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Amparo steps in to replace Andales for the IBF world title bout in Japan
CEBU CITY, Philippines — In a surprising turn of events, world-ranked Jake “El Bambino” Amparo of the PMI Bohol Boxing Stable stepped in as a last-minute replacement for countryman ArAr Andales in facing the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) world minimumweight champion Ginjiro Shigeoka on March 31 in Nagoya, Japan. This was confirmed by PMI.....»»
Stable power supply vital to economic prosperity
If there’s anyone in the world who has circled the globe extensively, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wins hands down......»»
PBCom eyes P2 billion from new bond issue
The Philippine Bank of Communications is looking to raise at least P2 billion, with an option to oversubscribe, from the first tranche of its new peso bond program......»»
Special ASEAN Regional Summit in Australia
SYDNEY - Although Australia isn't a member of ASEAN, the country is hosting a summit of leaders from nine members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Strengthening economic and security ties will be the focus for the Canberra government, which has set aside $186.7 million to help countries in Southeast Asia and more broadly in the Indo-Pacific region boost their maritime security.Analysts say Au.....»»
Australia Hosting Special ASEAN Regional Summit
SYDNEY - Although Australia isn't a member of ASEAN, the country is hosting a summit of leaders from nine members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Strengthening economic and security ties will be the focus for the Canberra government, which has set aside $186.7 million to help countries in Southeast Asia and more broadly in the Indo-Pacific region boost their maritime security.Analysts say Au.....»»
Special ASEAN Regional Summit in Australia
SYDNEY - Although Australia isn't a member of ASEAN, the country is hosting a summit of leaders from nine members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Strengthening economic and security ties will be the focus for the Canberra government, which has set aside $186.7 million to help countries in Southeast Asia and more broadly in the Indo-Pacific region boost their maritime security.Analysts say Au.....»»
Australia Hosting Special ASEAN Regional Summit
SYDNEY - Although Australia isn't a member of ASEAN, the country is hosting a summit of leaders from nine members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Strengthening economic and security ties will be the focus for the Canberra government, which has set aside $186.7 million to help countries in Southeast Asia and more broadly in the Indo-Pacific region boost their maritime security.Analysts say Au.....»»
Philippine central bank keeps interest rates unchanged
MANILA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine central bank opted Thursday to keep the bank's target reverse repurchase rate unchanged at 6.5 percent, and thus the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were kept at 6 percent and 7 percent, respectively. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the Monetary Board noted that the inflation outlook "was broadly unchanged.".....»»
Philippine central bank keeps interest rates unchanged
MANILA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine central bank opted Thursday to keep the bank's target reverse repurchase rate unchanged at 6.5 percent, and thus the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were kept at 6 percent and 7 percent, respectively. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the Monetary Board noted that the inflation outlook "was broadly unchanged.".....»»
Developing countries urged to diversify production, export markets
Regional trade as well as South–South trade can provide a significant opportunity for developing countries to diversify their production and export basket, according to the United Nations’ trade and development body. “Given the new industrial policy initiatives being adopted in advanced countries, which may shorten their existing supply chains, developing countries will need to look for new outlets to diversify their export markets,” the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said in its Trade and Development Report 2023. The report said that since 1995, South–South merchandise trade has grown faster than global trade and faster than North–South trade. In 2022, South–South trade accounted for around 54 percent of South’s total trade. It has also grown steadily in food, fuel, ores and metals, and fertilizers, with many developing countries, including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Thailand playing major roles, it said. Critical role To further boost South–South trade cooperation, the Global System of Trade Preferences initiative of UNCTAD can play a critical role by providing an opportunity to negotiate tariff reductions among developing countries in products based on mutual preferences, among others. GSTP is an agile partnership framework that allows its members to take a variety of cooperative actions in the area of tariffs, para-tariffs, non-tariff measures, direct trade measures and sectoral arrangements. Citing earlier reports, UNCTAD said GSTP can also support a just green transition in the developing countries by focusing on green products and facilitating green technology transfers. Apart from South–South trade, the report said regional integration programs such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, to the extent they support diversification and the benefits are broadly shared, can also mitigate the negative effects of the current situation, including with respect to climate change and food insecurity. Rollercoaster ride UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Report 2023 said that after experiencing a rollercoaster ride in 2020 — 2022, global trade is forecast to grow about 1 percent in 2023, significantly below world economic output growth, with merchandise trade hovering in negative territory. The post Developing countries urged to diversify production, export markets appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chip maker Intel beats earnings expectations as it pursues rivals
