Category Archives: West Philippine Sea

Coalition of the willing builds in South China Sea

  Europe is expanding its naval presence in the contested sea, adding legitimacy to US free navigation operations and affirming China’s anxieties of Western encirclement A coalition of the willing is building in the South China Sea as European powers bolster the United States and its Asian allies’ freedom of navigation operations vis-à-vis China in […]

WESCOM wants Chinese out of West PH Sea

The armed forces’ Western Command (WESCOM) has expressed continuing concern over the presence of Chinese fishing vessels around the Philippine-held Pag-asa island despite reports their number has reduced. WESCOM commander Vice Admiral Rene Medina, briefing the Palawan press, said the Chinese should “totally leave” the area. “On the part of the Armed Forces of the […]

Philippines rejects China’s call to jointly probe collision in South China Sea

MANILA – The Philippines on Friday (June 21) rejected China’s suggestions to jointly probe the sinking of a Philippine fishing boat by a Chinese trawler early this month. “There will be no joint investigation. China and the Philippines will conduct their respective investigations,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said in a tweet. China’s Foreign Ministry […]

South China Sea: Former Philippines’ minister held in Hong Kong after criticising Xi

CHINA critic and former Philippines foreign secretary Albert del Rosario was blocked from entering Hong Kong this morning – hours after accusing Beijing of lying over the sinking of a Phillipine fishing boat. Ramos bids to restore friendly ties between China and the Philippines Mr del Rosario was held at the airport despite being given […]

China sends four fighter jets to highly-contested island in the South China Sea, as tensions grow

CHINESE MILITARY MIGHT Startling new satellite images show China has deployed at least four fighter jets to a highly contested island in the South China Sea. Taken above the skies of Woody Island on Wednesday, the images mark a major military development in the disputed region. China has never before placed its sophisticated J-10 fighter […]

Duterte vows to discuss South China Sea dispute at ASEAN Summit

  President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday vowed to discuss China’s expansive South China Sea claims with his fellow Southeast Asian leaders at the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Thailand. Duterte will be attending the Bangkok summit this weekend, as leaders are expected to discuss a range of regional issues including the […]

Carpio calls on the youth to continue defending the West Philippine Sea

  Supreme Court Senior Justice Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Wednesday appealed to the Filipino youth to continue defending the West Philippine Sea. “We have to continue defending West Philippine Sea because that’s our duty. My generation laid the foundation by winning arbitral ruling that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines,” Carpio said […]

The Chinese Maritime Militia

  I’m directing this column to our national and local leaders whose duty is to defend the country, protect the people, and secure our natural resources. There’s a need to adapt mindsets to a deteriorating security situation in the South China Sea — fueled by China’s spurious claims of “indisputable sovereignty” over this vital body […]