Latest news with #ChinaCoastGuard
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Atin Ito ship returning to Manila as China vessel shadows
The ship of the Atin Ito Coalition is heading back to Manila after its civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), one of the organizers, Emman Hizon, said Thursday morning. According to Hizon, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 21549 continued to shadow Atin Ito's M/V Kapitan Felix Oca with a distance of 4.2 nautical miles. The Atin Ito ship is expected to arrive in Manila at 4 p.m. on Friday, Hizon said, adding that its voyage was slowing down due to offshore waves. Despite the shadowing of Chinese ships and bad weather on Wednesday, Atin Ito Coalition conducted a concert off the territorial waters of Pagasa Island as part of its third civilian mission to the WPS. "Mission accomplished! This is a moment of triumph not just for our mission, but for every Filipino who dreams of peace and justice in our seas. We made history today by holding the very first sea concert deep in the West Philippine Sea, just two nautical miles from Pag-asa Island," Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David earlier said. "Despite being shadowed by Chinese marine vessels, we stood our ground. Our artists sang not just to entertain, but to resist, to unite, and to inspire," she added. Supplies were delivered to fisherfolk in the area. A symbolic flag-raising ceremony was also held on board Atin Ito's ship in observance of the National Flag Day. More than 150 people are on board M/V Kapitan Felix Oca including volunteers, artists and their crew, the press, as well as boat staff. The civilian mission started on May 26 and is expected to end on May 30. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
PH Navy vows protection for Atin Ito WPS civilian mission amid Chinese shadowing
China Coast Guard vessel 3306 shadows Atin Ito ship on civilian mission to Pagasa Island in West Philippine Sea, May 27, 2025. Atin Ito Coalition The Philippine Navy on Tuesday assured participants of Atin Ito's civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) of protection amid the shadowing activities of two Chinese vessels in the area. At a press briefing, Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said that contingencies are in place. 'Western Command is monitoring the activity. There are appropriate contingencies in place in the event na kakailanganin ang response ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (in case help from AFP is needed),' Trinidad said. According to Trinidad, the AFP will provide help when needed. 'We do not control the escalation dynamics of hostilities but we could assure not only the Atin Ito participants but all Filipinos in the WPS that your Armed Forces, the other government agencies, are always there ready to protect them hanggat kaya natin (as long as we can),' he said. 'The Philippine Navy, the AFP, and even other government agencies in the maritime domain are prepared to respond to support anything that they would need while conducting their concert at sea,' he added. So far, Trinidad said the Philippine Navy has not monitored significant increase in the number of Chinese vessels and any indication that the Chinese vessels will perform aggressive actions against the civilian mission. Chinese vessels Atin Ito said two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels CCG 3306 and CCG 21549 shadowed its ship while on the way to Pagasa Island for a civilian mission on Tuesday morning. The coalition said the two Chinese vessels shadowed the Philippine civilian mission ship around 54 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan. 'CCG 3306 is 3 NM from Atin Ito ship while the other one, CCG 21549, is 5 NM away from the Atin Ito ship,' the coalition said. More than 150 people are on board Atin Ito's M/V Kapitan Felix Oca including volunteers, artists and their crew, the press, as well as boat staff. Volunteers from Atin Ito arrived in El Nido on Monday to launch the third civilian-led mission to the WPS, which will culminate with a concert near Pagasa Island. The civilian mission was set from May 26 to 30. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it has deployed two of its vessels, Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua, to escort the civilian-led mission. Arbitration court ruling Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
2 Chinese vessels shadow Atin Ito ship on civilian mission to Pagasa Island
Atin Ito Coalition said two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels shadowed its ship while on the way to Pagasa Island for a civilian mission on Tuesday morning. In an update, Atin Ito said CCG 3306 and CCG 21549 shadowed the Philippine civilian mission ship around 54 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan. 'CCG 3306 is 3 NM from Atin Ito ship while the other one, CCG 21549, is 5 NM away from the Atin Ito ship,' the coalition said. Chinese and Philippine sides exchanged radio challenges, according to Atin Ito. Volunteers from Atin Ito arrived in El Nido on Monday to launch the third civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which will culminate with a concert near Pagasa Island. The civilian mission was set from May 26 to 30, More than 150 people are on board Atin Ito's M/V Kapitan Felix Oca including volunteers, artists and their crew, the press, as well as boat staff. 'We aim to uplift coastal communities by amplifying the lived experiences and aspirations of our fisherfolk, and to foster regional harmony through shared cultural and maritime narratives. We will sail not with warships, but with songs; not with hostility, but with harmony and solidarity,' Atin Ito convenor Rafaela David earlier said. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it has deployed two of its vessels, Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua, to escort the civilian-led mission. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. —KG, GMA Integrated News
CNA
5 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Philippines open to more agreements with China to keep peace in South China Sea
KUALA LUMPUR: The Philippines is open to any additional agreements with Beijing that can help maintain peace in the South China Sea, its top diplomat said, amid unabated confrontations between them over disputed features. The South China Sea, a conduit for about US$3 trillion of annual ship-borne trade, remains a source of tension between China and US ally the Philippines, with ties at their worst in years amid frequent standoffs that have sparked regional concerns they could spiral into conflict. The Philippines is vexed by the constant presence of China's coast guard in its exclusive economic zone, where both countries claim sovereignty over disputed features, including uninhabited sandbars, an atoll rich in fish stocks and a reef where Manila has troops stationed on a grounded navy ship. "I'm not saying they (arrangements) will necessarily take place, but anything within the scope of diplomatic means or peaceful means or cooperation is certainly within our template," Manalo told journalists on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Deals have been struck before, with the Philippines and China last year reaching a "provisional arrangement" for resupply missions to the grounded vessel at the Second Thomas Shoal after repeated flare-ups between rival vessels. China has accused the Philippines of trespassing in its waters but denies allegations of aggressive conduct. Beijing has advocated for dialogue with Manila to manage disputes. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which includes parts of the EEZs of Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines. The stakes are high in the event of a miscalculation between Beijing and Manila, with the United States bound by a 1951 mutual defence treaty to come to the aid of the Philippines in the event of any armed attack, including in the South China Sea. Manalo said the Philippines was determined to see how it could speed up negotiations for a code of conduct between ASEAN and Beijing on the South China Sea. All sides agreed in 2002 to draft a code but it took 15 years for them to initiate a process to start negotiations. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn last week told Reuters all sides were committed to finalising the code by next year. The Philippines will chair ASEAN in 2026. In remarks to ASEAN leaders on Monday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr called for the adoption of a legally binding code to be accelerated.
NHK
6 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Chinese fighter jets take off from, land on aircraft carrier off Senkaku Islands
Japan's Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed in the East China Sea off the coast of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. The ministry says fighter jets took off from the carrier and landed on it. The ministry said Liaoning and four other ships were confirmed to be sailing in the ocean about 200 kilometers north of Kubashima Island at around 7 a.m. on Sunday. It said fighter jets and helicopters were confirmed taking off and landing on the Liaoning. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets. There was no violation of Japan's airspace. This is the first time the defense ministry has announced takeoffs and landings of fighter jets using a Chinese aircraft carrier sailing in the East China Sea. The ministry said Japan is going through diplomatic channels to express interest in the recent stepped-up activities of the Chinese military. On May 3, a China Coast Guard helicopter violated Japan's territorial airspace around the Senkaku Islands, and the ministry continues surveillance in the area.
