Chinese warships crossing Philippine waters are an “annoying” matter for Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who did not mince words about the latest challenge to Philippine sovereignty by China when he questioned the intention of these vessels. “I think this is not innocent anymore because this ha[s] been happening repeatedly,” Lorenzana said in an interview on […]
MANILA, Philippines—Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday (Aug. 16) raised concern over the location of Chinese casinos, also known as Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo), which appeared to be too close for comfort to Philippine military camps in Metro Manila. “This is very concerning until such time I saw the map,” Lorenzana told reporters. “They […]
Duterte, who made peace with China in 2016 by setting aside the dispute, said Aug. 8 that he would discuss with Chinese President Xi Jinping a 3-year-old World Court arbitral tribunal ruling in Manila’s favor and the prospects for a multicountry maritime code of conduct, the presidential office website says. China and the Philippines […]
IN a cacophony of stereotypes, two complement each other to nail the issue on the South China Sea once and for all: Truth hurts, and the truth shall set you free. I won’t need the advice of a former British prime minister to state my take on the recent pronouncement by Chinese ambassador to the […]
The Chinese navy is conducting a week-long exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin to test new warships and weapons, military experts said. The Maritime Safety Administration posted “no sail” notices for three parts of the gulf, warning vessels not to enter the zones because of live-fire drills. The exercises began on August 9 and are […]
The Philippines are beginning to show some resistance against the increasingly bothersome presence of Chinese militia ships in waters that everyone considers as belonging to the Philippines. The one country that is of a different opinion is, of course, China itself. The Chinese have over two million active military personnel and have the second largest […]
MANILA — Malacañang expressed concern on Thursday over a Chinese warship’s unauthorized passage through Sibutu Strait in the waters of Tawi-Tawi despite China’s assurance to maintain friendly ties with the Philippines. “We express concern with that kind of incident. Because if they keep on saying that we’re friends, I don’t think this is an act […]
THE Philippines has spoken of its fear following the citing of five Chinese warships in its waters. Tensions between the two countries have risen lately with Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte confirming that he will confront Beijing over its territorial dominance next month. In an added escalation to the tensions between the two states, the Philippine […]
An AH-1Z Viper attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit taking off during a strait transit aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dalton S. Swanbeck Photos from a recent Strait of Hormuz transit by the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Boxer […]
Australia’s 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper strongly advocates the geostrategic concept of the Indo-Pacific and the global rules-based order. In its first comprehensive guide-book for international engagement in 14 years, Canberra makes the case for an Indo-Pacific of openness, prosperity, and inclusiveness. Of note, the term Indo-Pacific appears more than 70 times in the document. […]