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Nobody benefits from a China downturn
For decades after the end of the Mao Zedong regime, China embarked on an economic revolution led by Deng Xiaoping. In the 1990s and the early part of the 21st century, China’s comparatively technocratic leadership promoted private enterprise......»»
Biden meets Chinese FM, urges cooperation on ‘global challenges’
US President Joe Biden met China's foreign minister for talks on Friday as the two countries seek to smooth ties ahead of a possible visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Biden told top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi that Washington and Beijing must "manage competition in the relationship responsibly and maintain open lines of communication," the White House said. With the Israel-Hamas conflict raging in the Middle East, Biden also "underscored that the United States and China must work together to address global challenges," it added in a statement. Biden has invited Xi to San Francisco next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, but he has also stood firm on China in the run-up, keeping up a stream of sanctions and backing US allies in disputes with Beijing. Wang Yi has been on a two-day visit to Washington during which he also met US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The Chinese foreign minister had been expected to meet Biden too after Blinken met Chinese president Xi in Beijing in June, but it had not previously been confirmed. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had said on Thursday that this week's talks were a "milestone in that effort to keep the lines of communication open with the PRC (People's Republic of China)." Sullivan was going to raise "areas of concern" including China's behavior in the South China Sea, where it has been forcefully asserting its maritime boundaries. Stabilize Wang said after meeting Blinken on Thursday that he wanted to "stabilize US-China relations" and "reduce misunderstanding" after years of tensions. Acknowledging that differences will still come up, Wang said China would respond "calmly, because we are of the view that what is right and what is wrong is not determined by who has the stronger arm or the louder voice." Biden and Xi have had no contact since a meeting in Bali in November 2022. Relations have been tense for years between world's top two economies as they vie for influence in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, and as Beijing boosts cooperation with Russia in a bid to reduce US dominance. Tensions have been particularly high over Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy claimed by Beijing that over the past year has launched major military exercises in response to actions by US lawmakers. The United States and China have also traded barbs over the conflict in the Middle East, where Biden has been Israel's foremost ally. US officials have repeatedly spoken of creating "guardrails" with China to prevent worst-case scenarios and have sought, without success, to restore contact between the two militaries. Biden on Wednesday warned China of US treaty obligations to the Philippines, which said that Chinese vessels deliberately hit Manila's boats in dispute-rife waters -- an account contested by Beijing. Speaking alongside Australia's prime minister, a key Asia-Pacific ally, Biden vowed to compete with China "every way according to the international rules -- economically, politically, in other ways. But I'm not looking for conflict." The post Biden meets Chinese FM, urges cooperation on ‘global challenges’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aussie PM condemns Hamas
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas during his meeting with United States President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday. “Australia unequivocally condemns the terrorism of Hamas,” Albanese said in a speech. Australia’s leader at the same time condoled with all Israeli victims of Hamas’ attack on 7 October and Palestinians in Gaza Strip suffering from Israel’s war with the terrorist group. “We grieve for the loss of every innocent life, whether that be Israeli or Palestinian,” he said. Albanese said his government will provide an additional $15 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza. Australia already committed to give $10 million to Palestinians and deliver lifesaving assistance such as emergency water and medical services. Albanese also declared that Australia stands with Ukraine in its war with Russia and mentioned Canberra’s additional military aid to Kyiv to help it regain territories annexed by Moscow. The two leaders’ meeting underscored the countries’century-old alliance and unity in confronting an increasingly assertive China in theAsia-Pacific region. The post Aussie PM condemns Hamas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Century Peak boosts cement production
Century Peak Cement Manufacturing Corp., a subsidiary of Century Peak Holdings Corp., led by businessman Wilfredo Keng, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing a sales volume of 1.5 million bags in August 2024. This remarkable accomplishment highlights the company’s commitment to cement production. As the president and CEO of the company, Keng expressed his confidence in further increasing the monthly volume to 2 million bags. This optimism stems from their additional investment in a tonner bag facility, which is scheduled to become operational in October 2023. Keng shared his excitement about the promising prospects ahead, especially considering that Century Peak only commenced commercial operations this year. Dedicated to providing premium-quality cement renowned for its durability and cost-efficiency, Century Peak Cement’s vision is to provide premium quality at the lowest cost. Challenge vs foreign competition As a locally-based enterprise, Century Peak Cement Manufacturing