Rappler's latest stories on south china 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
[OPINION] The Air Defense Identification Zone – China’s next South China Sea aggression?
'[China's] seizing control of the South China Sea is but the maritime step in a much larger strategic goal: dominating Asia by 2050'
U.S. aircraft carriers conduct drills in South China Sea
The USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan conduct dual carrier operations in the waterway to 'support a free and open Indo-Pacific'
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'
Pentagon: China military exercises will 'further destabilize' South China Sea
Washington rejects Beijing's territorial claim to much of the South China Sea, including the Paracels
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
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'
[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: 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
Chinese aggression, pandemic likely to delay sea code – analysts
Still, experts agree that pursuing the code of conduct is a worthwhile investment to show that Southeast Asian nations and China can cooperate to solve disputes
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'
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
U.S. Navy ship sails through Chinese-claimed waters in South China Sea
'Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose an unprecedented threat to the freedom of the seas,' the Navy says
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
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
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
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
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
PH raises 'trust' issues with China after it sank Vietnam ship in South China Sea
The Philippines expresses solidarity with Vietnam, nearly a year after Vietnamese fishermen rescued Filipinos sunk and abandoned by a Chinese ship in Recto Bank
U.S. warns China not to 'exploit' coronavirus for sea disputes
China has ramped up self-described research stations and landed special military aircraft in the dispute-rife sea, according to the State Department
Indonesia detains 'illegal' Vietnamese fishing boats
Maritime officials say they intercepted 5 fishing boats and apprehended its 68 crew near Indonesia's Natuna islands, which border the South China Sea, most of which is claimed by Beijing
Duterte: 'Let time heal' West Philippine Sea dispute with China
'We might as well just be friendly, improve our commerce, and let time heal,' says President Rodrigo Duterte as he again shuns the option of asserting the Philippines' rights
China admits fishing in Indonesian-claimed waters
Indonesia has protested to China over the incident
What help? Chinese company, gov't officials botch aid to Gem-Ver fishermen
Rappler traces the origin of F/B Pengyou from Batangas to Occidental Mindoro. The tattered boat is the latest in the government's bungled assistance efforts for the fishermen of Gem-Ver.
Indonesia deploys fighter jets, warships to disputed waters in China spat
The moves come after Indonesia lodges a 'strong protest' over a Chinese coast guard vessel escorting Chinese fishing boats around the islands in mid-December
No mention of West Philippine Sea in new military chief’s speech
Lieutenant General Felimon Santos Jr praises President Duterte’s ‘localized peace talks’ with communist guerrilla fronts, and vows to focus military efforts on stamping out the rebellion
The second sinking of Gem-Ver
Part 1: Rappler returns to San Jose 5 months later, in November, as the crewmen finish their repairs and prepare to sail back to Recto Bank. While Gem-Ver has been patched up, its men have drifted apart.
Neighbors worried about China's military, economic might – poll
A survey by Washington-based Pew Research Center finds that 79% of people across the Asia-Pacific region say they are alarmed by China's growing military strength
China condemns U.S. navy sail-by in disputed South China Sea
The US Navy says the USS Gabrielle Giffords littoral combat ship sailed near Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, and the USS Wayne E. Meyer guided-missile destroyer passed the Paracel Islands
Rappler Talk: Law of the Sea expert James Kraska on China and the 'gray zone'
Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug sits down with Law of the Sea expert James Kraska to discuss the concept of gray zones, the potentials for risk and conflict, and how a country like the Philippines should respond
Least trusted? Malacañang says China can be PH 'role model'
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also believes Filipinos will 'eventually' appreciate China – despite its aggressive tactics in the West Philippine Sea
[ANALYSIS] Will Vietnam take China to court?
Hanoi looks closely at Manila’s arbitration case
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: The new fishermen of Gem-Ver
Ten new crew members of fishing boat Gem-Ver prepare to sail again to Recto Bank
In Manila, U.S. defense chief says ‘assert sovereign rights’ in West PH Sea
Although the US maintains it does not take sides in the sovereignty dispute between the Philippines and China, its defense chief wants smaller countries to pressure the rising power into respecting their rights
Duterte, Abe discuss comfort women, South China Sea in meeting
The two leaders also take up the Japan-funded Metro Manila Subway and plans to develop the Subic Bay area
U.S. accuses Beijing of 'intimidation' in South China Sea
'Beijing has used intimidation to try and stop ASEAN nations from exploiting their offshore resources,' says US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien
Rappler’s Marites Vitug, Joselito de los Reyes win 38th National Book Awards
Marites Dañguilan Vitug’s ‘Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case against China’ is Best Book in Journalism and Joselito D. de los Reyes’s ‘Finding Teo: Tula/Talambuhay’ is Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in Filipino
Beijing says 'ready to work' with ASEAN on South China Sea rules
(UPDATED) China's premier Li Keqiang says the first reading of the code of conduct – a chance for all members to comment on the draft terms – is 'a very important landmark'
Duterte in ASEAN: Let's exercise 'self-restraint' in South China Sea
President Rodrigo Duterte also calls on ASEAN countries not to choose sides between China and the United States, all while pursuing his 'independent foreign policy' which involves the Philippines' pivot to China
Carpio: No need for China recognition of PH ownership in joint exploration
Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio says the fact oil and gas exploration will be done through a service contract means China will be recognizing Philippine sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea
PH, China eye marine research, protection in South China Sea
The Philippines and China are also considering fisheries cooperation, maritime search and rescue, and maritime safety initiatives
