A top US official on Thursday told a Chinese counterpart that Washington's defense commitments to the Philippines were "ironclad" after a violent clash in the South China Sea. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell "raised serious concerns" about Chinese actions in a call with Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, the State Department said. Campbell … Continue reading US tells China that Philippines support ‘ironclad’
Category: South China Sea
The Philippines is eyeing talks with China to discuss a violent clash last week between their sailors in the South China Sea, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said Tuesday. Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a June 17 Filipino navy attempt to resupply marines stationed on a derelict warship that sits … Continue reading Philippines eyes China talks after violent sea clash
The Philippines will continue with resupply missions to troops on an atoll in a disputed part of the South China Sea despite Chinese coast guard vessels deliberately disrupting a mission last week, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Monday. "It was not a misunderstanding or an accident," Teodoro told a press conference at the presidential … Continue reading Philippines to continue South China Sea resupply missions, Defense Sec says
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Sunday his country is not in the business of instigating wars and will always aim to settle disputes peacefully, amid escalating maritime confrontations with China. "In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully," Marcos said … Continue reading Philippines not in business of instigating wars, says President Marcos
Vietnam offered to have talks with the Philippines about overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea as Manila decries increasingly violent clashes with Chinese vessels in contested waters. Those recent conflicts may have prompted Vietnam — which also has disputed claims with China and has seen energy developments stall as a result — to … Continue reading Vietnam Signals Interest in South China Sea Talks With Manila
Philippine business groups said on Friday they deplored the harassment of the country's military, in comments that come after a recent clash between navy personnel and the Chinese coast guard in the disputed South China Sea. "We appeal for unity towards a non-violent resolution that respects our rights as a peace-loving nation," the business groups … Continue reading Philippine business groups make rare statement amid South China Sea tensions
Japan is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to intervene in China-Philippines maritime matters, a spokesperson for China's embassy in Japan said on Friday. Japan's foreign ministry said this week that it was seriously concerned over repeated actions that obstruct freedom of navigation and increase regional tensions, including … Continue reading Japan has no right to meddle in China-Philippines maritime issues, says Chinese embassy in Japan
The Philippine military said Wednesday the Chinese coast guard rammed and boarded Filipino navy boats in a violent confrontation in the South China Sea this week in which a Filipino sailor lost a thumb. Monday's incident was the latest in a series of escalating confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing … Continue reading Philippines says Chinese coast guard boarded navy vessels in South China Sea
Huddled in the presidential situation room in February last year, senior Philippines officials faced a stark choice. Military and intelligence leaders watched as coast guard officers showed photos of what the agency said was a military-grade laser that China had pointed at a Philippines ship in disputed waters days earlier. Eduardo Ano, the national security … Continue reading In South China Sea dispute, Philippines’ bolder hand tests Beijing
The United States renewed a warning Tuesday that it’s obligated to defend its close treaty ally a day after Filipino navy personnel were injured and their supply boats damaged in one of the most serious confrontations between the Philippines and China in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, officials said. China and the … Continue reading US renews warning it’s obligated to defend the Philippines after its new clash with China at sea
China and the Philippines traded accusations over a maritime collision in the South China Sea on Monday, the latest in an increasingly testy series of confrontations over the disputed waters. Meanwhile, hours later, the United States said in a statement it had completed joint naval exercises in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with its … Continue reading China accuses Philippine supply ship of hitting Chinese vessel in South China Sea
A Philippine ship and a Chinese vessel collided near the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, Beijing's Coast Guard said. Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and an international ruling that its stance has no … Continue reading Philippine ship, Chinese vessel collide in South China Sea: Beijing
The Philippines has asked a United Nations body to formally recognize the extent of its undersea continental seabed in the South China Sea, where it would have the exclusive right to exploit resources, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday, in a move that rejects China’s vast territorial claims to the region. The Philippine government … Continue reading Philippines seeks UN confirmation of its vast continental seabed in the disputed South China Sea
The U.S. poses the largest security challenge in the South China Sea as its military deployment there is turning it into "the whirlpool of an arms race", Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong said in remarks published on Sunday. Recent maritime run-ins between China and the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, have made the highly … Continue reading China says US provoking arms race in moves into South China Sea
The Philippines will continue to maintain and supply its outposts in the South China Sea without seeking permission from any other country, the country's national security adviser said. The Philippines national security council said on Saturday it reaffirmed its commitment to uphold its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Second Thomas Shoal. "Our operations are … Continue reading Philippines asserts security independence amid South China Sea tension
