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☆ Philippines' Marcos condemns killing of journalist, orders investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during a joint press statement with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines, September 8, 2023. Earvin Perias/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Sunday strongly condemned the killing of a Filipino journalist and ordered the police to conduct an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Media watchdog NUJP also condemned the "brazen killing" which it said was caught on a livestream of Jumalon's show. Jumalon's killing brings to four the number of journalists killed since Marcos took office in June 2022, and to 199 since democracy was restored in the Philippines in 1986. It ranked as the eighth worst country when it comes to prosecuting killers of journalists, according to 2023 Global Impunity Index released by the Committee to Protect Journalists released this week.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Anthony Albanese, Earvin, Juan Jumalon, Johnny Walker, Marcos, NUJP, Karen Lema, Michael Perry Organizations: Australia's, Rights, National Union of Journalists of, . Media, Committee, Protect Journalists, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, Philippine, Calamba, Misamis Occidental

☆ Philippines military remains loyal to the president - national security adviser
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano arrives to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan, June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The Philippines' National Security Adviser on Saturday rejected talk of a plot to destabilise the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, saying the military and entire security sector were loyal to the commander-in-chief. "Yes, there were healthy and passionate exchanges (and) debates among some retired or former military officers and even some criticism against certain policies of the current administration, but they are within the bounds of our democratic space," National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said. "The security sector shall remain vigilant and ready to take immediate action against any sinister group that will undermine our national security," Ano said. The Philippines has seen more than a dozen coup attempts since the overthrow of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Persons: Eduardo Ano, Fumio Kishida, Kim Kyung, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Eduardo Año, Año, Año's, Romeo Brawner, Brawner, Ano, Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos, Karen Lema, Michael Perry Organizations: Philippine National Security, REUTERS, Rights, National Security, Philippine, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights MANILA, Philippines

☆ Japan PM Kishida: Cooperating With Philippines, US to Protect South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday his country, the Philippines and the United States were cooperating to protect the freedom of the South China Sea as he committed to help enhance Manila's security capabilities. "In the South China Sea, the trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is underway," Kishida, on an official visit, said in an address before the Philippine congress in the capital Manila. Last month China and the Philippines traded accusations over a collision in the disputed waters of the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked Philippine boats supplying forces there. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Japan does not have any claim to the South China Sea, but has a separate maritime dispute with China in the East China Sea.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, China's, Karen Lema, William Mallard, Michael Perry Locations: MANILA, Philippines, United States, South China, China, Philippine, Manila, Japan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, East

☆ Japan PM Kishida: cooperating with Philippines, US to protect South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Karen Lema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"In the South China Sea, trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is under way," Kishida, on an official visit, said in an address before the Philippine congress in the capital Manila. Last month China and the Philippines traded accusations over a collision in the disputed waters of the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked Philippine boats supplying forces there. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Japan does not have any claim to the South China Sea, but has a maritime dispute with China in the East China Sea. "Japan will continue to contribute to the enhancement of the Philippines' security capabilities, thereby contributing to regional peace and stability," Kishida said.

Persons: Fumio, Aaron Favila, Fumio Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, China's, Kishida, Karen Lema, Sakura Murakami, William Mallard, Michael Perry Organizations: Japan, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Official Security, Kyodo, Philippine Coast Guard, Thomson Locations: Quezon City, Philippines, Rights MANILA, United States, South China, China, Philippine, Manila, Kishida, Japan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, East, Tokyo

☆ China, Philippines trade accusations over collision in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The two countries have had numerous run-ins in areas of the South China Sea in recent months, especially the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands. The Pentagon said in May it would protect the Philippines if its coast guard came under attack "anywhere in the South China Sea". Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. "The provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action" of the Chinese coast guard vessel "imperilled the safety of the crew" of the Philippine boat, the task force said. "The Philippines behaviour seriously violates the international rules on avoiding collisions at sea and threatens the navigation safety of our vessels," the coast guard said.

