Frances Bea Cupin

National Capital Region

Senior Reporter at Rappler

(She/Her) || defense, diplomacy, and politics for @rapplerdotcom

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Articles

Manila to host PH-US joint foreign, defense meet

Jul 22, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

MANILA, Philippines – Manila will host on Tuesday, July 30, the fourth 2+2 joint ministerial meeting between the defense and foreign ministers of the Philippines and the United States.
Who's lying about the PH-China 'arrangement' in Ayungin Shoal?

Jul 22, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

MANILA, Philippines – In a span of around 15 hours, the Philippines went from announcing an “understanding on the provisional arrangement” with China on resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal to issuing a statement blasting Beijing’s foreign spokesperson an “inaccurate” statement about the bilateral deal. Despite this, the arrangement apparently still stands.
'The Philippines cannot waver' in West Philippine Sea, Marcos vows in 2024 SONA

Jul 22, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

MANILA, Philippines — In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, that focused on his administration’s anti-poverty plans and projects, it was President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s brief mention of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) that drew one the longest rounds of applause. “The Philippines cannot yield. The Philippines cannot waver,” said the President, referring to China’s incursions in the WPS. “Ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi isang kathang-isip natin lamang. Ito ay atin.
Philippines, China OK 'arrangement' on resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal

Jul 21, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

MANILA, Philippines – More than a month after the China Coast Guard attacked Filipino soldiers during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in mid-June 2024, the Philippines announced on Sunday, July 21, that it had “reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement” with China on these missions.
Philippines, China OK 'arrangement' on resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal

Jul 21, 2024 | rappler.com | Frances Bea Cupin

MANILA, Philippines – More than a month after the China Coast Guard attacked Filipino soldiers during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in mid-June 2024, the Philippines announced on Sunday, July 21, that it had “reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement” with China on these missions.
Why Filipinos should hold Duterte accountable for his China pivot

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.
From Sulu to Burgos, the Marines’ Fourth Brigade comes home

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.
Washington hosts first PH-US cyber-digital policy meet

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.
Why is the China Coast Guard's biggest ship still in Escoda Shoal?

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.
Another time’s the charm? Manila, Beijing OK presidential hotline on West Philippine Sea

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.