Philippines Plans to Buy Submarines to Defend Sovereignty in South China Sea
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has approved the third phase of the military's modernization, which includes the purchase of the country's first submarine, in order to defend its maritime sovereignty in the disputed South China Sea.Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Roy Trinidad, said on Thursday the third phase of modernization reflected a shift in strategy away from internal to external defense."We may not be a large navy...but we would have a navy that will take care of our territorial rights and sovereignty…
Divers Find Deepest Known Shipwreck USS Johnston
A privately funded mission has found, surveyed and filmed the USS Johnston, the world’s deepest known shipwreck, offshore Samar Island in the Philippines Sea.The expedition was backed by Victor Vescovo, is an entrepreneur, explorer and retired U.S. Navy Commander who personally piloted his submersible DSV Limiting Factor down to the wreck during two separate, eight-hour dives 21,180 feet (6,456 meters) below the ocean's surface. These constituted the deepest wreck dives, manned or unmanned…
Ships Collide in Philippines Sea
The reefer containership Sevilla Carrier collided with tuna fishing vessel Hsiang Yung No6 in Philippines Sea on 515 nautical miles east-south-east off Eluanbi, Taiwan on Jan 7, 2017, at 3.45 a.m local time. The hull of the fishing vessel was breached with ensuing water ingress, but there was no risk to the crew of 10, another fishing vessel in the area rushed to assistalso the Sevilla Carrier remained nearby. The accident was reported to the local authorities and at the scene were dispatched tugs, which will assist the salvage of the sinking fishing ship. The Taiwanese Maritime Rescue will try to salvage the vessel. At the scene arrived another fishing vessel, which will assist with salvage.
Philippines: Sea Dispute Won't Shift Ties with China, U.S.
The Philippines' territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea has not caused Manila to rebalance diplomatic ties with either its ally, the United States, or neighbouring China, Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Wednesday. An arbitration court in the Hague infuriated China in July by ruling that China had no historical title over the South China Sea and that it had breached the Philippines' sovereign rights with various actions there. "We want to make close friendship with China. It does not mean that we'll weaken our friendship with the United States," Yasay told Reuters during a break in a meeting of the senate foreign relations committee. On Tuesday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte said he expects talks with China over the maritime dispute within a year.
U.S., Philippines Hold Security Talks
The U.S. says it will help build the Philippines’ sea patrol capability but will not take sides in that nation’s standoff with China at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The top diplomats and defense officials of the treaty allies held their first joint meeting and discussed the three-week standoff at the Scarborough Shoal. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reaffirmed U.S. commitment to its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, and to freedom of navigation and regional security. She reiterated support for a diplomatic resolution to territorial disputes. A joint statement said they would cooperate on building the Philippines’ maritime security capabilities. The U.S. will transfer a second ship to the poorly equipped Philippine navy this year.
