It’s a process that moves like clockwork. After another lopsided confrontation between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea comes statements – of condemnation against China, from the Philippines’ National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS); in support of Manila, from diplomats of nations who stand with the […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – At least nine Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) ships and one China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel remain inside and within the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal, a feature some 105 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan, Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said Thursday, December 14. Of the nine CMM ships, […]
SUMMARY China condemned Canada’s support for the Philippines over what it said were violations of China’s sovereignty in the South China Sea, according to a statement by a Chinese embassy spokesperson in Canada. “The South China Sea is the common home of countries in the region and should not become a hunting ground for Canada, […]
SUMMARY PALAWAN, Philippines – As the sun was setting on the second Sunday of Advent, December 10, four Chinese vessels appeared one by one over the horizon while the first Christmas convoy was passing through the waters near Ayungin Shoal. Most civilian volunteers were on the main deck of the mission ship attending a Holy […]
SUMMARY LONDON, United Kingdom – Britain on Monday, December 11, condemned what it called “unsafe and escalatory tactics deployed by Chinese vessels” against the Philippines over the weekend in the South China Sea. “The UK opposes any action which raises tensions, including harassment, unsafe conduct and intimidation tactics which increase the risk of miscalculation and […]
SUMMARY The Philippines on Monday, December 11, described the actions of Chinese vessels against its boats carrying out South China Sea resupply missions over the weekend as a “serious escalation.” In the latest in a series of confrontations, Manila accused Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels of repeatedly firing water cannon at its resupply […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian has been summoned yet again, following a weekend of “aggression and provocations” against Philippine vessels in different parts in the West Philippine Sea. On December 9 and December 10, Philippine vessels were subject to harassment by China Coast Guard ships as they embarked on missions to Bajo […]
SUMMARY Tila naisahan ng mga Pinoy ang mga Tsino sa pakay nito na mag-deliver ng supplies sa mga tropa sa West Philippine Sea (WPS). Matapos mag-anunsiyo ng Christmas convoy ng civil society “Atin Ito” na babalik na lang sila ng Palawan, nagpaabot ng balita ang organizers na dumaong na ang convoy sa Lawak island! “Nakalusot!” […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – General Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), witnessed firsthand harassment at the hands of Chinese maritime forces in the West Philippine Sea. Brawner was part of a military resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, over 100 nautical miles off […]