Federico Josol remembers the first time he saw a Chinese helicopter buzz menacingly above his fishing boat. It was 2013 and he was fishing at Panatag – or Scarborough Shoal – a triangular-shaped coral reef about 120 nautical miles from… Read More ›
Philippines
Cadence Column: Asia, May 24, 2021
A democratic Pacific alliance is on the rise. Many nations in the Far East may host US troops, but a bond is forming between them that runs deeper than any US influence. At the center: Taiwan; across the battlefield: China,… Read More ›
Philippines tells fishermen to ignore Beijing’s ban on fishing in South China Sea
The Philippines has rejected an annual summer fishing ban imposed by China in the disputed South China Sea and encouraged its boats to keep fishing in the country’s territorial waters. The fishing moratorium imposed by China since 1999 runs from… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, April 26, 2021
The world is starting to realize that China is just going to ignore everybody. Talking won’t work. Action won’t work unless China loses, then China still won’t listen. This isn’t new. China has never listened. The only reason China respected… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, April 12, 2021
China’s getting more flack from more sides—Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines. Vietnamese are furious with H&M for depicting maps with Vietnam-claimed islands as part of China, even though H&M did that because the Chinese told them to. The noose of perceived… Read More ›
Philippines says 220 Chinese maritime militia boats have encroached in South China Sea
The Philippines urged China on Sunday to recall more than 200 Chinese boats it said had been spotted at a reef in the South China Sea, saying the presence of the vessels violated its maritime rights as it claims ownership… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, March 22, 2021
Huawei plans to charge royalties for some of its 5G tech, but they may lose respect when they refuse rent payment for anchoring 200 military-manned vessels the Philippines’ backyard pool. International royalties are based on international agreement, which China denies…. Read More ›
China-US tension: Biden administration pledges to back Japan and Philippines in maritime disputes
The United States has pledged to support its allies involved in maritime disputes over both the South and East China seas – where China is locking horns with its neighbours – as the newly installed US administration is renewing alliances… Read More ›
Philippines says may benefit from any pivot to Asia by Biden administration
The Philippines may benefit if there is a renewed emphasis on Asia by the new administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, which could help act as a counterbalance to China in the region, the country’s defence minister said on Friday…. Read More ›
Philippines protests new China law as `verbal threat of war’
The Philippines has protested a new Chinese law that authorizes its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels and destroy other countries’ structures on islands it claims, Manila’s top diplomat said Wednesday. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a… Read More ›
Philippine province cancels award for China Communications’ $10 billion airport project
A Philippine province has cancelled its award of a $10 billion airport deal south of the capital, among the biggest projects involving a Chinese firm under President Rodrigo Duterte who has pursued warmer ties with Beijing since taking office in… Read More ›
China looks to boost ties with Philippines ahead of Biden inauguration
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be looking to reinforce Beijing’s ties with Manila during a two-day visit to the Philippines this week, observers say.His trip comes just a week ahead of the inauguration of US president-elect Joe Biden, who… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, October 19, 2020
The new global trend is hit pieces against China; even a Taiwanese rapper is on the bandwagon. China’s solution to lack of technology is to take over countries that have enough freedom to create technology, then deprive those countries of… Read More ›
The world is finally uniting against China’s bully tactics
Twenty Indian soldiers are murdered in a surprise cross-border attack by the People’s Liberation Army. A Philippine fishing boat is sunk in its own territorial waters by increasingly predatory Chinese ships. Peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong are beaten bloody… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, February 17, 2020
The 2019-nCoV Wuhan virus isn’t doing any good for Xi Jinping’s public trust. Dissidents inside China are silenced and their social media accounts scrubbed. Joshua Wong issues a call to arms from Hong Kong. Taiwan closes its border and plans… Read More ›
Rodrigo Duterte is a gift to The Philippines by playing China against USA
Rodrigo Duterte is at the halfway point of his presidency of the Philippines and since coming to power in 2016, he has made huge waves domestically and internationally for his tough talk and policies. The one policy that has defined… Read More ›
India, The Philippines and Indonesia will overtake China as top drivers of global economy
India and the Philippines will be the top drivers of global economic growth over the next decade, beating China. That’s according to an Oxford Economics study published earlier this year, which ranks the top ten emerging market economies to dominate… Read More ›
