(Reuters) – Philippines police seized a Chinese fishing boat in the disputed South China Sea on Wednesday, an official told Reuters, the latest flare-up of tensions in the oil and gas-rich waters that are claimed wholly or in part by six Asian nations. Chief Superintendent Niel Vargas of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group said a maritime police patrol apprehended a Chinese fishing boat around 7 a.m. on Tuesday off Half Moon Shoal. The boat has 11 crew and police found […]
Tag: South China Sea
Filipino activists protest China’s blockade attempt in the South China Sea
(Reuters) — Dozens of Filipino activists rallied at a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy in Manila’s business district on Wednesday (April 2) to protest China’s recent blockade attempt of a vessel in the South China Sea. Two Chinese coastguards tried to block a Philippine civilian vessel delivering food, water and fresh troops to Second Thomas Shoal on Saturday (March 29), The shoal is known in China as Ren’ai reef and in the Philippines as Ayungin. Protesters in Manila condemned the blockade attempt, citing the Philippines’ claim […]
PHL files ‘memorial’ vs China before int’l court; claim includes Ayungin Shoal
By Michaela del Callar MANILA, March 30 (PNA) — The Philippines’ arbitration case against China took another leap forward after Manila submitted a crucial document containing volumes of evidence and maps seeking to nullify Beijing’s sweeping claim over the resource-rich South China Sea. Manila said the document, called the “memorial,” was transmitted electronically to the The Hague-based tribunal, where a five-man panel will review and hear the Philippine complaint, which was first initiated in January […]
CORRECTED-UPDATE 4-Malaysia Airlines plane missing in South China Sea with 239 people aboard – report
(Corrects number of Indonesians, Indians onboard after airline issued new breakdown of nationalities) * Malaysia Airlines flight loses contact between 1-2 hours after takeoff * Flight failed to check in as scheduled in Vietnamese airspace * Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew * Malaysia, Vietnam and China helping in search efforts By Stuart Grudgings and Anuradha Raghu KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Reuters) – A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 227 passengers and […]
China Blames Philippines For Latest South China Sea Incident
(Reuters) — China said on Wednesday (February 26) that the Philippines was to blame for an incident in disputed waters in the South China Sea in which Manila said Chinese ships used a water cannon on Filipino fishermen. The Philippines on Tuesday (February 25) lodged a protest with China over the matter, saying the Chinese were trying to prevent the fishermen from fishing in Philippine waters around Scarborough Shoal. China’s Foreign Ministry, which has already rejected the complaint, said its boats had every right to respond to […]
China decries U.S. comments on South China Sea as ‘not constructive’
BEIJING Sat Feb 8, 2014 10:05pm EST (Reuters) – China has accused the United States of undermining peace and development in the Asia-Pacific after a senior U.S. official said concern was mounting over China’s claims in the South China Sea. “These actions are not constructive”, Hong Lei, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a statement issued late on Saturday. “We urge the U.S. to hold a rational and fair attitude, so as to have […]
Congress backs Aquino’s call for world leaders to oppose China encroachment
MANILA, Feb. 7 (PNA) — Leaders of the House of Representatives expressed their full support to the call made by President Benigno S. Aquino III to various leaders around the world to join the Philippines in opposing China’s encroachment of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “Definitely we are in full support of President Aquino in respect to our claims on the West Philippine Sea. We will defend our rights of course,” said Speaker […]
China: Japan’s ‘hype’ on air defence zone spreads tension
(Reuters) – China does not feel threatened by countries in Southeast Asia and is optimistic about the situation in the disputed South China Sea, the Foreign Ministry said, warningJapan not to “spread rumors” it plans a new air defense identification zone. China alarmed Japan, South Korea and the United States last year when it announced an air defense identification zone for the East China Sea, covering a group of uninhabited islands at the center of a bitter ownership spat between China and […]
