Rappler's latest stories on Philippine Sea
China rejects Philippines' call to comply with Hague ruling
China says its 'territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will under no circumstances be affected' by the historic award
4 years later, Philippines says Hague ruling 'non-negotiable'
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr marks the 4th year since the Philippines won its historic case against China by reaffirming Manila's 'adherence to the award and its enforcement without any possibility of compromise or change'
You can now watch Carpio’s signature West Philippine Sea lecture online
Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio makes available to the public his hallmark West Philippine Sea lecture
PH issues rare warning of 'severest response' vs China drills
In a rare video message, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr delivers the threat himself: 'Should the exercises spill over to Philippine territory...it will be met with the severest response, diplomatic and whatever else is appropriate'
Lorenzana: China’s planned air defense zone in West PH Sea breaks rules
'It is my fervent hope that China would not proceed with this planned action for the continued peace and stability in the entire South China Sea,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
2 U.S. carrier strike groups hold drills in PH Sea amid China airspace control fears
The Western Pacific's traditional power showcases its naval might as China plans to establish an air defense identification zone over the South China Sea
vDuterte officials finally aid Gem-Ver fishermen vs Chinese ship owner
12 months and 13 days after Filipino fishermen were left floating at sea, Philippine officials say they will reach out to the owners and crew of fishing boat Gem-Ver to help them claim damages for the sinking of their vessel
Duterte halted VFA termination due to South China Sea tensions
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr says for President Rodrigo Duterte, 'having a rise in military tensions in the South China Sea was not helping anybody'
WATCH: Upgrades on Pag-asa Island continue as Chinese militias prowl its waters
The government inaugurates a new beaching ramp at the Philippines' main outpost in the West Philippine Sea, which is still hounded by the presence of Chinese paramilitary ships
Locsin hits PLDT after China, Vietnam roaming texts on Pag-asa Island
'Just drop that roaming partnership shit with China and Vietnam,' Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr tells PLDT
‘Let’s not hurt China’s feelings’: Why Duterte hasn’t visited Pag-asa Island
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana explains the President’s reason for calling off planned visits to the country’s main outpost in the West Philippine Sea
Experts warn of China-backed candidates in 2022 PH elections
There may be several 'Manchurian candidates' in the presidential race in 2022 as China tries to tighten its grip on the Philippines, say military and diplomatic experts
Welcome to China, Vietnam: Roaming texts greet officials arriving on Pag-asa Island
Pag-asa Island lies in an area of the West Philippine Sea where signals from other claimant countries overlap, and the strongest ones win out
'Total disarray': Carpio slams Duterte gov’t West Philippine Sea strategy
'The Filipino people do not deserve this,' says retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio
[ANALYSIS] West Philippine Sea strategy in total disarray
Certainly, the Filipino people do not deserve this. This only means that we have a long struggle ahead of us.
More plans to upgrade Pag-asa Island as Lorenzana unveils beaching ramp
The ramp allows for the delivery of large equipment and supplies in the West Philippine Sea. A new sheltered harbor will also be inaugurated on Friday, June 12.
A year later, Gem-Ver fishermen still unpaid by Chinese ship owner
'Kung aasa naman kami sa ayuda, kailan pa po?' asks Gem-Ver owner Fe dela Torre
Del Rosario: PH can seize China's assets as payment for West PH Sea damage
Assets that can be seized include China's stakes in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and the 3rd telco, says former foreign affairs chief Albert del Rosario
[OPINION] Happy World Oceans Day, Admiral
'He had so much faith in our potential. Despite the scarcity of maritime security specialists in the country, he believed he could make dedicated ones out of us.'
