Many local and international observers have denounced Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s conduct towards China as “appeasement” after he took the view there was nothing the Philippines could do to stop China’s militarisation in the South China Sea. Duterte’s defeatist attitude, allegedly the trade-off of comprehensive engagement with China, is being put to a critical test […]

One embraces China investments with open arms, the other shows more caution. One sees US President Donald Trump as a ‘friend,’ the other calls him an ‘international bully.’ GAME-CHANGERS. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad are game-changers in the Southeast Asian region. Duterte photo from Malacañang, Mahathir photo from Agence France-Presse […]

Top critics say Filipino leader is a ‘willing victim’ of China on anniversary of Hague-based tribunal ruling that nullified China’s vast claims in the South China Sea Activists hold placards during a protest in front of the Chinese Consular Office in Manila on June 11, 2018. The Philippines on June 11 demanded that China stop […]

MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines commemorated the second anniversary of its arbitral victory against China Thursday, Malacañang vowed to continue asserting the country’s claims in the West Philippine (South China) Sea and dared critics to challenge its handling of the dispute before the court. China claims about 90 percent of the resource-rich South China […]

Amid the racist tirades that are being hurled by the pro-US opposition against China and the Duterte administration, it is time for the Filipino-Chinese to step up and be part of the conversation. As citizens of this country, the Filipino-Chinese have a crucial role to play in promoting harmony and understanding between differing cultures. Most […]

The Philippines is not a province of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua stressed on Tuesday, July 17, in response to the “Welcome to the Philippines, Province of China” banners that were hung from several pedestrian bridges in Metro Manila last week. “It has never been any part of […]

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese research and surveillance ship dropped anchor at the Sasa wharf in Davao City on Monday right, raising suspicion over the real purpose of its visit. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Navy spokesman Commander Jonathan Zata quickly clarified that Yuan Wang 3 made a port call simply for routine replenishment of […]

‘We file protests but we do it quietly’ MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday said it has been asserting the Philippines’ claims in the South China Sea after a nationwide poll suggested that four out of five Filipinos reject the government’s perceived inaction on the issue. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte has […]

TAIPEI — A surge in naval maneuvers in the South China Sea by Western allies this year is keeping China from any further expansion into the contested waters, analysts say. Vessels from Australia, France, Japan and the United States have sent ships to the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea in 2018. They believe the sea rich in […]

China has filed a case with the World Trade Organization against the U.S. to protest the Trump administration’s plan to put new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. China says the tariffs are illegal attempts at protectionism. China’s Ministry of Commerce announced it is pursuing legal remedy against the U.S. in a brief […]