MANILA, Philippines — China on Tuesday reiterated its earlier claim that the Philippines had promised to take out the World War II-era warship it had grounded since 1999 at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal — prompting an official to assert the contrary and question Beijing’s credibility about its claim. Beijing also repeated its exhortation to Manila […]

ABOARD BRP SIERRA MADRE, Spratly Islands (AP) — On board the crumbling carcass of this World War II-era warship, Filipino marine 1st Lt. Mike Pelotera and his eight men make their way to a mid-level deck to raise the Philippine flag up a leaning pole and then salute it. Across the calm, turquoise waters, two […]

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) — The Philippines could not reach China when it tried to contact Beijing through the hotline established between the two countries when Chinese vessels fired water cannon and blocked Philippine boats at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. […]

MANILA, Philippines — Efforts of the “political elite” in the Philippines to gain greater influence with the Chinese government have contributed to the apparent failure of bilateral talks to deter Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a political analyst said. Political scientist Cleve Arguelles said this is most recently illustrated in China’s water cannon […]

MANILA (UPDATED) — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday urged China to “stop bullying” the Philippines after a Chinese Coast Guard ship used a water canon against a Philippine vessel delivering supplies to Ayungin shoal. “Kinukondena po natin ito… Stop bullying us,” said Go, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who forged closer […]

MANILA, Philippines — The United States on Sunday said it stands with the Philippines after the China Coast Guard (CCG) fired a water cannon at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and military supply ship bound for Ayungin Shoal, calling the attack a threat to regional peace and stability. ADVERTISEMENT In a statement, the US Department […]

The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of dangerous actions by the Coast Guard and maritime militia of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to obstruct an August 5 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking maneuvers, PRC ships […]

From what we hear, the meeting that took place between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former president Rodrigo Duterte last Wednesday was very good and cordial, and one of the issues discussed was the recent meeting of former president Duterte with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing last July 17. President Bongbong had earlier expressed […]

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is set to conduct joint patrol operations with the United States before the end of 2023, according to an official from the National Security Council (NSC). In a report by GMA news program “24 Oras”, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said that some logistical issues are still being addressed […]

Chinese Communication Construction Co. (CCCC), which currently has several projects in the Philippines, should be banned from doing business in the country, retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said. Carpio told the Inquirer on Friday that the China state-owned company was allegedly involved in Manila’s maritime conflict with Beijing in the South China Sea. Read […]