MANILA, Philippines — “Multilateral resistance” from the United States and its allies against China’s militarization in the South China Sea is something Beijing cannot ignore, said a State Department official. “We’re strongest when we coordinate with like-minded allies and others,” said US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell […]

  WASHINGTON – The United States on Saturday expressed concern over reports that China is hampering other countries’ oil and gas activities in the South China Sea and accused Beijing of acting like a bully. The State Department said such acts by China — it did not say when they are alleged to have happened […]

  Songs of praises were sung on the streets and inside households. Cries of infatuation for the enigmatic and charismatic leader from the south resonated all over. The dawn of a new political era for many, a clear break from tradition, a tradition of imperial Manila, career politicians and old guards of oligarchy. The man […]

HANOI — Vietnam has accused China of trespassing and demanded a Chinese survey ship in the South China Sea withdraw in the latest flashpoint over the disputed territory. The two countries have long been locked in a maritime disagreement over the resource-rich waters, with the Chinese claiming nearly all of it. But the international community […]

ASPEN • From trade wars to real ones with missiles and warships, China is seen as America’s biggest rival, and the future of that rivalry was up for debate Thursday at the Aspen Security Forum. The annual event, in its 10th year, draws top security thinkers from around the world. Much of the first of […]

  President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration in an interview that he and China have agreed to allow Chinese fishermen to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone bound the Philippines to his commitment, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Thursday. In an interview with GMA resident analyst Richard Heydarian, Carpio called on the Senate to […]

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Francis Tolentino on Thursday backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that the Philippines was granting China permission to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone. Sotto said Filipinos should also be allowed to fish in parts of the South China Sea controlled by the Chinese. […]

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are expected to express concern about Chinese activity in the South China Sea, in a joint statement to be issued at their upcoming meeting in Thailand. The foreign ministers from the 10 ASEAN member nations will meet at a series of events in Bangkok starting at […]

President Rody Duterte’s fishing agreement with Xi Jinping not only is unlawful but also lopsided against us Filipinos, Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonio Carpio said. China will let us fish in our Scarborough Shoal, 150 sq. km, while it trawls our Reed Bank, 8,866 sq. km. China can even scour our whole West Philippine Sea, […]

The terms West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the South China Sea (SCS) are not interchangeable, Professor Jay Batongbacal reiterated during a forum on Thursday. “The West Philippine Sea is not synonymous with the South China Sea. You do not interchange the two,” said Batongbacal, director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of […]