By Bernie V. LopezAs seen on the April 2020 issue of Philippine Tribune Spratleys is peanuts compared to Benham, the next flashpoint with China. There are a few reefs to militarize, only remote defenceless oil rigs to build. China’s ongoing secret explorations imply they will claim Benham by hook or by crook. Duterte’s subservient stance […]
Category: Territorial Dispute
How must Filipinos deal with China?
by Bernie V. LopezAs seen on the September 2019 issue of The Philippine Sentinel We Filipinos are in a dilemma how to deal with China. She can bully us around because we are small. We can fight back but it’s a losing battle. The option of international courts has failed. China simply ignores D’Hague and […]
Vietnam asserts territorial rights
No bribe-taking. No cowardice. No lawyering or lying for China. No excuses for inaction. Just assert rights over EEZ based on international rule of law. China has withdrawn half their maritime fleet from Tu Chinh Reef (Vanguard Bank). The scale of Chinese ship operations seems to have shrunk, with most ships having backed off from […]
Chinese president warns of “trouble” in West Philippine Sea
By Rio MatroAs seen on the August 2019 issue of the Philippine Sentinel He was apparently insisting that the contested area belongs to China, as indicated by their historical claim of “9 dash line.” The ‘warning’ was communicated by Xi directly to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. “I told him [Jinping] I am going there to […]
Duterte asks US to deploy 7th Fleet in West Philippine Sea
As seen on the August 2019 issue of The Philippine Sentinel Chancellorsville is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class JOHN HARRIS) MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte last week issued another challenge to […]
US Coast Guard now have routine sea patrol in West Philippine Sea
As seen on the August 2019 issue of The Philippine Sentinel An increased US Coast Guard presence in the West Philippine Sea will help enforce the sovereignty of partner nations along the disputed waters, US Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander Vice Admiral Linda Fagan said during a press conference last month. US Coast Guard vessels […]
Del Rosario says Duterte can be impeached for not defending territory
As seen on the August 2019 issue of The Philippine Sentinel MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte can be impeached for breaching the Constitution that mandates him to defend the country’s territory, Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said. According to Del Rosario, the Constitution states that the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is […]
President Duterte asks U.S. to declare war on China
“I will ride with the American who goes there first. Then I will tell the Americans, ‘Okay, let’s bomb everything.'”
US calls on China to remove missiles in the Spratlys
For the first time, the United States called on China to remove missiles it has deployed on three fortified outposts it built in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. All such islands are owned by the Philippines as ruled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
World’s naval powers enforce 2016 Hague ruling
In spite of President Rodrigo Duterte’s refusal to implement the arbitral tribunal’s award that invalidated China’s massive claims in the South China Sea, the world’s naval powers are doing their part to enforce it, Supreme Court acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said.
US can take down China’s militarized reefs
The United States “has had lots of experience” in “taking down small islands” in the Pacific region, a senior US military official said as the Pentagon ratcheted up rhetoric over China’s militarization of islands and reefs in the contested South China Sea (also known as West Philippine Sea).
Chinese nuclear bombers on Philippine reefs; The Philippines within range
The Philippines is now within reach of China’s nuclear strike-capable bomber after the Chinese military demonstrated that it could operate from artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea aka South China Sea (SCS).