Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8) — A former Foreign Affairs secretary belittled the territorial row between the Philippines and China, saying people should see the “bigger picture” in the relations between the two countries. “What is important, as we should always understand, is keeping stability and peace in the region, realizing fully well […]

Malacanang expressed optimism on Monday that Filipinos will soon have a “change of hearts and minds” towards China when they begin to feel the impact of the Philippines’ ties with the foreign nation. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was reacting to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that bared that 44 percent of the Filipinos do […]

  China’s claims of South China Sea (SCS) ownership are illegal, but Beijing’s hyper-nationalistic officials increasingly encourage its forces to attack U.S. Navy ships operating lawfully there. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) appears to be calling for war—a war it may well get. But it is a war that will not stay confined to […]

  In politics, they say, there are neither permanent friends nor enemies, only permanent interests. The problem with this realpolitik cliché is that it’s only half-true. After all, interests themselves are not permanent, since our preferences and goals evolve over time, depending on our historical interactions with the outside world and internal reflections on the […]

MANILA — The US will remain as the “only military ally” of the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said late Monday, following reports of increased Chinese presence in disputed territory on the South China Sea. The military recently expressed concern over the Chinese “maritime militia” vessels that have been almost stationary near Pag-asa […]

  Former Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario and former Philippines Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales have filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against China’s President Xi Jinping, its Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines for “crimes against humanity.” The plaintiffs allege that these persons perpetrated China’s […]

  FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday claimed rising sea levels brought about by climate change would eventually wipe out structures and artificial islands built by China in the contested Kalayaan (Spratly) island group. He made the remark on Twitter in response to a news article on the prospects of floating cities amid […]

  AND you can thank former President Aquino and his astonishingly pro-American Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario for this, as it was they who got the Republic to file an arbitration suit against China for allegedly violating the law of the sea. Yes, the award sided with much of the Philippines’ arguments, among them its […]

  YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The Navy will not be sending ships to China’s multinational naval celebration this month marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese navy, according to Defense Department officials. Instead, the U.S. Embassy Beijing defense attaché will represent the United States at the event in Qingdao, China, April 22-25, Pentagon spokesman […]

  MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy showcased its assets as part of the annual Balikatan exercises by sailing through the South China Sea , alongside the United States Navy. Photos released by the US Navy show the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp sailing alongside the Philippine Navy’s landing platform dock BRP Tarlac and offshore […]