The Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday, Aug. 11, condemned China’s reckless maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) that resulted in the collision of its two vessels while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship. In a statement, the DND backed the PCG and called out China’s...
A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel collided with a Chinese navy warship while pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal), West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday, Aug. 11. PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the collision...
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. commended India’s firm stance against China as a model for balancing diplomacy and defense, stressing that “soft power” must be backed by “hard power” to safeguard national interests. Teodoro underscored the importance...
The Philippines and United States are exploring additional avenues for defense cooperation and deeper engagement in multilateral security partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. Senior officials from the Department of National Defense (DND) and Joint United States Military Assistance Group...
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) monitored a total of 12,996 foreign and local vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in July, but a more significant observation was the increase in the number of Chinese warships seen in the western part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ)....
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confronted a Chinese research vessel that has been allegedly surveying the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for 22 days already. PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of an aircraft on Saturday, Aug. 2, to conduct a maritime domain awareness...
Braving censorship, storms, both literal and political, and the vastness of contested waters, the independent documentary “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” has finally found its way to Filipino audiences. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama, the film tells...
For the very first time, India will join the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a joint sail in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) this weekend just as China called the Philippines a “troublemaker” in the South China Sea for rallying up nations to supposedly gang up on them, an accusation...
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be relentless in upholding the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid China’s increasing assertiveness, a ranking official disclosed Tuesday, July 29. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for WPS, said it is clear to...
As regional tensions simmer in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and South Korea reiterated their strong defense partnership and mutual commitment to regional peace and stability. AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. received Lieutenant Colonel Cho Hyunhul,...
A total of 464 square meters of coral reef were damaged when a Chinese fishing militia anchored at a cay near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in June. This was the revelation made by marine scientists from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and the...
The arbitral award on the South China Sea granted to the Philippines in 2016 was a testament to the power of “right over might,” the National Maritime Council (NMC) said. “The Philippines commemorates with the international community the 9th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the...
