(UPDATED) A new maritime confrontation unfolded in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after Philippine and Chinese vessels reportedly figured in a collision in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) on Tuesday morning, Sept. 16, according to the China Coast guard (CCG). CCG spokesperson Gan Yu...
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan criticized China over its plan to establish a nature reserve in the Scarborough Shoal, maintaining that the Philippines has ownership of this maritime asset. “Una, hindi inyo yan. Sa lahat ng batas—domestic o international man, amin ‘yan. May karapatan...
Several members of the diplomatic community in the Philippines stood by Manila as it filed a diplomatic protest against China’s plan to build a national nature reserve in the heavily contested Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) in the West Philippine Sea. Ambassadors Franz-Michael Skjold...
Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz has urged Chinese businessmen to invest in the Philippines, emphasizing that the country is “open for business” and citing its strength in tourism, hospitality, wellness services, and education. “We are open for business and we welcome China, our...
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...
The National Security Council (NSC) firmly opposed the newly announced plan of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to establish a national nature reserve at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said the...
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 Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it will file a diplomatic protest against China’s planned establishment of a national nature reserve in the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc), which is an integral part of the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction. The DFA...
A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from June 25 to 29 revealed that Filipinos continue to give “very high” trust in the United States (US), while trust in Palestine, China, and Iran remains “poor.” The survey results released on Tuesday, Sept. 9 showed that 72 percent of...
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday, Sept. 8, criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping’s advocacy to create a Beijing-led “multipolar world” which is seen as a counter to the Western narrative of a United States-led international order. Speaking at the...
Due to bad weather conditions, the number of Chinese vessels monitored around Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal has significantly decreased from 24 to nine, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) disclosed Monday, Sept. 8. AFP spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday, Sept. 6, maintained that visa requirements on Chinese nationals did not result in the decline of tourist arrivals from China. This was after Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said that Chinese tourist arrivals went...
