Category Archives: West Philippine Sea

US urges Southeast Asia to respond to China’s island fortification

  MANILA — A senior United States Naval officer is encouraging Southeast Asian nations to determine its own response to China’s military expansion in the South China Sea. Speaking during the Asia-Pacific Media Hub telephonic conference on Thursday, US Naval Operations chief Adm. John Richardson specifically called on Australian and Indonesian maritime forces to step […]

PH-US drills near Scarborough show ’joint pushback’ vs China — expert

  MANILA, Philippines — The recent joint exercises between Philippines and United States coast guards in the West Philippine Sea showed a “joint pushback” against China’s expansive claims in the vital sea lane, a maritime expert said. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, […]

Navy destroyer sails past Chinese-claimed reef in South China Sea

A US warship on Sunday sailed within 12 nautical miles of the disputed Scarborough Shoal — territory claimed by the Chinese military — in an attempt to “challenge” Beijing’s “excessive maritime claims” in the South China Sea, officials said. The move, carried out by the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble, comes amid heightened tensions between China […]

China’s fishing ban in South China Sea against Philippine sovereignty – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — China-imposed fishing moratorium in the South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea, is against the sovereignty of the Philippines. This was underscored by Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo when asked about the government’s stance on China’s annual suspension of fishing activities in the disputed sea. “The policy of the government will […]

What’s the response in China to the trade war?

U.S.-China trade talks ended Friday without a deal. The United States increased tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods, and Beijing retaliated Monday by announcing it would enact new tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. goods. Although China’s response was proportionate, state media also unleashed a barrage of nationalist rhetoric. A video clip from Xinwen […]

“Dark storm clouds” threaten South China Sea, Ng Eng Hen urges common rules be adopted by countries in the region

  Singapore — At the opening of this year’s 12th International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) Asia on Tuesday, May 14, Singapore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen warned of “dark storm clouds” over the region that could threaten its well being. He urged for common rules to be adopted for the seas and their […]

China keeps eye on PH-US coast guard drills in South China Sea

ABOARD BRP BATANGAS, West Philippine Sea — With Chinese government ships watching from a distance, one of the US Coast Guard’s biggest and most advanced vessels conducted drills with Philippine counterparts near the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). BRP Batangas and BRP Kalanggaman joined the USCGC Bertholf on Tuesday for capacity-building exercises […]

Chinese coast guard ships seen monitoring Philippine, US ships in South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese coast guard ships were spotted watching Philippine and United States ships conducting joint search and rescue exercise in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. Photos taken by Agence France-Presse on May 14 showed a Chinese coast guard ship monitoring the activity from a distance. According to the report, […]

South China Sea: Beijing preparing to INVADE Taiwan, says US intelligence

CHINA is preparing to invade Taiwan after increasing its military power in the South China Sea, according to the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). Tensions erupted between the two countries after both laid claims in the disputed seas. The bitter rivalry has seen Taiwan accusing Beijing of infiltrating the island and attempting to gain influence. […]