Frances Bea Cupin

Jul 20, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

MANILA, Philippines – Two years after Rodrigo Duterte exited Malacañang, former Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio, the Philippines’ leading legal expert on the West Philippine Sea, is the first to admit that experts and pundits have fallen short of explaining to the public just how badly the former president positioned the country in its maritime and territorial disputes against superpower China.

Jul 19, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – For most military officers, homecomings happen after decades of service, when they’re finally ready or required to don their rank one last time. But for Brigadier General Vicente Blanco III, commander of the 4th Marine Brigade, the homecoming came early and twice over. Just as he earned his first star in late 2021, Blanco prepared for a major task, moving the brigade from the country’s southernmost to its northernmost frontier.

Jul 18, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and United States agreed to have more discussions on the “protection of critical infrastructure against malicious cyber activity” and to jointly develop 5G networks, during the inaugural bilateral Cyber-Digital Policy Dialogue in Washington, DC. Secretary for Information and Communications Technology Ivan John Uy led the Philippine delegation while US Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel Fick headed the US delegation.

Jul 17, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

For over two months now, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)’s BRP Teresa Magbanua has been keeping watch over Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, because of concerns that China is trying to build yet another “artificial island.”Escoda Shoal is very close – just some 75 nautical miles away – to the province of Palawan. It’s also a frequent meeting point for Philippine vessels en route to nearby Ayungin Shoal, where the rusting BRP Sierra Madre serves as a Philippine military outpost.

Jul 17, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

The Philippines and China have expanded a previous maritime communication mechanism covering the West Philippine Sea, as tensions rise in waters that are within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but that Beijing claims at its own. In a Wednesday, July 17 statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the two countries signed an “Arrangement on Improving Philippines-China Maritime Communication Mechanisms.” The existence of the deal was first reported by the Associated Press.