(Courtesy of BFAR) A suspected Chinese ship allegedly pointed a “high-intensity laser” towards two civilian vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) near the Hasa-Hasa (Half-Moon) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), it was revealed on Sunday, Dec. 8. The unidentified...
US lawmakers will discuss early Friday morning (Manila time) China’s activities in the South China Sea following the various incidents of harassment it committed against Philippine personnel in the waters. According to the US Embassy in Manila, the US House of Representatives will hold a...
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday, Feb. 21, honored the crew of BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) as they want back to Puerto Princesa, Palawan after a challenging deployment in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) two weeks ago. Adm. Artemio Abu, Philippine Coast...
The United States is supporting the Philippines in its activities in the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) as it noted that it is part of the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) following China's recent and dangerous laser-pointing activity at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship traversing...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Dr. Raymund W. Lo Lasers have been very much in the limelight since it was alleged that a Chinese Coast Guard ship trained a laser beam on a Philippine Coast Guard ship that was on a re-supply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea. This incident temporarily...
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Ambassador Fu Ying, one of China’s top diplomats, discussed the latest incidents in the contested Ayungin Shoal between the two countries’ Coast Guards as they vowed to further strengthen the relationship despite the maritime tensions. Chinese...
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian has asserted that the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship did not use a military-grade laser against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, saying it was only equipped with an ordinary laser that detects distance and speed. Photo: Philippine Coat...
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza has called on China to only state facts as it deals with the Philippines on the recent beaming of laser light at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel in Ayungin Shoal. DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita C. Daza during a press briefing at the DFA....
The laser-pointing incident in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is not a basis to invoke the mutual defense treaty (MDT) between Manila and Washington. The US flag, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Unsplash, MANILA BULLETIN) In fact, doing so could be downright ill-advised, according to the...
"A gutsy response to gunboat diplomacy." President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the Chinese flag (MANILA BULLETIN/ Unsplash) That's how House Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto described President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s move of summoning the Chinese ambassador...
The Philippine government must enter into a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with other nations, as it has with the United States, to pave way for defense and security cooperation, a Mindanao lawmaker said on Wednesday, Feb. 15. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (left) and Cagayan de Oro...
Despite the continuous intimidation of Chinese vessels, maritime patrols were sustained by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to defend and ensure the country’s sovereign rights although it would not field additional ships to boost their force. Photo:...
