Category: South China Sea

Philippines’ Duterte Issues Gag Order Over South China Sea

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday the Philippines would not waver in defense of its interests in the South China Sea, even though he had barred his ministers from talking about the situation there in public. China’s maritime conduct has been a constant problem for Duterte but he has refrained from criticizing Beijing and instead…


Philippines’ Duterte Says Won’t Withdraw Ships From Contested Waters

MANILA—Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has rebuffed a call from China to withdraw vessels from disputed areas of the South China Sea and said he would not bow to pressure, even if it jeopardizes his friendship with Beijing. The Philippines has boosted its presence in contested areas of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), including Thitu island,…


Philippines Set to Convert Thitu Island Into Logistics Hub, Facilitate Patrols in South China Sea

The Philippine military plans to transform its Thitu Island as a logistics hub to facilitate sovereignty patrols and upgrade monitoring around its waters amid the Chinese regime’s aggression in the South China Sea. The announcement came after some 220 Chinese vessels were moored at the disputed Whitsun Reef on March 21. The boats were “taking shelter from the…


Chinese Regime Unveils Three New Warships on Navy Anniversary

The Chinese regime recently unveiled three new warships to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Navy. The ships will be part of the regime’s South China Sea fleet. One Chinese media outlet claims that the move is meant to intimidate Taiwan, neighboring countries in the Indo-Pacific region, and the United States. The…


Philippines Tells Fishermen to Ignore Beijing’s Ban on Fishing in South China Sea

MANILA—The Philippines has rejected an annual summer fishing ban imposed by China in the disputed South China Sea and encouraged its boats to keep fishing in the country’s territorial waters. The fishing moratorium imposed by China since 1999 runs from May 1 to Aug. 16 and covers areas of the South China Sea as well…


Philippine Foreign Secretary Is a Hero for Talking Tough to Xi Jinping

Commentary On May 3, the Philippine Foreign Secretary, Teddy Locsin, told China to “GET THE F*** OUT.” He was referring not only to the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), including its fishing grounds in the South China Sea, but to what he claimed was an attempt to make the Philippines into “a Chinese province.” Since…


Philippines Foreign Minister Issues Expletive-Laced Tweet Over China Sea Dispute

MANILA—The Philippine foreign minister on Monday demanded in an expletive-laced Twitter message that China’s vessels get out of disputed waters, the latest exchange in a war of words with Beijing over the South China Sea. The comments by Teodoro Locsin, known for making blunt remarks at times, follow Manila’s protests for what it calls the…


Philippine Foreign Minister Issues Expletive-Laced Tweet Over China Sea Dispute

MANILA—The Philippine foreign minister on Monday demanded in an expletive-laced Twitter message that China’s vessels get out of disputed waters, the latest exchange in a war of words with Beijing over the South China Sea. The comments by Teodoro Locsin, known for making blunt remarks at times, follow Manila’s protests for what it calls the…


Opinion: WaPo Elides China’s Military Threat, Then Offers No Solution

Commentary On May 1, the Editorial Board of The Washington Post finally, at first glance, somewhat-kind-of recognized a military threat emanating from Beijing. The Board cooly noted a “series of incremental escalations by Chinese forces in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea,” that are “substantially advancing a strategy for establishing its dominance in East…


Philippines Summons Chinese Ambassador Over Vessels in Disputed Waters

MANILA—The Philippines said on Tuesday it had summoned the Chinese ambassador to convey the Southeast Asian country’s “utmost displeasure” over the continued presence of Chinese vessels in disputed waters around a reef in the South China Sea. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was summoned on Monday and…