Corporation aims to challenge the dominance of multinational cement producers through nationwide distribution of its products. The company’s flagship offering, Type 1 PRIME cement, is a versatile and high-quality cement in demand for major projects, including those undertaken by SM Prime Holdings Inc., such as mall construction initiatives and Priland Development Corporation on residential initiatives. Century Peak Cement has successfully supplied its cement to several prominent projects. The company’s dedication to quality cement production contributed to the successful realization of these structures. Century Peak Cement continues to establish itself as a trusted and reliable supplier for major construction projects, ensuring the durability and strength of the buildings it supports. The post Century Peak boosts cement production appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US auto talks at ‘critical phase’ as political pressure grows
High-wire talks between striking US workers and automotive giants are in a "critical phase," Jeep-maker Stellantis said Saturday, as politicians staked out positions on a labor issue that could have national impact. Stellantis, together with fellow "Big Three" automakers General Motors and Ford, was hit Friday by a limited strike -- but one the United Auto Workers (UAW) warns could spread. Both sides issued cautious statements Saturday. "Our bargaining team continues to work days, nights and weekends" in pursuit of a "reasonable" solution, said the statement from Stellantis, which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA Group. But the automaker warned that if talks took a bad turn, the outcome "will take us backward and endanger the long-term competitiveness of our Company, negatively impacting our workers and our communities." There was no immediate formal response from the union, but a UAW source told AFP, "we had reasonably productive conversations with Ford today." Only about 12,700 of the UAW's 150,000 members are currently on strike. But with workers at all of the Big Three coordinating strike action for the first time -- including a demand for pay increases of 40 percent over a four-year contract -- the automakers could face a far more disruptive stoppage. Underscoring the political stakes of the moment, President Joe Biden quickly lent his support to the strikers Friday, saying he understood their "frustration." Political lines And on Saturday, former president Barack Obama lent his backing, with a reference to the 2008-09 financial crisis. "When the big three automakers were struggling to stay afloat, my administration and the American people stepped in to support them," he said on social media. "So did the auto workers in the UAW who sacrificed pay and benefits to help get the companies back on their feet. "Now that our carmakers are enjoying robust profits, it’s time to do right by those same workers." But former president Donald Trump, who hopes to face Biden in next year's US presidential election, lashed out at the UAW as over-reaching. "The auto workers will not have any jobs... because all of these cars are going to be made in China -- the electric cars, automatically, are going to be made in China," he said in an interview to be aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." In its statement, Stellantis said the UAW was misrepresenting its proposals. It said its current offer would give employees a 21 percent pay raise over the term of the contract, with 10 percent coming upon ratification. General Motors upped its offer Thursday, lifting a proposed wage increase from 18 to 20 percent, according to the UAW. But hourly workers say the auto giants must produce significantly better packages to make up for what they call meager wages and benefit cuts after the 2008 financial crisis, when both GM and Chrysler, now part of Stellantis, underwent bankruptcy reorganizations. They also want pay boosts for lower-paid temporary workers. The post US auto talks at ‘critical phase’ as political pressure grows appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden boosts U.S. influence on G20, Vietnam
United States President Joe Biden arrives in India Friday for the Group of 20 summit and proceeds to Vietnam Sunday, both aimed at boosting US influence amid division caused by the war in Ukraine and territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Biden is hoping to seize on the absence of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit. The US president said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was showing his country’s commitment to the G20 as a forum that can deliver. White House officials said Biden would in particular stress a plan to increase World Bank and International Monetary Fund lending power for emerging nations by some $200 billion as a better alternative to Beijing’s “coercive” Belt and Road Initiative. But the absence of Xi and Putin underscores the divisions in the G20 and could hamper Biden’s bid to keep the bloc as the leading forum of global economic cooperation. In Hanoi, Biden and ruling Vietnamese Communist party chief Nguyen Phu Trong are expected to sign a major upgrade in ties between the two countries, who have overcome the painful legacy of the Vietnam War to grow close. They are expected to sign off on a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” Hanoi’s highest level of diplomatic ties. Currently, Vietnam only has ties at the same level with Russia, India, South Korea and China. Biden is betting that Vietnam won’t mind being closer to Washington at a time when China’s sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea have fueled tensions with its Southeast Asian neighbors. However, Vietnam won’t be keen to play a role in balancing Washington and Beijing, Nguyen Quoc Cuong, the Vietnamese ambassador to US from 2011 to 2014, said. WITH AFP The post Biden boosts U.S. influence on G20, Vietnam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hong Kong flooded by heaviest rainfall in 140 years