US chip giant Intel on Thursday said it made more money than expected in the recently ended quarter as it continued to invest in a "geographically balanced" supply chain. Intel shares jumped more than 7 percent to $34.88 in after-market trades. "We delivered a standout third quarter, underscored by across-the-board progress on our process and product roadmaps; agreements with new foundry customers, and momentum as we bring AI everywhere," said Intel chief executive Pat Gelsinger. Intel reported revenue of $14.2 billion, which was 8 percent less than the amount seen in the same quarter a year earlier but ahead of forecasts. Net income tallied $300 million, compared with $1 billion profit in the same period in 2022, earnings figures showed. "Our results exceeded expectations," said Intel chief financial officer David Zinsner, who said earnings benefited from "expense discipline." Intel has been working to catch up with rivals, especially Nvidia, when it comes to powerful chips needed to handle the computing demands of artificial intelligence. Intel touted investments being made in chip production facilities with an aim of creating a "geographically balanced, secure, resilient supply chain." California-based Intel is seen as a key tool for the United States to reduce its dependence on major global producers, such as Taiwan's TSMC. Earlier this year, Intel announced it would spend $25 billion on a new plant in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it the country's single largest foreign investment. The "agreement in principle" would see the semiconductor firm build the facility in the southern city of Kiryat Gat that would open by 2027 and operate at least until 2035, Israel's finance ministry said. Intel has been operating in Israel since the 1970s with development centers and a production site that employs some 12,000 people, the finance ministry said. In 2017, Intel acquired Israel-based Mobileye, which makes technology for automated driving systems in vehicles, for just over $15 billion. Gelsinger said Intel teams have kept operations going despite the war between Israel and Hamas. "Our utmost priority is the safety and welfare of our people in Israel and their families," Gelsinger said. "Despite all of these challenges, they're performing extremely well. I am praying for a swift return to peace." China Gelsinger said Intel was carefully studying updated rules in the United States that tighten curbs on exports of state-of-the-art AI chips to China. "We do believe that we'll have plenty of opportunity in China," Gelsinger said. "We are continuing to deploy our products there broadly, even as we comply and work with (the United States) around the regulations that they're putting in place." The new rules tighten measures from a year ago that banned the sale to China of microchips crucial to manufacturing powerful AI systems. Calls to further close the supply chain grew after the popularity of generative AI platform ChatGPT. When announcing the beefed-up curbs, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo insisted they were intended to close loopholes and prevent China's development of AI for military use. "It's true that AI has the potential for huge societal benefit. But it also can do tremendous and profound harm if it's in the wrong hands and in the wrong militaries," she told US media. The rules will not affect chips used in consumer goods such as laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles, though some will be subject to export licensing requirements. China has said it is "strongly dissatisfied" and "firmly opposes" the curbs. "The US continues to generalize the concept of national security, abuse export control measures, and implement unilateral bullying," the commerce ministry said in a statement. The post Chip maker Intel beats earnings expectations as it pursues rivals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russia ‘interfering’ in global election
Russia is using its spy network, state-run media and social media to undermine public trust in elections around the world, according to a United States intelligence report released Friday that was shared with around 100 countries. “Russia is focused on carrying out operations to degrade public confidence in election integrity,” the report said, citing findings from the US intelligence community. “This is a global phenomenon. Our information indicates that senior Russian government officials, including in the Kremlin, see value in this type of influence operation and perceive it to be effective.” The assessment, which was sent in a cable to the embassies of around 100 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia engaged in a “concerted effort” between 2020 and 2022 to undermine public confidence in at least 11 elections across nine democracies, including the US, the report said. An additional 17 democracies were targeted through “less pronounced” methods involving Russian messaging and social media activity that sought to amplify domestic narratives related to election integrity, it added. Without naming the targeted countries, the report said the US government had shared with them information about the Russian operations. It alleged Russia utilizes both “covert and overt mechanisms” to influence elections. That includes influence networks managed by its security agency, the Federal Security Service or FSB, which covertly