CHINA: Saturday (16th of July) saw a US Navy destroyer sail near the disputed Spratly Islands, the second such “freedom of navigation” exercise in the South China Sea in a week, according to the US Navy. Chinese officials claimed to have “forced away” the USS Benfold, which was sailing near the disputed Paracel Islands, on Wednesday. In the South China …

Philippine – Unexpectedly, President Rodrigo Duterte, talking at a provincial culmination with China, has raised the issue of Chinese boats hindering endeavors to resupply Philippine soldiers on Ayungin Shoal, the Palace said Monday. As per a Palace explanation, Duterte raised the South China Sea issue at the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Dialog Relations, where he …