The ultimate betrayal by Rodrigo Duterte to the Republic of the Philippines and the international community
It is a basic and elementary knowledge that in international law, “sovereignty means that a government possesses full control over affairs within a territorial or geographical area or limit.” While in our local jurisdiction, the fundamental law in Article I… Read More ›
The ultimate betrayal of Rodrigo Duterte to the Filipino people and his utter love for China and Xi Jinping
I refer to “Duterte Stands by China, Doubts Own Fishermen in Sea Collision” by Andreo Calonzo published by Bloomberg on June 18th with regard to the indescribable betrayal of the hoodlum from Davao to the Filipino people and his unquestionable… Read More ›
Prostitution, bias and treachery of a pseudo-“historian” about China’s early contact with Philippines
I refer to Mr. Ocampo’s article “Salazar’s 1590 report on the Manila Chinese”, PDI, which appeared on Feb 6th. I concur in a sense to the positive contribution of the early Chinese to our people and history. Indeed, contact between… Read More ›
China again threatening to invade Philippines island of Pagasa
It appears that China, emboldened by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s kowtowing to China, is once again planning to invade the Philippines island of Pagasa. China’s plans to invade Pagasa, known as Zhongye by the Chinese, were first revealed in a… Read More ›
Control over South China Sea: its historical burden and future
Control over the sea waters relies heavily on relative technological superiority because, unlike the control over a piece of land, you cannot simply station a large quantity of soldiers on the water surface permanently, nor settling civilians on it. Therefore,… Read More ›
Duterte in between China and Quad
“Australia, the United States, India and Japan are talking about establishing a joint regional infrastructure scheme as an alternative to China’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative in an attempt to counter Beijing’s spreading influence …” reported by Reuters on Feb… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, November 13, 2017
At the APEC summit in Vietnam, Putin told Trump that Russia had not interfered in the 2016 election. Putin was sincere. At the same time, Taiwan is beefing-up cybersecurity, ostensibly to counter “daily” and “Russian style” attacks originating in China…. Read More ›
China marks South China Sea claims with coast guard, marine militias
China’s growing use of non-conventional means to assert control over the South China Sea is raising concerns among neighboring countries and regional military planners. Analysts say that in “front line” flash points in the vast waterway, Beijing is deploying coast… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia May 29, 2017
The situation in the Western Pacific grows more precarious. Muslims have taken over some territory in the Philippines. Martial law has been declared in those areas. The Philippines’ president, Duterte, has offered to resign if he can’t keep the peace. For… Read More ›
America’s South China Sea operation a sign of support to Philippines
The move of the US Navy to sail near Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands shows Washington’s support for the Philippines‘ claims over the South China Sea. US officials earlier confirmed that guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey sailed within six nautical… Read More ›
Drafting peace in the Pacific
We no longer live in a world without alliances. Yes, individual nations retain sovereignty within their borders. However, the days are over when a single nation will boss and police an entire region alone. One nation can no longer take… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, March 6, 2017
China took the bait once again. Whether independence for Hong Kong and Taiwan would be better or worse, that independence becomes more likely every time the topic even comes up, no matter how much dissent the idea receives. Within China’s… Read More ›
Chinese paper calls Trump ‘as ignorant as a child’ after Taiwan comment
President-elect Trump is talking about Taiwan again — and China is not pleased. In an interview broadcast Sunday on Fox News, Trump said the United States was not bound by the “One China” policy, the decades-old diplomatic understanding that underpins… Read More ›
China flies nuclear-capable bomber in South China Sea after Trump Taiwan call
China flew a long-range nuclear-capable bomber outside China for the first time since President-elect Donald Trump spoke with the president of Taiwan, two US officials told Fox News. The dramatic show of force was meant to send a message to… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, October 31, 2016
Chinese President Xi has been hailed with a personality cult akin to support for Chairman Mao, at least in some circles. As if the Xi personality cult wasn’t enough, China also saw a bloodless victory in the Philippines. In an… Read More ›
The Philippines and China will have a deal rather than a fight – 2016 update
In my 2013 Nov 27 China Daily Mail article, I wrote that: “… Aquino’s personal style of high profile leadership will be ended by the completion of his tenure. Both ordinary Filipinos and the powerful oligarchic groups such as Cojuangco,… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, October 24, 2016
