5 h. ago US backs Philippines against Beijing's South China Sea atoll plan

US backs Philippines against Beijing's South China Sea atoll plan  Nikkei Asia

Politics

6 h. ago Rubio says US stands with Philippines against China's plan in South China Sea atoll

Rubio says US stands with Philippines against China's plan in South China Sea atoll  Reuters

Politics

2 w. ago Beijing accuses Philippines of ‘causing trouble’ in South China Sea

Beijing has accused the Philippines of “causing trouble” in the South China Sea while also suggesting the United States was to blame for fuelling tensions. On Thursday, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Chinese defence ministry, criticised joint drills by the Philippines and Australia. “[Manila] has repeatedly courted influence from outside powers to make waves in this area, playing the role of an ass in a lion’s skin,” Zhang said, using a Chinese idiom to accuse it of “jeopardising regional...

Events

2 w. ago To counter Beijing in South China Sea, Manila and Canberra forge defence pact

Australia and the Philippines’ push to finalise an “enhanced defence cooperation” agreement by next year underscores how regional allies are accelerating security coordination in response to China’s growing assertiveness in contested waters, a shift analysts say could reshape strategic dynamics in the South China Sea. The talks were announced during a Friday press conference in Manila, where Australian Deputy Prime Minister and defence chief Richard Marles and Philippine Defence Secretary...

Politics

3 w. ago South China Sea: Beijing asserts 'control measures' against Philippine ships at shoal

South China Sea: Beijing asserts 'control measures' against Philippine ships at shoal  yahoo.com

Politics

3 w. ago South China Sea: Beijing asserts 'control measures' against Philippine ships at Second Thomas Shoal

South China Sea: Beijing asserts 'control measures' against Philippine ships at Second Thomas Shoal  yahoo.com

Politics

3 w. ago South China Sea: Beijing asserts ‘control measures’ against Philippine ships

China says it has taken “control measures” against two Philippine vessels near the Sierra Madre, a warship grounded on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, as tensions re-emerge in the contested waters of the South China Sea. In a short statement on Friday morning, Gan Yu, a spokesman for the China Coast Guard, accused the two Philippine ships of “deliberately engaging in provocative collisions” when approaching the China Coast Guard after being deployed from the Sierra Madre. He did not specify...

Politics

3 w. ago Amid Beijing tensions, Australia, Philippines team up in South China Sea drills

Off the shores of Palawan, more than 3,600 troops from Australia and the Philippines are taking part in their largest-ever military drills, marking a decisive shift in Canberra’s Indo-Pacific security strategy. Exercise Alon, launched on Friday, is taking place less than 300 nautical miles (555km) from the Philippine-held Thitu Island in the Spratly archipelago – an area at the heart of escalating territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Beijing claims the Spratly island group alongside...

Events

3 w. ago Philippines reports Chinese ship surge after ‘embarrassing’ collision

The Philippine government has reported a marked increased in Chinese maritime activity near Scarborough Shoal, intensifying a stand-off over the disputed South China Sea atoll. Officials in Manila have characterised the build-up as an attempt by Beijing to reassert control after two Chinese ships collided last week during a chase involving a Philippine vessel. On Sunday, the National Maritime Council cited the Philippine Navy’s latest assessment, reporting that as of Thursday, seven Chinese...

Politics

4 w. ago Beijing slams Philippine ships in first comment on South China Sea collision

Beijing on Friday issued its first direct comment on a reported collision in the South China Sea earlier this week, with its Ministry of Defence strongly condemning the Philippine coastguard for “dangerous manoeuvring”. The Philippine vessels “severely jeopardised the safety of Chinese ship personnel”, ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said, referring to the confrontation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday. Several Philippine coastguard vessels and government ships had “illegally...

Politics