PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has assured the public that the country will not abandon its claims in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement read by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte maintained that his position in the West Philippine Sea will not waver. “Our principal position and stand on the West Philippine Sea remains. I…
PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has ordered the filing of a new diplomatic protest against China over the presence of some 287 Chinese militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). “@DFAPHL (Department of Foreign Affairs), fire diplomatic protest,” the diplomat said in a tweet on Thursday, May 13. On Wednesday, May 12,…
Malacañang expressed optimism that the Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea will leave “soon” due to the close friendship between the Philippines and China. “Inaasahan po natin na ‘yung malapit na pagkakaibigan natin, magiging dahilan kung bakit sila ay aalis ng maaga kaysa nang mas matagal (We expect that the close friendship will be…
PHILIPPINE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin III over the weekend discussed the situation in the West Philippine Sea. During a telephone conference on Sunday, April 11, the two officials discussed recent developments in regional security, adding that they were looking forward to this year’s joint military exercises after it was cancelled…
THE United States is doubling down on its support for the Philippines amid the presence of Chinese ships at Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) in the West Philippine Sea. “We have reiterated our strong support for the Philippines and we have called on the PRC to abide by the 2016 arbitral tribunal award under the…
THE United States maintained that it “stands” with the Philippines amid the presence of Chinese ships at Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) in the West Philippine Sea. “The United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in the face of the PRC’s maritime militia amassing at WhitsunReef,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in…
CHINA was not targeting the Philippines when it passed a new law allowing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels entering disputed territories, according to Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana. “The Chinese have reassured us through their spokesman, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman as well as the Chinese Embassy…that they are not targeting…
THE United States on Monday, November 23, reiterated that it will continue to support the Philippines’ claim on the West Philippine Sea. “Our message is we’re going to be here, we’ve got your back, and we’re not leaving,” U.S. national security adviser Robert O’Brien said. He recently visited the Philippines to lead the ceremonial turnover…
Malacañang this week said that the Philippines will continue to “assert’’ its rights in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). “As we have said in previous occasions, the Philippine government continues to assert our rights over the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with the 2016 Arbitral Ruling,” said Presidential Spokesperson…
PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday, July 12, reaffirmed that the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea case is “non-negotiable.” He made the statement on the 4th anniversary of the historic ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s claim over the entire South China Sea…
The Department of Foreign Affairs’ diplomatic protests against China for violating international law and Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea has gained support from Malacañang. “Yung filing of diplomatic protest, ginagawa po ‘yan basta kinakailangan gawin (The filing of the diplomatic protest, we will file them if they need to be filed),” said presidential spokesman…
CHINA’S repeated provocative actions in the South China Sea (SCS or West Philippine Sea) inhibit Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, including the Philippines, from accessing over $2.5 trillion in energy reserves and have contributed to instability in the region. United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell…
Malacañang on Thursday, September 19, said bringing up the 2016 arbitral court ruling on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) before the United Nations General Assembly would be a “futile exercise.” The statement comes in response to former Foreign Affairs Chief Albert del Rosario who suggested that the administration use the 74th regular session…
Malacañang on Thursday, September 12, assured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte is not abandoning the 2016 arbitral court ruling after he revealed that China and the Philippines are looking into joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The clarification comes after the president said both countries have…
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, July 17, has called on the United States to invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines amid the maritime tension in the disputed West Philippine Sea. “I’m calling now America. I’m invoking the RP-U.S. pact. I would like America to gather all their 7th Fleet in front of…
A recent survey revealed that 93% of adult Filipinos believe that it is important for the Philippine government to take back control of islands occupied by China in the West Philippine Sea According to the survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from June 22 to 26, 74% of the respondents said this is “œvery…
United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Wednesday, July 3 said the U.S. will “stand by” its obligations to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) should an armed aggression against the latter country happen. This response comes after Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s statement that the Philippine government should not wait for an…
Lawmakers seek stronger action against Chinese fishermen THE Philippines might cut off its diplomatic ties with China if the sinking of the Filipino-ridden fishing boat at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea will be found to be done intentionally, Malacañang said on Thursday, June 13. “We want to find out first. If it…
The United States on Friday, April 12, maintained it will continue its operations in the South China Sea (SCS) despite China’s protest about American forces stirring trouble in the waters. “The U.S. will fly, sail and operate everywhere international law allows. That’s it. Wish we had a longer statement for you, but that’s the simple…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 4 demanded that China back off from Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), which has been swarmed by hundreds of Chinese ships this week. The president told reporters that he would not let China “occupy” the island as it belongs to the Philippines. “Pag-asa…
CHINESE Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua assured that Beijing will not launch any attacks in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). “We are worried about possible attacks from the other side. We don’t worry about China attacking anybody because it is not our policy,” he said on the sidelines of the Presidential Anti-Corruption…
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted that the country’s issues with China over the West Philippine Sea will be best resolved through President Rodrigo Duterte’s strategy of not provoking China. “China is on my mind every day because of what they are doing in the West Philippine Sea. I wish I could…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was urged by his critics on Tuesday, November 20 to defend the country’s claim and territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay said that the president must not put aside the country’s victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) as he cited the Social…
FIVE Filpino fishermen who have been stranded in the West Philippine sea for five days were rescued by a United States Navy vessel on Monday, October 8. According to a report from the U.S. 7th Fleet, cargo ship USNS Wally Schirra was conducting a routine mission when the distressed Filipinos were spotted adrift in the…
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday, September 12, announced that Chinese Chief Foreign Minister Wang Yu will visit the country to talk about the joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea. “The visit is aimed at further building on the increasingly strong foundation of friendship between the Philippines and China,”…
ACCORDING to the Cabinet’s security cluster, the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute is the biggest concern with regards to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The assessment was made as the security cluster unveiled the Duterte government’s National Security Policy during the pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) conference on Wednesday, July 18,…
Malacañang on Monday, June 25, said it was former President Benigno Aquino III’s administration that first militarized the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), which led to the heightened Chinese presence in the disputed waters. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., in a news briefing in Cagayan de Oro City, mentioned the decision of President Rodrigo…
THE Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest against China over the latter country’s recent moves in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). During a press briefing on Thursday, May 31, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the protest covered all incidents previously mentioned by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. He did not provide…