Persons: Thomas Shoal, Erik De Castro, China's, Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Thomas, Ethan Wang, Bernard Orr, Enrico Dela Cruz, William Mallard Organizations: BRP, BRP Sierra Madre, Philippine Navy, REUTERS, Manila, Manila's, Force, West Philippine, Washington, Pentagon, BRP Sierra, Thomson Locations: BRP Sierra, Philippine, Spratly, South, China, Philippines, Manila, Manila BEIJING, MANILA, South China, States, Beijing, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, China's

☆ Philippines denounces China for 'dangerous and offensive' actions in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Chinese navy ship is seen sailing in the South China Sea, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The Philippine military has called out China to stop "unsafe actions" in the South China Sea, after a Chinese navy ship shadowed and attempted to cut off a Philippine navy vessel conducting a resupply mission late last week. A Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel came as close as 350 yards as it tried to cross in front of the Philippine ship near Thitu island, Manila's biggest and most strategically important outpost in the South China Sea, according to armed forces chief Romeo Brawner. It was the latest in a series of attempts by China to monitor and block Philippine resupply missions to personnel in Manila-occupied features in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. China's claims sovereignty to almost the entire South China Sea, through which more than $3 trillion of trade passes each year.

Persons: Adrian Portugal, Romeo Brawner, Brawner, Ferdinand Marcos, Neil Jerome Morales, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Philippine, Liberation Army Navy, PLAN, China's PLAN, Washington, Thomson Locations: South China, Rights MANILA, China, Philippine, Thitu, Manila, Philippines, Beijing

A double-digit gain in the price of rice drove annual inflation to accelerate by 6.1% last month, its fastest pace in four months, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority released on Thursday. The country's economic planning agency on Thursday said it would recommend extending the lowered tariff rates on rice until December 2024, a day after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr lifted the cap on rice prices. Rice inflation quickened by 17.9% in September, the fastest in over 14 years, the statistics authority said, helping fuel the 10.0% food inflation rate for the month. September's faster-than-expected inflation could convince the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to resume hiking rates after it left its benchmark rate (PHCBIR=ECI) steady at its last two meetings. Last month's inflation print brought year-to-date average inflation to 6.6%.

Persons: Lisa Marie David, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, September's, Nicholas Mapa, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Karen Lema, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine, ng Pilipinas, ING, Christian, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, MANILA

☆ China condemns Philippine re-supply mission to disputed atoll
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Erik De Castro/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/MANILA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - China has condemned a mission by four Philippine ships to re-supply Philippine troops on a disputed South China Sea atoll, saying the vessels had entered its waters in the Spratly Islands without its permission. "Philippine supply ships and two coast guard ships entered the waters ... in China's Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government," China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said a post on its website, using China's name for the Spratly Islands. The atoll in the area is known as Ayungin in the Philippines, while China calls it the Renai Reef. read moreThe Philippine National Security Council (NSC) said its re-supply and rotation mission was completed despite attempts by a significant number of China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia to "harass and interfere" with it. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, pointing to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Persons: Thomas Shoal, Erik De Castro, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Gan Yu, Thomas, Philippe, Ryan Woo, Karen Lema, Engen Tham, Kaiwen Xu, Robert Birsel Organizations: BRP, BRP Sierra Madre, Philippine Navy, REUTERS, Rights, China Coast Guard, Philippine National Security Council, Chinese Maritime Militia, Thomson Locations: BRP Sierra, Philippine, Spratly, South, Rights BEIJING, MANILA, China, Philippines, South China, China's Nansha, Palawan, United States, Manila, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia

MANILA, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The Philippines is investigating a maritime incident to find out what killed three Filipino fishermen in a ramming incident that sank their boat in the South China Sea, its president said on Wednesday. "We assure the victims, their families, and everyone that we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident," Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on the X social media platform. Three Filipino fishermen died after their fishing boat was rammed by an unidentified foreign commercial vessel while crossing the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday. "The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial vessel," Marcos said. The Philippine coastguard did not elaborate on the incident or provide details of the vessel it said had rammed the Filipino crew.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Karen Lema, Mikhail Flores, Martin Petty, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Philippine Coast Guard, China's coastguard, Philippine coastguard, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, South China, China, Scarborough, British, United States, Manila

☆ Philippines looking into ramming incident in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Philippines is investigating a maritime incident to find out what killed three Filipino fishermen in a ramming incident that sank their boat in the South China Sea, its president said on Wednesday. "We assure the victims, their families, and everyone that we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident," Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on the X social media platform. Three Filipino fishermen died after their fishing boat was rammed by an unidentified foreign commercial vessel while crossing the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday. "The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial vessel," Marcos said. The Philippine coastguard did not elaborate on the incident or provide details of the vessel it said had rammed the Filipino crew.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos Organizations: Philippine Bureau of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources, Philippine Coast Guard, China's coastguard, Philippine coastguard Locations: Scarborough, South China, Philippines, China, British, United States, Manila

