In early July, the Pentagon accused China of conducting multiple anti-ship ballistic missile tests in the South China Sea in late June. The Chinese military confirmed that it had issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning in several areas, but insisted that it was conducting live fire drills, not testing missiles. If they took place, […]

MANILA – Lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and collaborating counsel Chel Diokno have asked the Supreme Court (SC) for more time to confer with their clients concerning a writ of kalikasan plea for the protection of the West Philippine Sea. “[The IBP and Diokno request] 10 days from July 12, 2019 […]

  MANILA, Philippines – In 1994, a resplendent Miss Philippines made it to the semifinals of the Miss Universe pageant in Manila. In the Q&A, the host asked that candidate, Charlene Gonzales, exactly how many islands there are in the Philippines. Gonzales replied with another question: “High tide or low tide?” That quip drew amused […]

MANILA – When a Chinese trawler rammed a Filipino fishing boat in the South China Sea last month – forcing 22 fishermen to abandon their stricken vessel – officials in Manila were quick with condemnations. “Cowardly,” the Philippine defense secretary said. Military commanders followed suit, telling reporters it was time for President Rodrigo Duterte to […]

  MANILA – Malacañang denied allegations that President Rodrigo Duterte became subservient to the interests of China instead of protecting the Philippines’ right over the contested South China Sea. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte is enforcing the Philippines’ landmark victory at The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims to the […]

Beijing shouldn’t treat Vietnam the same way it treats the Philippines. When it comes to the South China Sea disputes, that is. It won’t work, and it won’t help the economic integration of the region either. Vietnam doesn’t see a “friend” in China, the same way President Rodrigo Duterte does. That’s the message Hanoi sent […]

Detained Senator Leila de Lima has renewed her efforts at declaring July 12 of every year as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” in recognition of the country’s arbitration victory against China over the contested islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). De Lima refiled the measure, which she considers one of her priority legislations in […]

Though the Sino-Russian partnership is growing by the day and will continue to develop, it ultimately benefits China at the expense of Russia. But creating a strategic alliance between the two countries could challenge the current world order. China’s President Xi Jinping recently visited Russia to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), a […]

China may remain the “primary threat” to the U.S. military for as long as a century after learning how to fight more effectively by watching American wars in the Middle East, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. “China went to school on us,” General Mark Milley said in response […]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has moved his country closer to China. But this week, he called on the United States to act to keep China out of contested waters in the South China Sea. As part of our series on China’s growing influence in Asia, Here & Now‘s Jeremy Hobson talks with Richard Heydarian (@Richeydarian), […]