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☆ China concerns bring new unity to once-turbulent US-Japan-Philippines relationship ahead of major White House summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Both the Philippines and Japan are US defense treaty allies, and the US military retains permanent bases in Japan and has base rights in the Philippines. That threat is manifested in three key areas – Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, analysts say. Here's why 03:27 - Source: CNNJapan and Philippines both have separate territorial disputes with China, in the former’s case the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and in the latter’s areas of the South China Sea. Meanwhile, China claims the shoal, which is in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as its sovereign territory, as it does much of the South China Sea, in defiance of an international arbitration ruling. “Alliance building is the most practical way to deal with China’s moves” in the South China Sea, he said.

Persons: ”, James D.J, Brown, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Xi Jinping, Biden, Micah Jeiel Perez, Marcos, Kishida, ” Marcos, Shinzo Abe, Ricardo Jose, ” Jose, Thomas, CNN Marcos, Shoal, China –, Masaharu Homma, –, Perez, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos Jr’s, Duterte, Thomas Shoal, Veejay Villafranca, Robert Ward, BRP Antonio Luna, you’ve, Donald, Trump, ” Brown, “, Ward Organizations: South Korea CNN, White, Temple University, Japanese, Taiwan –, Communist Party, Taiwan Relations, University of, Nikkei Asia, University of the, “, CNN, East China, Philippine, China Coast Guard, US, US State Department, Gen, “ Alliance, Clark Air Base, Naval, Bloomberg, Getty, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Cooperative, Philippine Navy, BRP, Royal Australian Navy, Self, Defense Forces, JS Akebono, US Navy, USS, Multilateral Maritime Cooperative, Armed Forces, AP Analysts Locations: Seoul, South Korea, United States, Japan, Philippines, China, Tokyo, Philippine, Taiwan, Washington, South, Senkaku, East China, University of the Philippines, CNN Japan, East, South China, Palawan, China – Washington, Beijing, Spain, Spanish, Imperial Japan, New Orleans, Bataan, Subic, Manila, US, Australia, India, Vietnam, Warramunga, IISS

☆ Analysis-'Open Warfare': Philippines' Marcos-Duterte Alliance Crumbles
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"The opportunistic political alliance was not meant to last," said Temario Rivera, chairman of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance think-tank. "It is still working," he said, adding he was keeping Sara Duterte as education minister. 'OPEN WARFARE'The alliance publicly disintegrated on Sunday when Duterte called Marcos a "drug addict" during a rally against moves to change the charter. Analysts said the public bust-up could be linked to the 2028 presidential race, which Sara Duterte is expected to contest and stands a strong chance. "It will be an open warfare this year," said Ronald Llamas, a veteran political analyst and former presidential adviser.

Persons: Karen Lema MANILA, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Duterte's, Sara, Jean Encinas, Sebastian Duterte, Temario Rivera, Sara Duterte, Rivera, Duterte, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, Marcos Sr, Imelda, Ronald Llamas, Karen Lema, Michael Perry Organizations: University of the, Center for People Empowerment, International Criminal, Hague Locations: Philippine, Philippines, University of the Philippines, Davao, China, United States, Washington, South, Taiwan, South China

☆ South China Sea tensions are flaring between the Philippines and China. Here's why it matters for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Over the past two decades, China has occupied a number of obscure reefs and atolls far from its shoreline across the South China Sea, building up military installations, including runways and ports. Video Ad Feedback Why it matters who owns the seas (April 2021) 03:48 - Source: CNNWhy does the South China Sea matter? The South China Sea is home to hundreds of largely uninhabited islands and coral atolls and diverse wildlife at risk from climate change and marine pollution. The US is not a claimant to the South China Sea, but says the waters are crucial to its national interest of guaranteeing freedom of the seas worldwide. Marcos has strengthened US relations that had frayed under his predecessor, with the two allies touting potential future joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Persons: It’s, China’s, Defense Lindsey Ford, ”, Stringer, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Jay Batongbacal, “, Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Gregory Poling Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Navy, CNN, US Energy Information Agency, Communist Party, United, US Navy, Defense, Asia, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, Ford, Spratly Islands, University of the, Philippine Coast Guard, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transparency, Philippines Mutual Defense Locations: Hong Kong, South China, China, Beijing, Philippines, United States, South, The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, Manila, Scarborough, Spratly, People’s Republic of China, Washington, Philippine, University of the Philippines, Asia