Sweden’s defense chief has expressed alarm over Beijing’s repeated dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, saying such actions threaten security, undermine stability and underscore the need to invest “for our security and freedom.” Defense Minister Pal Jonson spoke Thursday night in a diplomatic reception in Manila for Sweden’s national day after … Continue reading Swedish defense chief says actions against Philippines in South China Sea threaten global security
The Philippine coast guard on Friday accused its Chinese counterpart of blocking efforts to evacuate a sick member of its armed forces in the South China Sea, calling its actions "barbaric and inhumane". The incident, which the Philippines said took place last month, involved a member of a small contingent of marines posted to guard … Continue reading Philippines accuses Chinese coast guard of ‘barbaric’ blocking of medical evacuation
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Cambodia's leadership on Tuesday and discussed resuming military training programmes, in a visit aimed at reversing gains made by China amid concern about its growing presence at a Cambodian naval base. Cambodia allowing China to develop Ream Naval Base, located at a key waterway to the Gulf of Thailand … Continue reading US Defense Secretary discusses military exchanges in visit to China ally Cambodia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in the Philippines on Monday in a rare Asian trip to urge regional leaders to attend a Swiss-organized global peace summit on the war in Ukraine that he accuses Russia, with China’s help, of trying to undermine. Zelenskyy arrived unannounced and under heavy security in Manila late Sunday after speaking … Continue reading Zelenskyy in Philippines to promote peace summit he says China and Russia are trying to undermine
Chinese state media said on Sunday that personnel on a Philippine ship pointed guns at China's Coast Guard in disputed waters of the South China Sea last month. At least two personnel on the Philippine vessel near the Second Thomas Shoal were carrying guns on deck, pointing them in the direction of China's Coast Guard, … Continue reading China says Philippine personnel pointed guns at Chinese coast guard in disputed waters
Australia has asked for military talks with China and is comfortable growing closer to the Philippines, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Sunday at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit. China and the Philippines are locked in confrontation in the disputed South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its … Continue reading Australia seeks military talks with China, ties with Philippines
China’s Coast Guard discovered that personnel on a Philippine vessel in disputed waters last month “carried guns on deck,” Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said in a post on social media on Sunday. The incident occurred near the Second Thomas Shoal, it said, an area of the South China Sea where Beijing and Manila have had … Continue reading China says it saw armed Philippine personnel on vessel in disputed South China Sea
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asserted his nation’s claims in the disputed South China Sea while taking pointed swipes at Beijing during a speech at Asia’s top security forum — as China’s new defense minister sat in the audience. With the Philippines and China locked in a standoff over disputed islands and reefs, Marcos used … Continue reading Marcos Swipes at China, Vowing Not to Yield in Disputed Sea
China's military closely monitored and "drove away" USS Halsey that entered the territorial waters of Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on May 10, the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement on Friday. The U.S. move "seriously infringed on China's sovereignty and security," the military said. "It is … Continue reading China military says it ‘drove away’ US destroyer in South China Sea
An escalating diplomatic row and recent maritime run-ins between China and the Philippines have made the highly strategic South China Sea a flashpoint. WHAT ARE THE FLASHPOINTS? Central to recent standoffs between the Philippines and China are two hotly contested features located inside Manila's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, but which Beijing claims as its … Continue reading South China Sea: Why are China and Philippines tensions heating up?
The Philippines' national security adviser called on Friday for Chinese diplomats to be expelled over an alleged leak of a phone conversation with a Filipino admiral in a significant escalation of a bitter row over the South China Sea. China's embassy in Manila had orchestrated "repeated acts of engaging and dissemination of disinformation, misinformation and … Continue reading Philippines calls for expelling Chinese diplomats as South China Sea row escalates
US and Filipino troops fired missiles and artillery at an imaginary "invasion" force during war games on the Philippines' northern coast Monday, days after their governments objected to China's "dangerous" actions in regional waters. Thousands of troops are conducting land, sea and air manoeuvres against a backdrop of increased confrontations between Chinese and Filipino vessels … Continue reading Philippines, US fire at ‘invasion’ force in South China Sea war games
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Monday the country will not use water cannons or any offensive weapons in the South China Sea. The last thing the Philippines wants to do is to raise tensions in the strategic waterway, Marcos told reporters. "We will not follow the Chinese coast guard and Chinese vessels down … Continue reading Philippines says won’t raise South China Sea tensions, won’t use water cannons
The Philippines summoned a Chinese diplomat on Thursday to protest Beijing's use of water cannon against Filipino vessels at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, describing it as harassment and "dangerous manoeuvres". Its foreign ministry said the deputy chief of mission was summoned to hear the 20th protest made by the Philippines against … Continue reading Philippines summons Chinese diplomat over South China Sea flare-up
The Philippines on Wednesday accused China's coast guard of elevating tensions in the South China Sea after two vessels suffered damage from water cannon use by Beijing, an official said. Philippine officials have said a coast guard ship and a fisheries vessel were damaged when Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons at them while … Continue reading Philippines says Chinese coast guard elevating tensions in South China Sea
