China Harassed Vessels At The West Philippine Sea

Last 25 January, the Philippines suspended a scientific survey in the West Philippine Sea after two of its fisheries vessels faced "harassment" and aggressive behaviour from China's coast guard and navy.

Manila and Beijing have had a series of escalating confrontations in disputed waters of the South China Sea. China claims almost all the strategic waterway - through which US$ 3 trillion in commerce moves annually - overlapping sovereignty claims by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Suspected Chinese Spy Drone Captured By Filipino Fisherman

Filipino fishermen found a Chinese underwater spy drone off the coast of the Philippines, police said.

The drone was discovered last 2 December around six miles off the coast of a small island in the Masbate province, per a news release from the Philippines National Police (PNP).

Japanese Warship Sailed Through The Taiwan Strait

Tokyo will not be deterred and will continue with its plans to let a Japanese warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time. No details were made available as top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the reports at a regular briefing because they concerned military operations.

However, Beijing confirmed its military had responded to "the activities of a Japanese Self-Defence Force ship entering the Taiwan Strait".

Chinese and Philippines Ships Collide Again

This has been going quiet often lately and may worsen as the days and weeks pass. Both the Chinese and Philippine vessels "collided" again last 19 August 2022 during an alleged confrontation near a disputed shoal in the West Philippine Sea, Beijing’s state media quoting their coast guard report.

"Despite multiple warnings from the Chinese side, the Philippine vessel 4410 deliberately collided with China’s 21551 vessel," state broadcaster CCTV said, citing China Coast Guard spokesperson Geng Yu.

Surveillance Drones Made Available To U.S. Allies

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has moved ahead with a surveillance drone sale to four U.S. allies in the South China Sea region as acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Washington will no longer "tiptoe" around Chinese behavior in Asia.

The drones would afford greater intelligence gathering capabilities potentially curbing Chinese activity in the region.

Hague Court Will Hear West PHL Sea Claims

Finally, an international tribunal has ruled last 29 October that it had the power to hear a case brought by the Philippines over disputed islands in the South China Sea, in a move likely to trigger fury in Beijing.

Manila has insisted the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the Philippines and China have both ratified, should be used to resolve the bitter territorial row over isolated reefs and islets, which has triggered growing international alarm.

ASEAN Warns Against Island-Building

Foreign ministers from the Southeast Asian nations have finally acknowledged that Chinese land reclamation in the South China Sea has "increased tensions" in the region.

The strong declaration, contained in a final communique, followed a warning by US Secretary of State John Kerry that Washington would not tolerate any restrictions on freedom of navigation in the strategically important waters.

Google Calls It "Scarborough Shoal"

Least they would be branded as Chinese agents, Google did the right thing by removing the Chinese name for a South China Sea shoal bitterly disputed by Beijing and Manila from its maps service last 14 July.

After a Filipino outcry, Google Maps website referred to the rich fishing ground - a subject of a case lodged by the Philippines at an international arbitration tribunal - by its international name, Scarborough Shoal.

Chinese Undermining Peace in SE Asia

Chinese island-building efforts "may undermine peace, security and stability" in the disputed South China Sea, said a statement by Southeast Asian leaders meeting for a summit last 27 April.

The statement, yet to be publicly released, was prepared on behalf of leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering in Malaysia for an annual meeting.

China Should Learn What 'Hypocrisy' Really Means

Somebody should really consider giving Chinese officials a lesson on what 'hypocrisy' means after they accuse Philippines for being hypocrites when the tiny nation decided to resume construction of several buildings and facilities in the disputed islands in West Philippine Sea.

China's Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern after they heard that the Philippine Government said it would resume repair and reconstruction works saying Manila was infringing on Chinese sovereignty.

Cambodia Has Thrown Its Support to China

Cambodia has finally showed its true colors regarding the West Philippine Sea issue after its leaders publicly endorsed China's position. They claimed that the territorial disputes in the region cannot be solved through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Australia Donates Landing Crafts

Considered as the weakest in the region, the poorly-equipped Philippine military is looking to foreign allies to help bolster its resources.

Australia responded by donating two decommissioned military landing craft to the Philippines after the archipelago struggled with relief efforts following Super Typhoon Haiyan, it was announced Sunday.

PHL Will Drill in Disputed Area

With or without Chinese cooperation, the Philippines is bent on pursuing its plans to drill oil in the disputed area. That's what the chairman of an energy company said on 25 September after a Chinese state-owned oil producer hasn't responded to a revived proposal to jointly explore a disputed area of the South China Sea. The drilling will start on 2016 and China will have to deal with it.

Manuel V. Pangilinan said that Filipino-British company Forum Energy PLC communicated the offer to China National Offshore Oil Corp. to explore Reed Bank, northwest of the Philippine island of Palawan. Philippine and Chinese vessels had a confrontation there three years ago.

China Reclaiming in Disputed Shoal

Whatever happens from now on in the disputed reef located at West Philippine Seas is anybody’s guess. One thing is certain though China will not stop intimidating its neighbors and will always tempt them to make the first shot.

Recognizing its vast military advantage over the Philippines, China aggressively reclaimed part of the reef called Mabini by Manila and Chigua by Beijing. The Philippine government just released military surveillance photos showing how Beijing deliberately tried to violate regional agreement not to escalate territorial disputes.

It's Ironic, Militants Tells US Leave PHL Alone

Fact: The United States is taking its role as the world’s primary military superpower seriously that they sometimes find themselves meddling in each country’s political and economic processes.

When US President Barrack Obama visited the Philippines to formalize the 10-year agreement that will give American warships, planes and troops greater access to bases in the archipelago, his brief stay was met a very small number of militant protests.

US Renewed Commitment to PHL

The United States has renewed its commitment to support the Philippines by agreeing to a 10-year agreement that will give American warships, planes and troops greater access to bases in the archipelago.

The deal, which was welcomed by majority of Filipinos, was the centerpiece when President Barrack Obama visited the Philippines on 28 April 2014 The agreement will also mark the return of a sizeable American military presence in the country for the first time since the American military gave up its sprawling naval and air bases, including one at Subic Bay, in 1992.

China Prevents PHL From Resupplying Base

During his speech before the U.N.General Assembly on 10 April 1974, Deng Xiaoping said that, "If one day China should change her color and turn into super power, if China would play the tyrant in the world and everywhere subject to others of her bullying, aggression and exploitation, the citizens of China and the world should identify her as a social-imperialistic, the Chinese people should expose, oppose and work with the world to punish the abusive ruler."

Apparently that statement is untrue. Instead of taking a stand and help the world fight off the bully, China has turned into one.

French Vessel Set to Boost Phil. Navy

The country may be no match when fared against the military might of China, but it can't be faulted for trying its best to stand-up against its 'bullying tactics'.

A few days after President Benigno Aquino III inaugurated the Philippine Navy ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz at the Subic Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, the government announced that it is finalizing the deal in purchasing a surplus French Navy vessel. Both acquisition is in line with efforts to strengthen the country's presence in the West Philippine Sea.

DFA Issues PHL Position on Bajo de Masinloc

BACKGROUND ON THE BAJO DE MASINLOC (PANATAG) INCIDENT

Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippine territory. It is part of the Municipality of Masinloc, Province of Zambales. It is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and is within the 200 nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Philippine Continental Shelf.

A Philippine Navy Surveillance aircraft monitored eight (8) Chinese fishing vessels anchored inside the Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal) on Sunday, 8 April 2012, in the conduct of its maritime patrols and its enforcement of the Philippine Fisheries Code and marine environment laws.