Rappler's latest stories on Spratly islands
Beijing names islands in disputed South China Sea
The notice lists the Chinese names and coordinates of 80 islands, reefs, seamounts, shoals and ridges, 55 of them submerged in water
Carpio corrects China ship owner's apology: Recto Bank not part of Spratlys
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio says Recto Bank is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, 'beyond the territorial sea of any island in the Spratlys'
DND to investigate China missile test in West Philippine Sea
The Philippine government will look into a US report that China tested ballistic missiles near the Spratlys, a move the Pentagon called 'disturbing'
[ANALYSIS] China’s new Great Wall
China has not stopped building imaginary walls to protect its maritime Silk Road, and the Philippines will soon be a part of the defense line
TIMELINE: Skirmishes, standoffs, harassment in West Philippine Sea
These incidents in the Philippines-China row typically don't just target state authorities but also affect local fisherfolks
Spratlys part of China territory? Malacañang reminds Beijing of Hague ruling
'China should avoid performing acts that will place at risk the Filipino fishermen fishing in the disputed areas,' says Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo
China builds weather stations in West Philippine Sea
China reportedly installs these weather stations on Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, and Mischief Reef in the West Philippine Sea
Chinese destroyer sails extremely close to U.S. warship
A Chinese Luyang destroyer has approached the USS Decatur in 'an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver in the vicinity of Gaven Reef in the South China Sea,' says US Pacific Fleet spokesman Commander Nate Christensen
[OPINION] Flashpoint Ayungin
The latest harassment of Philippine troops by China in Ayungin is part of a pattern. In 2013, the Armed Forces had already reported that China eyed to occupy the shoal which lies within the country's EEZ.
Duterte 'seriously concerned' about Navy soldiers harassed by China chopper
While Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has refrained from speaking publicly about the Ayungin Shoal incident, he conveyed concern about it in a confidential meeting
China chopper harasses PH rubber boat in Ayungin Shoal – lawmaker
Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano does not categorically call it a form of 'harassment' in the West Philippine Sea, as he prefers to label it an 'incident'
China deploys new weapons systems to Paracel Islands
Nearby, the Philippines begins 'long-delayed repairs' to its runway on the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea, says the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
More than 1,600 Chinese structures in South China Sea
From basketball courts to buildings with radar equipment, nearly 800 of these Chinese structures can be found in the West Philippine Sea
Trillanes seeks Senate probe into China missiles in Spratlys
(UPDATED) 'This alleged militarization of the West Philippine Sea is very alarming and it poses a big threat to the country's national defense and security,' says Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in a resolution
[OPINION | NEWSPOINT] Missing the forest for the trees
Indeed, China is emerging as the Duterte regime’s ultimate patron – as investor, infrastructure builder, labor and material supplier, and money lender – in a modern-day sort of colonial arrangement
China protests after U.S. warship sails near island
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang says the actions of the USS John S McCain have violated Chinese and international law seriously impairing the country s sovereignty and security
Beijing's South China Sea outposts nearly set for missile deployment – report
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative says Beijing s Fiery Cross Reef base in the Spratly Islands now has 12 hardened shelters 4 more than seen in February with retractable roofs that can house missile launchers
China rejects 'irresponsible' U.S. remarks on South China Sea
The Chinese foreign ministry accuses certain countries outside the region of making erroneous remarks driven by ulterior motives
China should pay and go
As China and the Philippines engage in bilateral talks Manila should revisit the South China Sea arbitral award and not sleep on its rights
China condemns U.S. after warship sails near South China Sea reef
3rd UPDATE China claims the USS Dewey trespassed in its territorial waters
IN PHOTOS: The China build-up
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to occupy and build structures in Philippine territory in the South China Sea China has been building its own way before this
China muted after Tillerson vows islands blockade
UPDATED We re going to have to send China a clear signal that first the island building stops and second your access to those islands is also not going to be allowed Rex Tillerson says
PH defense chief plans to visit troops in West PH Sea
UPDATED Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says he will await the recommendation of the military on when he could visit the troops there
On China 'militarizing' Spratlys: 'Nothing we can do'
