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Malaysia Sun
2 days ago
- Climate
- Malaysia Sun
Chinese ship stuck in disputed waters near Philippine-held island
PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines: A Chinese ship got stuck in shallow waters near a Philippine-controlled island in the disputed South China Sea during stormy weather, according to Philippine military officials over the weekend. The area is often tense due to overlapping territorial claims. The ship ran aground over the weekend, east of Thitu Island, likely because of bad weather. Filipino Navy and Coast Guard forces went to check and offer help but later saw that the ship had already been pulled free, said Navy spokesperson Ellaine Rose Collado. There was no immediate information about whether anyone on board was hurt or if the ship was damaged. In recent years, confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships have increased in the disputed waters. "Our troops stay alert," said Colonel Xerxes Trinidad of the Philippine military. "But when we saw it was likely an accident, we acted professionally and offered help, following international laws about helping ships in distress." Villagers on Thitu Island, which they call Pagasa, saw the Chinese ship about 2.7 kilometers away and quickly informed the military and coast guard, said local official MP Albayda. "They were worried because the Chinese ship was so close," he said. "But the strong wind and waves were the real reason it got stuck." He added that other Chinese ships came and pulled it free. The stranded ship looked similar to Chinese militia vessels, which the Philippine military believes often assist Chinese coast guard and navy ships in blocking and harassing Filipino vessels in the disputed area. This region is important for global shipping and trade. Thitu Island is the largest of the nine islands occupied by the Philippines in the South China Sea. It is home to both Filipino soldiers and a small fishing community. It is located about 26 kilometers from Subi Reef, which China has turned into a military base, along with six other nearby reefs, to support its claim to almost the entire sea. Other countries, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, also claim parts of the South China Sea, making it a hotspot for potential conflict. Many worry that the tensions could lead to a major clash between China and the United States. The U.S. does not claim any part of the South China Sea but has said it will defend the Philippines, its long-time treaty ally, if Filipino forces are attacked—whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
South China Morning Post
23-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippines' defence pacts bear fruit with expanded Balikatan military drills
Nineteen countries are taking part as observers in this year's Balikatan military exercise led by the Philippines and the United States – a record turnout that signals growing international alignment with Manila's defence posture amid heightened security concerns in the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement About 17,000 troops are taking part in the annual war games, which began on Monday and will run until May 9. Japan and Australia are joining the Philippines and the US as the main participants. Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, public affairs chief of the Philippine military, said on Sunday that the countries involved in the drills as part of the international observers programme would 'enhance transparency and cooperation with allies and partners, strengthening regional solidarity'. The military said there would be a total of 19 observer countries at this year's Balikatan exercise – including Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, France and South Korea – an increase from 14 at last year's drills. Chester Cabalza, president of the Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation think tank, said the increase in observer nations at the annual drills highlighted 'the respectable command and leadership of the Philippines in defence partnership in the region'. Advertisement The level of involvement by the different countries also underscored Manila's strategic importance at the centre of the Indo-Pacific region, he added.
South China Morning Post
05-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippines disputes China's arrest of alleged Filipino spies
The Philippines expressed alarm on Saturday over the arrest of three Filipinos in China on suspicion of espionage, saying they were ordinary citizens and the arrests could be retaliation for Manila's crackdown against alleged Chinese spies. Advertisement Chinese authorities arrested the Filipinos and accused them of working for the Philippine intelligence agency to gather classified information on its military, the state-run China Daily reported earlier this week, citing state security officials. It said the three had confessed to the crime. The Philippines' National Security Council disputed Beijing's accusations, saying the three were former recipients of a government scholarship programme created under an agreement between the southern Chinese province of Hainan and the western Philippine province of Palawan. 'They are ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training who merely went to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to study,' National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said in a statement. 'They are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records and were vetted and screened by the Chinese government prior to their arrival there,' he added. Chinese nationals (background third right and right) and their alleged Philippine accomplices (second left to fourth left), arrested for alleged espionage, presented behind (seated left to right) Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Jaime Santiago, NBI deputy chief for operations Antonio Pagatpat, and cybercrime unit chief Jeremy Lotoc during a press conference at the NBI office in Manila on February 25. Photo: AFP The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside office hours.
