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France has assured the Philippines that as a permanent member and president of the United Nations Security Council, it will perform its role to ensure that international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and sovereignty of its regional partners are upheld.

With the 2022 presidential election fast approaching, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Thursday called on the Filipino people to choose a leader who will offer good governance and political will and reverse President Duterte’s policy of “loving and embracing” China.

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday proposed five measures that the Philippines can take following the inaction of the Duterte administration to enforce the 2016 Arbitral Award in the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea.

A leading maritime law expert from the University of the Philippines (UP) believes that the government’s sudden decision to deploy coast guard vessels to patrol the West Philippine Sea is somehow related to next year’s election.

For China, the historic July 12, 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that rejected its excessive claims in the South China Sea is nothing but a piece of “waste paper.”

When President Duterte himself admitted in his 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) that he is “inutil” (useless) regarding China’s continued presence in the West Philippine Sea, and his professed “love” for Chinese President Xi Jinping, is it not about time to reject him?

As the world commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Arbitral Tribunal ruling on the South China Sea, Canada has expressed its concern over China’s “escalatory and destabilizing actions” in South China and the East China Sea as it called on all parties to comply with the international court’s decision that soundly rejected Beijing’s excessive nine-dash line claim as without basis.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday maintained that the China Coast Guard law “does not exist” in as far as the Philippines’ territorial waters are concerned and is only effective within the Chinese borders.

China’s unilateral imposition of a fishing moratorium in the South China Sea under its new coastguard law can curtail and put at risk the legitimate rights of Filipino fishermen to fish in Philippine territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the Philippines does not recognize such act, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday night.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday supported President Duterte’s stance that the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s excessive claims in the West Philippine Sea is “meaningless for now” if the purpose is to retake the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday issued a “last warning” against those who “talked tough and ended up biting dirt” following the confusion caused by the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque regarding the Philippine stand on Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Tuesday declined the invitation of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque for him and Vice President Leni Robredo to join in the debate on the West Philippine Sea.

The United States was merely exercising “good offices” when it told the Philippines and China to “stand down” during the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Monday night.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. blamed the previous administration for withdrawing the Philippine Navy vessel first during the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff that eventually left the features to the possession of the China.

A high-ranking Filipino diplomat has underscored the importance of the 2016 Arbitral Award as part of the international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), amid the regional uncertainty caused by China’s continued aggressive stance in the South China Sea.

The Philippines has highlighted the importance of the 2016 arbitral award as part of international law as tension in the South China Sea continues to grow among claimants.

With barely a year left into the Duterte Administration, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. is demanding an explanation as to who ordered the Philippine Navy ship to withdraw from the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) standoff with Chinese vessels in the summer of 2012.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on Thursday expressed his support to the suggestion of President Duterte that former DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio should be investigated and held accountable for the pullout of Philippine ships during the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff.