‘Rock Solid’: ‘The Lord of the Rings’ of law

The book “Rock Solid,” by veteran Supreme Court watcher Marites Vitug, is “The Lord of the Rings” of legal journalism. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio towers as its Gandalf, our maritime arbitration’s architect. Luminaries such as then Solicitors General Francis Jardeleza and Florin Hilbay and then Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra play Aragorn, Legolas and […]

Cayetano pushes Philippines-China joint oil exploration in South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines — Joint exploration and development with China in the hotly contested South China Sea will ensure that the Philippines will not be in danger of losing oil and gas, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday. In an interview over radio dzMM, Cayetano pushed for joint exploration and development as the […]

China quietly resumes activities in Doklam, neither Bhutan nor India sought to dissuade it: US official

Washington: China has quietly resumed its activities in the Doklam area and neither Bhutan nor India has sought to dissuade it, a top US official has said while comparing Beijing’s actions in the Himalayan region with its manoeuvres in the disputed South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over all of South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, […]

Britain Is Planning to Send an Aircraft Carrier to the South China Sea

Britain is planning to send an aircraft carrier to the South China Sea to back up Australia as the two countries seek to deal with China’s growing aggressiveness in the region. The announcement was made by United Kingdom Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson, who— along with Jeremy Hunt, London’s foreign secretary— met with Australian Defense Minister […]

Asean to discuss code of conduct for S. China Sea

Asean ministers will discuss a Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea next week amid concerns over China’s increasing militarisation in the area, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said yesterday. He said the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) that was signed in 2002 by China and Asean does not appear to […]

Malaysia to be firmer in row over South China Sea

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Wednesday that Malaysia’s new government will adopt a firmer stand in tackling a decades-old territorial row in the South China Sea amid China’s aggressive expansion in the disputed area. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who won a stunning electoral victory in May, has said warships should […]