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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Video Shows US Ally Confronting China in Contested Waters
The Philippine coast guard has released footage of a confrontation with its Chinese counterpart within the Southeast Asian country's maritime zone. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment via email. China claims the majority of the South China Sea as its territory, including areas that fall within the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan. A Hague-based arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016 and rejected China's claims. Beijing has called the decision illegitimate. The further expansion of Chinese maritime forces into the Philippine EEZ has been met with pushback under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The resulting dramatic clashes have raised the specter of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, which could draw Washington into a conflict with the East Asian power. While much of the neighbors' dispute has centered on uninhabited reefs and sandbanks, since the start of the year China's coast guard has maintained a steady presence closer to Luzon, the major Philippine island that's home to the capital, Manila. On Saturday, the Philippine coast guard deployed the 144-foot BRP Cabra to challenge the much larger CCG 3105-a Chinese coast guard cutter operating about 86 miles from Luzon's Zambales province and well within the country's 230-mile-wide EEZ, a spokesperson for the Philippine coast guard wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday. Video shows the Philippine crew broadcasting radio warnings and ordering their Chinese counterpart to leave the EEZ, citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which both countries are signatories. Later that day, the Cabra responded to a distress call from a fishing boat with engine trouble. The cutter towed the stricken vessel back to Zambales' Subic Port. In Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with his Japanese, Australian and Philippine counterparts over the weekend on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit. The meetings were held amid doubts following U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff broadsides and remarks questioning the utility of Washington's security commitments in the region. The officials voiced concern over China's growing assertiveness and stressed the importance of maintaining the status quo. Jay Tarriela, a Philippine coast guard spokesperson, wrote on X: "The actions of BRP Cabra and its crew reflect the commitment of the [Philippine coast guard] to uphold the directive of the president, reinforcing the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea." Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said during Tuesday's regular news conference: "The U.S., together with Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, brazenly spread the false accusation of 'China threat' at the Shangri-La Dialogue and sought to use the East China Sea issue and the South China Sea issue to sow discord and incite confrontation between regional countries. ... We will not flinch in defending China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." China and the Philippines are firmly entrenched in their positions, and a diplomatic breakthrough appears unlikely anytime soon. Speaking with Newsweek at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro criticized China's actions, saying the country suffered from a "trust deficit." He said Manila was working toward building an "international coalition to increase deterrence." Related Articles US Ally Sends Strong Warning to ChinaMap Tracks Chinese Aircraft Carrier Near US AlliesChina Warns US Ally With Show of ForceUS Simulates Missile Strikes on Warships at China Choke Point 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
a day ago
- General
- Newsweek
Video Shows US Ally Confronting China in Contested Waters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philippine coast guard has released footage of a confrontation with its Chinese counterpart within the Southeast Asian country's maritime zone. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters China claims the majority of the South China Sea as its territory, including areas that fall within the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan. A Hague-based arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016 and rejected China's claims. Beijing has called the decision illegitimate. The further expansion of Chinese maritime forces into the Philippine EEZ has been met with pushback under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The resulting dramatic clashes have raised the specter of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, which could draw Washington into a conflict with the East Asian power. A Chinese coast guard ship seen from the Port of Guangzhou in China's southern Guangdong province on February 22. A Chinese coast guard ship seen from the Port of Guangzhou in China's southern Guangdong province on February 22. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images What To Know While much of the neighbors' dispute has centered on uninhabited reefs and sandbanks, since the start of the year China's coast guard has maintained a steady presence closer to Luzon, the major Philippine island that's home to the capital, Manila. On Saturday, the Philippine coast guard deployed the 144-foot BRP Cabra to challenge the much larger CCG 3105—a Chinese coast guard cutter operating about 86 miles from Luzon's Zambales province and well within the country's 230-mile-wide EEZ, a spokesperson for the Philippine coast guard wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday. Video shows the Philippine crew broadcasting radio warnings and ordering their Chinese counterpart to leave the EEZ, citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which both countries are signatories. Later that day, the Cabra responded to a distress call from a fishing boat with engine trouble. The cutter towed the stricken vessel back to Zambales' Subic Port. In Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with his Japanese, Australian and Philippine counterparts over the weekend on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit. The meetings were held amid doubts following U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff broadsides and remarks questioning the utility of Washington's security commitments in the region. The officials voiced concern over China's growing assertiveness and stressed the importance of maintaining the status quo. What People Are Saying Jay Tarriela, a Philippine coast guard spokesperson, wrote on X: "The actions of BRP Cabra and its crew reflect the commitment of the [Philippine coast guard] to uphold the directive of the president, reinforcing the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea." Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said during Tuesday's regular news conference: "The U.S., together with Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, brazenly spread the false accusation of 'China threat' at the Shangri-La Dialogue and sought to use the East China Sea issue and the South China Sea issue to sow discord and incite confrontation between regional countries. ... We will not flinch in defending China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." What Happens Next China and the Philippines are firmly entrenched in their positions, and a diplomatic breakthrough appears unlikely anytime soon. Speaking with Newsweek at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro criticized China's actions, saying the country suffered from a "trust deficit." He said Manila was working toward building an "international coalition to increase deterrence."