Pro-China legislators blocked the swearing-in of pro-Independence lawmakers in Hong Kong. Pro-Independence activists from Hong Kong told Taiwanese not to give up on independence. China said that independence for either Taiwan or Hong Kong is a “futile” plot. Then, Hong… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, October 10, 2016
The tied rises and falls, but tensions only rise in the Pacific, week after week. This week, China and its old buddy, Russia, were seen in public together. And, it seems China has a new friend in the Philippines’ defense… Read More ›
Philippines, US halt plans on joint South China Sea patrols
Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Friday that he told the U.S. military that plans for joint patrols and naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea have been put on hold, the first concrete break in defence cooperation after… Read More ›
Philippines wants to ‘open alliances’ with Russia and China
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday he would visit Russia and China this year to chart an independent foreign policy and “open alliances” with two powers with historic rivalries with the United States. Duterte said the Philippines was at… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, September 26, 2016
The iPhone 7 is why Taiwan’s market jumped last week. The US presidential debate is why the Asian market dipped Monday. At least, that’s what the “experts” say. The US and Philippine militaries will practice, especially since the Philippine president… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, September 12, 2016
North Korea launched “another” nuke test. The announcement made sure that the North Koreans knew that it didn’t harm the environment. The Philippines released photos proving that China was doing what it had already been found guilty of and yet… Read More ›
Japan to provide patrol ships to Vietnam amid maritime row with China
The Japanese government said on Wednesday it is ready to provide Vietnam with new patrol ships, in its latest step to boost the maritime law-enforcement capabilities of countries locked in territorial rows with China. On Tuesday, Japan agreed to provide… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, August 15, 2016
While Taiwan accepts yet another slow-delivery weapons deal, one of the slowest to date, China continues to build on the ocean to face off against the United States. It’s pure war strategy, East to West. The argument goes that China… Read More ›
Vietnam is moving rocket launchers into the disputed South China Sea
Vietnam has discreetly fortified several of its islands in the disputed South China Sea with new mobile rocket launchers capable of striking China’s runways and military installations across the vital trade route, according to Western officials. Diplomats and military officers… Read More ›
China criticises US, Japan, Australia for ‘fanning’ tensions in South China Sea
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticised the United States, Japan and Australia for a joint statement on the South China Sea that he said was only “fanning the flames” of regional tensions just as countries have agreed to cool them… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, July 25, 2016
The words “China” and “tariffs” are appearing in headlines together again. Cambodia is seen as a Chinese puppet in ASEAN. And, one dissenting opinion from Forbes claims that tariffs are only about consumers, not about jobs and whole economies. Contrary… Read More ›
Philippines rules out talks with China over international tribunal ruling
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte assured US lawmakers Wednesday that he has no plans to negotiate with China over their territorial dispute in the South China Sea even as former President Fidel Ramos said he will meet with the President over… Read More ›
Cadence Column: Asia, July 18, 2016
The Hague ruling has stirred the waters and the ripples are bouncing. According to the tribunal, China has no basis for its claims concerning the nine-dash line. However, this also affects sovereign waters Taiwan has enjoyed, and it has implications… Read More ›
China must be stopped from blocking supply in the South China Sea
Australia and other countries are currently pushing for freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea, in response to China’s aggression and illegal claims in the region. For the immediate future, these countries should have a permanent presence in… Read More ›
China may establish air defence zone over South China Sea after losing court ruling
China said Wednesday it has the right to set up an air defence zone in the hotly disputed South China Sea, a day after a landmark court ruling against Beijing’s claims in the contested waters. Liu Zhenmin, China’s vice foreign… Read More ›
International tribunal rejects China’s claims in South China Sea
An international tribunal in The Hague, The Permanent Court of Arbitration, has delivered a sweeping rebuke on Tuesday of China’s behaviour in the South China Sea, from the construction of artificial islands to interference with fishing, and ruled that its… Read More ›
The Hague ruling against China is a moral victory for international law, but the struggle continues…
I am writing on the eve of the expected judgement to be handed by the Hague Court which various international experts, pundits and scholars had already considered to be historic. This case concerns the bold and unprecedented act of the… Read More ›
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