Ramos, 88, who described his role as “an icebreaker”, accepted an offer from Duterte to be special envoy to China after the Hague court’s ruling on July 12.
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Philippine-Chinese ties have frayed in recent years due to growing tensions over Beijing’s claims to nearly all the South China Sea.
The crew of USS Benfold (DDG-65) conducted signals exercises with their People’s Liberation Army Navy counterparts ahead of shore visits and a reception on the ship.
China has repeatedly denied doing so and has in turn criticized USA patrols and exercises for ramping up tensions.
Japan’s foreign minister has summoned the Chinese ambassador to demand that Beijing promptly withdraw its vessels from waters around disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Recent satellite photographs show China appears to have built reinforced aircraft hangars on its holdings in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, the New York Times reported on Monday.
“I am just the icebreaker, to rekindle, to warm up again our good, friendly relations with China”, Ramos, who served as president form 1992 to 1998, said.
The tribunal’s ruling was a response to a landmark case brought by the Philippines, which called it an “overwhelming victory”.
Tokyo hasn’t specified what capabilities, including range, the Chinese radar may possess.
Chinese H-6K bombers and Su-30 fighters have completed a patrol of airspace above the Nansha and Huangyan islands in the South China Sea, said a Chinese military spokesperson Saturday adding that the manoeuvers included aerial refuelling.
“The laboratory will be application-oriented, which fits the nation’s strategies for the Belt and Road Initiative and the South China Sea, and it surely will play an important role in using the marine resources of the South China Sea”, said Huang Bangqin, a professor of marine biology at Xiamen University’s Environment and Ecology College.
An Australian amateur marine archaeologist says the Chinese coast guard harassed him and his team while they were diving to a shipwreck off Borneo.
Although Chinese fishing vessels are allowed to operate in the area, it is unusual that they have sailed there in the hundreds while being accompanied by a fleet of government ships. “It was a sort of gentle intimidation”, Berekoven said.
Judging by the current relationship status between the two countries, it does not look as though The Philippines will be at risk of catching a [economic] cold from China any time in the future either. Gun batteries were seen on several of the ships, officials said.
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Were China to move forward on possible plans to deploy military aircraft to its facilities in the Spratlys, it would essentially complete construction of China’s unsinkable aircraft carriers in this area, and give China greater control over the highly-desirable South China Sea “strategic triangle” created by the Paracels, the Scarborough Shoal, and the Spratlys.
