The Philippine Navy and the United States Navy are now conducting a bilateral sail in the Philippine waters west of Palawan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Monday. In a statement, the AFP said the AFP Western Command’s Naval Task Force 41 and the US 7th fleet will carry out a Division […]

China has mapped out its imperial ambitions—literally. Last Monday, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources released its new “standard map,” which includes not only Taiwan, but also parts of the maritime zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It also includes land that China disputes with India—and even some Russian territory. China’s map release […]

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte admitted on Monday that his 2016 pledge to ride a jet ski to the Spratly Islands and plant a Philippine flag there was a “pure campaign joke,” calling those who believed him “stupid.” “Panahon ‘yan sa kampanya ‘yan. At saka ‘yung biro na ‘yun, ‘yung bravado ko, it was […]

MANILA, Philippines — Although he is no longer in government, former president Rodrigo Duterte said he will protest China’s recently released map featuring a new 10-dash line that defines its South China Sea boundaries. “China is a friend, but I would state now, I do not agree with the 10-dash line,” Duterte said in mixed […]

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) — An international security expert expects China to soon escalate its actions in the South China Sea, with the end goal of taking control over most parts of the contested waters On Sept. 8, the Philippines successfully completed its resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, but not without another attempt […]

HANOI, Vietnam — The United States and Vietnam warned on Monday against the “threat or use of force” in the disputed South China Sea, days after the latest clash involving Chinese vessels. President Joe Biden and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong said the competing claims on the strategic waterway must be settled under […]

TWO modern warships of the Philippine Navy have conducted maneuver exercises near Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in an apparent attempt to drive away dozens of Chinese vessels attempting to intrude and gain control over the shoal. The Western Command-based Puerto Princesa reported that the BRP Antonio Luna, a Jose Rizal-class guided missile frigate along with BRP […]

At least three survey ships from China are monitored in the eastern seaboard of the Philippine Sea, a map image released by a maritime security expert showed on Friday, Sept. 15. Ray Powell, project director at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, identified the vessels as “Haiyang Dizhi 12 Hao”, “Haiyang Dizhi […]

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea was leading to global isolation even as multiple countries have come forward to back the Philippine’s position on the territorial dispute. “The irresponsible and aggressive actions of the China Coast Guard is leading China to global isolation,” […]

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday said the review on the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) may be finished by the end of 2023. “Perhaps by the end of the year,” Teodoro told reporters in Pampanga during the turnover and blessing ceremonies of the C-208B aircraft at Clark Air […]