Hostile Chinese warship steered within yards of US Navy destroyer
A Chinese warship steered within 45 yards of a US destroyer near the Spratly Islands this weekend in a manoeuvre that US officials have branded “unsafe”. The vessel “approached USS …
South China Sea
US and Philippines militaries to step up joint defence activities
The Philippine and US armed forces have confirmed an increase in joint defence and security activities, including annual combat exercises. The number of joint security activities next year will rise …
Beijing reacts with anger after US B-52 bombers fly over South China Sea
The Chinese defense ministry has denounced flyovers by US B-52 bombers over the South China Sea as “provocative” actions. The Pentagon has confirmed that the bombers had taken part in …
Beijing says British warship in South China Sea threatens future trade deal
China has warned that post-Brexit free trade could be affected after a British warship sailed past South China Sea islands claimed by Beijing. China was infuriated by the HMS Albion, …
Manila in talks with Beijing over navy flagship stranded in disputed waters
Manila is in talks with Beijing about the retrieval of the Philippine Navy flagship that ran aground on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. BRP Gregorio del Pilar …
US warns of floating nuclear reactors: Malacañang frets about weapons
President Duterte’s spokesman has expressed concern about China’s possible deployment of nuclear weapons in the South China Sea. Speaking today (Thursday, August 23), Harry Roque said: “We are concerned about …
Pentagon warns of floating nuclear reactors in South China Sea
A Pentagon report has warned of China’s plans to introduce floating nuclear reactors into the disputed waters of the South China Sea. In its annual report to congress, entitled Military …
Cayetano: Philippines will pursue rules-based system amid territory dispute
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has assured a British minister that the Philippines was committed to maintaining a rules-based system in the region. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) …
China’s threats to US and Philippine aircraft recorded over disputed waters
The Chinese Navy has been recorded threatening Philippine and US military aircraft operating over the South China Sea. A US Navy plane overheard China’s radio message to the Philippines during …
Eighty per cent of Filipinos disapprove of Manila’s South China Sea policy
Eighty per cent of Filipinos disapprove of their government’s lack of action on the South China Sea issue, a survey has found. The latest Social Weather Stations poll, taken on …
Banners calling Philippines a province of China appear on Manila bridges
Banners calling the Philippines a “province of China” appeared on bridges across Manila on the second anniversary of the UN’s ruling on South China Sea sovereignty. The terms “province of …
Filipino-American US Navy crewmen lead rescue of distressed fishermen
The guided missile destroyer USS Mustin stopped to rescue two Filipino fishermen who were stranded aboard a broken-down boat. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was conducting a routine patrol near Subic …
Xi to Mattis: China won’t give up ‘any inch of territory’ in Pacific
China will not give up “any inch of territory” in the Pacific, President Xi Jinping told US Defense Secretary James Mattis during a visit to Beijing. According to a report …
Manila takes strong line on Chinese stealing catch from Filipino fishermen
The Philippines has demanded that China stops snaffling the catch of Filipino fishermen in the disputed South China Sea. The remarks by President Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque were a rare …
Duterte says Army would topple him if sent to fight China
President Duterte has said that the Army could topple him if he sent soldiers on a “suicide mission” against China over disputed islands. He made the remark as Beijing continues …
US nuclear-capable bombers pass over South China Sea
Just one day after US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis accused China of “intimidation and coercion” in the South China Sea, two nuclear-capable US bombers flew near the Spratly Islands. CNN …
France and UK sending warships to defy Beijing in South China Sea
France and the United Kingdom are sending warships to challenge China’s militarisation of the South China Sea. French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly and British Secretary of State for …
Military chief admits he cannot stand up to Chinese in disputed waters
The Philippine Defence Secretary has echoed President Duterte’s defeatist stance on Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea. Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines had no capability to defend the country’s …
US military chief: ‘Taking down small islands is our core competency’
A top US military official has said that “taking down small islands” is a “core competency” of American armed forces. Speaking during a Pentagon press briefing yesterday (Thursday, May 31), …
Beijing dismisses South China Sea militarisation claims as ‘ridiculous’
China has dismissed claims by US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis that it is militarising the South China sea as “ridiculous” Mattis said this week that the US would push back …
Lawmaker complains of Chinese harassment of Navy boat in disputed waters
A lawmaker has claimed that a Chinese helicopter harassed and endangered a Philippine Navy boat in the South China Sea. Speaking during a Congressional briefing on recent developments in the …
Nation’s top diplomat says Duterte would go to war with China if pushed
President Duterte is ready to declare war on China or any other country over Philippine sovereignty in the South China Sea, his Foreign Secretary has said. Alan Peter Cayetano used …
China sends warships to ward off US freedom of navigation patrol
China sent warships to ward off US Navy ships sailing in the South China Sea, the country’s Ministry of Defence has announced. The guided missile cruiser USS Antietam and guided-missile …
Philippines beefs up contested islands amid Chinese militarisation
The Philippines has started to counter Beijing’s militarisation of the South China Sea by updating its own facilities in the disputed waters. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI, a US …
Duterte rules out war with China despite militarisation of Philippine territory
President Duterte has reiterated that he would never go to war with China, even amid the country’s show of military force in the South China Sea. The president made the …
Duterte rules out opposing China’s military build-up on artificial islands
President Duterte said the Philippines and China did not need to wage war over the South China Sea when they could share resources there instead. Duterte made the statement in …