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Roque wrong in saying Julian Felipe Reef is outside PH EEZ - maritime law expert

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 12 04:03 PM

Harry Roque, the spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte, is wrong in saying that Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea which Chinese vessels swarmed in March, is far-flung and outside of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, a maritime law expert said Tuesday. Read more »

China-swarmed Julian Felipe Reef 'never' in PH possession: Palace

Jamaine Punzalan and Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 12 04:03 PM

(UPDATE) Malacañang on Tuesday said that Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) in the West Philippine Sea where Chinese boats swarmed beginning March is far-flung and outside of the country's exclusive economic zone, and had "never" been in Philippine possession. Read more »

China tells EU: Julian Felipe Reef part of Nansha Islands, 2016 arbitral ruling null and void

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 26 12:17 PM

Julian Felipe Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands and the 2016 arbitral award that invalidated many of Beijing's claims over the resource-rich and strategically located South China Sea is null and void, the Chinese Mission to the European Union said over the weekend. Read more »

EU says presence of Chinese vessels endanger peace, stability in South China Sea

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 24 09:42 PM

The European Union (EU) expressed concern over the tension caused by the presence of Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea. Read more »

Chinese boats keep up steady presence at Julian Felipe Reef, says US ship tracker

Laura Zhou, South China Morning Post
Updated as of Apr 23 04:20 AM

Activity of fleet over the last two years defies commercial explanation, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative says. Read more »

Duterte on Chinese ships situated in West PH Sea — ‘I don’t want any quarrel’

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 20 04:58 AM

In a televised public briefing, Duterte spoke on the topic for the first time since hundreds of Chinese ships were spotted in those waters late last month.  Read more »

At least 240 Chinese ships swarming in Philippines' EEZ: NTF-WPS

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 14 12:27 AM

MANILA - At least 240 Chinese ships were found in various parts of the West Philippine Sea, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said Tuesday as it denounced the continuous swarming of Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Read more »

Philippines summons China envoy as ships linger illegally in West PH Sea reef

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 13 04:30 PM

MANILA — The Philippines on Tuesday said it summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Monday over the "illegal lingering presence" of China's maritime militia fleet in Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.   Read more »

US bolsters presence in South China Sea with amphibious assault ship

Sarah Zheng and Minnie Chan, South China Morning Post
Updated as of Apr 09 12:46 PM

The United States has further stepped up its military presence in the South China Sea, reportedly sending an amphibious assault vessel to the disputed waters amid heightened tensions in the region.   Read more »

Philippines keeping 'options open' on South China Sea

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 08 11:24 PM

MANILA - The Philippine defense department said Thursday it was keeping "all our options open" as a diplomatic row with Beijing grows over hundreds of Chinese vessels in the contested South China Sea. Read more »

'Stop this creeping occupation': Pacquiao tells China to withdraw ships from Julian Felipe reef

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 08 09:47 PM

Should Beijing withdraw its ships, the move will "show a neighborly gesture of mutual understanding and true friendship" according to Pacquiao.    Read more »

DFA chief Locsin tells China to order maritime militia fleet in PH reef to ‘move out’

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 08 06:59 PM

In a tweet, Locsin said he does not believe China’s statement justifying their fleet’s presence in the area to fish, noting the vessels’ formation.  Read more »

To avert takeover, PH gov't urged to consistently ask China to leave Julian Felipe Reef

Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 08 02:05 PM

The Philippines must conduct constant surveillance and consistently ask China to leave Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea to prevent it from taking over the largest feature in the Pagkakaisa Banks, a maritime law expert said Thursday.   Read more »

'Armed attack will trigger our obligations': US warns China over moves on Philippines, Taiwan

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 08 06:55 AM

WASHINGTON - The United States on Wednesday warned China against what the Philippines and Taiwan see as increasingly aggressive moves, reminding Beijing of Washington's obligations to its partners. Read more »

China says not planning permanent presence in Julian Felipe Reef

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 07 08:59 PM

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian also urged the Philippines to “immediately stop wanton hype-up, and avoid casting negative influence on bilateral relations and the overall peace and stability in the South China Sea.”   Read more »

Philippines files new diplomatic protest over lingering Chinese presence in reef

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 07 03:17 PM

In a tweet, Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said he would file a diplomatic protest until each maritime militia vessel from Beijing is gone from the reef, which falls under the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.    Read more »

Lacson, Hontiveros say PH needs help of allies, int'l community vs Chinese incursions

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 06 04:05 PM

MANILA - Two senators on Tuesday said the help of the country's allies, as well as the international community, would be needed to send a stronger statement against the lingering presence of China's maritime militia vessels in Philippine waters.    Read more »

China, US send warships into disputed waters as tensions rise over Julian Felipe Reef

Sarah Zheng and Kinling Lo, South China Morning Post
Posted at Apr 06 01:19 PM

US aircraft carrier strike group entered South China Sea and a destroyer was in East China Sea, while Chinese carrier transited through Miyako Strait near Japan. It comes amid a deepening dispute between Beijing and Manila over the presence of Chinese boats at a reef in the Spratly Islands.  Read more »

DFA calls out Chinese embassy in Manila over statement on Lorenzana, Julian Felipe Reef

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 05 10:40 PM

(UPDATE2) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday called out the Chinese Embassy in Manila for describing the Philippine Defense Secretary's statement on Chinese incursions at the Julian Felipe Reef as "unprofessional", and blasted its "blatant falsehoods" regarding the latest situation in the West Philippine Sea. Read more »

Locsin ‘considering a demarche’ after China says Julian Felipe Reef is part of its territory

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 05 02:29 AM

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said Sunday he is "considering a demarche" or a political step, even as he already filed a diplomatic protest, after China said that Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea is part of its territory. Read more »