South China Sea Archives

South China Sea looms large even if not in APEC 2015 agenda

Nov 09, 2015 11:06 PM

By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS SOUTH China Sea looms large even if it is not in the agenda of the 23rd meeting of the leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Manila on Nov. 18 and 19. Foreign Undersecretary Lula del Rosario, chair of the APEC 2015 Senior Officials Meetings, which did all the […]

APEC2015, South China Sea

Commentary Editor's Pick South China Sea: Waters of Contention

UN Arbitral Panel Rules In Favor of the Philippines: Now What?

By ROBERTO R. ROMULO | Nov 07, 2015 6:37 PM

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario’s dogged determination to pursue the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea dispute through the rule of law has proven his approach correct. The court ruled that the case was “properly constituted” under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, that China’s “non-appearance” (i.e., refusal to participate) did not […]

South China Sea, spratlys, UN Arbitral Court

Editor's Pick News South China Sea: Waters of Contention

The U.N. Arbitral Tribunal decision on PH case vs China

Nov 01, 2015 6:25 AM

By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS NO amount of China’s protestation that the Oct 29 decision of the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal is “null and void” and it has “no binding effect” on them, cancels the fact that it’s a major blow to them. Filipinos, on the other hand, should understand that the U.N. Arbitral Court’s decision, […]

South China Sea, UN Arbitral Tribunal

Why Pres. Aquino held back comments on U.S. warship foray into Subi Reef

Oct 30, 2015 8:25 PM

By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS In President Aquino’s talk with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines last Tuesday, about a third of the questions were about the challenge of the United States to China’s claim of sovereignty on the surrounding waters of its artificially-created islands in Spratlys in the South China Sea, which […]

Freedom of Navigation, South China Sea

Editor's Pick News South China Sea: Waters of Contention

PH wins round one in UN Arbitral Tribunal case vs China

Oct 30, 2015 9:38 AM

The United Nations Arbitral Tribunal ruled on Thursday that it has jurisdiction to hear the case filed by the Philippines against China over the disputed areas in the South China Sea. In its claim, the Philippines asked the arbitral tribunal to rule on three basic issues: The validity of China’s nine-dash lines Low tide elevations […]

PH-China dispute, South China Sea, UN Arbitral Court, UN Arbitral Tribunal, UNCLOS

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U.S., China agree to avoid unintended war

Oct 21, 2015 12:48 PM

By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS BEHIND the provocative rhetoric by American and Chinese officials over the plan of the United States to test freedom of navigation in the South China Sea after China has reclaimed some 2,900 acres of land […]

South China Sea

South China Sea: Waters of Contention

‘Military activities in EEZs of other countries, legal’: Commander,U.S. Pacific Fleet

By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS | Jul 21, 2015 3:41 PM

The commander of United States Pacific Fleet said it is the stand of the United States that international law allows them to conduct military activities in the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zones of other countries. Admiral Scott Harbison Swift , who was in the country last week as part of his familiarization tour having […]

South China Sea, U.S Pacific Fleet

Editor's Pick News South China Sea: Waters of Contention

PH, Vietnam to hold naval drills, scientific research in South China Sea

Apr 24, 2015 2:17 AM

By TESSA JAMANDRE and ELLEN TORDESILLAS THE Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to conduct joint naval drills and scientific studies amid concerns over China’s intensified reclamations in the South China Sea. The planned activities are part of the soon-to-be signed “Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of the Philippines […]

PH-Vietnam, South China Sea

Del Rosario’s wishful thinking

Apr 19, 2015 10:30 PM

By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario sounded very pleased that t the United States is preparing for an armed confrontation with China in the South China Sea without any concern of its constitutional complications for the Philippines. In an interview with ANC, del Rosario once again held on to a pronouncement […]

South China Sea

Editor's Pick News South China Sea: Waters of Contention Yahoo

China’s latest expansion to deny PH access to Ayungin shoal

Mar 11, 2015 8:29 PM

By TESSA JAMANDRE CHINA has created new artificial islets in two more reefs in the disputed South China Sea, which the Philippine military fears is meant to choke off its access to Ayungin shoal, where a crumbling Philippine Navy ship is beached. In an interview, former Air Force officer Rep. Francisco Acedillo, now partylist representative […]

Ashley Acedillo, Mishief Reef, South China Sea