Author: Gerald Santos

United States and Philippines National Security Advisors Jake Sullivan and Hermogenes Esperon talked through phone on March 31 with Chinese Maritime Militia vessels in Juan Felipe (Whitsun) Reef as among the topic discussed. Sullivan reaffirmed to Esperon that the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty applies in the South China Sea (SCS). “The National Security Advisors […]

The Philippine Navy is eyeing to operate 6 anti-air frigates, 12 anti-submarine corvettes, and 3 submarines. The said naval assets are part of Navy’s desired force-mix, under the Naval Operating Concept submitted to higher headquarters in 2020, which also includes offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), landing docks (LDs), fast attack interdiction craft-missiles (FAIC-M), multi-purpose attack crafts […]

“I assure our people that we are addressing the situation. We stand by our position calling for the immediate withdrawal of Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef, which was communicated to the Chinese Ambassador,” Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement. “We are ready to defend our national sovereignty […]

“Sa tingin ko, wala po talagang kontrobersiya dahil hindi naman nila pinaglalaban na talagang mananatili sila roon,” Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque said on March 25. The presidential spokesperson made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian met. “Nagkausap po sila, pero hindi po iyan lang ang pinag-usapan nila. Bago pa […]

President Rodrigo Duterte will be talking with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines about the presence of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef in West Philippine Sea, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque said during March 23 press briefing. “Uulitin ko lang po ang sinabi kahapon ni Presidente, kakausapin niya ang Chinese Ambassador tungkol sa isyung ito. […]

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing welcomed 2 S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters at the Brigadier General Benito N Ebuen Air Base (BGBNEAB) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cubu on March 15. “Just like an excited family who is patiently waiting for the arrival of a newborn baby, the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing […]

“The South China Sea issues are directly related to peace & stability and a concern for all. Japan strongly opposes any action that heightens tensions,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said in a Twitter post March 23. “We support the enforcement of #RuleOfLaw in the sea & work with the int’l community to […]

The United States Embassy in Manila has said that the United States shares the concern of Philippines regarding Chinese vessels spotted in Julian Felipe Reef. “We have seen reports of the presence of more than 200 PRC fishing vessels amassing near Whitsun (Julian Felipe) Reef,” the US embassy said. “We note Secretary of National Defense […]

Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana, together with Consul General Dinno Oblena and First Secretary Winston Almeda, witnessed the loading of second batch of vaccines donated by the Chinese government. The said batch is 400,000 doses of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine. Ambassador Sta. Romana said the vaccines “will be brought to the airport for pick-up by […]