SUMMARY An unusual number of Chinese nationals have planted themselves in communities bordered by Philippine waters where China maintains a menacing military presence. They are estimated between 1,500 and 4,600, and many of them have been observed to be men in their prime and university enrollees. But officials of the host localities and schools, in […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – In their second meeting as the defense ministers of their four nations, the Philippines, United States, Japan, and Australia raised concerns about China’s presence in the West Philippine Sea, strongly objecting to the “dangerous use” of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, a joint readout from the four countries said on […]
SUMMARY HONOLULU, Hawaii, USA – Damage to Philippine vessels and injuries to their crew in the South China Sea is “irresponsible behavior” in disregard of international law, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday, May 2, weighing in on the latest flare-up involving China. Manila and Beijing have traded barbs almost daily since Tuesday’s […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Under former president Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines had apparently agreed to stay away from Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, a feature in the West Philippine Sea that’s just over 120 nautical miles away from mainland Zambales. The details of the apparent “temporary” deal were made public by the Chinese Embassy statement late […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines on Thursday, May 2, demanded that Chinese ships leave Panatag Shoal and its vicinity “immediately,” two days after China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels used high-pressure water cannons against two Philippine government vessels. The Philippines made the demand when the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Chinese embassy Deputy Chief […]
SUMMARY Claim: The 2024 Balikatan exercises aim to expel Chinese vessels from the South China Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video bearing the claim was posted on April 17 by a channel with 252,000 subscribers. As of writing, it has gained 53,193 views, 337 comments, and 1,500 likes. The video’s title claims that […]
SUMMARY Claim: The 2024 Balikatan exercises aim to expel Chinese vessels from the South China Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video bearing the claim was posted on April 17 by a channel with 252,000 subscribers. As of writing, it has gained 53,193 views, 337 comments, and 1,500 likes. The video’s title claims that […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea said Wednesday, May 1, that the China Coast Guard’s use of “jet stream pressure” in their water cannons elevated tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels pointed their water cannons against two Philippine vessels en route […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – In the pitch-black darkness of the West Philippine Sea, personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) brought supplies to Filipino fisherfolk in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc late Tuesday, April 30. Resupply and assistance activities went on until evening on Tuesday and will resume on Wednesday, May […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Envoys of different foreign countries, including treaty-ally the United States, criticized China for “disrupting” a Philippine mission to Bajo de Masinloc, a feature in the West Philippine Sea just over 120 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales on Tuesday, April 30. The European Union’s top envoy in Manila criticized Beijing’s […]