News

US destroyers sail in disputed South China Sea amid trade tensions

Reuters
Posted at Feb 11 03:15 PM

Two US warships sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Monday. Read more »

Philippines, US unveil training center seen to boost sea patrol

Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 11 02:45 PM

The Philippines and US unveiled Monday a new maritime training facility that is expected to strengthen Manila's capability to patrol its waters.  Read more »

Palace says PH should be 'thankful' China built rescue center on PH-claimed reef

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 31 04:37 PM

MANILA - The spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said the Philippines should perhaps be “thankful” for the “maritime rescue center” that China claims to have built on Kagitingan or Fiery Cross Reef, one of the reefs being claimed by the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea. Read more »

Philippines, Japan in talks for joint military exercise: Navy officials

Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 29 03:32 PM

Manila and Tokyo are mulling joint naval exercises in a bid to boost defense ties and enhance regional stability, military officials said Tuesday, as a Japanese destroyer docked in the Philippine capital. Read more »

Gov't mulls review of PH-US defense treaty scope

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Dec 20 07:20 PM

The treaty's role in the Philippines' sea dispute with China remains unclear.   Read more »

Beijing lashes out at US for South China Sea sail-by

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Nov 30 07:31 PM

China on Friday scolded the United States for sending naval vessels close to disputed islands in the South China Sea where Beijing has built military installations. Read more »

China recognizes PH sovereign rights in SCS oil and gas deal: Carpio

Ellen T. Tordesillas, VERA Files
Updated as of Nov 25 12:46 PM

Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio said Friday China could be recognizing the sovereign rights of the Philippines in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Read more »

Vietnam protests new building by Beijing in South China Sea

Reuters
Posted at Nov 22 07:45 PM

China's construction of a new platform in a remote part of the disputed South China Sea is a serious violation of Vietnam's sovereignty, its foreign ministry said on Thursday.  Read more »

PH, China agree to exercise self-restraint at sea

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 21 06:40 PM

The Philippines and China have agreed to exercise self-restraint in the hotly contested South China Sea, as the two maritime rivals ease tension under Beijing-friendly Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Read more »

Markets on 'wait and see' on PH-China deals: analyst

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 21 10:50 AM

Twenty-nine deals were signed late Tuesday as President Rodrigo Duterte hosted Xi Manila, including a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on oil and gas development. Read more »

Duterte welcomes Xi in historic PH visit

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 20 10:51 PM

A former journalist and Chinese expert said Manila can strengthen its relations with Beijing without sacrificing its sovereignty and rights over the West Philippine Sea. Read more »

No surprise in Duterte’s lack of S. China Sea mention to Xi: analyst

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Nov 20 11:50 PM

Discussing the issues hounding the South China Sea dispute would be "very problematic" and may be "offensive" to Xi Jinping, an analyst says. Read more »

Duterte welcomes Xi in historic PH visit

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Nov 20 06:35 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping in Malacañang, as the Chinese leader seeks to reinforce Beijing’s ties with Manila long marred by a bitter maritime dispute. Read more »

Sri Lanka as cautionary tale: Analyst warns vs China debt trap

Patrick Quintos, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Nov 20 11:22 AM

The Philippine government must be smart in dealing with China, a Peking University adjunct professor warned Tuesday, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit here.  Read more »

Filipinos consistent in rejecting pivot to China: analyst

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 20 09:42 AM

Dindo Manhit, president of Stratbase ADR Institute, said Filipinos have been consistent in rejecting the pivot to China in every survey. "There's a continuing distrust to a country that they may perceive to have challenged our maritime security, our own territorial integrity." Read more »

'Teritoryo ng PH sa West PH Sea, di isusuko sa China'

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 19 09:39 PM

Nanindigan ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno na hindi ibinebenta ng administrasyon sa China ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea. Read more »

BALIKAN: Kasaysayan ng ugnayan ng Pilipinas, China

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Nov 19 08:11 PM

Panibagong kabanata sa higit 1,000 taong ugnayan ng Pilipinas at China ang pagbisita ni Chinese President Xi Jinping sa bansa simula Martes. Read more »

China weather stations in Spratly 'not claims of ownership' - Locsin

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Nov 15 05:20 PM

China's weather stations in the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea are "not claims of ownership," Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Thursday, despite analysts' claim that the facilities could serve military purposes.  Read more »

China to work with ASEAN on 'stabilizer' sea code

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 29 02:47 PM

Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN earlier this year agreed a draft COC, outlining the claimants' bargaining positions over the strategic waterway. Read more »

China a 'sincere, trustworthy friend' to Philippines, says top envoy Wang

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 29 01:19 PM

Since Duterte reset ties with China in two-way trade in 2017 alone topped $50 billion while Philippine exports grew 10.5 percent. Over 2 years, China bought 2 million pounds of bananas, pineapples and mangoes, helping 40,000 farmers earn $1.5 billion. Read more »