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☆ Philippines urges fishermen to keep up presence at China-held shoal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANILA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The coastguard of the Philippines urged the country's fishermen on Wednesday to keep operating at the disputed Scarborough Shoal and other sites in the South China Sea, pledging to step up patrols there despite an imposing Chinese presence. Philippine vessels were unable to maintain a constant presence but were committed to protecting the rights of fishermen inside the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), coastguard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said. China's response has been measured, with its foreign ministry advising Manila on Tuesday to avoid provocations and not cause trouble. Close to shipping lanes that transport an estimated $3.4 trillion of annual commerce, control of the shoal is strategic for Beijing, which claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. "The Scarborough Shoal is closer to the Philippines," said fisherman Pepito Fabros who had come ashore in the province of Zambales between trips to sea.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, Gilbert Teodoro, Tarriela, Pepito Fabros, Neil Jerome Morales, Adrian Portugal, Enrico dela Cruz, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: coastguard, Beijing's, China's coastguard, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Scarborough, South China, Bajo de Masinloc, Philippine, China, Beijing, Manila, Hainan, United States, Zambales

☆ Australia says it will conduct more joint patrols with Philippines in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The joint exercises, a first for the two nations, come amid renewed tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. Marcos spoke to journalists after Friday's beach landing drill in Zambales, near the South China Sea, which he watched with binoculars, accompanied by Marles and Philippines Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. At a joint news conference with Teodoro, Marles said the first joint patrols of the South China Sea by the two navies would "happen soon". The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have claims to certain areas of the South China Sea. Most of Australia's trade goes through the South China Sea, and upholding international rules is a shared strategic interest with the Philippines, he earlier told ABC radio.

Persons: Richard Marles, Caroline Chia, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Marles, Gilbert Teodoro, Teodoro, Anthony Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Karen Lema, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Marines, Philippine Navy, Philippines Defense, ABC, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Australia, South, Philippines, Philippine, Canberra, China, South China, Zambales, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Japan, U.S, Sydney, Manila

Tensions have soared between the two neighbours over the South China Sea under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with Manila pivoting back to the United States, which supports the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China. China's embassy in Manila criticised Washington for "gathering" its allies to continue "hyping up" the South China Sea issue and the boat incident. "South China Sea is not a 'safari park' for countries outside the region to make mischief and sow discord," the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday. The Second Thomas Shoal, which lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone, is home to a handful of troops living aboard the former warship Sierra Madre. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Thomas, Thomas Shoal, Erik De Castro, Rommel Ong, Ong, Collin Koh, There's, Koh, Jonathan Malaya, Lloyd Austin, Gilbert Teodoro, Bernadette Baum, Alex Richardson, Sharon Singleton Organizations: South China, coastguard, BRP, BRP Sierra Madre, Philippine Navy, REUTERS, Singapore's, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Philippines National Security Council, China, U.S . Defense, Philippines Defense, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, MANILA, China, Philippines, Manila, South, Philippine, United States, China's, Washington, Sierra Madre, BRP Sierra, Spratly, Beijing, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, U.S, Japan, France

☆ Philippines closely monitors threat of invasion of Taiwan - defence chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Nonetheless, we continue to plan on all contingencies not merely any flashpoint between China and Taiwan, but any contingency within the theatre," he added. A priority for the Philippines is the safety of the more than 100,000 of its nationals living and working in Taiwan. Without providing specifics, Teodoro, said the contingency measures being discussed were "a multi-agency effort and not only a defence effort". The Philippines has granted access to four additional bases this year, some facing north towards Taiwan. "Hopefully, the engagements bilaterally between the United States and China leads to the diffusion of tensions in that theatre," said Teodoro.

Persons: Gilbert Teodoro, Teodoro, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Karen Lema, Martin Petty Organizations: U.S ., Philippine, Washington, Thomson Locations: MANILA, China, Taiwan, U.S, Philippines, Pacific, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, United States, Washington, Beijing

☆ Philippines raises alarm over increase in Chinese boats in disputed sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA, July 7 (Reuters) - The Philippine military on Friday reported an "alarming" increase in the number of Chinese fishing vessels in disputed waters in the South China Sea, which it said threatens the security of the oil and gas-rich Reed Bank. "China must cease its swarming of vessels to respect our sovereign rights," Ariel Coloma, spokesperson for the Western Command, said in a statement. The Philippines won a landmark arbitration case in 2016 that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, where about $3 trillion worth of sea-borne goods pass every year. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Philippine counterpart, Gilbert Teodoro, on Thursday that the U.S. commitment to the defense of its ally was "ironclad," including in the South China Sea, according to a U.S. summary of the call. The Philippines on Wednesday accused the China Coast Guard of harassment, obstruction and "dangerous manoeuvres" against its vessels, after another incident near a strategic feature of the South China Sea.

Persons: Ariel Coloma, WESCOM, Lloyd Austin, Gilbert Teodoro, Karen Lema, Robert Birsel Organizations: Philippine, Reed Bank, Western Command, The Philippines, PXP Energy Corp, China Coast Guard, U.S . Defense, Thomson Locations: MANILA, South China, China, Manila, States, Philippine, Sabina, Philippines

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