☆ South China Sea: Philippines accuses Chinese maritime militia of destroying coral reefs near Palawan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Philippine Coast Guard/FacebookTarriela said between August 9 and September 11, the coast guard monitored 33 Chinese vessels within the vicinity of Rozul Reef and around 15 Chinese ships near Escoda Shoal. The UP Marine Science Institute found vibrant corals in the Rozul (Iroquios) Reef in the South China Sea in May 2021. At least two foreign ambassadors in Manila have expressed alarm over reports of destruction of marine resources in the South China Sea. The grounded Philippine navy ship Sierra Madre, which Manila uses to stake its territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, as pictured on April 23, 2023. Under current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the country’s National Security Team began to publicize its findings about what was actually happening in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea more regularly, Powell said.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, ” Tarriela, Facebook Tarriela, Tarriela, Mao Ning, “, ”, Gerry Arances, Arances, Ray Powell, SeaLight, Powell, Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Rodrigo Duterte, Shoal, Ted Aljibe, Thomas Shoal, Ferdinand Marcos Jr Organizations: CNN, Philippine Coast Guard, Chinese Maritime Militia, Facebook, Philippine, Spratly Islands, Philippine coastguard, University of, Philippines Marine Science Institute, country’s National Security Council, Scientific, UP Marine Science Institute, Marine Science, CNN Philippines, Center for Energy, coastguard, National Security, Stanford University, The, United, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Asia, Transparency Initiative, BRP, BRP Sierra Madre, National Security Team, West Philippine, South China Locations: South, Philippines, China, Sabina, South China, Palawan, Beijing, Philippine, Rozul, Escoda Shoal, ” Beijing, China’s, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, West Philippine, United States, Indonesia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Manila, Sierra, Spratly, AFP, BRP Sierra, Sierra Madre, West

The Chinese military regularly sends ships and aircraft through the channel, Taiwan's defence ministry has said. The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the proposed port in Basco. Cayco confirmed the visit, saying they came "one time to assess" the proposed alternative port. Marcos has said the bases under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) could prove useful if China attacked Taiwan. Jay Batongbacal, maritime affairs expert at the University of the Philippines, said the proposed port "would certainly be needed for the island’s defence in a worst case scenario."

Persons: Marvin Licudine, Andres Centino, Heather Variava, Noel Beleran, Eric Austin, Marilou Cayco, Batanes, Cayco, Kanishka, MARCOS, Rodrigo Duterte, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Jay Batongbacal, Poppy McPherson, Karen Lema, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Philippine Military, Embassy, Staff, Education, U.S, Reuters, China, Washington, U.S . Army, ., Enhanced, Security, University of the, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Philippine, U.S, MANILA, Taiwan . U.S, Taiwan, China, Washington, Pacific, Manila, Basco, Asia, Beijing, Batanes, South China, University of the Philippines, Luzon

China Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERSMANILA, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday denied making an agreement with China to remove a grounded warship that serves as a military outpost in South China Sea, and said if there ever were such a deal, it should be considered rescinded. China on Monday accused the Philippines of reneging on a promise made "explicitly" to remove the ship, which was grounded in 1999 to bolster its territorial claims in one of the world's most contested areas. Jonathan Malaya, National Security Council assistant director general, earlier challenged China to produce evidence of the promise. China and the Philippines have been embroiled for years in on-off confrontations at the shoal, the latest on Saturday. China has built militarised, manmade islands in the South China Sea and its claim of historic sovereignty overlaps with the EEZs of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Thomas Shoal, I'm, Marcos, Jonathan Malaya, Thomas, Jay Batongbacal, Neil Jerome Morales, Karen Lema, Martin Petty Organizations: Coast Guard, China Coast Guard, REUTERS, National Security Council, Philippines, China, South China, University of the, Thomson Locations: Philippine, REUTERS MANILA, China, South China, Philippines, Sierra, Manila, reneging, China's, Sierra Madre, Malaya, South, Thomas Shoal . China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, University of the Philippines

☆ As US and Philippine defense ties grow closer, China drives wedge over Taiwan issue
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But the election of his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, last year has returned relations to a more even keel, in part because Manila has become wary of a more assertive China. Last year the US granted $100 million to boost the Southeast Asian country’s defense capabilities and military modernization. Heydarian added that China has to rethink its strategy towards the Philippines, as the Marcos Jr administration is openly more aligned with the US. China remains one of the top trade partners of the Philippines, while Marcos Jr also continues to negotiate energy and agriculture investments from Beijing. Some worry Marcos Jr might be giving too much access to the US, especially when it comes to bases and facilities close to Taiwan, Heydarian said.

☆ Philippines reveals locations of 4 new strategic sites for U.S. military pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Karen Lema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The locations are significant, with Isabela and Cagayan facing north towards Taiwan, while Palawan is near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, where China has built artificial islands equipped with runways and missile systems. Defence chief Carlito Galvez called the sites "very strategic" and stressed the Philippines had a responsibility to the international community in the South China Sea. "Their locations are in areas where they are needed," said Jay Batongbacal, a South China Sea expert at the University of the Philippines. "It also provides us with coverage not only on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) but also on the Pacific side," he added. The United States has committed more than $80 million worth of infrastructure at the five existing sites - the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Mindanao.

