Indonesian corvette opens fire on Chinese fishing ships in South China Sea

An Indonesian warship has opened fire on a group of Chinese vessels, injuring one fisherman Incident threatens to further escalate tensions between Beijing and Jakarta over the disputed waters An Indonesian navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL) Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I)-class corvette has fired upon a group of 12 Chinese fishing ships after […]

Favorable ruling on PH-China sea dispute can be enforced – Carpio

‘NOT HELPLESS.’ SC senior associate justice Antonio Carpio (left) says the Philippines won’t be helpless in trying to enforce a possible favorable ruling in its maritime dispute with China. Photo by Katerina Francisco/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – If the international tribunal hearing the case over the disputed South China Sea decides in favor of the Philippines, […]

U.S. ‘hypocrisy’ and Chinese cash strengthen Beijing’s hand in South China Sea

The list of countries backing Beijing’s stance in the South China Sea just keeps growing — China’s Foreign Ministry boasted last week that nearly 60 had swung behind the country’s rejection of international arbitration in a case brought by the Philippines. The numbers are questionable, and the idea of gaining the support of distant, landlocked […]

US superforce patrolling PH Sea

TWO US supercarrier groups have started operations in the Philippine Sea, in what the Philippine government said was a demonstration of Washington’s “ironclad commitment” as the world awaits a ruling by a United Nations tribunal on Manila’s petition to invalidate China’s so-called nine-dash line in the South China Sea. “It is a show of how […]

Why arbitration matters

Soon, the Arbitral Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague will issue its decision concerning the case filed by the Philippines over its maritime entitlements in the South China Sea. Despite China opting not to formally participate in the court’s proceedings, the tribunal’s decision will be legally binding for all concerned. Once […]