The Armed Forces of the Philippines is allocated a record ₱90 billion for its revised AFP Modernization Program in the proposed 2026 national budget, with P40 billion in programmed funds and ₱50 billion in unprogrammed appropriations. The proposed amount is ₱15 billion higher than the ₱75-billion budget included in this year’s General Appropriations Act. Of the...
Tag: West Philippine Sea
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The South China Sea and the need for a ‘unified legal and historical narrative’ on the Philippines’ stand
The South China Sea conflict had been a battle of maps long before China deployed its warships and the Philippines engaged in multination military drills as a countermeasure in the international waterway. China officially claimed the Spratly Islands in 1947 with a nine-dash-line map. But Spain marked the islands as part of Philippine territory two...
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Morobeats invite Filipino artists to take up ‘Teritoryo: West Philippine Sea Rap Challenge’
“Wala naman dapat pag-awayan kung di lang kayo sakim/ Karagatan at lupain pilit na inaangkin/ Di pa kayang tanggapin sadyang makitid lang ang utak/ Filipino ang tatak kailanma’y di pasisindak.” Morobeats rapper Dizzy Caday performed before a crowd of journalists on Monday morning, chanting in dynamic rhyme about the Philippines’ fight for sovereign rights...
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‘Ang sa Pilipinas ay sa Pilipinas’: PNoy’s legacy in defending the Philippines’ maritime rights in the South China Sea
EDITOR’S NOTE: The President Benigno Simeon Aquino III Memorial Lectures on Leadership and Democracy was launched on June 24 at the Ateneo de Manila University. The launch, one of the activities that marked the fourth anniversary of the former leader’s passing, was held under the auspices of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, the Ateneo...
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Lease of Grande Island under review after arrest of Chinese spy suspects
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is looking into its lease contracts with a Philippine company after the arrest last week of several Chinese nationals for alleged espionage on Grande Island in Subic Bay. Eduardo Aliño, chair of SBMA, issued instructions to review the specifics of its extended leasehold agreement with Silver Dragon Cruises...
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The Coast Guard’s Tarriela explains how the Philippines can win over China in the battle of narratives
Of all the disinformation thrown Commodore Jay Tarriela’s way, nothing has annoyed him more than this: that he’s a CIA agent. That insidious jab—thrown by a troll on social media soon after the Philippine Coast Guard officer completed his fellowship in Washington, D.C. in 2023—still stings to this day. “For me personally, I think the...
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Resist China’s ‘maritime occupation’ until negotiated settlement is reached—security expert
China’s deployment of more vessels in the West Philippine Sea is part of “maritime occupation” that the Philippines should resist at all costs until a “negotiated settlement” is reached, American maritime security expert Raymond Powell said. As its “monster ship” lingers near Zambales province, China’s smaller vessels have ventured closer to the coast, ignoring radio...
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Tying up loose ends, or more unraveling in 2025?
We can see more clearly the cycle of renewal and rebirth whenever the holiday season comes and the new year approaches. We want to leave our old selves behind and become better in our collective and individual lives in the new year. As an economy, we want greater wealth and productivity. As a government, we...
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Fight back
Why are we not yet fighting back against China in the West Philippine Sea? Despite the numbing regularity with which Philippine vessels are rammed, blocked, water-cannoned, shot at with flares, and the corresponding injury, deprivation and harassment suffered by our service personnel, as well as damage and theft of our government property and natural resources,...
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Filipino fishers continue to struggle amid China’s intensifying aggression
SAN SALVADOR ISLAND—With a piece of chalk, Christopher de Vera Sr. marked the sketch of a triangle-shaped Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on the board, labeling the entrance in the east and pointing out where Chinese vessels are often seen on patrol. Laughter filled the venue of the meeting, a classroom of San Salvador High School in...