SUMMARY Claim: Despite other countries also claiming parts of the South China Sea, the US is engaging only with the Philippines and supporting its pushback against China because the Western superpower has a “hidden agenda” against China. Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook video was uploaded on April 13 by a page with 57,000 followers. […]

The United States, Japan, and the Philippines recently concluded their inaugural trilateral summit held in Washington. The landmark event helped to draw attention to other aspects of the maritime conflict with China, where Ayungin Shoal – a feature in the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone – is one of the current […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Navy on Tuesday, April 16, said it ordered an investigation into remarks made by one of its reservists, Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, who had called on the military to “withdraw [their] support” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over his policy in the West Philippine Sea.  […]

SUMMARY WASHINGTON, USA – The top US diplomat for East Asia discussed Middle East developments, the South China Sea and Taiwan issues with Chinese counterparts in Beijing, the State Department said on Monday, April 15, the latest effort by the two countries to stabilize rocky ties. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Tuesday, April 16, said that the purported “gentleman’s agreement” between the Philippines and China over Ayungin Shoal during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte was just a Chinese propaganda. “I really beleive so that this is plain propaganda by the Chinese government. Let’s not […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino serviceman’s death in an attack by a foreign power would invoke the Philippines’ Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday, April 15. Marcos said this in a media forum with foreign correspondents based in Manila, when asked what “conditions” would invoke the […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has no plans to grant the United States access to more military bases, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Monday, April 15, after nearly doubling the number last year under a joint defense pact. Beijing has previously accused the Philippines of “stoking the fire” when it increased the number […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed frustration over conflicting information regarding the “secret deal” struck between his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte and China on the West Philippine Sea years ago. Beijing has been raising this gentleman’s agreement between the two countries, now that Manila has adopted a stronger stance on defending the Philippines’ […]

SUMMARY Claim: The US Navy and Philippine Navy attacked a Chinese Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook video bearing the claim has gained 1.3 million views, 35,700 reactions, and 3,700 shares as of writing. The video shows soldiers aboard a ship firing at a target not shown […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Last week, the Philippines began a “new trilateral chapter” with the United States and Japan – two countries which, once upon a time, were its colonizers. The White House was host to the first-ever trilateral leaders summit between US President Joe Biden, Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and Philippine President Ferdinand […]