Hong Kong was flooded by the heaviest rainfall in nearly 140 years on Friday, leaving the city's streets and some subway stations under water and forcing its schools to close. Just across the border, authorities in China's tech hub Shenzhen recorded the heaviest rains since records began in 1952. Climate change has increased the intensity of tropical storms, experts say, with more rain and stronger gusts leading to flash floods and coastal damage. The heavy rains in Hong Kong started on Thursday and in the hour leading up to midnight, the city's weather observatory recorded hourly rainfall of 158.1 millimeters at its headquarters, the highest since records began in 1884. On Friday afternoon, the Hospital Authority said at least 110 people were hospitalized due to injuries, with four in serious condition. A man was found unconscious off the shore of western Hong Kong Island and declared dead at the hospital, though authorities were still investigating if the death was flood-related. The city's highest rainstorm warning level, "black", was hoisted for a record-breaking 16 hours before being lowered at 3:40 pm Friday, with rainfall mostly easing by late afternoon. "It's absolutely shocking," said Jacky, 52, who lives in the Wong Tai Sin district with his elderly parents. "I don't remember floods ever being this bad in our district." "The bottom floor of the mall is completely flooded, the water level is higher than the storefronts... it's turned our day into chaos," he added. Authorities issued flash flood warnings, with emergency services conducting rescue operations in parts of the territory. "Residents living in close proximity to rivers should stay alert to weather conditions and should consider evacuation" if their homes are flooded, the observatory said. It also warned of potential landslips, telling motorists to "keep away from steep slopes or retaining walls". Hong Kong's stock exchange cancelled all trading sessions on Friday. 'Once in a century' Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan described the deluge as "a once-in-a-century heavy rainstorm", adding that extreme conditions would continue until midnight local time (1600 GMT). "It's like putting four bathtubs of water into one bathtub... it will spill," Chan said at a press conference, when asked if the government had done enough to prevent flooding. The Hong Kong Observatory said it recorded more than 600 millimeters of rainfall at its headquarters over 24 hours -- roughly a quarter of the city's annual average. Earlier in the day, taxis struggled through flooded roads as commuters attempted to make their way to work, with some cars stranded in the deluge. "It felt like the whole neighborhood was isolated by the floodwater. One of the underground car parks is totally under water," Olivia Lam, who lives on the eastern side of Hong Kong Island, told AFP. "The water was almost waist-deep outside my building, and that's not the worst (case) in the neighborhood." An AFP reporter saw boulders and mud from a landslide block off a two-lane road in the Shau Kei Wan district, with mud also spilling over into a nearby basketball court. Residents of a public housing block just 30 meters from the landslide lined up with buckets to collect fresh water after the building's supply was disrupted. Roads were also flooded on the island of Lantau, where rivers swelled over their banks. Southern China was hit the previous weekend by two typhoons in quick succession -- Saola and Haikui -- though Hong Kong avoided a feared direct hit. Tens of millions of people in the densely populated coastal areas of southern China had sheltered indoors ahead of those storms. Hong Kong's weather observatory said the latest torrential rain was brought by the "trough of low pressure associated with (the) remnant of Haikui". Authorities suspended schools and cargo clearance services on the city's border with Shenzhen were paused. The border disruption came hours after Hong Kong authorities announced that Shenzhen was preparing to discharge water from its reservoir, which they said could lead to flooding in northern parts of the city. Hong Kong's subway operator said there was a service disruption on one of its lines after a station in the Wong Tai Sin district was flooded. A handful of other stations were also affected by the rain. Footage posted on social media showed a subway train not stopping at Wong Tai Sin station, which had floodwater on its platform. The flooding could cost Hong Kong at least $100 million, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence estimate, compared to $470 million in damage when the city was hit by typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. The post Hong Kong flooded by heaviest rainfall in 140 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gilas win over China stokes patriotic fervor
Senators were among the Filipinos who showed support for Gilas Pilipinas en route to its rousing 96-75 win over China in the FIBA World Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Saturday night. Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go was seen wearing matching black shirts with the print “West Ph Sea,” short for West Philippine Sea. “Congratulations Gilas Pilipinas! That’s the heart of the Filipino that you’ve shown fighting to the very end. I salute all the players, coaches, and fans because ‘our never-say-die attitude’ gave us the hope to score a victory in the FIBA World Cup,” Go, himself a prolific basketball player, said in Filipino. “While we were saddened by our not qualifying for the Olympics, Gilas did not disappoint the home crowd by showing a big potential for future competitions,” he added. He said the victory over a Chinese team boosts the morale of Filipinos amid the challenges the country is facing in the West Philippine Sea being claimed by Beijing as part of its territory. WPS ours! Asked about the WPS shirts he and the other senators wore during the game, Go said they were given to them to show their being one with the team and the country’s territorial sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. “The West Philippine Sea is ours!” Go said. “This victory is also for all of us.” For Zubiri, the Philippines, even through basketball, was able to show it would not be bullied by China on the home court, seemingly referencing similarly gallant stands made by the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy in the WPS. “This was the most important game of all! For our pride and for our motherland, the Philippines,” Zubiri said. “We may not have won any of our games for the world championships, but this win was the sweetest of all.” Likewise, Villanueva described the Gilas Pilipinas’ victory over China as the country’s “best win.” Biggest game “Most important basketball game of the year! It feels like we won the championship! Yahoo!” he said. “Our Gilas Pilipinas fought well like each and every one of them knows the story of Ayungin, Recto Bank, Pag-asa Island, etc.” He added: “So proud of them! Everyone contributed! We saw a different Gilas Team; there’s fire in their eyes.” Zubiri explained that their matching shirts with the print “West Ph Sea” was their response to China’s new standard map which also included the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines. 10-dash line “They released a 10-dash line; we wore the T-shirt as a statement that the West Philippines Sea is ours. Mabuhay Gilas! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” he said. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said they have worn the shirts to “awaken the patriotic spirit of our Gilas Pilipinas and motivate them to secure the victory which is symbolic for us Filipinos in light of the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea.” The post Gilas win over China stokes patriotic fervor 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......»»
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......»»
UK boosts maritime cooperation with Phl amid tensions in South China Sea
The Philippines and the United Kingdom have agreed to bolster their maritime cooperation, British Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Spencer Cleverly said Tuesday. During his one-day visit to the Philippines, Cleverly signed a joint statement of intent to develop a framework agreement with his Filipino counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. “This is an exciting time for our relationship. Our UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership benefits our people, including on climate, trade, science, and tech, and shared security,” he said in his speech before reporters at the Manila Diamond Hotel, Roxas Boulevard. “Our relationship is founded on our shared values, and shared belief in openness, freedom and the rule of law,” he added. Cleverly announced that the UK agreed to broaden its maritime cooperation with the Philippines by sharing knowledge on maritime law, promoting maritime domain awareness, and advancing environmental protection. Aside from his meeting with Manalo, the English top diplomat also visited the Philippine Coast Guard to “hear about the work they do to uphold UNCLOS and protect the environment.” The visit came weeks after the China Coast Guard aggressively attempted to block the Philippine vessels from its resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. Several countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, France, and New Zealand, condemned China’s actions. Cleverly said the UK wants to build “enduring partnerships with the Philippines and like-minded countries across this region to safeguard security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.” For his part, Manalo said the UK is an “important long-standing partner of the Philippines, especially in this time of geographic upheavals, economic disruptions, and challenges to the rule of law.” “During our meeting today, we also discussed pressing and evolving regional and international issues of mutual concern,” he said. “The Philippines and the UK are like-minded partners through our shared values of democracy and the rule of law, our unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order, and our pursuit of peace and stability,” he added. Aside from maritime cooperation, the two foreign ministers also discussed areas of defense, security, climate, economics, and people-to-people ties in their meeting. Cleverly is the first British Foreign Secretary that has set foot in Manila since 2016. The post UK boosts maritime cooperation with Phl amid tensions in South China Sea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India becomes first nation to land spacecraft near Moon’s south pole
India on Wednesday became the first nation to land a craft near the Moon's south pole, a historic triumph for the world's most populous nation and its ambitious, cut-price space program. The unmanned Chandrayaan-3, which means "Mooncraft" in Sanskrit, touched down at 6:04 pm India time (1234 GMT) as mission control technicians cheered wildly and embraced their colleagues. Its landing comes days after a Russian probe crashed in the same region and four years since the previous Indian attempt failed at the last moment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi smiled broadly and waved an Indian flag on a live broadcast to announce the mission's success as a triumph that extended beyond his country's borders. "On this joyous occasion I would like to address the people of the world," said Modi from the sidelines of the BRICS diplomatic summit in South Africa. "India's successful moon mission is not just India's alone," he added. "This success belongs to all of humanity." The Chandrayaan-3 mission has captivated public attention since launching nearly six weeks ago in front of