Crew members assigned to the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Sindangan say they knew their mission would involve facing off against huge, numerous, intimidating Chinese vessels in the contested waters of the South China Sea. But that did not fully prepare them for the reality. “My heart beats up every time a clash is imminent,”…
The Philippines has approved the purchase of 40 fast patrol craft worth 25.8 billion pesos (US$450 million), seeking to bolster maritime security as tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea linger. The National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, gave the greenlight for the purchase, which will be funded…
Taiwan is intensifying efforts to prevent maritime borders being breached after mainland Chinese men used small boats to land on its coast twice in recent months. Lawmakers have pointed to the two incidents – neither spotted by Taipei until the men turned themselves in – as representing possible weaknesses in the event of a military…