News

Chinese clam harvesting fleets are back? Malacañang orders military to verify

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 21 07:45 PM

The Philippine military should verify the reported return of Chinese clam harvesting fleets in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said Tuesday. Read more »

LOOK: New images show China's 'most destructive boats' back in West Philippine Sea

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 21 12:26 AM

MANILA - New satellite images from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative-Center for Strategic and International Studies reveal China's "most destructive boats" are back in the South China Sea. Read more »

US warship sails near Scarborough Shoal as trade war rages

Idrees Ali, Reuters
Posted at May 20 11:38 AM

The busy waterway is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which also include a trade war, US sanctions and Taiwan. Read more »

US navy chief does not want China tensions to 'boil over'

Agence France-Presse
Posted at May 16 07:03 AM

The US navy chief said Wednesday he did not want maritime tensions with China to "boil over", a week after Washington's latest challenge to Beijing's territorial claims in contested waters.   Read more »

US says China's focus on its S.China Sea ops unwarranted

John Geddie and Fathin Ungku, Reuters
Posted at May 15 04:02 PM

The head of operations of the United States Navy said on Wednesday that its freedom of navigation movements in the disputed South China Sea get more attention than they deserve.  Read more »

PH will never fall into China 'debt trap,' finance officials say

Michael Joe Delizo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 11 04:17 PM

MANILA – Finance officials on Saturday made the assurance that the Philippines would never fall into China’s infamous debt trap, brushing off concerns that Manila might end up surrendering its prized resources if it defaults on loans from Beijing.    Read more »

PH, US, Japan, India group sail in S.China Sea show of force towards China: experts

Michael Joe Delizo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 10 01:49 PM

Experts on Friday hailed the recent naval drill of the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and India in the South China Sea that was seen as a flexing of muscles against China’s dominance in the contested waterway. Read more »

PH, US, Japan, India navies sail together in disputed South China Sea

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 09 06:33 PM

MANILA – Navies from the Philippines, the United States, India and Japan have sailed together for the first time for a maritime activity in the disputed South China Sea.  Read more »

PH Navy's 2 new anti-submarine helicopters arrive in Manila

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 07 11:42 PM

The country's two new helicopters worth P5.4 billion arrived in Manila on Monday, giving the Philippine Navy its first-ever capability to "detect and destroy" submarines. Read more »

Philippines, China to address 'irritants' through bilateral mechanisms: Palace

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 29 06:27 PM

The Philippines and China address "irritants" in disputed waters using bilateral mechanisms, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said Monday. Read more »

Foreign Affairs chief twits 'idiotesses': Leave Scarborough clams alone

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 29 09:56 AM

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday appealed anew for the issue of China's clam harvesting in disputed waters to be left alone. Read more »

Philippine push in sea row with China should continue after polls: analyst

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 28 02:47 PM

The Philippines' pushback against China's intrusion in disputed waters should be sustained even after the May midterm elections, a maritime law expert said Sunday. Read more »

PH foreign policy 'based on national security', says Palace after new China deals

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 28 10:17 AM

The Philippine foreign policy is "solely based on our national security and interest," Malacañang said Sunday following the signing of P633 billion worth of new deals with China.    Read more »

Duterte raises PH concerns over South China Sea incursions with China's Xi

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 26 11:14 AM

MANILA (UPDATE) - President Rodrigo Duterte raised Manila’s concerns over rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea during his bilateral meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Malacañang said Thursday. Read more »

'Not too late' for PH to raise arbitration win vs China - analyst

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 25 11:13 AM

It is "not too late" for Manila to raise a United Nations-backed arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims to the South China Sea, the head of a US-based Think Tank said Thursday, following reports of increased Chinese activity in the area.  Read more »

Duterte off to China as PH seeks role in Belt and Road initiative

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 24 07:59 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte left for China on Wednesday afternoon to attend the second Belt and Road Forum as the Philippines awaits on whether he would raise Manila’s concerns over the rising tensions with Beijing over the disputed South China Sea. Read more »

China navy chief takes dig at US freedom of navigation patrols

Ben Blanchard, Reuters
Posted at Apr 24 11:05 AM

Freedom of navigation should not be used to infringe upon the rights of other countries, China's navy chief Shen Jinlong said on Wednesday, taking a dig at the United States and its allies who have sailed close to disputed South China Sea islets.  Read more »

How China is replacing America as Asia's military titan

David Lague and Benjamin Kang Lim, Reuters
Posted at Apr 24 08:23 AM

Chinese President Xi Jinping has accelerated the People's Liberation Army's shift to naval power from a traditionally land-based force.  Read more »

Largest PH warship joins Chinese Navy anniversary celebration

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 22 03:12 PM

The Philippines' largest warship arrived in China on Monday to attend a naval parade, part of a goodwill visit as China extends the hand of friendship despite regional tensions and suspicions.  Read more »

Indian, Australian warships arrive in China for naval parade

Ben Blanchard, Reuters
Posted at Apr 22 06:44 AM

Warships from India, Australia and several other nations arrived in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao on Sunday to attend a naval parade, part of a goodwill visit as China extends the hand of friendship despite regional tensions and suspicions. Read more »