The Philippines on Saturday denied a Chinese claim that the two countries had reached an agreement over an escalating maritime dispute in the South China Sea, calling the claim propaganda. A spokesperson at China's embassy in Manila said on April 18 that the two had agreed early this year to a "new model" in managing … Continue reading Philippines denies deal with China over disputed South China Sea shoal
The Chinese Navy on Sunday kicked off a biennial meeting of top foreign naval officials in the port city of Qingdao, in a show of military diplomacy that will be closely watched for signs of more engagement between China and the United States. The four-day event with delegations from 30 countries comes during heightened tensions … Continue reading China hosts foreign naval officials amid South China Sea tensions
The Biden administration on Friday reassured the Philippines anew that the U.S. commitment to the country’s defense is steadfast amid increasing concerns about provocative Chinese actions in disputed areas of the South China Sea. A day after President Joe Biden convened a trilateral summit involving himself, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand … Continue reading US and Philippines step up strategic partnership as China threats loom in South China Sea
China's military said Sunday that it had conducted air and sea patrols and that all activities that “disrupt the South China Sea” are under control, an apparent response to naval exercises by the U.S. and its allies. The defense chiefs of the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines announced Saturday that they would hold … Continue reading China says it patrolled the South China Sea in an apparent response to US naval drills with allies
China conducted military "combat patrols" Sunday in the disputed South China Sea, its army said, the same day as joint drills by the Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia. The announcement comes one day after defence chiefs from four countries including the Philippines -- which has been engaged in several contentious maritime disputes with … Continue reading China conducts military drills in South China Sea
The Philippines and China traded accusations on Saturday over an encounter in disputed waters of the South China Sea, in an escalating row over a key waterway. Manila said two Chinese coast guard vessels "harassed" Filipino fishing vessels within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, while Beijing said its vessels responded appropriately to illegal activities. China … Continue reading Philippines, China trade accusations over South China Sea encounter
Countermeasures by the Philippines to China's conduct in the South China Sea will entail strengthening its defence capabilities with allies and exhausting all diplomatic measures to resolve disputes, a security official said on Monday. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr last week said the Philippines would implement unspecified measures against "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks" by … Continue reading Philippines to boost diplomacy and defence capability as South China Sea ‘countermeasures’
Deputy foreign ministers from China and the Philippines held a tense phone call on Monday, Beijing said, after Manila summoned a Chinese envoy over "aggressive actions" by the China Coast Guard in the contested South China Sea. "Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong held a phone call with Philippine deputy foreign secretary Lazaro, and made stern … Continue reading Chinese, Philippine deputy FMs hold phone call over South China Sea: Beijing
China's defence ministry warned the Philippines against "provocative" actions and said China would safeguard its territorial sovereignty on Sunday, a day after an incident in disputed waters of the South China Sea. "We warn the Philippines to stop making any remarks that may lead to the intensification of conflicts and escalation of the situation, and … Continue reading China vows to safeguard its territorial integrity after South China Sea incident
China's coast guard said it had taken control measures against Philippine vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea on Saturday, while the Philippine coast guard decried the moves as "irresponsible and provocative". The incident occurred in the Second Thomas Shoal and Spratly Islands waters, according to the Chinese Coast Guard. The shoal is … Continue reading China coast guard says it took measures against Philippine vessels in South China Sea
China said the United States must refrain from "stirring up trouble" or taking sides on the South China Sea issue, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a security deal with the Manila extended to attacks on the Philippine coast guard. Blinken called the U.S. security commitment with the Philippines "ironclad", and said China's … Continue reading China tells US to not take sides on South China Sea issue
China said Tuesday the United States had "no right" to interfere in the South China Sea, after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington stood by its commitments to defend the Philippines against armed attack in the disputed waterway. "The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no … Continue reading China says US has ‘no right’ to interfere in South China Sea
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the country's sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction are essential principles should there be a resumption of joint exploration talks with China in the South China Sea. "We cannot, at any point somehow compromise the territorial integrity of the Philippines," Marcos told reporters late Friday in Prague. Talks over joint energy … Continue reading Philippines says sovereignty is key in South China Sea talks
Beijing will "legitimately defend" its rights in the South China Sea, the country's foreign minister said Thursday, following a string of clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in the disputed waterway. China claims almost the entire South China Sea and has sought to assert sovereignty there despite competing claims from Southeast Asian nations and an … Continue reading China will ‘legitimately defend rights’ in South China Sea
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Wednesday that he sees Chinese actions in the South China Sea with "great alarm", after recent confrontations between the two countries in the contested waters. "We continue to view with great alarm this continuing dangerous manoeuvres and dangerous actions that are being done against our seamen, our coast guard," Marcos … Continue reading Philippines’ Marcos sees Chinese actions in South China Sea with ‘great alarm’