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PCG deploys another vessel to monitor China Coast Guard in Zambales
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed another vessel to monitor the presence of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels off the coast of Zambales, its spokesperson said Monday. 'Right now, BRP Bagacay is patrolling the waters within the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc and to monitor whether there will be another CCG vessel that will attempt to go near the coastline of Zambales this afternoon,' PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a Zoom briefing. Over the weekend, Tarriela said a CCG vessel was located five to 18 nautical miles from Palauig Point off the coast of Zambales, which is within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). He said the vessel has gone further away from Zambales. 'I would like to believe na ito ngayon ay bumalik na sa vicinity ng Bajo de Masinloc. I would say it has the distance of somewhere between 115 to 120 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales,' Tarriela said. (I would like to believe that it has now returned to the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. I would say it is at a distance of somewhere between 115 to 120 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales.) The PCG previously directed the Multi Role Response Vessel (MRRV-4409) BRP Cabra to challenge the presence of the CCG vessel. However, the BRP Cabra left after receiving a distress call from a Filipino fishing boat. Tarriela said that the CCG never responded to the BRP Cabra's challenge. He said that the CCG would often excuse its actions as the conduct of a legitimate maritime law enforcement. 'Kaya we are challenging them. We are reminding them that they are inside our own EEZ and that they do not have legitimate authority to conduct such illegal patrol,' Tarriela said. 'Kung hindi sila sumagot, I don't think we can hold them accountable for not responding. But definitely, we are challenging their illegal presence dito sa ating EEZ and that they never informed us of their intention why they are there and what is the purpose of their presence,' he added. In 2013, the Philippines challenged China over its claims on the West Philippine Sea, and in 2016 Manila scored a victory in a landmark ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated Beijing's claims. China has refused to acknowledge the Permanent Court of Arbitration's 2016 ruling that invalidated its nine-dash line. The Philippines has already filed over 150 diplomatic protests against China regarding the territorial dispute under the administration of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PCG challenges China Coast Guard vessel off Zambales
The Philippine Coast Guard over the weekend challenged a China Coast Guard vessel located nearly 76 nautical miles from Palauig Point off the coast of Zambales, which is within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In a post on his X account on Sunday evening, PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the agency directed the Multi Role Response Vessel (MRRV-4409) BRP Cabra on Saturday evening to challenge the presence of the CCG vessel, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 'Despite facing challenging sea conditions with wave heights ranging from 8 to 10 feet, the 44-meter vessel continuously engaged the China Coast Guard 3105, emphasizing its lack of legal authority to patrol within Philippine waters but did not receive any response,' the post read. To recall, the Philippines in 2013 challenged China over its claims on the West Philippine Sea, and in 2016 Manila scored a victory in a landmark ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated Beijing's claims. China has refused to acknowledge the Permanent Court of Arbitration's 2016 ruling that invalidated its nine-dash line. Its government in 2022 claimed that it will continue to adhere to what it described as a 'friendly consultation' with the Philippines after several Chinese vessels have been found 'swarming' areas in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has already filed over 150 diplomatic protests against China regarding the territorial dispute under the administration of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. Fishing boat in distress Tarriela said the BRP Cabra also received a distress call from Filipino fishing boat FFB John John, which reported engine troubles about 40.35 nautical miles southeast of Bajo De Masinloc. 'Swiftly responding to the situation, the crew of BRP Cabra successfully arrived at the location of the fishing boat and is now towing it safely back to Subic Port, Zambales,' he said. 'The actions of BRP Cabra and its crew reflect the commitment of the PCG to uphold the directive of the President, reinforcing the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea,' he added. — BM, GMA Integrated News
