Without causing much of a stir, China has been quietly dumping sand onto reefs and rocks in waters claimed by Vietnam. In addition to altering the geography of the Spratly (Truong Sa) archipelago, China’s land reclamation work on Johnson South, Cuarteron, Fiery Cross, Gaven, and Kennan reefs could be used as a clever legal leverage […]
NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar, Nov 13 — President Benigno S. Aquino III has sought the support of India and other members of the United Nations in easing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. The President made the appeal in his intervention during the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Summit held at the Sapphire […]
BEIJING—The bilateral relations between the Philippines and China continued to improve even as both countries continued to lock horns over their conflicting territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea, President Benigno Aquino III said here Sunday. He made the statement during the APEC CEO Summit when a business leader asked him about the relations between […]
Philippine President Benigno Aquino wakes up each morning with a question for which he has no answer: “There are very few days that I don’t start the day asking what does China gain from all this?” What drives China to press its claims to the South China Sea, taking on countries such as the Philippines […]
President Benigno Aquino III will be pushing for the early conclusion of the drafting of the set of rules meant to avoid conflict in the South China Sea at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Myanmar. “I am sure the President will be bringing up this agenda item. I think he will […]
MANILA — The newly signed defense agreement between the Philippines and the United States is widely seen as a boost for the Philippines’ military at a time of increased tensions with China. But analysts say the extent of U.S. support remains ambiguous, making it unclear how the pact might affect future confrontations between Manila and […]
After an absence of more than 20 years, American forces will return to the Philippines under a 10-year agreement reached between the two countries on Monday in conjunction with U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent visit to Manila. The Enhanced Defense Cooperation agreement seeks to broaden U.S. access to bases on a rotational, temporary basis, and […]
MANILA, Philippines – By listening to its neighbors, China can realize that they are not adversaries but “willing partners” in its quest for regional development and stability, visiting US President Barack Obama said yesterday. Asked to comment on China’s growing aggressiveness in staking its claims in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, Obama […]
MANILA, Philippines – “I feel as if I have been slapped, or ordered to melt into the wallpaper.” Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago took strong exception to the signing of a military deal between the Philippines and the United States without Senate approval. Just hours after the ceremony, the chairperson of the Senate foreign affairs committee […]
President Benigno Aquino III will be clarifying the terms of support of the United States to the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea dispute during US President Barack Obama’s visit next week, Malacañang hinted Wednesday. At a press conference, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino and Obama will discuss defense, political, […]