SUMMARY PALAWAN, Philippines – Filipino fisherfolk were harassed by two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships as they installed payaos or local fish aggregating devices in the vicinity of Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea on Thursday, April 4. At one point, CCG personnel appeared to position in front of their ship’s water cannon, as […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia will hold a “maritime cooperative activity” (MCA) in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Sunday, April 7, “in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” their defense ministers said in a joint statement. “Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States uphold […]

SUMMARY Claim: The Philippines has ordered the arrest of Chinese officials responsible for the destruction of coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a YouTube video posted on March 24 by a channel notorious for posting dubious claims on the West Philippine Sea. As of writing, […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – A trilateral summit between the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines will include a discussion of recent incidents in the South China Sea, Manila’s foreign ministry said on Friday, April 5. US President Joe Biden will host next week Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – On Maundy Thursday, March 28, as Catholics all over the Philippines were practicing their penance and braving the unforgiving heat of the dry season, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced “a response and countermeasure package” given China’s “attacks” in the West Philippine Sea.  “We seek no conflict with any nation, more so […]

SUMMARY Bago matapos ang Marso, pinabilib tayo ng Beijing sa pinakabago nitong kapal ng mukha at pagbabaliktad ng katotohanan. Ayon sa foreign ministry ng Tsina, ang mga mamamahayag daw na sumasama sa mga resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal ay “troublemakers.” Sabi pa ni foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, tuwing nag-de-deliver daw ng suplay ang Pilipinas […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – As China continues to bully the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed an executive order strengthening the country’s maritime security According to Executive Order No. 57, released by the Presidential Communications Office on Sunday, March 31, the President ordered the bolstering of the country’s maritime security […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Palawan deployed to Pag-asa Island a team of doctors, nurses, and teachers. “This initiative marks a significant stride in advancing the well-being and educational prospects of residents inhabiting Pagasa Island and neighboring areas,” said Coast Guard District in a Facebook post on Friday, March 29. […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – A peaceful resolution steered by a firm hand. This is what President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured Filipinos on Thursday, March 28, in light of China’s latest intimidation in the West Philippine Sea. The President said he has already given directives to the country’s national security and defense officials and has been […]

SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines and criticized as “dangerous” China’s use of water cannon and disruption of a Philippine resupply mission last week. In a phone call on Wednesday with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, Austin “reaffirmed the ironclad US commitment […]