Another encounter between Chinese and Philippine vessels occurred in the South China Sea on Wednesday, with Chinese authorities saying they warned boats making an "unapproved" entry near Second Thomas Shoal, a reef claimed by both Manila and Beijing. The Philippine...
US, Philippines Begin Annual Naval Drills Amid Tensions With China
The US and the Philippines on Monday kicked off two weeks of annual naval exercises amid heightened tensions with China in the South China Sea. This year marks the seventh and largest-ever iteration of the "Sama Sama" drills, which comes as the US and the Philippines...
Philippines Wants to Retake Shoal from China in South China Sea
The Philippines is taking steps to retake Scarborough Shoal, a disputed chain of rocks and reefs in the South China Sea that has been effectively controlled by China since 2012. "Since the new administration took office, we have already strategized how we can take...
US, Philippines Conduct Joint Naval Patrol in the South China Sea
The US and Philippine navies conducted a joint patrol in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, a step that increases the chance of a dangerous encounter between US and Chinese vessels. The US Navy's Japan-based Seventh Fleet said the guided missile-destroyer USS...
US Military in Talks to Build Port in Northern Philippines Facing Taiwan
The US military is in talks to build a Taiwan-facing port in the northernmost Philippine islands, Reuters reported on Thursday. The proposed project would be in the Batanes islands, less than 125 miles from Taiwan. US involvement in the project would raise tensions...
Philippines, Australia Plan to Conduct Joint Patrols in South China Sea
The Philippines and Australia plan to conduct joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea, disputed waters that are increasingly becoming a potential flashpoint for a conflict between the US and China. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the Armed Forces of the...
Philippines, Australia Practice Retaking Island in South China Sea
Australian and Philippine troops backed by a group of US Marines simulated retaking an island in the South China Sea amid heightened tensions in the region between Manila and Beijing. According to AFP, the drills took place at a naval base about 150 miles east of...
US Navy Commander Says China Must Be ‘Challenged’ in the South China Sea
The commander of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet said Sunday that the US must "challenge" China's "aggressive behavior" in the South China Sea, an area that has become a potential flashpoint for a conflict between Washington and Beijing. The comments from Vice Adm. Karl...
China Says It Allowed Philippines to Resupply Grounded Ship on Disputed Reef
The Chinese Coast Guard said that on Tuesday, it allowed Philippine vessels to resupply a grounded Philippine warship on Second Thomas Shoal, a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. Liu Dejun, a spokesman for the Chinese Coast Guard, said a...
Australia’s Biggest Warship Drills With the Philippines in the South China Sea
On Monday, Australia's biggest warship participated in drills with the Philippines and the US in the disputed South China Sea as part of Canberra and Manila's first-ever bilateral amphibious exercises. The drills, dubbed Exercise Alon, kicked off on August 14 and will...