attempted to intimidate campaign workers in an unspecified European country’s 2020 election, it said. Russian state media amplified “false claims of voting fraud” in multiple elections in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America in 2020 and 2021, it added. Russia also exploited social media platforms and “proxy websites” to cast doubt about the integrity of elections in one South American country last year, the report said. “For Russia, the benefits of these operations are twofold: To sow instability within democratic societies, and to portray democratic elections as dysfunctional and the resulting governments as illegitimate,” the report said. The US recognizes its “own vulnerability to this threat,” the report said, reiterating that Russian actors sought to undermine public confidence in the 2020 election which President Joe Biden won against Donald Trump. In a media briefing, a US State Department official said Russia was encouraged to press ahead with election influence operations after its perceived success in spreading disinformation about the 2020 US election and the Covid-19 pandemic. “Russia is capitalizing on what it perceives as a relatively inexpensive success in 2020 in the United States to take this more broadly, globally,” the official said on condition of anonymity. WITH AFP The post Russia ‘interfering’ in global election appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Microsoft CEO hits out at ‘dominant’ Google in US trial
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told a US court on Monday that Google's dominance of the search engine market made it very hard for rivals to emerge, hitting out sharply at the business practices of his company's archrival. Nadella spoke to a courtroom in Washington DC, where lawyers from the US Department of Justice are attempting to persuade a federal judge that Google has illegally paid billions to Apple and others to preserve its monopoly. Microsoft's Bing has been trying since 2009 to build market share against Google, but Nadella said it could never compete against the search engine behemoth, largely due to its arrangements with Apple. "You can call it popular, but to me it's dominant," Nadella told a Google lawyer during tense cross examination. The three-month trial is the biggest US antitrust case against a big tech company since the same department took on Microsoft more than two decades ago over the dominance of its Windows operating system. Nadella broadly backed the government's contention that Google's intake of data from being the world's preeminent search engine created a network effect that only made Google a more powerful tool to advertisers and users. "It becomes even harder to break through when you don't have (market) share," Nadella said. 'Defaults matter' Nadella said distribution was key to a successful search engine and that his company was prepared to pay Apple dearly to give Bing the default status on the iPhone. "Defaults are the only thing that matters" and arguments by Google that users will easily switch to another app were "bogus," Nadella said. "It would be a game changer (for Bing) to be a default on Safari," he added. Apple instead stuck with Google and receives billions of dollars every year from the search engine giant with a generous revenue sharing deal, earlier testimony has revealed. With his approaches rebuffed by Apple, Nadella said that Bing has remained a very small player. The company has continued to invest in Bing, Nadella said, awaiting a possible "paradigm shift" or some sort of government intervention to restructure the business. The CEO also testified that despite some early "exuberance," he no longer believed the emergence of ChatGPT would reshape Google's dominance of the search business. Microsoft earlier this year moved aggressively to integrate the AI technology into its Bing search engine, creating some expectation that Google's singular position was under threat. Nadella said he was now worried that Google would be able to use its dominance in search to strongarm content providers that are key to training generative AI models. "I worry a lot in spite of my enthusiasm that this vicious cycle can become even more vicious," Nadella said. The post Microsoft CEO hits out at ‘dominant’ Google in US trial appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MSMEs’ digital shift needs collaboration
The global Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the micro, small and medium enterprises, or MSMEs, with the economic shocks reverberating worldwide. However, the pandemic also saw an unprecedented focus on the struggling sector. Despite being diminutive in size, MSMEs make up for the shortcoming with their sheer volume, making them a source of significant contributions to the local economy. The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed MSMEs comprised 99.52 percent of total businesses in the country, or over 998,342 Filipino enterprises delivering goods and services daily. “In the fast-paced business landscape, MSMEs are facing increased pressure to apply digital technology on their operations to remain competitive and even upscale,” Dino Velasco, the senior vice president and institutional segment marketing head at Union Bank of the Philippines, said in an interview with the Daily Tribune’s digital show Business Sense. “The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend, with businesses across the globe, regardless of size, rapidly adopting digitalization to survive and thrive in the so-called new normal,” he added. UnionBank ceded it could not take the whole task by itself. It needed to partner with stakeholders to address the enormity of the challenge. Foremost in the task is the geography of the Philippines with 7,641 islands which are broadly categorized in three main geographical divisions