Free Republic

MANILA has condemned China over its failure to withdraw a fleet of "swarming and threatening" boats that have been anchored in the nation's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since early March.More than 200 vessels moored off the Whitsun reef back to shelter from “bad weather”, but most remain anchored in the area more than a month later. In a statement issued on Friday, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said 165 Chinese fishing, coast guard and maritime militia vessels were observed in the area. The statement read: “The presence of these vessels blatantly infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction....

Philippine foreign policy experts and lawmakers have asked President Rodrigo Duterte to end his "policy of subservience" towards China, saying the Filipino leader's silence is leading to hundreds of Chinese vessels lining up in Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. Though military chief and country's top diplomat have asked China to withdraw its vessels from the region, Duterte has maintained his silence over the issue. Watch | Earlier his spokesperson said that the Filipino president is pursuing "diplomatic initiatives" in "private". On Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard said that despite continual demands to Chinese vessels to...

China had sent a fleet of fishing vessels with militia aboard to the Spratly Islands earlier this month, despite the Philippines and Vietnam claiming they have control over the territory. In response, Hanoi sent a warship near the disputed island, while the Philippines sent reconnaissance aircraft to observe China's fishing fleet. Vietnam deployed the Quang Trung, an anti-submarine frigate, as well as its on-board helicopter to carry out military drills in view of China's fishing vessels. A spokesperson from Hanoi's Ministry of Foreign Affairs blasted the incursion, and stated the "activities of Chinese ships ... seriously violate Vietnam's sovereignty". The...

China and the United States have sailed aircraft carriers into contentious waters in the East and South China seas, the latest maritime contest between the strategic rivals at a time of heightened tensions in the region. Analysts say their naval presence in the Indo-Pacific at the same time highlights the risk of military conflict between the powers, as Beijing asserts its maritime claims in the region more aggressively and Washington focuses its defence strategy on countering China. It comes amid a deepening dispute between Beijing and Manila over the presence of Chinese vessels - which the Philippines says are a...

Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine defence chief, demanded China recall more than 200 fishing vessels, from a South China Sea reef it claims. Mr Lorenzana believes they are armed with militia. China has previously been accused of violating international law in sending its vessels to waters claimed by other Asia-Pacific countries. The Philippines' coast guard reported around 220 armed fishing vessels were moored at Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls Julian Felipe Reef, on March 7. Mr Lorenzana issued a statement condemning the presence of the boats in the Philippines-claimed portion of the South China Sea. He described the their presence as a...