SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Friday, July 12, emphasized the country’s “commitment to peace” despite superpower China’s “unlawful actions which have caused serious incidents in the South China Sea” as the Philippines commemorates the 8th anniversary of the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award. “The Award is a testament to our unwavering […]
SUMMARY Coordination over what? Both Philippine and American officials were tight-lipped on Thursday, July 11, about an apparent “coordination meeting” between United States Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson and Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr., commander of the Western Command (Wescom). Carlson had apparently visited the Wescom in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Wescom is the Armed Forces […]
SUMMARY Claim: US and Philippine forces surrounded and destroyed a Chinese ship in Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal. Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video containing the claim has garnered 891 views and 34 likes as of writing. It was posted on July 7 by a YouTube channel with 34,100 subscribers. The title […]
SUMMARY BEIJING, China – A Chinese report on the waters around the disputed fishing ground of Scarborough Shoal have deemed it to be of excellent quality with a healthy coral reef, months after the Philippines accused Chinese fishermen of damaging the marine environment. State news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday, July 10, that through assessments […]
MANILA, Philippines – “Monster ships,” water cannons, and aggressive actions that seem to know no end – by now, most of the public is familiar with how China acts in the West Philippine Sea, waters that are part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but that China claims as its own. It’s behavior that […]
MANILA, Philippines – “Monster ships,” water cannons, and aggressive actions that seem to know no end – by now, most of the public is familiar with how China acts in the West Philippine Sea, waters that are part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but that China claims as its own. It’s behavior that […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Philippine forces – the military and its coast guard – were able to evacuate Philippine Navy personnel from the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on July 7, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday, July 9, despite efforts by its Chinese counterpart to hamper the operation. “The PCG faced numerous […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Five days before the anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, Manila and Tokyo signed on Monday, July 8, an agreement that paves the way for joint exercises and activities and makes it easier for the two militaries to work together. Foreign and defense ministers of the Philippines and Japan, in Manila […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippine – The Philippines and Japan on Monday, July 8, signed the landmark Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), a deal that would ease military access for both countries, amid rising concerns over China’s aggressive actions both in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The agreement was completed in record time, with […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines rejected on Tuesday, July 9, China’s accusation that its grounded warship on the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea had damaged the coral reef ecosystem in the area, laying the blame for damaging the marine environment on Beijing. The Philippine task force on the South China […]