China on Wednesday accused the United States of using the Philippines as a "pawn" in the South China Sea, as hostilities between the two Asian nations escalate over their territorial dispute in the region. Manila summoned a Chinese representative on Tuesday after it said China Coast Guard vessels caused two collisions with Philippine boats and … Continue reading China says US using Philippines as ‘pawn’ in South China Sea
Australia and Southeast Asian nations ended a three day summit on Wednesday calling for restraint in the contested South China Sea and a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Australia hosted a summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Melbourne to mark the 50th anniversary of its ties to the bloc, even … Continue reading Australia and ASEAN call for restraint in South China Sea, ceasefire in Gaza
The Philippines and the United States will carry out annual military exercises next month in key locations including Philippine islands facing the South China Sea and Taiwan, as tensions with China in the region continue to simmer. The exercises, called Balikatan or "shoulder-to-shoulder", will move away from sprawling military camps in the countryside to locations … Continue reading Philippines, US to hold military drills in islands facing South China Sea, Taiwan
China's embassy in the Philippines on Sunday said it "strongly" condemns the Philippine ambassador to Washington's recent China-related remarks, saying they "disregarded basic facts". The remarks "wantonly hyped up the South China Sea issue and made speculations and malicious smears against China," the embassy said in a statement. Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Wednesday that … Continue reading China’s embassy condemns Philippine envoy’s remarks on South China Sea
Vietnam and the Philippines agreed on Tuesday 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 South China Sea, a conduit … Continue reading Vietnam, Philippines seal deals on South China Sea security, rice
China’s growingly assertive posture in the South China Sea and escalating violence in Myanmar topped the agenda for Southeast Asian diplomats meeting in Laos on Monday. The gathering is the first high-level meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since Laos took over the rotating leadership. The diplomats for the 10 nations with a … Continue reading South China Sea tensions, Myanmar violence top agenda for Southeast Asian envoys meeting in Laos
Russia's Pacific Fleet frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov has conducted an anti-submarine exercise in the South China Sea, Russian news agency reported on Monday, citing the fleet's press service. After detecting a mock enemy submarine and confirming its coordinates from a helicopter crew, the warship fired torpedoes and depth charges - anti-submarine warfare weapons, the agency reported, … Continue reading Russia warship conducts anti-submarine drill in South China Sea: agencies
China accused the U.S. of abusing international law with its military maneuvers in the western Pacific, one day after an American naval destroyer sailed through the politically sensitive Taiwan Strait. While China welcomes military-to-military communication with the United States, Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Thursday that U.S. warplane and warship activity “on China's doorstep” … Continue reading China accuses US of ‘abusing’ international law by sailing in Taiwan Strait and South China Sea
China and the Philippines agreed to improve maritime communication and to properly manage conflicts and differences through friendly talks in regards to issues around the South China Sea, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. China Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong and Philippines Foreign Ministry undersecretary Theresa Lazaro held a frank and in-depth … Continue reading China, Philippines seek better communication, management of conflicts in South China Sea
The Philippines will develop islands in the South China Sea that it considers part of its territory to make them more habitable for troops, Manila's military chief Romeo Brawner told reporters on Monday. The plans come amid heightened tensions between the Philippines and China, both of whom claim territory in the South China Sea and … Continue reading Philippines to develop islands in South China Sea – military chief
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Tuesday her country is ready to work with other Southeast Asian nations to finalise a long-delayed code of conduct for the South China Sea, where many of its neighbours have overlapping claims with China. "On South China Sea, Indonesia is ready to work together with all ASEAN member … Continue reading Indonesia ready to work with countries to finalise South China Sea code
China on Thursday slammed what it called "provocative" moves by the United States and its ally the Philippines in the South China Sea, as both sides held drills in the disputed waters. Warships from China and the US conducted rival exercises in the sea this week amid heightened tensions involving US ally the Philippines. Beijing's … Continue reading China slams ‘provocative’ US moves in South China Sea as both sides conduct drills
China's military will conduct routine patrols with its naval and air forces in the South China Sea from Wednesday to Thursday, the military's Southern Theater Command said, as ongoing tensions simmer in the region over disputed territories. China's military did not say where exactly the patrols would be held but they were announced as the … Continue reading China conducts patrols in South China Sea amid ongoing run-ins
The Philippines is not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, the country's military spokesperson said on Tuesday, in response to China's accusation that Manila is encroaching on Beijing's territory. "Philippines is not provoking conflict. We follow international law and we are only implementing our domestic law, meaning the limits of our territorial waters and … Continue reading Philippines not provoking conflict in South China Sea – military spokesperson
China warned that remnants of a rocket would hit an area in the South China Sea on Tuesday, following the sixth deployment of its most powerful launch vehicle eleven days ago. Rocket debris, which generally burns up in the atmosphere on re-entry, is expected to fall off the coast of China's island province of Hainan … Continue reading China warns rocket remnants to hit South China Sea
