SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Two Chinese navy vessels shadowed Philippine and US ships conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea, the Philippine military said on Thursday, January 4 as tensions flare in the region over disputed territorial claims. “We confirm the presence of two PLA-N (People’s Liberation Army Navy) vessels from a distance shadowing […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and United States have commenced the second iteration of a joint maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Wednesday, January 3. From January 3 to 4, the AFP and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) will conduct passing exercises, […]
SUMMARY Claim: A video claims that joint maritime military forces from the United States and the Philippines destroyed 350 illegal Chinese vessels attempting a voyage to Scarborough Shoal. Why we fact-checked this: This claim was made in a Youtube video posted on December 19 with the title, “Brutal attack! 350 illegal China vessels destroy by […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Foreign ministers of Southeast Asia’s regional bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Saturday, December 30, expressed their concern over growing tensions in the South China Sea which they said could threaten regional peace and urged for peaceful dialogue among parties. “We closely follow with concern the recent developments in the South China […]
May bagong terminong ginagamit ang mga opisyal patungkol sa joint military patrols sa West Philippine Sea: “Maritime Cooperation Activity.” Ayon kay Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug, may bagong aspektong kaakibat ang mga maritime patrol na ito: air cover. Ngayong taon, nanumbalik ang joint maritime patrols ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos, at nagsimula naman ang sa pagitan […]
SUMMARY BEIJING, China – Chinese state media accused the Philippines on Monday, December 25, of repeatedly infringing on China’s territory in the South China Sea, spreading false information and colluding with extraterritorial forces to cause trouble. The Philippines has relied on US support to continually provoke China, with such “extremely dangerous” behavior seriously harming regional […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippines that any miscalculation in their escalating dispute in the South China Sea would bring a resolute response, and urged dialogue to address “serious difficulties” between the two neighbors. Beijing and Manila have traded sharp accusations in recent months over a succession of run-ins in the […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine defense minister rebuked China on Wednesday, December 20, for accusing his country of provoking tension and stirring trouble in the South China Sea, saying only Beijing believed what it was saying. “Truth and in fact, no country in the world, none, supports unequivocally their claim to the whole of […]
SUMMARY Claim: A video shows the United States Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) arriving in the Philippines to confront China over its recent acts of aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video published on December 10 has over 137,575 views and 1,400 likes as of writing. At the […]
SUMMARY After back-to-back water cannon incidents in the West Philippine Sea and calls for Manila to reject Beijing’s top envoy here, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appears to be taking a step back, saying it’s important “to be very careful that we do not overreact” when it comes to what he calls the “most complex geopolitical […]