SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – For his first bilateral visit for 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. put security and safety issues in the South China Sea at the forefront as he met with leaders from Vietnam, which also has claims in the critical waterway. In speeches delivered during meetings with Vietnamese President Võ Văn Thưởng and […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – “We know more about Mars siguro, than the deep ocean.” It was a Monday and the auditorium at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) was packed with students and faculty members. In front, wearing a white shirt and a pair of shorts, was Cesar Villanoy. The 63-year-old […]
Every time the Philippines enters into security agreements or holds military exercises with its allies, you can count on China to come out with a strongly-worded statement expressing its displeasure. But nothing displeases the former empire more than engagements between the Philippines and the United States. So, in hopes of discouraging Filipinos from pursuing security […]
SUMMARY HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam and the Philippines agreed on Tuesday, January 30, to boost cooperation among their coastguards and to prevent untoward incidents in the South China Sea, in an announcement during a state visit to Hanoi by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The two Southeast Asian countries have competing claims over some parts of the […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya on Monday, January 29, denied China’s belated claim that it made a “temporary special arrangement” to allow the delivery of supplies for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea. Malaya, speaking on state-run PTV4’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, said he was […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s expected visit to Vietnam in late January, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday, January 23, met with and briefed Vietnamese officials on “its current engagement and maritime security operations in the West Philippine Sea.” In a release, the PCG said Vietnam’s Standing Deputy Minister of […]
SUMMARY The humble Unaizah May 1 has been through the wringer, especially in 2023. The Unaizah May 1 or UM1 is one of two boats the Philippine Navy uses in its regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, where the rusty BRP Sierra Madre serves as a military […]
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fishermen collecting sea shells near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea were reportedly harassed and driven away by Chinese Coast Guard, according to videos posted on Facebook. Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela on Sunday, January 21 said that they are able to identify the origin of the […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on the West Philippine Sea, said on Friday, January 19, that he had “high hopes with moderate expectations,” after the Philippines and China promised to improve its “maritime communication mechanism” not just between diplomats but between its respective coast guards. Tarriela […]
SUMMARY MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and China, in a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, January 17, agreed to “improve [a] maritime communication mechanism in the South China Sea,” starting 2024. “This includes communications between foreign ministries and coast guards of the two countries,” added the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a statement released […]