from north to south. Some of these islands are off-grid, which requires powering up first before they can be connected digitally and served by traditional financing facilities, like UnionBank. “We also do understand and accept the fact that we cannot do it alone. For us at UnionBank, it’s very important to work with partners and we do have partners both in the technology space and in the brick-and-mortar space that allow us to expand or reach even further. Going beyond the 80 percent of the population that are connected and reach the other 20 percent off-grid,” Velasco added. Looking at the Philippine financial landscape, the fintech space has evolved, with telcos, power providers and distributors, money business services, logistics, and others, who are present in off-grid communities as part of the whole-of-nation approach to achieving financial inclusion. Velasco went on, “We continue to partner with these vital stakeholders so that we can provide and extend our financial services to the markets in those areas.” GlobalLinker The greatest hurdles to the successful adoption of digital technology among MSME is overcoming the lack of expertise and good practices, and the associated costs. For a broader uptake of digital tools for these sectors, there needs to be more widely available standardized and even ready templates that the MSMEs can use like a plug-and-play setup. These ready templates would help avoid the appearance of costly and complicated tools and potentially enhance the opportunities for MSMEs to achieve sustainability. “That has always been the challenge for technology, not just for banking, but a lot of industries. How do we educate the more senior segment of the population,” Velasco replied when queried on how to educate MSMEs to embrace digital tools to advance sustainability. Velasco added: “What works is to educate the influencers for that more senior population of the segment. A lot of the small businesses today have in the past, involved other members of the family in running their businesses and they become part of educating those who are trying to use technology for the first time. We noticed that we can adapt that strategy by involving these family members who influence the other members, especially those who are already digitally savvy.” In addition, UnionBank has launched the Global Linker, an online platform designed for e-Commerce that allows users or MSMEs to create their website, while also offering them the opportunity to manage their inventories and link up with other merchants, suppliers, and even resellers. The UnionBank GlobalLinker is a digital SME online platform that aims to digitize SMEs in the country. To create trade fairs and online marketplaces for Filipinos all over the country, we are dedicated to the digital education of all Filipino SMEs. Velasco explained that after creating their website through GlobalLinker, the merchants are now accessible to potential clients “wherever there may be, here or outside the Philippines.” “Imagine if you are an exporter from the Philippines and you have a potential client from India. Because of GlobalLinker, you can communicate with each other and ensure that the goods and services can be ordered and delivered to your client overseas. More importantly, this e-Commerce site is equipped with the necessary tools in ways by which customers can settle or pay digitally,” he said. Velasco continued, “And if you are using our MSME Business Banking app, you can transact overseas and pay someone using Swift (code). Basically, the GlobalLinker is business networking for MSMEs and startups.” Mobile app introduced In the age of a growing demand for digital presence, Velasco said it goes unsaid that UnionBank sees the need for digital technology as a critical tool for MSMEs that want to grow or expand. “What we’re focusing on is to feature our MSME Mobile Business Banking App that we developed to answer the needs of our customers from beginning to end,” Velasco said. “Meaning end-to-end from the time a small business owner needs to apply for an account to the time when they need to manage their businesses. Using the app right solely instead of going to other channels where they need to get out of their offices and go to the branch.” The UnionBank mobile app aims to educate its users to allow the app to let “everything happen while they’re using the app or the platform.” The app also aims to create solutions for the users, like the QR code feature to allow merchants to accept payments from their customers. “It is really an end-to-end feature from account opening to transferring funds, to paying suppliers to accept payments from their customers and up to even applying for a loan facility,” Velasco added. The mobile app is something UnionBank wants to make available in the hands of its customers by simply accessing the mobile banking app for MSMEs. Necessary journey It is no longer a choice for MSMEs. Digitalization is now a necessary journey that all MSMEs must embrace to survive and succeed. Using digital technology may save significant costs for the MSMEs, while at the same time enhancing their operations, sales, marketing, and presence. A digitized MSME may also see increased productivity and efficiency, and improved customer service. But digitalization also comes with several challenges, including technological know-how, funding, and even data security. UnionBank of the Philippines is offering several platforms to solve these challenges. All you have to do is click and download their digital platform offerings. UnionBank is committed to helping MSMEs achieve their digital transformation goals, with their expertise and cost-effective solutions. The post MSMEs’ digital shift needs collaboration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2015 Vatican decree on Mediatrix not binding!
