ABOARD BRP CABRA (AP) — As a United States Navy plane circled overhead, two Philippine boats breached a Chinese coast guard blockade in a dangerous confrontation Tuesday in the disputed South China Sea to deliver food and other supplies to Filipino forces guarding a contested shoal. Two Philippine coast guard vessels escorting the supply boats, […]

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos and the Australian government have approved plans to conduct joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea. “We are still planning the details but in essence, (the joint patrol) has been approved by the President and the Australian leadership,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) […]

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29) — The Philippines and the United Kingdom on Tuesday signed a joint statement of intent to affirm their commitment to “further elevate” defense, security, and maritime cooperation, among others. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly signed the document to upgrade the UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership, […]

NEW DELHI, Aug 29 (Reuters) – India said on Tuesday that it had lodged a strong protest with China over a new map that lays claim to India’s territory, the latest irritant in testy ties between the Asian giants. The protest by New Delhi followed reports in the Indian media that Beijing had released an […]

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants to stop joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) even after an arbitral tribunal had ruled in favor of the country’s legal claim over the territory. “We will not join any expedition or patrolling. I will not allow it because I do […]

The Philippines has protested China’s recent publication of a new “10-dash line” map that places sprawling offshore territories it claims within Beijing’s “national boundaries,” officials said Friday. In a confidential June 7, 2013 note verbale handed to the Chinese Embassy in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it “protests the reference to those […]

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia rejected on Wednesday a new Chinese map that claims waters off Malaysia’s coast in the South China Sea, in the latest war of words over Beijing’s assertiveness in the waterway. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea – through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually – […]

MANILA — India seeks to expand naval interaction with the Philippines as the two nation’s priorities align in keeping a free and stable Indo-Pacific region. In a press briefing on Friday, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran said he sees opportunities for cooperation in the naval domain as defense is a “relatively new area” […]

Sen. Imee Marcos has criticized China’s new standard map for including a “10-dash line” that extends its claims in the disputed South China Sea, saying it is unacceptable not only for the Philippines but other neighboring countries. The lawmaker and sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. was asked about the topic on the sidelines of […]

Two Vietnamese fishermen were injured when a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at their boat near the contested Paracel Islands, the latest casualties in China’s aggressive campaign to expand its control in the South China Sea. Tuesday’s incident, ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Vietnam on Sept. 10, happened as […]