Author Archives: Kulas Bagay

DFA chief clarifies US support under Mutual Defense Treaty

MANILA, Philippines – The following is the statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty: In view of inaccurate information on the subject of whether or not the US is prepared to respond to its commitment to the Philippines under the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), the Department of […]

Chinese coast guard ship chased out of Vietnam waters

A Chinese coast guard ship and a Vietnamese fisheries patrol boat apparently had a tense encounter during the weekend in the South China Sea, coming as close as 10 meters to each other, according to data from Marine Traffic, a ship-tracking website. The data, based on the ships’ automatic identification system (AIS) signals, shows that […]

Defending the rule of law to preserve world peace

Our world will be safe from the madness of a nuclear holocaust only if citizens of all states truly believe in the peaceful settlement of disputes and the prohibition against the threat or use of force Editor’s Note: This is the public lecture delivered by Justice Antonio T. Carpio (Ret.) at the Convegno Vedovato Conference […]

Countries rally behind Philippines in maritime incidents with China

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:17 p.m.) — Several countries have expressed their support for the Philippines after the coast guard reported being tailed and directed a military-grade laser device by China during a rotation and resupply mission in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal last week. Read More –> Countries rally behind Philippines in maritime incidents with […]

China denies its coast guard ship pointed laser at PH vessel

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 16) — China on Wednesday denied that its coast guard ship pointed a military-grade laser at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, saying the use of laser was for “navigation safety.” The denial came after nations expressed support for the Philippines and called out the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) recent […]

DND slams latest incident with China in Ayungin

MANILA, Philippines — It was “offensive and unsafe,” Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said yesterday of a Chinese coast guard vessel’s beaming a military-grade laser light at a Philippine boat, blinding crewmembers on a mission to resupply a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last Feb. 6. Read More –> DND […]

AFP tells China to ‘restrain its forces’ following laser incident in Ayungin Shoal

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has urged Beijing to restrain its forces after the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) pointed military-grade laser light at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel near Ayungin Shoal. –> Read More AFP tells China to ‘restrain its forces’ following laser incident in […]

Op-Ed for TMT

Op-Ed for TMT Rafael M. Alunan III Feb. 14, 2023 Future ready Over a week ago, U.S. Air Force Gen. Michael A. Minihan, who heads the Air Mobility Command, told his troops to get battle ready for 2025 when he expects the U.S. and China to clash. If war breaks out, his command that transports […]

The July 12, 2016 Arbitral Award states:

“With respect to the Philippines’ Submission No. 5, the Tribunal concludes that both Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal are located within 200 nautical miles of the Philippines’ coast on the island of Palawan and are located in an area that is not overlapped by the entitlements generated by any maritime feature claimed by China. […]