Free Trial

PHILIPPINES: Tensions w/China In South China Sea Remains Prominent

PHILIPPINES

(MNI) London - Wires carrying comments from National Security Council adviser Eduardo Año regarding the situation in the South China Sea. Año says that the Philippines strongly condemns the "violent, illegal actions" of Chinese maritime authorities against Vietnamese fishermen on 29 Sep. Says "We stand with Vietnam in denouncing this egregious act and call for accountability." Año: "China must cease all hostile activities that endanger the lives and livelihoods of civilian mariners." Calls the "unjustified assault" an "alarming act with no place in international relations". 

  • In a statement on 3 Oct, Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said “Vietnam is extremely concerned, indignant and resolutely protests the brutal treatment by Chinese law enforcement forces of Vietnamese fishermen and fishing boats operating in the Hoang Sa archipelago of Vietnam,” following an incident near the contested Paracel Islands.
  • Año's comments come amid a commitment from Manila to a significant military buildup in the coming years, with USD35bn allocated to expanding and upgrading the country's armed forces over the coming decade. Hosting a major exhibition of global defence contractors in late September, the Philippines is seeking to both bolster its links with the US while branching out into alliances with other Western-aligned Asian nations such as Japan and Australia.
  • An increasingly-militarised South China Sea raises the prospect of direct confrontation and escalation, either through direct action or via miscalculation, in one of the globe's key trade routes. 
235 words

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.

(MNI) London - Wires carrying comments from National Security Council adviser Eduardo Año regarding the situation in the South China Sea. Año says that the Philippines strongly condemns the "violent, illegal actions" of Chinese maritime authorities against Vietnamese fishermen on 29 Sep. Says "We stand with Vietnam in denouncing this egregious act and call for accountability." Año: "China must cease all hostile activities that endanger the lives and livelihoods of civilian mariners." Calls the "unjustified assault" an "alarming act with no place in international relations". 

  • In a statement on 3 Oct, Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said “Vietnam is extremely concerned, indignant and resolutely protests the brutal treatment by Chinese law enforcement forces of Vietnamese fishermen and fishing boats operating in the Hoang Sa archipelago of Vietnam,” following an incident near the contested Paracel Islands.
  • Año's comments come amid a commitment from Manila to a significant military buildup in the coming years, with USD35bn allocated to expanding and upgrading the country's armed forces over the coming decade. Hosting a major exhibition of global defence contractors in late September, the Philippines is seeking to both bolster its links with the US while branching out into alliances with other Western-aligned Asian nations such as Japan and Australia.
  • An increasingly-militarised South China Sea raises the prospect of direct confrontation and escalation, either through direct action or via miscalculation, in one of the globe's key trade routes.