It suspended its probe in November 2021 at the request of the Philippines after Manila said it was carrying out its own investigations. The ICC investigation was reopened in January 2023 and on March 27 the ICC rejected Manila's request to suspend it pending an appeal questioning the court's jurisdiction and authority. It is not clear even among some government officials what cutting contact meant or whether the Philippines will completely drop its appeal against the ICC investigation. Police say they killed 6,200 suspects during anti-drug operations that ended in shootouts but reject accusations by human rights groups of systematic executions and cover-ups. There doesn't seem to be any political will within the Philippine government to seriously investigate," Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, told CNN Philippines.

☆ Philippines beefs up efforts to contain oil leak from sunken tanker
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows the oil spill from the sunken fuel tanker MT Princess Empress on the shores of Pola, in Oriental Mindoro province, Philippines, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File PhotoMANILA, March 14 (Reuters) - Philippine authorities have increased efforts to contain an oil spill from a sunken fuel tanker that has affected coastal towns and was still spreading, the environment ministry said on Tuesday, as the country grapples with cleanup challenges. The vessel was carrying about 800,000 litres (211,338 gallons) of industrial fuel oil when it sank, according to the coast guard. Resorts in Oriental Mindoro, also known for world-class beaches and dive spots, have already been reeling from the impact of the oil spill, as tourists cancel reservations during what is supposed to be peak season. They also raised concerns about whether the tanker owner could file insurance claims despite questions about the ship's permit to operate.

☆ Fact Check-Bill Gates was not issued an arrest warrant in the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

One tweet said: “An arrest warrant was just issued for BILL GATES? Some users are sharing the claim alongside a March 2 story on NewsPunch that says: “Bill Gates Arrest Warrant Issued in Philippines For ‘Premeditated Murder’ Linked To Vaccine Roll Out” (archive.is/azhdX). A Gates spokesperson told Reuters that a Philippines court had not issued an arrest warrant for Gates due to the COVID-19 vaccine. The NewsPunch story says the Heinous Crimes Court in Manila, Philippines, issued the supposed arrest warrant for Gates. Bill Gates was not issued an international arrest warrant by a Philippine court, a Gates spokesperson told Reuters.

☆ With pails and mugs, Philippine residents clean up oil spill
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

POLA, Philippines, March 7 (Reuters) - Residents of a central Philippine province affected by an oil spill from a sunken tanker endured the powerful stench of petroleum as they cleaned it up using buckets and mugs while authorities raced to contain environmental damage. Wearing personal protective equipment and masks, residents of the town of Pola in Oriental Mindoro, with the help of Philippine coast guard crew, collected debris soaked in oil and wiped thick sludge from rocks along the shore. "Here in our area the oil is really thick and the smell is strong," said 34-year-old resident Maribel Famadico while cleaning along the shore with other volunteers. "There is so much oil that we become nauseous when we are not wearing protection. [1/3] Volunteers dressed in personal protective equipment clean up the oil spill from the sunken fuel tanker MT Princess Empress, on the shore of Pola, in Oriental Mindoro province, Philippines, March 7, 2023.

☆ Philippines to deploy underwater vehicle to pinpoint location of stricken tanker
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A view of an oil spill at a beach in Caluya, Philippines March 4, 2023 in this still image obtained from social media video. A remotely operated autonomous vehicle would be deployed to help determine the exact location of the tanker, it said. Authorities want to know how much oil is inside and how to pump the remainder out and stop any leaks, experts said. The tanker's owner has contracted local agencies, Harbor Star Shipping Services and Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp., for the cleanup. If sea conditions are bad, it is also unsafe for our contractors to work," Rodrigo Bella, vice president of Harbor Star, told the media briefing.

☆ Marcos Jr.'s Japan trip is his 'most important' foreign visit yet, lecturer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMarcos Jr.'s Japan trip is his 'most important' foreign visit yet, lecturer saysRichard Heydarian of the University of the Philippines says Japan has been, by far, the Philippines' "most consequential" economic partner in the last 20 years.

☆ China is using civilian ships to enhance navy capability and reach
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Aerial view of fishing boats setting sail to South China Sea for fishing on August 16, 2022 in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province of China. Hundreds of fishing boats anchored for months at a time among disputed islands in the South China Sea. The civilian vessels do more than just augment the raw numbers of ships, performing tasks that would be difficult for the military to carry out. "Because they are ostensibly civilian fishing vessels, navies' ships are unable to deal with them lest China accuse the Philippines of provoking an incident and using force against civilians," he said. In the event of a conflict, China's use of civilian vessels would complicate the rules of engagement, he said.

☆ 'Never forget': Filipino activists mark 50th anniversary of martial law declaration
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Candles are lit as part of an art installation during an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of martial law declaration by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, father of the current president, at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, Philippines, September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Eloisa LopezRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterMANILA, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Filipino activists on Wednesday took to the streets to mark the 50th anniversary of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr's declaration of martial law. Activists chanted "never forget" and held banners condemning the crimes allegedly committed by the regime during martial law including extra-judicial killings, human rights abuses and forced disappearances. His son and namesake, current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has defended the decision to impose martial law at that time, claiming it was done to protect the country from communist rebels and insurgents. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Jay Ereno; Writing by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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