The Philippine defense minister rebuked China on Wednesday for accusing his country of provoking tension and stirring trouble in the South China Sea, saying only Beijing believed what it was saying. "Truth and in fact, no country in the world, none, supports unequivocally their claim to the whole of South China Sea," Defense Secretary Gilberto … Continue reading Philippines rebukes China over South China Sea claims
The Philippines' foreign ministry said on Tuesday it has summoned China's ambassador to Manila to protest "back-to-back harassments" in the South China Sea at the weekend. Manila has asked China to direct its vessels to cease and desist from what it said were illegal actions and dangerous manoeuvres against Philippine vessels, and stop interfering in … Continue reading Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over South China Sea ‘harassment’
Britain on Monday condemned what it called "unsafe and escalatory tactics deployed by Chinese vessels" against the Philippines over the weekend in the South China Sea. "The UK opposes any action which raises tensions, including harassment, unsafe conduct and intimidation tactics which increase the risk of miscalculation and threaten regional peace and stability," the foreign … Continue reading UK condemns China over incidents in the South China Sea against Philippines
The Philippine military chief said Monday he was with Filipino forces aboard a supply boat when it was blasted with a water cannon and surrounded and bumped by Chinese coast guard ships over the weekend in the disputed South China Sea. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that China … Continue reading Philippines military chief voices anger after latest Chinese coast guard incident in South China Sea
France's top diplomat urged Beijing on Monday to re-think its assertive behavior in the South China Sea, saying the "world doesn't need a new crisis". Beijing has been ramping up military drills in the strategically crucial Taiwan Strait, while the Chinese coast guard has been accused of harassing Filipino fishing boats in disputed waters. Australia … Continue reading France urges Beijing to help avert ‘crisis’ in South China Sea
The Philippine coast guard inaugurated a new monitoring base Friday on a remote island occupied by Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea as Manila ramps up efforts to counter China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the strategic waterway. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships have intensified this year in the contested waters, resulting in … Continue reading Philippines opens a coast guard surveillance base in the South China Sea to watch Chinese vessels
The Philippines and Australia began their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, days after Manila took similar steps with the U.S. as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China. The three-day exercises, announced by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on social media, follow discussions by the Philippines … Continue reading Philippines, Australia start sea, air patrols in South China Sea
The Philippines enlisted "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and has been stirring up trouble since Tuesday, the southern theatre command of China's military said on Thursday, in an apparent reference to the United States. The military will maintain high vigilance, resolutely defend national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and resolutely safeguard … Continue reading China says Philippines enlisted ‘foreign forces’ to patrol South China Sea
The United States and the Philippines are conducting joint air and maritime patrols in the South China Sea, which come as the two countries step up cooperation in the face of growingly aggressive Chinese activity in the area. The Philippine Air Force said Wednesday its aircraft had taken part in joint patrols on Tuesday in … Continue reading The US and the Philippines conduct joint air, sea patrols in South China Sea not far from Taiwan
The Philippines has approached neighbors such as Malaysia and Vietnam to discuss a separate code of conduct regarding the South China Sea, its president said on Monday, citing limited progress towards striking a broader regional pact with China. Relations between the two have grown more tense under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has increasingly complained … Continue reading Philippines woos neighbors to craft code on South China Sea
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, seeking ways to come up with ways to reduce tensions in the South China Sea and restore Filipino fishermen's access to fishing grounds. The Philippines and China need to continue to communicate, with the meeting a key part of the process to … Continue reading Philippines’ Marcos meets China’s Xi to find ways to reduce South China Sea tensions
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Friday he will meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in San Francisco to discuss tensions and formulate ways forward in the South China Sea. "We will get the view of the Chinese president on what we can do to bring … Continue reading Philippines’ Marcos, China’s Xi to discuss tensions, way forward in South China Sea
The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard Friday of "dangerous harassment" of Filipino boats in the disputed South China Sea, including firing a water cannon. The latest incident near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands comes nearly three weeks after two collisions between Chinese and Philippine vessels during a resupply mission to the same … Continue reading Philippines accuses China of ‘dangerous’ actions in South China Sea
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday his country, the Philippines and the United States were cooperating to protect the freedom of the South China Sea as he committed to help enhance Manila's security capabilities. "In the South China Sea, trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is under way," Kishida, on … Continue reading Japan PM Kishida: cooperating with Philippines, US to protect South China Sea
Chinese and Southeast Asian diplomats renewed a vow to finalize a nonaggression pact for the South China Sea in three years, two regional diplomats said Thursday. The pledge came during a meeting last week in Beijing, where they expressed alarm over recent confrontations in the disputed waters. The Philippines has protested what it says are … Continue reading China and Southeast Asia nations vow to conclude a nonaggression pact faster as sea crises escalate
