Monthly Archives: December 2019

Walking my talk on China-PH relations

  WHAT’s the talk to begin with? That the Philippines is not just government. It is also people. As a matter of fact, the Philippines is less government than people. With the above as guidepost, it behooves China that in rendering assistance to the Philippines, it must make sure such assistance redounds to the benefit […]

The Chinese Agenda Taiwanese experts dissect Beijing’s ‘dominant’ demeanor

  THE manner by which China has been exerting its influence, including Beijing’s apparent attempt to impose itself abroad as of late, goes beyond the globally accepted norm that truly deserves international concern, an independent Taiwanese think tank has observed. But while the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies (CAPS) has concurred in not only […]

Fears of open war between US and China after Beijing accused of ‘coercing’ Taiwan

THE UNITED STATES has warned China against attempt to coerce Taiwan after Beijing’s new Shandong aircraft carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said Shandong and accompanying frigates sailed northwards through the Strait. Taiwan will see Presidential elections on January 11 with incumbent Tsai Ing-wen facing Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang […]

South China Sea chaos: How Beijing is using civilian militia to HARASS US rival ships

  SOUTH CHINA SEA disputes have led to tense military stand-offs between the US and Chinese navies, but Beijing is gaming long-accepted rules of engagement by sending a civilian militia to harass rival ships. These civilian vessels cannot be targeted by military ships. The People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) are linked to and backed […]

Quirky style eclipsed by high ratings

  Critics demanded the release of medical bulletins, noting that transparency about the President’s health is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. But the Palace played down concerns about his health.Halfway through his term, President Rodrigo Duterte continues to hold high trust and satisfaction ratings, and extended his popularity to his allies who swept the midterm […]

China’s aircraft carrier the Shandong sails through Taiwan Strait after entering service

  China’s first home-built aircraft carrier the Shandong has sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time since being commissioned last week, in a move seen as a flexing of military muscle against the self-ruled island ahead of its presidential election. The carrier, accompanied by its frigates, transited northwards through the waterway on Thursday, […]

Sovereignty claims, not maritime entitlements

  AT the core of the arbitral tribunal’s errors in its ruling was its refusal to recognize that the dispute between China and the Philippines involved sovereign claims over territory. The Philippines’ lawyers though deviously tried to package the suit as involving which country has the right maritime entitlements such as exclusive economic zones (EEZ) […]

China sets its sights on Taiwan in 2020 as Xi Jinping aims to achieve his ‘centenary goal’

  CHINESE naval vessels have intensified patrols in the western part of the Taiwan Strait as President Xi Jinping aims to accomplish Beijing’s “centenary goals” in 2020. The new year will see the deadline for China’s “centenary goal”, as 2021 will be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CCP). […]