thousands of cheering spectators. Politicians staged Hindu prayer rituals to wish for the mission's success and schoolchildren followed the final moments of the landing from live broadcasts in classrooms. Chandrayaan-3 took much longer to reach the Moon than the Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s, which arrived in a matter of days. India used rockets much less powerful than the ones the United States used back then, meaning the probe had to orbit the Earth several times to gain speed before embarking on its month-long journey. The lander, Vikram, which means "valor" in Sanskrit, detached from its propulsion module last week and has been sending images of the Moon's surface since entering lunar orbit on August 5. Now that Vikram has landed, a solar-powered rover will explore the surface and transmit data to Earth over its two-week lifespan. Ambitious program India is closing in on milestones set by global space powers such as the United States and Russia, conducting many of its missions at much lower price tags. The South Asian nation has a comparatively low-budget space program, but one that has grown considerably in size and momentum since it first sent a probe to orbit the Moon in 2008. The latest mission has a cost of $74.6 million -- far lower than those of other countries, and a testament to India's frugal space engineering. Experts say India can keep costs low by copying and adapting existing technology, and thanks to an abundance of highly skilled engineers who earn a fraction of their foreign counterparts' wages. In 2014, India became the first Asian nation to put a craft into orbit around Mars and is slated to launch a three-day crewed mission into Earth's orbit by next year. Wednesday's landing had been eagerly awaited by the Indian Space Research Organisation after the frustrating failure of its previous mission at the last hurdle in 2019. Back then, mission control lost contact with the Chandrayaan-2 lunar module moments before its slated landing. 'Very, very important' Former ISRO chief K. Sivan told AFP that India's efforts to explore the relatively unmapped lunar south pole would make a "very, very important" contribution to scientific knowledge. Only Russia, the United States and China have previously achieved controlled landings on the Moon. Russia launched a lunar probe in August -- its first in nearly half a century. If successful, it would have beaten Chandrayaan-3 by a matter of days to become the first mission from any nation to make a controlled landing around the south pole. But Luna-25 crashed on Saturday after an unspecified incident as it prepared to descend. The post India becomes first nation to land spacecraft near Moon’s south pole appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Salt maker request: Redeem our dying industry, amend ‘Asin’Law
A gourmet salt manufacturer in Albuquerque, Bohol is asking for the country’s lawmakers to amend Republic Act 8172, otherwise known as the Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide or ASIN Law, as the statute continues to kill their industry that has been operating in Albuquerque for more than a century now. In an interview, Nestor Manungas, proprietor of ASINAN ni Tan Inong, the maker of the unique Asin Tibuok, said RA 8172 has been hindering them to manufacture the condiment because the law mandates that salt produced in the country should contain iodine. “We cannot do that in our product because our way of producing Asin Tibuok is completely different from the normal way of making salt. We use direct heat, so minerals, like iodine, will definitely wear out or destroy the product,” he said. Signed into law by late-President Fidel V. Ramos in 1995, RA 8172 seeks to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders by mandating all salt producers and manufacturers to iodize their products. Ease of Doing Business Also, Manungas hit the Food and Drug Administration for being so sluggish in releasing approvals on their product, despite the presence of the Ease of Doing Business Law. “The US FDA is even better, we got it quickly. But here, we got them (FDA permit) more than two years ago. Although the Department of Trade and Industry helped us in the process, but it’s still too long. Other manufacturers have already given up on operating here because of bureaucratic hardships in acquiring business operation permits,” according to Manungas. Manungas’ Asin Tibuok, under the company Tan Inong Manufacturing Corporation, is currently making waves in terms of exports in various parts of the world, particularly in the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan and China. “This year we have a huge demand in Europe. Foreigners appreciate our salt as they find it totally different from Himalayan salt because it has a smoky flavor that they like in the taste of their food. But hopefully, we can sell on a large scale here in the country. I hope the business founded by our ancestors will not be dissolved,” he said. Stringent process Making Asin Tibuok, said to be on the brink of extinction, is not easy as it is very labor-intensive. Traditionally, Asin Tibuok making begins by soaking coconut husks for three months in saltwater coming from pools by the mangrove at the back of the manufacturing house of Manungas in Albuquerque. These husks will go through the burning process in a highly controlled manner. Subsequently, the ashes collected from the burnt are manually poured on large filters and more seawater will be poured through the ashes to make a very highly concentrated brine. After this, specially made clay pots are placed over a wood fire, and the concentrated brine is transferred continuously for eight hours into the boiling pots. Manungas and his assistants usually keep a close eye on evaporation so that the pots will not crack, resulting in a smoky sphere of salt that can weigh as much as one kilo. These pots of rocky salt are priced at P800. Business