Even as concerns mount in the US over a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the flashpoint most likely to spark a conflict between the world’s largest economies is currently an immobile World War II-era ship sitting in waters further to the south. Recent months have seen water cannon fire, repeated close encounters and diplomatic protests, … Continue reading Race to Fix Crumbling Ship Threatens Conflict in South China Sea
A Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of an American B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, nearly causing an accident, the U.S. military said, underscoring the potential for a mishap as both countries vie for influence in the region. In the night intercept, the Shenyang J-11 twin-engine fighter closed on the U.S. … Continue reading US military says Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of B-52 bomber over South China Sea
The Philippines repeated its call for China to stop "provocative actions", warning that its attempts to block Manila's resupply missions to a disputed atoll in the South China Sea could have "disastrous results". Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson at the National Security Council (NSC), said in a news conference on Monday that China's move to interfere with … Continue reading Philippines tells China to stop provocative actions in South China Sea
The Philippine military has called out China to stop "unsafe actions" in the South China Sea, after a Chinese navy ship shadowed and attempted to cut off a Philippine navy vessel conducting a resupply mission late last week. A Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel came as close as 350 yards as it tried … Continue reading Philippines denounces China for ‘dangerous and offensive’ actions in South China Sea
China's coast guard claimed Tuesday to have chased a Philippine navy ship from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea as tensions between the two countries over rich fishing areas escalate. Coast guard spokesman Gan Yu said the Philippine ship had sailed into waters next to the Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island, … Continue reading Chinese coast guard claims to have chased away Philippine navy ship from South China Sea shoal
A senior Filipino diplomat known for his past expletive-laced tirade against China joined a coast guard trip to the disputed South China Sea last week and saw Beijing’s ships block and nearly collide with Philippine vessels, including one he was on. Teodoro Locsin Jr. was on one of two Philippine coast guard vessels that escorted … Continue reading Philippine diplomat witnessed Chinese ships’ aggressive actions in disputed South China Sea
The Philippines is investigating a maritime incident to find out what killed three Filipino fishermen in a ramming incident that sank their boat in the South China Sea, its president said on Wednesday. "We assure the victims, their families, and everyone that we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for … Continue reading Philippines looking into ramming incident in South China Sea -president
The Philippines on Tuesday vowed not to back down against a Chinese move to block its fishermen from a hotly contested area of the South China Sea, as Beijing warned against provocations after Manila severed its floating barrier. The Philippines expressed outrage at the weekend after its coastguard discovered a 300-metre-long ball-buoy barrier policed by … Continue reading What is Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and why are China and the Philippines disputing it?
The Philippines on Tuesday said China's coastguard had removed remnants of a floating barrier severed by its Filipino counterparts at a fiercely contested shoal the South China Sea, adding there was no standoff or signs of aggression. The Philippines on Monday executed what it called a "special operation" to cut a 300-metre barrier installed by … Continue reading Philippines says no standoff with China after removal of floating barrier in South China Sea
The Philippines will take "all appropriate actions to cause the removal of barriers" in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the country's national security advisor said on Monday. The Philippines on Sunday shared images of a floating barrier blocking fishing vessel access in the Scarborough Shoal with Chinese coast guard ships nearby, and … Continue reading Philippines to remove barrier placed by China in South China Sea – national security advisor
The Philippines on Sunday accused China's coast guard of installing a "floating barrier" in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying it prevented Filipinos from entering and fishing in the area. Manila's coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources "strongly condemn" China's installation of the barrier in part of the Scarborough … Continue reading Philippines condemns Chinese ‘floating barrier’ in South China Sea
Naval vessels from the Philippines and United States conducted a joint sail through parts of the South China Sea lying within the Southeast Asian nation's exclusive economic zone, Manila's military said on Monday. It was the first time the Philippines and Washington have carried out a joint sail in waters west of Palawan island, the … Continue reading Philippines, US navies conduct joint sail in South China Sea
Kuala Lumpur rejected Wednesday a new Chinese map that claims waters off Malaysia's coast in the South China Sea, in the latest war of words between the Asian allies over Beijing's assertiveness in the waterway. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea -- through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually … Continue reading Malaysia rejects new Chinese map over South China Sea claims
Australian and Filipino forces, backed by U.S. Marines, practiced retaking an island seized by hostile forces in a large military drill Friday on the northwestern Philippine coast facing the disputed South China Sea. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and visiting Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles watched the mock beach landings, assaults and helicopter insertion of forces … Continue reading Australian, US, Filipino forces practice retaking an island in a drill along the South China Sea
Competing claims to the South China Sea and its hundreds of reefs and islands have for decades been a source of tension in the region. The latest spat erupted on August 5 when Chinese coast guard vessels blocked and fired a water cannon at a Philippine resupply mission to a remote outpost in the disputed … Continue reading Why is the South China Sea a flashpoint for Asia?
