PBBM Takes WPS Row to Global Stage
West Philippine Sea shift: Marcos takes PH claim global, cites 2016 ruling, builds alliances as incidents hit fishing, food prices.
China
PH Navy Intercepts Chinese Frigate Near Capones Island
The Philippine Navy has deployed two of its frigates, the BRP Emilio Jacinto and BRP Diego Silang, to intercept a Chinese Jiangkai II-class frigate reportedly loitering just 41 nautical miles off Capones Island, Zambales. This move marks one of the latest escalations in a string of maritime encounters between Philippine authorities and Chinese vessels in … Read more
Multiple Fires Hit Metro Manila On High-Risk Day
Multiple residential fires broke out across Metro Manila on Monday, December 15, 2025, disrupting communities in Caloocan City and parts of Manila as emergency responders raced to contain the blazes. The incidents, reported at different times throughout the day, displaced families and renewed concerns about fire safety during the high risk holiday season. Fire units … Read more
DPWH Budget Deadlock Jeopardizes 10,000 Projects
The Bicameral Conference Committee on the 2026 national budget suspended its meeting on December 15, 2025, after failing to reach an agreement on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) plea to reinstate significant portions of budget cuts imposed by the Senate. The dispute centers on a P45–54 billion reduction attributed to adjustments in … Read more
China Coast Guard Attacks Filipino Boats Near Escoda Shoal
Three Filipino fishermen were injured and two fishing vessels damaged after China Coast Guard (CCG) ships used water cannons and severed anchor lines near Escoda Shoal in the contested West Philippine Sea. The December 12, 2025, encounter marks another escalation in persistent maritime tensions, drawing sharp condemnation from Philippine officials who denounced the dangerous maneuvers … Read more
China Fires Flares at Philippine Plane Near Subi Reef
Chinese military forces fired three signal flares at a Philippine patrol aircraft flying near the contested Subi Reef in the South China Sea, in what Manila has labeled a provocative act amid soaring territorial tensions. The incident unfolded during a recent routine surveillance mission over the West Philippine Sea, a stretch of contested waters that … Read more
Japan Opposes Macron’s Plan to Invite Xi to G-7 Summit
Japan has voiced strong unease over a potential French move to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to the 2026 G-7 summit, cautioning that such a decision could fracture the unified front the bloc has maintained on key global issues, particularly its increasingly tough stance on China. Tokyo Warns of Strategic Risks Amid Tensions With Beijing … Read more
China Fires Flares at Philippine Patrol Plane
Philippine officials say a Chinese outpost in the South China Sea fired three signal flares toward a Philippine patrol plane on 6 December 2025, the latest in a series of tense encounters over disputed waters that are critical for regional security and global trade. Flares Fired At Fisheries Patrol Over Subi Reef The incident occurred … Read more