Dateline Kamuning: The following is the full statement of the National Security Council (NSC) regarding the statement made by  Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ambassador Huang Xilian in a forum recently. Here's the full text: The National Security Council wishes to clarify that the Philippines has no intention of interfering in the Taiwan issue and will not allow itself to be used by other countries to interfere in the said issue as claimed by the Chinese Ambassador in the Philippines in a forum in Manila. National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año has made our position clear that the increased security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States is meant to develop and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to enable it to protect and defend the territory of the Philippines and is not meant to contain or counter any nation in the region or to interfere in another nation’s affairs. The Philippines is primarily concerned ab...

DATELINE KAMUNING: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday maintained that the four additional sites under the Philippines’ Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with its longstanding ally, the United States, would not be used for “offensive actions.” The President made this remark in a chance interview with reporters during his attendance at the commemoration of the 81st Araw ng Kagitingan at the Mt. Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan. “Hindi tayo papayag, ang Pilipinas, hindi tayo papayag na gamitin ang mga bases natin para sa kahit anong offensive na action. Ito ay para lamang tulungan ang Pilipinas, pagka nangangailangan ng tulong ang Pilipinas,” President Marcos said when asked whether the additional sites could “add tensions” in the region. “Ang ginagawa lamang natin ay ipagpatuloy natin na pinapatibay natin ang depensa ng ating teritorya, ang pagdepensa ng Republika,” the President pointed out. According to Marcos, the additional EDCA sites give the Unite...

Dateline Kamuning  FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Launches New Initiatives to Strengthen U.S.-Philippines Alliance    The United States and the Philippines enjoy an alliance and partnership based on deep historical, economic, and cultural ties, and our shared democratic values.   The United States and the Philippines stand together as friends, partners, and allies.   Now and always, the U.S. commitment to the defense of the Philippines is ironclad, and we are committed to strengthening our economic and investment relationship.  The Vice President’s travel to the Philippines reaffirms the bilateral alliance and will spur cooperation on a range of issues, including:   advancing clean energy, addressing the climate crisis, promoting inclusive growth and innovation, increasing access to quality education and health resources, combating trafficking in persons, facing common security challenges, supporting freedom of the seas, and deepening people-t...

 Dateline Kamuning   President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will have a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart on Thursday on the sidelines of his participation in the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM). Prior to his attendance at the ASEAN Summits in Cambodia last week, President Marcos said the West Philippine Sea will be one of the top agenda if he meets with the Chinese president. The chief executive said that it’s impossible for him to talk to China without mentioning the West Philippine Sea issue. The President also pushed for the adoption of a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea during the summit in Cambodia, noting, however, that involved parties must first agree on a status quo.   During President Marcos’ attendance at the ASEAN-East Asia Summit, he renewed his call to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, security, stability and prosperity and not an area of armed conflict or geopolitical dis...