Tag Archives: Philippines

‘Arbitration process a peaceful way to solve maritime dispute’

BRUSSELS – The Philippines’ top diplomat has underscored that the arbitral proceedings initiated by Manila to challenge China’s excessive maritime claims do not undermine the consultations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Beijing for the crafting of a Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del […]

Wescom chief: No standoff in Ayungin Shoal

MANILA, Philippines – The Western Command vowed that it will not abandon Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Reef) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) even as China maintained its presence there. “As far as the Wescom is concerned we are continuously monitoring our good friends in that area with what is available with my […]

PH: China turning sea into its lake

MANILA, Philippines—China is turning the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) into “one country’s lake,” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Tuesday, pressing Manila’s effort to roll back Beijing’s expansive claims in the strategic waterway. Speaking before an experts’ roundtable on maritime security in Brussels, Belgium, Del Rosario said China’s assertion of ownership over […]

US, China to Open Talks in Washington

STATE DEPARTMENT — U.S. and Chinese  diplomats meet in Washington Wednesday  for a security and economic dialogue expected to include rival territorial claims to the South China Sea. China is modernizing its navy and increasing patrols in the disputed waters of the South China Sea – where Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are all […]

Conclusion for “Battle for the Paracels”

Though the on-going feud between China and Vietnam remains the most serious source of conflict in the region, it is not the only dispute that involves the status of the islands of the South China Sea. On 16 June 1976, for example, the PRC issued a stern warning to Manila that Philippines sponsored oil exploration […]

China Threats Unacceptable

Chinese officials began their meeting with Asean foreign ministers in Brunei this week by accusing their 10 neighbours of an anti-Beijing conspiracy over disputed South China Sea territory. China singled… Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/357860/china-threats-unacceptable. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Post Publishing PCL. All rights reserved. […]

Chinese ships back at Panatag Shoal

MANILA, Philippines – An official of the Department of National Defense (DND) confirmed Monday that Chinese ships have returned to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal a few days after they left the area off Zambales in the West Philippine Sea. Security sources had earlier said that two Chinese maritime surveillance (CMS) vessels were sighted near Panatag Shoal […]

The danger of pushing China too far on law of the sea

China has been under withering political and legal attack for allegedly violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Although at the recent meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Brunei, Beijing declared its willingness to discuss a code of conduct for the South China Sea, there has been no change […]

Chinese vessels go in and out of Panatag Shoal – DFA

Two Chinese vessels have been spotted again in the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off northern Philippines, days after it was reported that the ships have left the area, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. “Yesterday [Sunday], we received a report from the Philippine Navy confirming that Chinese ships are back in Bajo de Masinloc,” […]

ASEAN plays positive role amid sea spats

Southeast Asia has seen its fair share of happenings in recent months, ranging from the maritime incidents in the South China Sea to the recurring haze problems affecting some ASEAN members. Moreover, the much vaunted ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is supposed to mold ASEAN into a single market and production base, is scheduled to […]