SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ National Security Adviser on Friday, May 10, called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to “take appropriate actions against individuals in the Chinese Embassy” who have claimed to possess an audio recording of an alleged phone call with a Philippine military general. “Those individuals in the Chinese Embassy […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Follow our laws. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reminded diplomats on Thursday, May 9, that they should “strictly adhere” to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, particularly on respecting the laws of their host governments. The DFA issued the reminder days after China threatened to release a purported recording […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., on Wednesday, May 9, said he doubted the authenticity of a supposed audio recording that Chinese officials claim “proves” a supposed agreement to manage tensions in the South China Sea. “Diumano, may pahayag ang Chinese embassy sa Pilipinas na mayroon kunong alleged recording sa […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Civic society groups under Atin Ito will push through with a civilian-led mission to Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, two weeks after China’s water cannons damaged government ships during a mission to the same area. Atin Ito, a coalition that counts fisher and farmer groups, civic organizations, fisherfolk, and […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The word war between the Philippines and China intensified on Tuesday, May 7, with Chinese officials telling Bloomberg News that it “may soon” release what it’s claiming to be a phone call with a Filipino general about a supposed agreement to ease tensions in Ayungin Shoal. Bloomberg, citing a Chinese official […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Days after China bared a supposed agreement with the Philippine military’s Western Command (Wescom) to manage tensions at the West Philippine Sea, its commander, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, went on leave. The military confirmed on Tuesday, May 7, that Carlos has gone on “personal leave.” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Padilla however […]
SUMMARY LAOAG CITY, Philippines – The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday, May 7, that no Cabinet-level official in the Marcos administration has agreed to “any Chinese proposal pertaining to the Ayungin Shoal.” The statement comes a day after China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) repeated on Monday, May 6, a previous […]
SUMMARY Have you had a peaceful weekend or were you just as confused about which supposed deal had been struck between Manila and Beijing – and over which shoal? As more than 16,000 Filipino and American troops wrap up their “most ambitious, complicated” war games in the Philippines this week, China has also been accelerating […]
SUMMARY Nitong nakaraang linggo, nagulantang ang marami na totoo pala at may detalye pa ang matagal nang iginigiit ng Chinese embassy na “gentlemen’s agreement” sa pagitan ng administrasyon ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at gobyerno ni China President Xi Jinping. Sabi nga ng Rappler reporter na si Bea Cupin, “It turns out, Beijing had been […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. thumbed down on Monday, May 6, a senator’s suggestion to equip Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships with water cannons as a defense from China’s harassment in the West Philippine Sea. Senate Minority Leader Koko PImentel floated the idea last week as a tit-for-tat move following Beijing’s repeated […]