UPDATED We cannot stop China at this point in time we will continue to pursue peaceful means at which all of these militarization can be prevented Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr says
China says weapons in South China Sea not militarization
Foreign ministry spokesman: To conduct construction on China s own territory and deploy necessary national defense facilities is quite normal
China boosts defenses on South China Sea islets – US experts
Ongoing satellite imagery has shown the installation of military equipment and longer runways on artificial islands in the disputed sea says US based think tank
Satellite images appear to show Vietnam dredging on disputed reef
UPDATED An image of the small Ladd Reef in the Spratly Islands where Vietnam has a lighthouse shows several vessels in a carved out embankment on the reef s edge
Duterte and Obama, ASEAN on China, Apple iPhone 7 | 12PM wRap
Watch the 12PM wRap with Maria Ressa
Obama warns China over South China Sea ruling
5th UPDATE Obama: The landmark arbitration ruling in July which is binding helped clarify maritime rights in the region
ASEAN Summit: China under pressure over sea dispute
Any artificial island at Scarborough Shoal could be a game changer in China s quest to control the South China Sea and raises the risk of armed confrontation with the United States security analysts say
Angry China warns against 'cradle of war' in sea
3rd UPDATE China reacts furiously to the decision of a UN backed arbitral tribunal in The Hague on the South China Sea dispute
China to launch cruises to disputed Spratly islands
A new proposal seeks to develop routes to the Spratlys much further south said the government published China Daily newspaper
ASEAN ministers express 'serious concerns' over South China Sea
In a rare diplomatic slap in the face for Beijing – issued on its own territory – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN offers a sharp rebuke over China s actions in the waterway
Beijing refuses to move on sea disputes as US meet ends
China s top diplomat Yang Jiechi insists that the country s stance is in line with international law and will not change
China eyeing air defense zone over South China Sea – report
The trigger for an announcement would be if the United States continues making provocative moves that would challenge China in the region the South China Morning Post reports
China using 'coercive tactics' in maritime claims – Pentagon
In an annual report to Congress the Defense Department outlines China s rapid military growth and describes how it is assertively defending sovereignty claims across the contested East China Sea and South China Sea
US warship sails by South China Sea reef, irking Beijing
UPDATED It is Washington s third freedom of navigation operation in the disputed waters launched in recent months after China built several artificial islands as it asserts claims to nearly all the sea
Top Chinese singer tours disputed South China Sea islands
UPDATED Beijing will also carry out annual naval combat drills in the area according to state media
Taiwan gives tour of disputed island, says PH providing 'wrong' info
Filipino lawyers have provided wrong information misleading the world so we feel we have to come out to rebuff their claims says Taiwan s president
Beijing builds radar in South China Sea – think tank
UPDATED New radar facilities being developed in the Spratlys could significantly change the operational landscape
Taiwan leader defends disputed island visit after US criticism
UPDATED His trip comes as several other claimants have been beefing up their military presence in the disputed region
Vietnam warns China over oil rig deployment
UPDATED The move comes a day before a crucial political transition begins in Hanoi as the communist leadership meets for its 5 yearly congress
Vietnam slams 'erroneous statements' on China island flights
Hanoi and Beijing s diplomatic row over the South China Sea worsens further
Philippines to protest China's test-flight on Spratlys
Manila will protest Beijing s test flight of a civilian aircraft on an airstrip it built in the artificial island of Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea
US B-52 bombers fly near islands claimed by China
It is just the latest challenge from Washington to Beijing over the fate of the Spratly Islands after the guided missile destroyer the USS Lassen last month sailed past a series of islets in Subi Reef in the Spratly chain
Petilla talks power, ransom demand, US vs China | 6PM wRap
Watch the 6PM edition of Rappler s newscast The wRap
China vows to continue building on disputed islands, reefs
Beijing is bolstering its claim to almost all the South China Sea by rapidly building large artificial structures resembling islands straining ties with neighbors
Aquino and the West Philippine Sea: Realpolitk vs. Moralpolitk?
The Aquino administration’s injection of morality into foreign policy discourse has managed to mobilize the Southeast Asian country against a tough neighbor
Beijing says South China Sea land reclamation completed
A diplomatic source says lighthouses medical and emergency rescue facilities and meteorological and marine installations will be constructed next
China's 2nd suspected airstrip 'too close' to PH
It s alarming in the sense that we have a pending case We are not used to seeing an unfriendly force very near us Kalayaan town mayor Eugenio Bito onon tells Rappler
