MANILA, Philippines — Insisting that the Duterte administration has always been transparent on its foreign policy, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that former President Benigno Aquino III was misinformed on the West Philippine Sea issue. Aquino has been calling on the Duterte administration to be more transparent on its negotiations with China on […]

Southeast Asia’s largest economy is defending its maritime rights within the disputed South China Sea in a perceived act against Chinese encroachment. Indonesia has long maintained an exclusive economic zone in waters claimed by Beijing, but unlike many of its neighbors, it’s never been a player in the long-simmering conflict that’s weighed on intra-Asian relations. […]

China’s Foreign Ministry explains why its vessels warned Philippine fishermen away from the disputed feature. As The Diplomat reported yesterday, Philippine media claim that Chinese Coast Guard vessels ousted Philippines fisherman from one of the features in the Spratly Island group, in the South China Sea. By doing so, China would have effectively gained control […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Wednesday that Malaysia’s new government will adopt a firmer stand in tackling a decades-old territorial row in the South China Sea amid China’s aggressive expansion in the disputed area. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who won a stunning electoral victory in May, has said warships should be […]

The book “Rock Solid,” by veteran Supreme Court watcher Marites Vitug, is “The Lord of the Rings” of legal journalism. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio towers as its Gandalf, our maritime arbitration’s architect. Luminaries such as then Solicitors General Francis Jardeleza and Florin Hilbay and then Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra play Aragorn, Legolas and […]

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will continue engaging the United States and China over their military presence in the South China Sea, says Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu. “The presence and display of military might by China and US in the South China Sea is very worrying. “As such, we will intensify our dialogues and diplomacy with China […]

China has for the first time sent a search-and-rescue ship to be permanently stationed at one of its man-made islands in the disputed Spratly chain of the South China Sea, state media reported. The official Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday that the Nan Hai Jiu 115 would start its duties as soon as it arrived […]

MANILA, Philippines — Joint exploration and development with China in the hotly contested South China Sea will ensure that the Philippines will not be in danger of losing oil and gas, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday. In an interview over radio dzMM, Cayetano pushed for joint exploration and development as the […]

Washington: China has quietly resumed its activities in the Doklam area and neither Bhutan nor India has sought to dissuade it, a top US official has said while comparing Beijing’s actions in the Himalayan region with its manoeuvres in the disputed South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over all of South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, […]

Britain is planning to send an aircraft carrier to the South China Sea to back up Australia as the two countries seek to deal with China’s growing aggressiveness in the region. The announcement was made by United Kingdom Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson, who— along with Jeremy Hunt, London’s foreign secretary— met with Australian Defense Minister […]