☆ South China Sea: Philippines says three fishermen killed after boat rammed by 'foreign' vessel near Scarborough Shoal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Three Filipino fishermen have died after an “unidentified commercial vessel” allegedly rammed their fishing boat near Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine coast guard said Wednesday, compounding tensions in a region of the disputed South China Sea that is already a flashpoint. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the coast guard is “backtracking and checking all monitored vessels in the area as part of its ongoing investigation,” according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The South China Sea is a 1.3 million-square-mile waterway that is vital to international trade, with an estimated third of global shipping worth trillions of dollars passing through each year. 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. Philippine Coast GuardPhotos released by the Philippine coast guard show the scene at Barangay Cato on October 3.

Persons: FFB Dearyn, –, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ” Marcos Organizations: CNN, Cato, Philippine Coast Guard, Barangay Cato, Philippine Coast Guard Scarborough Locations: Scarborough Shoal, Philippine, China, Pangasinan, Luzon, Beijing, Infanta, Pangasinan province, Philippines, Bajo, Masinloc, Manila, The Hague, South China

☆ Philippines' Marcos suffers 'significant' drop in approval rating
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his speech during a joint press statement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines, July 31, 2023. Aaron Favila/POOL via REUTERS./File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - President Ferdinand Marcos has suffered a "significant" drop in his approval rating as soaring consumer prices in the Philippines undermines his support, a polling organisation said on Monday. "Continuing increase in prices of basic commodities and services and unfulfilled promise of reducing these," likely caused the "significant" drop in the approval ratings, said Ronald Holmes, president of Pulse Asia. Marcos' presidential communications office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, also suffered a decline in approval ratings, dropping 11 points to 73%.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Ursula von der Leyen, Aaron Favila, Ferdinand Marcos, Marcos, Ronald Holmes, Sara Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte, Mikhail Flores, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Asia Survey, Pulse Asia, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, Philippine, Hawaii

☆ Philippines' Marcos Suffers 'Significant' Drop in Approval Rating
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA (Reuters) - President Ferdinand Marcos has suffered a "significant" drop in his approval rating as soaring consumer prices in the Philippines undermines his support, a polling organisation said on Monday. "Continuing increase in prices of basic commodities and services and unfulfilled promise of reducing these," likely caused the "significant" drop in the approval ratings, said Ronald Holmes, president of Pulse Asia. Marcos' presidential communications office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last month, Marcos imposed price ceilings for rice. Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, also suffered a decline in approval ratings, dropping 11 points to 73%.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Marcos, Ronald Holmes, Sara Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte, Mikhail Flores, Robert Birsel Organizations: Asia Survey, Pulse Asia Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Philippine, Hawaii

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in his first remarks over the latest flare up, said the Philippines was upholding its rights to fish in its exclusive economic zone. China, which says Scarborough Shoal is its territory, has chided the United States for what it calls provocations in the region. Since cutting the floating barrier, the Philippines has observed less Chinese presence in the shoal, Tarriela said. There were three Chinese coastguard vessels and one maritime militia ship seen from an inspection flight on Thursday, versus seven Chinese vessels last week, Tarriela said. There were two Filipino vessels fishing in the shoal, but it remains a struggle to enter the lagoon, he added.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Ursula von der Leyen, Aaron Favila, Marcos, we're, Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Enrico Dela Cruz, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty, Mark Potter Organizations: coastguard, Philippine coastguard, Manila, Washington, Thomson Locations: Philippine, Manila, Philippines, China, shoal's, coastguard MANILA, Scarborough, Beijing, United States

☆ What is Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and why are China and the Philippines disputing it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Philippines coastguard said the mission, approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, showed its determination to maintain a presence at the shoal. Located in the middle of the South China Sea and near shipping lanes carrying an estimated $3.4 trillion of annual commerce, its position is strategic for Beijing. A landmark 2016 ruling on the South China Sea by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which went largely in favour of the Philippines, was not tasked with establishing sovereignty. China has not acknowledged the presence of militia in the South China Sea. The Pentagon stated mutual defence commitments would be invoked over an attack "anywhere in the South China Sea" and that coastguard vessels are among those protected.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Thomas, Marcos, Martin Petty, Sharon Singleton Organizations: SCARBOROUGH, coastguard, China's coastguard, Philippines coastguard, Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS, WHO, China's, Mutual, Treaty, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Philippines, South China, Beijing, Manila, China, Scarborough, Philippine, British, South, Spratly, China's, United States, Washington