The claims of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the Vatican that Pope Pius XII had officially decreed that the Mediatrix apparitions were of “no supernatural character or origin” is not exactly true. If it is proven not true, the Papal “decree” is not binding and the faithful are allowed not to follow the decree, based on Canon Law. The CBCP released Circular 23-04 dated 14 July 2023 — quoting the official Dicastery document Protocol 226/1949 — stating that “in 1951, the Dicastery, the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy See, after due examination of the documents made available, declared the alleged apparitions in Lipa (of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace) to have no supernatural character or origin, a decision directly approved by Pope Pius XII.” There has been no document in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the official Vatican publication, that said that Pope Pius XII had indeed approved the decree. It was never formalized into an official “promulgation,” which is a requirement of Canon Law, to be binding. In other words, the Dicastery Decree is official, but not the Papal Decree. Protocol 226/1949, authored by the Dicastery, did not clarify that the Pope Pius XII Decree had not yet been official and binding in a formal promulgation. Then apostolic administrator Bishop Rufino Santos said, in his decree of 12 April 1951, that he was still awaiting the Vatican decision regarding Lipa, contradicting Protocol 226/1949 that said a decision had been made. I, therefore, challenge the CBCP and the current Dicastery to produce documentary evidence that there was indeed an existing official Papal Decree of Pope Pius XII in fulfillment of the Canon Law ruling. The decree of Pope Pius XII is important because it was the basis for the recent order of Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera to suppress Mediatrix activities in all churches in Lipa. “Vatican directs CBCP to cease 75th celebration of Lipa apparition” (CNN Philippines 28 July 2023). The CNN article reported that the Vatican reaffirmed its 1951 decree, precisely the questionable Pope Pius XII decree. Only the Pope has the authority to confirm and declare a Marian apparition. If the 1951 Pope Pius decree is now in question, so also are all the recent bans and suppressions of Mediatrix activities in Lipa. The added sentence reads, “The Confraternity of the Mediatrix of All Grace is a movement with dozens of chapters nationwide.” Confraternity members report that a Filipino priest very close to Pope Francis approached him to forward the sentiments of the Mediatrix devotees. He said the Pope simply passed the ball to the Dicastery. And since the Dicastery is vehemently anti-Mediatrix, it was a dead end, a failed attempt. Many Confraternity members were disappointed. The Confraternity has a nationwide presence, although its membership keeps moving dynamically forward and backward. There are chapters whose memberships are strong and keep growing, but there are some whose memberships have decreased. The dynamic chapters include Cebu, Iloilo, Guimaras, Kidapawan, Davao City, General Trias, and Jaro, to name a few. However, the Confraternity is different from the devotees. Confraternity members are essentially professionals, educated and articulate. They are well organized and subject to meetings and activities. The ordinary Mediatrix devotees are peasants, farmers, and fishermen, and are simply humble churchgoers, not so organized. But there are so many who have a strong faith and devotion to Mama Mary in their hearts. They do not even know the issues in the conflict. Their devotion is based on their hearts, not their minds. When the entire Philippine Church was held in submission by the Vatican under threat of excommunication or alienation, it was the laity that took up the cudgels, out of reach of the clutches of the Vatican and the CBCP. The Confraternity distributed hundreds of life-size Mediatrix statues nationwide. They laid the infrastructure for devotion to spread like wildfire to the sea of marginal devotees. It is estimated from Confraternity reports that Mediatrix devotees are broadly around four million nationwide. Herein lies the victory of the Virgin over the Vatican. Despite 70 long years of suppression and repression since the 1951 apparitions to this very day, Mediatrix devotion proliferates. The Vatican and the CBCP have succeeded in silencing Filipino nuns, priests, bishops, and cardinals but they are helpless against the true Marians among the masses. Even the suppressed Church prelates still believe in the silence of their hearts in the Mediatrix. Suppression has ironically strengthened the Filipino Marians. The Confraternity says it has devised a simple strategy. They will suffer and ignore the suppression without opposition, and discern the will of the Lord and Our Lady, and focus on divine messages, teachings, and pray, pray, pray, especially for the Pope, the Vatican and the CBCP. *** eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post 2015 Vatican decree on Mediatrix not binding! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Netflix finally finds a manga hit with ‘One Piece’
Netflix has spent years trying to adapt Japanese manga and anime into live-action TV with little success, but its latest effort, "One Piece", may finally have cracked the code. The US streaming giant's latest show, based on the most famous manga comic of them all, was watched more than 18 million times in its first four days, putting it at the top of the charts. The story of Monkey D Luffy, a boy with a straw hat and stretchy superpowers determined to become king of all pirates by finding a treasure known as one piece, has captivated manga fans since its first editions in 1997. And it should have been a shoo-in for TV success, having already been widely adapted for the screen in a series of animated movies. But manga fans feared the worst before the Netflix live-action version hit the screens in late August. The American giant has tried and failed with other beloved Japanese manga and anime. Its "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Death Note" failed to convince in 2017 and 2021's "Cowboy Bebop" was ditched after one season, crumbling under the weight of bad reviews. With One Piece, Netflix cannily sought to keep fans onside by holding on to the most valuable commodity: the comic's author, Eiichiro Oda. 