SUMMARY Claim: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela declared all-out war on China over tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in the title and thumbnail of a YouTube video posted on February 16. As of writing, it has gained 25,117 views, 560 likes, and 139 […]
SUMMARY The Philippine government said on Monday, February 19, that it would “validate and investigate” reports from Filipino fisherfolk of their foreign counterparts using cyanide to fish in Bajo de Masinloc, a shoal that’s supposed to be a shared fishing ground for several nationalities. Fresh off his oath-taking as personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – After vowing, repeatedly, that the Philippine government’s innovative “transparency initiative” would continue in the West Philippine Sea, Philippine authorities put the spotlight on another flashpoint for Manila and Beijing: Bajo de Masinloc, a shoal located some 124 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales. Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard […]
SUMMARY Just a few days before Christmas, on December 8, we embarked on our journey aboard the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca for the first civilian convoy mission to the West Philippine Sea. It was organized by the Atin Ito Coalition, led by the Akbayan Party and by different civil society organizations, set out to deliver […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is firmly committed to negotiations for a code of conduct between China and Southeast Asian countries to avert confrontations in the South China Sea, its foreign minister said on Thursday, February 15. Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo also said tensions in the South China Sea were not all about a […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and the United States conducted joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea on Friday, February 9, the Philippine military said, the latest round of drills underlining ongoing expansion of their defense ties. Security engagements between the treaty allies have soared in the past year, at a time of […]
SUMMARY The following are the remarks of retired Supreme Court justice Antonio T. Carpio at the forum on the High Seas Treaty sponsored jointly by the Stratbase ADR Institute and the Japanese embassy on February 8, 2024. We are publishing with permission. The High Seas Treaty was approved by the UN General Assembly last June […]
SUMMARY Like a doughnut, the much hyped “Bagong Pilipinas,” President Marcos’ rallying cry for his administration, has a big hole. While it promises a sky full of stars – an “environment that provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos” and the “attainment of comprehensive policy reforms…” – it leaves out the seas. “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) does not situate the […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Filipino bishops rebuked China in a rare statement about the West Philippine Sea dispute, and said it is “morally permissible” to take refuge in “the friendship of allies” if diplomacy fails. The statement, dated Thursday, February 8, but sent in advance to reporters over the weekend, was signed by six Roman […]
SUMMARY SHANGHAI, China – China said on Saturday, February 3, a small civilian vessel from the Philippines had “illegally placed itself on the beach” of an atoll in the South China Sea that both countries claim. The vessel, which landed on the Spratly Islands atoll on Friday, February 2, was there for supply purposes, the China […]