☆ Philippines says no standoff with China after removal of floating barrier in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Coast Guard boats close to the floating barrier are pictured on September 20, 2023, near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, in this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on September 24, 2023. The Philippines coastguard, posing as regular fishermen aboard a small boat, later cut the ball-buoy barrier and took away the anchor, Tarriela told DWPM radio and ANC news channel. He said four China coastguard vessels were in the area and were "not that aggressive" after seeing media on board a Philippine ship. China claims ownership of almost all of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, despite an arbitration ruling in 2016 that said that was baseless. Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, speaking to reporters about the removal of the barrier, on Tuesday said the move was consistent with the country's stance on the South China Sea.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Enrique Manalo, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, China's coastguard, Scarborough, coastguard, Philippines coastguard, ANC, China coastguard, Philippine, Thomson Locations: Scarborough, South China, Rights MANILA, Philippines, China, Philippine, Manila, United States

☆ Philippines Removes Chinese Barrier at Disputed Shoal in 'Special Operation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Enrico Dela CruzMANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines said on Monday it executed a "special operation" to remove a floating barrier installed by China at a prime fishing patch in the South China Sea, a move that could stoke tension after a years-long detente in Asia's most disputed waters. Hours after the national security adviser had vowed to take action, the Philippine coastguard said it had removed the floating cordon, at the behest of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his special task force on the South China Sea. Japan's government urged calm and said the South China Sea was central to regional stability. "Our country strongly opposes any conduct that heightens tension in the South China Sea," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a regular press conference. China on Monday said the shoal, which it calls Huangyan Island, was "China's inherent territory", over which it had indisputable sovereignty.

Persons: Enrico Dela Cruz, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Hirokazu Matsuno, Huangyan, Wang Wenbin, Enrico dela Cruz, Liz Lee, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty, Alex Richardson Organizations: stoke, coastguard, Philippine coastguard, Philippine, China, South China, Chinese coastguard Locations: Philippines, China, South China, Asia's, Scarborough, Philippine, Manila, Washington, Beijing, British, South, Hague, Tokyo

☆ Philippines condemns Chinese 'floating barrier' in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Chinese Coast Guard boats close to the floating barrier are pictured on September 20, 2023, near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, in this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on September 24, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Sunday accused China's coast guard of installing a "floating barrier" in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying it prevented Filipinos from entering and fishing in the area. The barrier blocking fishermen from the shoal was depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities", he said. China claims 90% of the South China Sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. Three Chinese coast guard rigid-hull inflatable boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the barrier when the Philippine vessel arrived, he said.

Persons: China's, Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Rodrigo Duterte, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Enrico Dela Cruz, William Mallard Organizations: Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, of Fisheries, Resources, Thomson Locations: Scarborough, South China, Rights MANILA, Philippines, Manila, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Beijing, Philippine, Bajo, Masinloc

☆ 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

☆ Philippines Weighs Legal Options Against China Over Coral Reef 'Destruction'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Neil Jerome MoralesMANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines is exploring legal options against China accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, an allegation rejected by Beijing as an attempt to "create political drama". The Philippines is studying the possibility of filing a second legal case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, Guevarra said on Friday. Manila refers to the part of the South China Sea that it claims as the West Philippine Sea. China, which has refused to recognise the 2016 ruling and has chafed at repeated mention of the case by Western powers, denied the latest claims of destruction of coral reefs. Coral in the South China Sea has been used for limestone and construction materials, traditional medicines and even souvenirs and jewellery.

Persons: Neil Jerome Morales MANILA, General Menardo Guevarra, Guevarra, China's, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Mao Ning, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty, Christopher Cushing Organizations: China, Reuters, South China, West, Department of Foreign Affairs, Reed Bank Locations: Philippines, South China, Beijing, Spratly, Hague, West Philippine, Manila, South, China, Vietnam, Malaysia

☆ ASEAN kicks off its first-ever joint military drills in Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Yuddy Cahya Budiman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Indonesian soldiers attend the opening ceremony of a joint-military drills ASEAN Solidarity Exercise at Batu Ampar port on Batam island, Indonesia, September 19, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Teguh Prihatna/ via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBATAM, Indonesia, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Units from the countries of ASEAN began their first ever joint military drills in Indonesia's South Natuna Sea amid rising geopolitical tensions between major powers and protests against China's activities in the South China Sea. The training is more about social activities," Yudo Margono, Indonesia's military chief, told reporters after the opening ceremony on the Indonesian island of Batam on Tuesday. The exercises were originally set to take place in the southernmost waters of the South China Sea, which are also claimed by Beijing. ASEAN has been discussing a Code of Conduct on the South China Sea for more than twenty years with little progress to date.