'Guard dog' Oda is tightly bound to the comic, having written all the editions for its entire run -- a world record -- and was brought on as series supervisor by Netflix. He was well aware of the challenge. "Various manga had been made into live action, but there was a history of failure," he told the New York Times in a rare interview published in late August. "No one in Japan could name a successful example." He told the paper that Netflix agreed to give him final approval. "I read the scripts, gave notes, and acted as a guard dog to ensure the material was being adapted in the correct way," he said. Reviews have been broadly positive, with Charles Pulliam-Moore writing on The Verge website the series "gets all of the important things right". He wrote that the series, with a budget of more than $100 million, had put huge efforts into re-creating Oda's vision in its production design and populating its scenes with a cast of whimsical background characters. This effort, he wrote, meant the series "is able to feel like a living, breathing place with history that you can step into". And that history still has much left to be told -- the first run of eight episodes covers only the first 12 volumes of a comic that now boasts roughly 100. The post Netflix finally finds a manga hit with ‘One Piece’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Unite for peace
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a reminder of how autocracies care little about causing death and destruction. The war is a gross violation of human rights and the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes as codified in the United Nations Charter, which has helped maintain the rules-based international order and kept the world in relative peace since the end of the Cold War. [caption id="attachment_178304" align="aligncenter" width="1101"] Dr. Wu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) | illustration by Glen Tolo for the Daily Tribune[/caption] The war’s humanitarian and economic fallout has also shown that, in a globalized world, crises cannot be contained within national borders. It is, therefore, imperative to deter similar threats to global security from happening elsewhere. Taiwan—a democracy that is home to over 23 million people and that I proudly represent—continues to confront enormous challenges posed by China. Since the mid-20th century, the People’s Republic of China has vowed to take control of Taiwan and refused to renounce the use of force, despite never having ruled Taiwan. For decades, the people of Taiwan have remained calm in safeguarding the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. However, as China’s economic and military might has grown stronger, it becomes increasingly aggressive in flexing its military muscle to intimidate Taiwan, thereby threatening our democratic way of life. This includes sending warplanes and ships across the median line of the Taiwan Strait and encroaching into our air defense identification zones. It has also intensified gray-zone tactics, such as disinformation and economic coercion, in an attempt to wear down our will to fight. The PRC’s expansionism does not stop at Taiwan. China’s use of gray-zone activities in the East and South China Seas are designed to expand its power and substantiate its hawkish territorial claims. In addition to signing a security agreement with Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, the PRC has been securing ports for future military use in the Indian Ocean. All of these maneuvers are causing grave concerns that peace is becoming more difficult to maintain. Ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is in everyone’s best interest. Half of the world’s commercial container traffic passes through the Taiwan Strait each day. Taiwan produces the majority of the world’s semiconductors and plays a key role in global supply chains. Any conflict in the area would have disastrous consequences for the global economy. In recent years, bilateral and multilateral forums have repeatedly emphasized that the peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to global security. While we can all agree that the war must be avoided, how to best do so requires inclusion, dialogue and, most of all, unity. The United Nations remains the best platform for global discourse. UN officials speak often of joint solutions, solidarity, and inclusion in tackling the pressing issues of our time. Taiwan is more than willing and able to take part in these efforts. However, Taiwan continues to be excluded from the UN due to China’s distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. This resolution neither states that Taiwan is a part of the PRC nor gives the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan in the UN and its specialized agencies. In fact, the resolution only determines who represents the member-state China, a fact that the international community and China itself recognized following the relevant vote in 1971. The subsequent misrepresentation of Resolution 2758 contradicts the basic principles upheld by the UN Charter and must be rectified. The 78th session of the UN General Assembly, which will center on the theme “rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity,” is timely in light of a number of broad global challenges. For example, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals were designed as a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity. Yet the most recent SDG progress report showed that just 12 percent of SDG targets were on track, while progress on 50 percent has remained insufficient. And on more than 30 percent, we have stalled or even regressed. While there are no easy answers, the first step is dialogue. As a truly global institution, the UN can serve as a champion of progress. We call on the UN to uphold its principle of leaving