inside Philippine politics and beyond
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Even before the Taiwan government had received the official letter containing the Philippine apology for the death of the Taiwanese fisherman, Taipei already knew its contents, highly knowledgeable sources said. In fact, the Taiwan government already knew the contents of three previous drafts of the letter. This was because top officials of the Manila Economic and [...]
By Raïssa Robles I would like to share with you guys my articles on the Taiwan-Philippine dispute published by South China Morning Post. This one appeared today: Former envoy Lauro Baja tells Taiwan to ‘remember who its friends are’ Raissa Robles in Manila Friday, 17 May 2013 A former top Philippines diplomat has urged Taiwan to “remember who its friends [...]
Exclusive By Raissa Robles It was by chance that I met Shayeed Kiram, a son of Raja Muda (Crown Prince) Agbimuddin Kiram who is now in Sabah facing the Malaysian armed forces. I wanted to take a photo of Dayang Dayang (Princess) Nazhra, daughter of Sultan Jamulul Kiram III, but a man was in the way. I politely asked him [...]
South China Morning Post published today my news profile-analysis of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and the Sabah issue. My thanks to my editor Andrew London, and Hari Kumar who subbed the piece prior to publication. My thanks, too, to @Eldes Tran – SCMP’s online news producer for posting my piece on Twitter. Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III continues to [...]
Below is a STATEMENT I received on the brief detention of journalists who went to Sabah to cover the stand-off between followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and Malaysian authorities. The producer, Jamela Alindogan, is a fellow member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP). Sabah is one issue that all Filipinos should familiarize themselves with. It is [...]
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Students, be aware. The globe you might be using for your geography lessons might have China’s nine-dash line markings to show the world it owns all of South China Sea. According to China, this includes Scarborough Shoal and the Recto Bank where the Philippines recently found huge gas deposits. I did not stumble on this story. [...]
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has just released the following to explain to Filipinos its actions on the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) conflict. To the Philippines, “China is a good friend. Arbitration is a peaceful and amicable process to settle a dispute between and among friends. ” Q & A on the UNCLOS Arbitral Proceedings against China to [...]
I am posting below my hubby Alan’s article on the West Philippine Sea conflict that was published last month in D+C, the monthly magazine funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. I would also like to thank the magazine for allowing me to post it. The international community needs binding rules on the use of the sea and [...]
NewsByte By Raïssa Robles Japan’s new Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, is in Manila today and tomorrow to meet with President Benigno Aquino and his local counterpart, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. According to a news report in today’s South China Morning Post jointly bylined by Greg Torode and me, ” Kishida is widely expected to discuss the provision of up [...]