Persons: Antara, Ferdinand Marcos, Indonesia's Margono, Ananda Teresia, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: ASEAN, REUTERS Acquire, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East, ASEAN Summit, Thomson Locations: Batu Ampar, Indonesia, South Natuna, South China, East Timor, Indonesian, Batam, Beijing, The Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Jakarta, Philippine, Philippines, ASEAN

☆ Nobel laureate Ressa acquitted in Philippine tax case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Mikhail Flores | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Philippines Nobel laureate Maria Ressa faces the media after she and her news site Rappler were acquitted of tax fraud by a trial court in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, September 12, 2023. After the verdict was announced, Ressa told reporters Her acquittal sends a "good signal" to the business community, as her tax charges "have a lot to do with the rule of law". "The acquittal now strengthens our resolve to continue with the justice system, to submit ourselves to the court despite the political harassment, despite the attack on press freedom," Ressa said. Ressa's acquittal was expected after she was cleared of similar tax charges nine months ago. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has been in office for 14 months, has said he would not interfere in the court cases against Rappler.

Persons: Maria Ressa, Rappler, Eloisa Lopez, Rodrigo Duterte, Ressa, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Francis Lim, Mikhail Flores, Martin Petty, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Rappler, World Press, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Pasig City, Metro Manila, MANILA, Russian

CNN —The Philippines has accused Chinese vessels of carrying out “dangerous maneuvers” in a disputed area of the South China Sea in the latest maritime flare-up between the two neighbors. It claimed the Chinese boats “jeopardized” the safety of the crew members aboard the Philippine vessels, but did not detail how. It claimed the incident had involved four Chinese coast guard vessels and four Chinese “maritime militia” boats. Western marine security experts believe Beijing controls a maritime militia hundreds of vessels strong that acts as an unofficial – and officially deniable – force to push its territorial claims both in the South China Sea and beyond. In response to the latest confrontation, the Chinese coast guard issued a statement on Friday, accusing the Philippines of unauthorized entry into the area.

Persons: Thomas, “, Thomas Shoal, Ferdinand Marcos Jr Organizations: CNN, BRP, BRP Sierra Madre, Court Locations: Philippines, South, Philippine, Ayungin, China, Spratly, Beijing, Thomas Shoal . China, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Manila, BRP Sierra, China’s Nansha, Hague, South China

☆ Australia, Philippines upgrade ties to strategic partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Karen Lema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Philippines last month held military exercises near the South China Sea with Australia, its second-largest partner in defence security. "Australia supports the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have claims to certain areas of the South China Sea. Most of Australia's trade also goes through the South China Sea. Albanese confirmed on Thursday he will visit China later this year, the first visit by an Australian leader since 2016.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Earvin, " Albanese, Marcos, Albanese, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Australia's, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, . Australian, Philippine, Forces, China, China Sea, Thomson Locations: Philippine, Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, Australia, South China, South, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan

On Wednesday, China's Li warned against starting a "new Cold War" and warned countries against taking sides in any conflict. Harris, attending the meetings instead of President Joe Biden, reiterated a U.S. commitment to the region. "The United States has an enduring commitment to Southeast Asia and more broadly to the Indo-Pacific," she said. A White House official said earlier the U.S. shared interests with ASEAN in "upholding the rules-based international order, including in the South China Sea, in the face of China's unlawful maritime claims and provocative actions". The Chinese premier and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met briefly on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday and discussed Japan's release into the sea of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, Lee Hsien Loong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun, Pham Minh Chinh, Fumio, Yoon Suk Yeol, Joko, Kamala Harris, Li Qiang, Sergei Lavrov, China's Li, Harris, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Singapore's, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam's, Japan's, ASEAN, Russian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, White, U.S, Japanese, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Fumio Kishida, South, JAKARTA, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, South China, Myanmar, Korea, Russia, United States, Southeast Asia, China, Laos

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