News

Indonesia to open fishing zone near disputed S. China Sea

Kyodo News
Posted at Feb 21 07:57 AM

JAKARTA - Indonesia plans to open a fishing zone within its exclusive economic zone at the southern edge of the disputed South China Sea, most of which is claimed by China, later this year, to prevent foreign encroachment, a Cabinet minister said Wednesday. Read more »

Pangilinan bats for resumption of oil exploration in Reed Bank

Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 19 08:57 PM

PXP Energy Corp chairman Manny Pangilinan said he has asked the government to lift the ban on energy exploration in a disputed area of the West Philippine Sea where the company has a service contract.  Read more »

China says US aims to 'stir up trouble' with naval sail-by

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Feb 12 12:03 AM

China accused the United States of trying to "stir up trouble" on Monday by sending two US guided-missile destroyers near disputed South China Sea islands. Read more »

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 »

De Lima wants to mark July 12 as 'West Philippine Sea Victory Day'

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 07 07:28 PM

A lawmaker has filed a bill to declare July 12 as a special working holiday, seeking to mark the day an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in its arbitration case against China over the disputed West Philippine Sea.    Read more »

Duterte spokesperson labeled China puppet

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 01 05:58 PM

MANILA - The spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte has drawn flak for saying that the Philippines should perhaps “be thankful” to China for the “maritime rescue center” it claims to have built on Kagitingan Reef (Fiery Cross Reef), one of the maritime features being claimed by the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea. Read more »

Gov't should block China construction on Fiery Cross Reef- Carpio

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 31 04:53 PM

The Philippines should protest China's recent construction efforts on the Fiery Cross Reef, locally known as the Kagitingan Reef, Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio said Thursday. 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 »

DLSU, Sussex Academic Press to launch new book on South China Sea

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 20 08:34 PM

A new book on the South China Sea will be launched at the De La Salle University in Manila this week. Read more »

U.S. Navy chief does not rule out sending aircraft carrier through Taiwan Strait

Tim Kelly, Reuters
Posted at Jan 18 01:40 PM

TOKYO - The U.S. Navy has not ruled out sending an aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait, despite military technology advances by China that pose a greater threat to U.S. warships than ever before, the chief of U.S. naval operations said on Friday. Read more »

'New era': 3 Chinese warships in Manila for goodwill visit

Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jan 25 10:16 PM

The visit is only the second ever port call of China in the Philippines. Both visits were under Duterte's administration.  Read more »

US, Britain conduct first joint drills in contested South China Sea

Reuters
Posted at Jan 16 05:17 PM

The United States and Britain have conducted their first joint naval drills in the disputed South China Sea since China built island bases there, the 2 navies said on Wednesday, as Washington seeks help from allies to keep pressure on Beijing. Read more »

As gov’t eyes Hanjin strategic investor, ex-Navy chief frets over national security

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 12 10:37 PM

Local trade officials on Friday said they are ready to assist downturn-hit Hanjin Philippines in finding a so-called white knight investor.   Read more »

There’s ‘massive overcapacity’ of Chinese vessels in Spratlys, says US think-tank

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 12 10:18 PM

Chinese fishing vessels account for the largest number of ships operating in the Spratlys in the West Philippine Sea, satellite images taken in 2018 show. Read more »

U.S. to blame if any South China Sea clash - Chinese military researcher

Reuters
Posted at Jan 09 10:06 PM

BEIJING - U.S. naval operations in the South China Sea could spark conflict and the United States would be to blame if a clash occurred, a Chinese military researcher said on Wednesday. Read more »

China raps U.S. warship sailing in disputed sea

Kyodo News
Updated as of Jan 08 01:35 AM

China has protested the latest sailing of a U.S. warship near a group of disputed islands in the South China Sea, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. Read more »

US navy ship sails in disputed South China Sea amid trade talks with Beijing

Reuters
Posted at Jan 07 03:16 PM

A US guided-missile destroyer sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea claimed by China as US officials meet their counterparts in Beijing for talks during a truce in a bitter trade war. Read more »

China's Xi calls on army to be battle-ready

Reuters
Posted at Jan 05 11:30 AM

China's armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle, President Xi Jinping told a meeting of top brass on Friday. Read more »