Vietnam and the Philippines have agreed to boost cooperation between their coastguards and work to prevent incidents in disputed parts of the South China Sea, against a backdrop of growing Chinese assertiveness. The two countries, which have overlapping maritime claims in the sea, signed the two memoranda of understanding on the second day of Philippine … Read more
The Philippines armed forces will work to ensure that the country has “unimpeded” access to the natural resources in its portions of the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said earlier this week, in announcing a shift to a new and more robust defense policy. In a policy speech at the Manila Overseas Press … Read more
The Philippines has again condemned China’s coastguard for its latest “provocative action” against Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea, shortly after the two nations agreed to take additional steps to manage tensions in the disputed waterway. Yesterday, Jonathan Malaya, the spokesperson of the National Security Council, referred to an incident publicized by the Philippine … Read more
The Philippines plans to upgrade its islands in the South China Sea in order to make them more habitable for troops, the country’s military chief said yesterday, at a time of heightened tension with China over clashing maritime claims. Speaking to reporters, after attending a command conference led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the … Read more
The strategic dynamics of the South China Sea in 2023 have been marked by a complex interplay of diplomatic efforts, military posturing, regional cooperation, and legal disputes. Against this backdrop, China’s recent appointment of Admiral Dong Jun as the new defense minister has introduced a notable shift in leadership, posing potential implications for the ongoing … Read more
The Philippines and the United States yesterday began a two-day joint maritime and air patrol in the South China Sea, after a year marked by a string of dangerous incidents in contested waters. The maritime exercises between Manila and Washington are the second to take place in less than two months, after a three-day joint … Read more
Even as the world’s attention is focused on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, tensions continue to rise in Southeast Asia between the Philippines and China. Recent incidents at sea between the two have been the worst in more than a decade. The United States, through its active presence in the region and treaty alliance … Read more
The Philippine defense minister has reprimanded China for blaming his country for the recent tensions in the South China Sea, saying that Beijing is globally isolated on the issue. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro’s comments followed an incident in which Chinese vessels collided with a Philippine supply boat and coast guard ship in two separate incidents … Read more
The Philippines is anticipating an escalation of hostilities by Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, following two dangerous incidents in contested parts of the waterway earlier this week. In an interview with TheStarsHub Philippines that was aired late on Wednesday, Alberto Carlos, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Palawan-based Western Command, … Read more
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to defend his country’s territory after two more confrontations with Chinese vessels in contested parts of the South China Sea over the weekend. The two incidents, one of which involved a collision between a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and a Philippine resupply ship, took place in the … Read more