Extracting WPS resources beyond the arbitral award

Just after our people were getting united in our goals and methods of asserting our rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), and after President Duterte publicly promised he would take up the arbitral award with President Xi Jinping, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua strongly reiterated China’s rejection of the award, firmly saying that China “will […]

China trip ‘right time’ for Duterte to raise arbitral ruling – Panelo

  Malacañang on Saturday further raised expectations that President Rodrigo Duterte would discuss the landmark ruling on the South China Sea when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. “His trip to China now, to him, it’s the right time to raise the arbitration ruling,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters. “There […]

‘Irritant’ maritime survey issue ‘important’ to raise in Duterte-Xi meeting: Panelo

  MANILA – It is important for President Rodrigo Duterte to raise with his Chinese counterpart the maritime surveys being conducted by Beijing in Philippine waters without consent from Manila. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this Saturday, in the wake of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s statements Friday hitting the secrecy of the passage of 9 […]

Vietnam demands Chinese ship leave disputed waters as end of fishing ban threatens to inflame tensions

  Fishing boats prepare to leave port on Hailing island in south China’s Guangdong province on Friday. Photo: Xinhua Vietnam repeated its demand that a Chinese survey ship and its escorts leave contested waters in the South China Sea as Beijing’s lifting of a ban on fishing in the area threatened to raise tensions further. […]

Beijing starts military exercise in disputed South China Sea as tensions with Vietnam rise

China started a series of military training exercises near the Paracel chain of islands in the disputed South China Sea on Tuesday, amid growing tensions with Vietnam over the vital maritime trade route. Ships were prohibited from entering three locations in and near the Paracels from Tuesday morning until Thursday afternoon, according to three brief […]

Has Xi Jinping Stirred a Backlash?

When relations between China and the West frayed in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping gave guidance that set Beijing’s course for several decades. “Hide our capacities and bide our time, be good at maintaining a low profile and never claim leadership,” he urged. As Deng and his successors […]

China warships in PH waters irk DND chief

Chinese warships crossing Philippine waters are an “annoying” matter for Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who did not mince words about the latest challenge to Philippine sovereignty by China when he questioned the intention of these vessels. “I think this is not innocent anymore because this ha[s] been happening repeatedly,” Lorenzana said in an interview on […]

Chinese casinos near PH military camps worry DND

MANILA, Philippines—Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday (Aug. 16) raised concern over the location of Chinese casinos, also known as Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo), which appeared to be too close for comfort to Philippine military camps in Metro Manila. “This is very concerning until such time I saw the map,” Lorenzana told reporters. “They […]