Two more civilian vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were apparently hit by a water cannon by the China Coast Guard (CCG) near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) revealed on Monday, Oct. 13. Aside from BRP Datu...
A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship fired a water cannon and deliberately rammed a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel anchored in the territorial waters of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Sunday morning, Oct. 12, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. PCG...
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has invited Ireland to participate in joint patrols with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Teodoro made the pitch to Irish Ambassador to the Philippines Emma Hickey during the latter’s...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, Oct. 7, stressed that the Philippines’ rights and sovereignty covering the contested West Philippine Sea are “incontrovertible” and based on international law and legal principles. Without identifying the countries’ names, the DFA referred...
DAVAO CITY – A longtime diplomat-turned-peace advocate on Friday slammed the government 's approach to the West Philippine Sea issue. Asian Century Philippines President Adolfo Quizon Paglinawan, speaking at the Media Forum on Peace in Asia here, described the approach as disguised lawfare...
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Wednesday, September 17 criticized anew the actions of the China Coast Guard against the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) BRP Datu Gumbay Piang saying it is yet another blatant display of China’s disregard for international law and the...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed a diplomatic protest against China’s plan to build a national nature reserve in the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) in the West Philippine Sea. The protest was filed on Friday, Sept. 12, DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona...
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, September 12 rejected China’s plan to construct a so-called “marine nature reserve” in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and urged Malacañang to summon China’s ambassador to the Philippines to demand an explanation on it. Earlier, the Philippine...
The Philippines will not alter its resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal despite a reported increase in Chinese vessel activities in the area, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said. In an interview, NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez told reporters in Manila that Chinese...
Malacañang rejected suggestions that the Philippines’ diplomatic stance in the South China Sea shows weakness, while also pushing back against China’s claim that Manila is acting as a “disruptor” in the region. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after Senator Erwin...
Sailors and marines onboard BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) drove away intruding Chinese vessels, effectively diffusing the tense situation in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. confirmed this on Sunday,...
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a multilateral maritime cooperative activity with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Saturday, Aug. 23, as part of the ongoing Exercise ALON. Philippine Navy (PN) guided missile...