The United States, Japan and Australia are planning a joint navy drill in the South China Sea off the western Philippines this week to underscore their commitment to the rule of law in the region after a recent show of Chinese aggression in the disputed waters, Filipino security officials said Sunday. On Aug. 5, Chinese … Continue reading US, Japan and Australia plan joint navy drills in disputed South China Sea, Philippine officials say
The Philippine armed forces said on Saturday it would again seek to resupply troops stationed in a rusty World War 2-era ship on a reef in the South China Sea, after China blocked a previous attempt with water cannons. "This exercise of our sovereign rights and jurisdiction is a testament to our firm belief in … Continue reading Philippines to resupply South China Sea troops after Beijing’s block
Indonesia has changed where it will host ASEAN's first-ever joint military exercise to a location away from the South China Sea where several countries including China have overlapping territorial claims, its military said on Thursday. The non-combat drills for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were originally set to take place in … Continue reading Indonesia moves site of ASEAN military drills away from South China Sea
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has moved its first-ever joint drills, Indonesia's military said Tuesday, edging them away from waters disputed by China. The bloc's joint exercises were initially slated for the North Natuna Sea, which Indonesia claims as its exclusive economic zone but where Beijing's ships occasionally patrol. When confronted by Jakarta, China … Continue reading ASEAN moves joint drills from disputed South China Sea area
Germany will send two warships to the Indo-Pacific in 2024, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Sunday, amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan and over the disputed South China Sea. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's most important security conference, Pistorius said countries needed to stand up for the rules-based international order … Continue reading Germany to send two warships to Indo-Pacific in 2024 amid South China Sea tensions
Vietnam criticized on Thursday the recent conduct in the South China Sea of a Chinese research ship and the Philippines coast guard, accusing its neighbors of separate actions that were violating its sovereign rights. Tensions are currently high in contested parts of the South China Sea, one of the world's most important trade routes and … Continue reading Vietnam rebukes China, Philippines over South China Sea conduct
China's foreign ministry on Tuesday dismissed accusations that boats belonging to a Chinese maritime militia had deliberately approached an area of the South China Sea where the navies of Indian and ASEAN countries were holding drills. An independent expert in Vietnam said Beijing appeared to be using the militia to intimidate and disrupt the naval … Continue reading China denies militia boats crossed Indian, ASEAN warships exercising in South China Sea
The United States has laid out in clear terms the extent of its defence treaty commitments to the Philippines, issuing new guidelines that refer specifically to attacks in the South China Sea, including on its coast guard. The six-page "bilateral defence guidelines" agreed in Washington on Wednesday follow a renewed push under President Ferdinand Marcos … Continue reading US issues guidelines on defending Philippines from South China Sea attack
The United States stands with treaty ally the Philippines in the face of harassment by China's coast guard in the South China Sea and remains deeply concerned about "intimidation" by Beijing, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday. A visit to the United States this week by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr highlights the strength … Continue reading US stands with Philippines against Chinese intimidation in South China Sea: official
Responding to Beijing's aggressive expansion into the trade routes and strategic islands of the South China Sea headlined talks Monday between President Joe Biden and his Philippines counterpart Ferdinand Marcos at the White House. Marcos is on a four-day trip that follows last week's state visit to Washington by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol … Continue reading Biden, Marcos discuss securing tense South China Sea
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said China has agreed to discuss fishing rights in the South China Sea, as he pushed for a "direct communication line" with Beijing on maritime differences. China has agreed to "sit down" and talk about Filipinos' fishing rights in the South China Sea, Marcos said, adding he has asked the … Continue reading Philippines, China to discuss fishing rights in South China Sea-Marcos
The United States called on China Saturday to stop "provocative and unsafe conduct" in the disputed South China Sea after a recent near-collision with a Philippines coast guard boat there, ramping up rhetoric ahead of a visit by the Filipino president to the White House. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, in a statement two days … Continue reading US demands Beijing stop ‘provocative and unsafe’ acts in South China Sea
The Philippines' foreign minister on Saturday said his nation's differences with China in the South China Sea are not the sum total of relations between the two countries. "These differences should not prevent us from seeking ways of managing them effectively, especially with respect to enjoyment of rights of Filipinos, especially fishermen," Philippine Foreign Affairs … Continue reading Differences in South China Sea are not sum total of Philippines-China relations: Philippine official
Vietnam took aim at China on Thursday for imposing an annual ban on fishing in a vast area of the South China Sea, calling it a violation of its sovereignty and urging Beijing not to complicate matters. China has imposed the ban each year since 1999 and Vietnam routinely opposes it. China says the ban, … Continue reading Vietnam opposes China’s unilateral South China Sea fishing ban