no one behind by allowing Taiwan to participate in the UN system, rather than excluding it from discussions on issues requiring global cooperation. A good first step would be to allow Taiwanese individuals and journalists to attend or cover relevant meetings, as well as ensure Taiwan’s meaningful participation in meetings and mechanisms regarding the SDGs. Ukraine’s incredible bravery and resilience have inspired countries around the globe. The war there has forged a new sense of togetherness in the world. Unity is crucial to pushing back against Russia’s aggression and to preserving universal values, such as human rights and global peace, more broadly. It is vital to make China and other authoritarian governments aware that they will be held accountable and to urge them to settle differences through peaceful means. Allowing Taiwan to meaningfully participate in the UN system would benefit the world’s efforts to address pressing global issues. This would also demonstrate the UN’s determination to unite for global peace at a critical juncture when the future of the world is at stake. We are stronger together. Now is the time to act on this fundamental principle by including Taiwan. The post Unite for peace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India rebuffs China’s ‘stay calm’ remarks following release of ’10-dash’ map
It is only natural for countries affected by the newly published map of China to react over the inclusion of their sovereign territories in Beijing’s ’10-dash’ map, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran said Friday. “Broadly speaking, I would say that countries should be sensitive to each other's concerns and when some actions are taken, it is natural that those affected will express their concern," Kumaran told reporters in a press briefing organized by the Indian Embassy in the Philippines. He issued the remarks after the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its newly published map and called on countries affected by their new map to “stay objective and calm, and refrain from over-interpreting the issue.” The 2023 version of China’s Standard Map issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China on 28 August covers the exclusive economic zones of Southeast Asian claimant states in the South China Sea, prompting the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam to release strongly-worded statements against it. India also lodged a protest over the inclusion of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin plateau as official Chinese territory. For Kumaran, countries that have rejected the new map of China are just being “forthright in expressing their concerns.” “That does not in some way imply that those countries are being not so calm. I think they are being forthright in expressing their concerns,” he said. “I think countries like India and the Philippines have been quite forthright when our interests are affected, I think we could continue to be forthright,” he added. According to the Indian diplomat, India and Bangladesh were once in the position of China and the Philippines. However, India chose to adhere to international law. "You have to adhere to international law whether it goes to your favor or not. In the case of the award between India and Bangladesh, it was favorable to Bangladesh, but that did not mean India would walk away from it," he said. China claims the vast South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. On 12 July 2016, the Philippines won its arbitral case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration -- a landmark decision that China continues to reject. Kumaran also said that India is in solidarity with the Philippines in the recent actions of China in the South China Sea. “I would express my solidarity with the sentiment in the Philippines with regard to such efforts at what I would call ‘cartographic expansionism,’” he said. “I think it's important to state our positions and our views. I think both India and the Philippines have done that,” he added. The post India rebuffs China’s ‘stay calm’ remarks following release of ’10-dash’ map appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Unite for Peace in the World and Taiwan’s Inclusion in the UN
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a reminder of how autocracies care little about causing death and destruction. The war is a gross violation of human rights and the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes as codified in the United Nations Charter, which has helped maintain the rules-based international order and kept the world in relative peace since the end of the Cold War. The war’s humanitarian and economic fallout has also shown that in a globalized world crises cannot be contained within national borders. It is therefore imperative to deter similar threats to global security from happening elsewhere. Taiwan—a democracy that is home to over 23 million people and that I proudly represent—continues to confront enormous challenges posed by China. Since the mid-20th century, the People’s Republic of China has vowed to take control of Taiwan and refused to renounce the use of force, despite never having ruled Taiwan. For decades, the people of Taiwan have remained calm in safeguarding the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. However, as China’s economic and military might has grown stronger, it has become increasingly aggressive in flexing its military muscle to intimidate Taiwan, thereby threatening our democratic way of life. This includes sending warplanes and ships across the median line of the Taiwan Strait and encroaching into our air defense identification zones. It has also intensified gray-zone tactics, such as disinformation and economic coercion, in an attempt to wear down our will to fight. The PRC’s expansionism does not stop at Taiwan. China’s use of gray-zone activities in the East and South China Seas are designed to expand its power and substantiate its hawkish territorial claims. In addition to signing a security agreement with Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, the PRC has been securing ports for future military use in the Indian Ocean. All of these maneuvers are causing grave concerns that peace is becoming more difficult to maintain. Ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is in everyone’s best interest. Half of the world’s commercial container traffic passes through the Taiwan Strait each day. Taiwan produces the majority of the world’s semiconductors and plays a key role in global supply chains. Any conflict in the area would have disastrous consequences for the global economy. In recent years, bilateral and multilateral forums have repeatedly emphasized that peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to global security. While we can all agree that the war must be avoided, how to best do so requires inclusion, dialogue, and, most of all, unity. The United Nations remains the best platform for global discourse. UN officials speak often of joint solutions, solidarity, and inclusion in tackling the pressing issues of our time. Taiwan is more than willing and able to take part in these efforts. However, Taiwan continues to be excluded from the UN due to China’s distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. This resolution neither states that Taiwan is a part of the PRC nor gives the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan in the UN and its specialized agencies. In fact, the resolution only determines who represents the member state China, a fact that the international community and China itself recognized following the relevant vote in 1971. The subsequent misrepresentation of Resolution 2758 contradicts the basic principles upheld by the UN Charter and must be rectified. The 78th session of the UN General Assembly, which will center on the theme “rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity,” is timely in light of a number of broad global challenges. For example, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals were designed as a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity. Yet the most recent SDG progress report showed that just 12 percent of SDG targets were on track, while progress on 50 percent has remained insufficient. And on more than 30 percent, we have stalled or even regressed. While there are no easy answers, the first step is dialogue. As a truly global institution, the UN can serve as a champion of progress. We call on the UN to uphold its principle of leaving no one behind by allowing Taiwan to participate in the UN system, rather than excluding it from discussions on issues requiring global cooperation. A good first step would be to allow Taiwanese individuals and journalists to attend or cover relevant meetings, as well as ensure Taiwan’s meaningful participation in meetings and mechanisms regarding the SDGs. Ukraine’s incredible bravery and resilience have inspired countries around the globe. The war there has forged a new sense of togetherness in the world. Unity is crucial to pushing back against Russia’s aggression and to preserving universal values, such as human rights and global peace, more broadly. It is vital to make China and other authoritarian governments aware that they will be held accountable and to urge them to settle differences through peaceful means. Allowing Taiwan to meaningfully participate in the UN system would benefit the world’s efforts to address pressing global issues. This would also demonstrate the UN’s determination to unite for global peace at a critical juncture when the future of the world is at stake. We are stronger together. Now is the time to act on this fundamental principle by including Taiwan. The post Unite for Peace in the World and Taiwan’s Inclusion in the UN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, UK strengthen bilateral relations, geopolitical issues cited
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met in Manila on Tuesday to further discuss ways to strengthen the two countries' bilateral relations. In his meeting with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Malacañang, Marcos Jr. underscored the long-standing friendship between the Philippines and the UK, which dates back to the early 19th century. He also noted the growing trade and investment ties between the two countries, as well as the increasing cooperation in areas such as climate change, security, and defense. In particular, Marcos said that the security and defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United Kingdom is a "welcome evolution." Creating security ties and collaborations with the United Kingdom, according to Marcos Jr., is "not traditional" for the Philippines. "But that seems to be the evolution, the geopolitics these days. It is a welcome evolution in my view, and again, your visit here I think, is a clear indication of that intent," the President said. Marcos added there has been a change in Europe's post-pandemic focus toward Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, to start the economic reform process. "We are not quite at pre-pandemic levels yet, but we are fast approaching that, and that, of course, is very important for us," Marcos said. Cleverly, for his part, said the UK is "committed to working with the Philippines to build a stronger, more prosperous future for both our countries." He also said that the UK is "ready to invest in the Philippines' economic growth and development." “There is still growth. I know that you are very focused on attracting investment into the country and I’ve been discussing with our ambassador about a UK export finance facility, which I hope would encourage UK companies to invest more broadly,” Cleverly said. The foreign minister said both nations can also work “very, very closely together” to combat climate change and accelerate clean energy access. “So I see lots of opportunities to build on what is a really positive bilateral relationship. And so my final thank you is to thank your nation through you, sir, for being a really good friend and partner to the UK, but with huge growth potential for that partnership,” added Cleverly. The post Phl, UK strengthen bilateral relations, geopolitical issues cited appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»