News

US VP to tell China: We will not be intimidated in South China Sea

Roberta Rampton, Reuters
Updated as of Oct 04 04:05 PM

Pence will deliver an address at the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington at 1500 GMT (11 p.m. in Manila) likely to increase tensions between the United States and China beyond trade disputes that have dominated President Donald Trump's time in office. Read more »

China condemns US for South China Sea freedom of navigation operation

Reuters
Posted at Oct 02 04:32 PM

China expressed anger on Tuesday after a US Navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, saying it resolutely opposed an operation that it called a threat to its sovereignty. Read more »

Pentagon chief not expecting ties with China to worsen even as tensions rise

Idrees Ali, Reuters
Posted at Oct 02 06:52 AM

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday he did not see relations between the United States and China worsening, a day after his trip to China was cancelled and tensions have started affecting military ties. Read more »

As Chinese influence grows, Japanese warship visits Sri Lanka

Tim Kelly, Reuters
Posted at Oct 02 06:51 AM

Japan’s largest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, sailed into Sri Lanka's Colombo harbor this weekend, marking Tokyo's highest profile salvo in a diplomatic battle with China for influence along the region's vital commercial sea lanes. Read more »

Chinese destroyer sails extremely close to US warship

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Oct 02 05:09 AM

A Chinese warship sailed within yards of an American destroyer -- forcing it to change course -- in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter as the US vessel was in contested waters in the South China Sea, an official said Monday.   Read more »

US warship sails near South China Sea area claimed by Beijing: Pentagon

Agence France-Presse
Updated as of Oct 01 08:40 AM

An American warship has sailed through waters off the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in the latest implicit challenge to Beijing's sweeping territorial claims in the region, the Pentagon said Sunday.  Read more »

China says 'no cause for panic' over US ties, but won't be blackmailed

David Brunnstrom and Rodrigo Campos, Reuters
Posted at Sep 30 08:12 AM

The Chinese government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, said on Friday there was "no cause for panic" over friction between Beijing and Washington, but warned that China would not be blackmailed or yield to pressure over trade. Read more »

OPINION: The Rule of Law

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario
Posted at Sep 27 08:59 PM

The future may be unclear and uncertain today. But fidelity to the Rule of Law and believing that right is might would buttress a truly independent foreign policy. Read more »

Japanese carrier drills with British warship heading to contested South China Sea

Tim Kelly, Reuters
Posted at Sep 27 10:41 AM

Japan's biggest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, joined naval drills with Britain's HMS Argyll in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday as the frigate headed toward the contested South China Sea and East Asia. Read more »

US flies bombers over South China Sea amid heightened tensions with Beijing

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Sep 27 03:35 AM

WASHINGTON - The US military flew B-52 bombers in the vicinity of the South China Sea this week, US officials told Reuters, a move that is likely to cause anger in Beijing amid heightened tensions between the two countries.   Read more »

China hopes Britain doesn't take sides, respects S.China Sea sovereignty

Reuters
Posted at Sep 25 09:48 AM

China hopes that Britain can stand by its position of not taking sides in the South China Sea and earnestly respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese government's top diplomat told Britain's foreign minister.  Read more »

Japan: South China Sea sub drill not a warning to Beijing

Kyodo News
Posted at Sep 18 11:32 PM

The top Japanese government spokesman said Tuesday a drill held last week in the South China Sea by a Japanese submarine and destroyers was "not at all" intended as a counter to China's activities in the area. Read more »

Japan conducts first submarine drill in disputed South China Sea: media

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Sep 17 03:41 PM

Japan has carried out its first submarine drill in the South China Sea, a newspaper said Monday, a move that could provoke Beijing which claims most of the disputed waters. Read more »

China angered after British Navy warship sails near S.China Sea islands

Tim Kelly, Reuters
Posted at Sep 06 12:18 PM

China expressed anger on Thursday after a British Royal Navy warship sailed close to islands claimed by China in the South China Sea late last month, saying Britain was engaged in "provocation" and that it had lodged a strong complaint. Read more »

British Navy warship sails near Beijing-claimed South China Sea islands-sources

Tim Kelly, Reuters
Posted at Sep 06 08:50 AM

A British Royal Navy warship sailed close to islands claimed by China in the South China Sea as it headed towards Vietnam, asserting "freedom of navigation" rights and challenging Beijing's "excessive claims" in the region, two sources said.  Read more »

China sends vessels to help retrieve grounded PH navy ship: report

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Sep 01 02:00 PM

MANILA - China has sent coastguard vessels to help with retrieval efforts after a Philippine Navy warship ran aground in Hasa-Hasa Shoal in the South China Sea. Read more »

Radio warning incident raised with China: Cayetano

Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Aug 29 09:14 PM

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said he has carried out President Rodrigo Duterte’s instruction to raise issues in the West Philippine Sea with his Chinese counterpart. Read more »

Website taunts Chinese drama fans with South China Sea quiz

Reuters
Posted at Aug 24 09:20 PM

HANOI - A Vietnamese website, which only works when users correctly answer a quiz about disputed islands in the South China Sea, has infuriated scores of television fans in China desperate to catch the latest episode of a popular Chinese period drama. Read more »

'Kung solohin mo, gulo talaga': Duterte warns of trouble if China monopolizes uranium, oil

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Aug 22 03:47 PM

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte warned of trouble if China will unilaterally exploit resources in the disputed South China Sea. Read more »

China proposes regular military exercises with ASEAN in S. China Sea

Kyodo News
Posted at Aug 21 12:07 PM

MANILA - China is proposing to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that the two sides hold regular joint military exercises in the South China Sea, according to an ASEAN diplomatic source. Read more »