U.S. urges China to comply with Hague ruling, rejects 'excessive' sea claims
The United States also calls on China cease its 'provocative activities' in the South China Sea
ASEAN states should follow Indonesia, invoke Hague ruling vs China – Carpio
Retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio says raising the landmark ruling is the 'best and most effective' argument under international law to thwart China's encroachment of Southeast Asian states' waters
LOOK: New harbor on Pag-asa Island
The harbor, along with other new structures on the island, will make both civilian and military visits easier – a small but significant step forward in establishing Filipino presence in the West Philippine Sea
Air Force pilot Erickson Gloria is new military commander guarding West PH Sea
The Armed Forces of the Philippines announces changes in key positions as Lieutenant General Erickson Gloria takes over the Western Command based in Palawan
LOOK: Indonesia invokes Hague ruling in UN note
Read the communication where Indonesia backs the 2016 Hague ruling the Philippines won against China
In rare move, Indonesia raises Hague ruling vs China
(UPDATED) The move provides an 'important building block' for Manila, which won the historic award against Beijing, says Asia maritime expert Greg Poling
First time: PH Navy ship docks at Pag-asa Island
A new port and beaching ramp near completion on the country's largest outpost in the West Philippine Sea
West PH Sea turning into a wasteland – analyst
Reclaiming coral reefs, harvesting giant clams, and overfishing – mostly by China – have reduced the contested sea into a 'boneyard,' says Asia maritime expert Gregory Poling
ASEAN should rally behind Hague ruling to counter Chinese intimidation, experts say
Maritime experts say China will have no choice but to adjust if its Southeast Asian neighbors put up a united front in the strategic waterway
Beijing continues South China Sea aggression during pandemic
The strategic waterway is choppy as ever as China presses on its expansive claims, leaving countries to battle a pandemic and defend their territories
Little hope ASEAN can rein in China in sea dispute – analyst
The long-delayed, highly anticipated code of conduct in the coveted waterway will unlikely restrain China’s assertive actions, says US-based Asia maritime expert Greg Poling
[OPINION] China’s silent invasion
'It remains a mystery as to why the Duterte government locks down everybody else except mainland Chinese, who tour or dock on our shores to extract our minerals, and recklessly expose our people to COVID-19'
[OPINION] Foisting false dilemmas on China
Retired Justice Antonio Carpio is hardly an 'amateur,' and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr's views on China and the Spratlys should not go unassailed
PH protests China districts, features in West PH Sea, asserts Hague ruling
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs says it does not recognize names given to maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group as well as China’s declaration the area is under the jurisdiction of Sansha City
Authorize mapping agency to name features in West PH Sea – Carpio
Retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio says once the country's central mapping agency can approve names for features in the Philippine waters, China's attempts rename features there will lose its bearing
'Offensive,' Lorenzana says about China's laser gun aimed at PH Navy ship
'Why does the Chinese Navy need to aim their target acquisition radars at our airplanes or ships?' asks Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Joint patrols can counter Chinese intimidation during pandemic – Carpio
Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio says doing so sends a message to China that countries harassed in the South China Sea remain united
Carpio hits China's 'pure and simple bullying' in West Philippine Sea
Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal also calls a Chinese warship's targetting of a Philippine Navy vessel a 'provocative and reckless escalation' of tensions in the West Philippine Sea
Pompeo urges ASEAN to call out Beijing's moves in South China Sea during pandemic
'The U.S. strongly opposes China’s bullying and we hope other nations will hold them to account too,' says US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Chinese warship targeted Philippine Navy vessel in West PH Sea – AFP
The hostile act is a clear violation of international law and Philippine sovereignty, says the AFP Western Command based in Palawan
'China owes us over P200 billion in West Philippine Sea damage' – Hontiveros
Some P200 billion in West Philippine Sea damage, plus the P50-billion unpaid tax liabilities of POGOs, may be used to foot the Philippines' coronavirus bill, says Senator Risa Hontiveros
PH protests China’s aggressive moves in South China Sea during pandemic
(UPDATED) Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr says 2 diplomatic protests are filed over the pointing of a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship and the declaration the Spratlys was part of Chinese territory
Del Rosario urges Duterte gov't: Protest new Chinese districts in South China Sea
'As we struggle against a pandemic that poses a real threat to our lives, we must not also risk losing our national patrimony,' says former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario
Pandemic not affecting China's strategy in West PH Sea – U.S. analyst
Expanding control over the strategic waterway is so much a part of Beijing's regular policy that the coronavirus pandemic does not appear to have hampered or boosted it, says Asia maritime expert Greg Poling
Satellite image shows Chinese military plane on Kagitingan Reef
The routine presence of Chinese military assets shows Beijing's continuing dominance in the West Philippine Sea
China opens new research outposts in the West Philippine Sea
The new research centers are on Zamora and Kagitingan reefs, which China has turned into military bases
PH hits China, Malaysia claims in West Philippine Sea
The Department of Foreign Affairs quietly files diplomatic notes at the United Nations asserting its claims in the West Philippine Sea
Lorenzana denies Chinese vessels hampered Pag-asa Island construction
'Although there are always Chinese ships in the vicinity of Pag-asa, they have never in any way interfered with the rehabilitation of the island,' says the defense chief
LOOK: Despite swarm of Chinese boats, PH building up Pag-asa Island
Satellite photos from a US-based think tank show progress in runway repairs and beaching ramp construction even as Chinese militia vessels surround the Philippines’ main outpost in the West Philippine Sea
Chinese vessels likely to stay near Pag-asa Island, says Esperon
Since China has already turned Zamora Reef into a military base, it will likely keep deploying boats – believed to be militias – just 'to deny us some space,' says the Philippines' national security adviser
Over 100 Chinese vessels seen near Pag-asa Island in West PH Sea – AFP
Although appearing to be fishing boats, these vessels could be part of a paramilitary force of the Chinese government
