MANILA, Philippines – There are no new Chinese structures in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal but four Chinese ships are still in the area, a defense expert monitoring West Philippine Sea issues revealed yesterday. Rommel Banlaoi of the Philippine Association of Chinese Studies said reports about the supposed buildup in Panatag Shoal are not true. “It’s a […]
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose L. Cuisia Jr. told the crew of the country’s newest warship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), that the Philippines will exert efforts to ease tensions in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) but will also defend its territory if needed. On Sunday, June 9, during a […]
MANILA, Philippines—Their territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) should not stop the Philippines and China from celebrating the 38th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations, Malacañang said Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said relations between the two countries were multifaceted and the territorial dispute over parts of the […]
June 25, 2012: Henry Bensurto of the Department of Foreign Affairs presentation of Philippine position. Download PDF: Bensurto_Presentation
MANILA – There is more to the relationship between China and the Philippines than the row over at the West Philippine Sea, Malacanang said, as it stressed that the country will retain a non-provocative stance amid Chinese ships still allegedly trespassing in Philippine waters. “Our relationship with our neighbor is multifaceted. And, as we’ve always […]
WASHINGTON – A US official on Wednesday voiced hope that China and Southeast Asian nations will start talks soon on a code of conduct to resolve disputes over the South China Sea after repeated flare-ups. Joe Yun, the acting assistant secretary of state for East Asia, said that China and the 10-member Association of Southeast […]
The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), launched by the Institute of International Strategic Studies (IISS) in 2002, brings together Asia-Pacific defense ministers and experts from around the world to discuss regional security challenges and opportunities for cooperation. The 12th SLD convened in Singapore from May 31 to June 2. IISS Director General and Chief Executive John Chipman […]
Yesterday, the New York Times reported that China’s mapping authority, Sinomaps Press, issued a new map of the country showing 80% of the South China Sea as internal Chinese water. What’s at issue? Each year, more than half of the world’s annual merchant tonnage passes through the South China Sea as well as a third […]
While the attention of the Philippines has been focused on its conflict with Taiwan over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard on May 9, little notice has been given to the arrival, just the day before, of three Chinese naval ships at the Ayungin Reef (Second Thomas Shoal), the gateway […]
Nine dashes, five judges, two contestants. It sounds like a reality television show. In fact, it is the rather obscure — but very important — beginning of a process to delineate fiercely disputed Asian maritime borders according to the rule of law, rather than the law of the jungle. The nine dashes belong to China. […]