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday said he had told China that an exploration project by state energy firm Petronas in the South China Sea was within Malaysian waters, in a reference to an overlapping claim in the area by Beijing. China was worried that "Petronas has carried out a major activity at an … Continue reading Malaysia PM says Petronas project in South China Sea in Malaysian territory
China is ready to work with Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations to speed up consultation for a South China Sea code of conduct, Xinhua reported, citing Premier Li Qiang. Beijing is prepared to collaborate to jointly maintain peace and stability of the area, Li was cited as saying during a meeting with visiting Malaysian … Continue reading China ready to speed up talks with Asean over South China Sea
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Saturday she had expressed concerns over the South China Sea and tensions in the Taiwan Strait during talks with her Chinese counterpart at the end of a visit to Beijing. Mahuta also said in a statement she "noted New Zealand’s deep concerns regarding the human rights … Continue reading New Zealand raises concerns with China on South China Sea, Taiwan
The US Navy on Thursday refuted claims that one of its warships had been chased from the South China Sea by the Peoples Liberation Army navy. China's military said earlier on Thursday that it monitored and driven away a U.S. destroyer that had illegally entered waters around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. … Continue reading US denies Chinese chased navy warship from South China Sea
Philippine upstream oil and gas company PXP Energy Corp. is in talks with another Chinese firm for potential exploration in the South China Sea, Chairman Manuel Pangilinan said. Talks were held one or two months ago, Pangilinan told reporters late Monday, without naming the company. Asked if it’s a Chinese state-owned company, he answered in … Continue reading Philippine PXP Energy in South China Sea exploration talks with Chinese company
Vice President Kamala Harris called on countries Tuesday to stand up for territorial integrity and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, which has been challenged by China, and said Washington would press an international campaign against “irresponsible behavior” in the disputed waters. Harris did not cite China by name but was obviously referring … Continue reading US Vice President Harris urges respect of sovereignty in South China Sea
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday visits the Philippine island of Palawan in the South China Sea, part of a three-day trip to an Asian ally that is central to America's bid to counter China's increasingly assertive stance in the region. Beijing claims almost all the South China Sea, which is believed to contain … Continue reading US VP Harris visits Philippine island on edge of contested South China Sea
A Chinese coast guard ship on Sunday "forcefully retrieved" a floating object being towed by a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea by cutting a line attaching it to the boat, a Philippine military commander said. Philippine naval authorities sent a vessel to examine the floating object after it was spotted early on Sunday … Continue reading Philippine military says China ‘forcefully retrieved’ floating object in South China Sea
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the Philippine islands of Palawan on the edge of the disputed South China Sea, a senior administration official said on Tuesday, in a move that may be interpreted by Beijing as a rebuke. The visit, scheduled for next Tuesday, will make Harris the highest-ranking American official to visit … Continue reading Kamala Harris to visit Philippine islands at edge of South China Sea dispute
A U.S. destroyer sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on Wednesday, drawing an angry reaction from Beijing, which said its military had "driven away" the ship after it illegally entering territorial waters. The United States regularly carries out what it calls Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea … Continue reading U.S. destroyer sails near South China Sea islands, China says it ‘drove’ ship away
Taiwan on Wednesday rebuffed a complaint from the Philippines about live fire drills around a Taiwan-controlled island deep in the South China Sea, saying it had the right to do so and always gives issues a warning of its exercises. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, in a message on Twitter late on Tuesday, lodged … Continue reading Taiwan rebuffs Philippines complaint about South China Sea live fire drills
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant, which was towed away from Hong Kong last week, capsized in the South China Sea on Sunday after it began sinking due to extreme weather conditions of the previous day. Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises, the parent company of the restaurant, said that the 76-meter-long vessel encountered stormy waves on Saturday near Paracel … Continue reading Jumbo Floating Restaurant capsizes in South China Sea
The United States supports the Philippines in calling on China "to end its provocative actions and respect international law in the South China Sea," the State Department said on Friday. The Philippines last week lodged new diplomatic protests against Chinese maritime activities within Manila's 200-mile (321 km) exclusive economic zone. It accused China of "illegal … Continue reading U.S. supports Philippines in South China Sea, State Department says
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempt to divide Europe by invading Ukraine had backfired and told Naval Academy graduates their job will be ensuring maritime freedom in the South China Sea. Biden told 1,200 graduating cadets in Annapolis, Maryland, that they are entering military service at a time … Continue reading Keep the South China Sea free, Biden tells Navy graduates
The Philippines has pulled the plug on all domestic screenings of a Hollywood film called "Uncharted", over a scene showing a disputed map of the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. The move comes shortly after Vietnam, another claimant in the South China Sea, also banned the Sony Pictures action movie, which … Continue reading Philippines pulls Hollywood action flick from cinemas over South China Sea map
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