group support Since last year, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. has been urging lawmakers to amend Republic Act 8172 to revive the country’s salt production industry. Its president, Danilo Fausto said the country continues to import 93 percent of its salt requirement, even though the Philippines has the second longest shoreline in the world. “We have 36,000 kilometers of shoreline. It’s really embarrassing that we are importing salt from Australia and China, and some also in Thailand and New Zealand,” Fausto said. Fausto added the country in 2021 imported 646,000 metric tons of salt, which is being used as fertilizer for coconut trees. On the other hand, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also pushing for amendments to the Asin Law to help local manufacturers in the country, aside from other monumental reforms that would help micro, small, and medium enterprises to recoup from the ill effects of the pandemic and economic headwinds. But during his second State of the Nation Address, the proposed amendment for the ASIN Law was not included on the priority bills President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. requested for lawmakers of the House of Representatives to focus on. The post Salt maker request: Redeem our dying industry, amend ‘Asin’Law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’
Sometime in August 2016, I attended the formal media launch of One Belt One Road, or OBOR, in Beijing, China. I thought then that OBOR, also referred to later as Belt and Road Initiative, must be one of the most, if not the most, significant programs of President Xi Jinping, as it was attended by hundreds of print and broadcast journalists from around the world, the Philippines included. OBOR was to revive the “Silk Road” economic belt of ancient China, a land trade route carrying its finest silk and other goods to its neighboring Central Asian countries and later to as far as Europe; whereas today’s Road refers to the 21st Century land and maritime silk route to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The land route was launched, I think in 2013, while the maritime route was given a big push in 2017. Early on, China set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as part of the OBOR mechanism. China sank in the initial capital and was joined later by other member countries. The Philippines was the last country to join AIIB when the late President Noynoy Aquino signed its Charter in the last few minutes of 31 December 2015, and this was ratified a year later during Duterte’s term. In sum, AIIB had 106 members to start. The Philippines, if we look at the records, derived from loans and infrastructure projects, was quite slow in availing of cheap money from this BRI initiative. Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN and African countries had done so for various infra projects, among these railways, dams, and ports. The small loan amount we obtained was later topped up by China in terms of gifts which came in the form of bridges, schools, medical supplies, and vaccines when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Add to that are the much-needed arms for our armed forces to get rid of the marauding Maute ISIS terrorist group in Marawi City and additional help to rehabilitate it later. Alarmed by the inroads China was making with the BRI through the land and marine infrastructure built with the billions of dollars it loaned to countries along the silk routes, the West was quick to make a big issue of it when Sri Lanka defaulted, calling China’s loans a “debt trap.” Of course, not a few of those struggling economies defaulted as the impact of the new infrastructure on their development had yet to gain traction. However, President Xi Jinping waived the interest dues. How is it for China midway to the Road’s target completion date of 2049? The BRI has covered more than 68 countries with an estimated 65 percent of the world’s population. All told, the largesse from China resulted in the reduction of dependency on the US and it created new markets for Chinese products. The US of A is fast losing its dominance. China, once wallowing in the quagmire of poverty, is now the second-largest economy in the world and growing. Will China then go beyond firing water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels? This could only be answered by another set of questions. Is China willing to cut the marine silk route that passes through or close to the West Philippine Sea? Will its land route suffice to bring its products to its export markets in the event the sea lane is altogether cut off? Will the Chinese people relish going back to poverty and isolation? The answers are a big NO. So why EDCA? Why not pursue the Philippines-China joint oil exploration in the WPS as the offer stands at a 60/40 sharing agreement in favor of the Philippines? Why build more military bases when these are veritable beckons to war which we as a policy abhor? Why not take advantage of the short maritime link between China and the Philippines to enhance our economy? The price of fuel is skyrocketing. Our peso is depreciating as in a free fall. We have solutions and yet these, too have become problems. The post Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China still intractable
On the seventh anniversary of the Philippines’ historic 12 July 2016 arbitration victory in which the Permanent Court of Arbitration or PCA in The Hague that voided China’s sweeping claims, including over the West Philippine Sea which covers the exclusive economic zone stretching 200 nautical miles from Philippine shores, the words of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. strike an uplifting chord in the hearts of all patriotic Filipinos. “I will not preside over any process that will abandon even one square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power,” he said with conviction to thunderous applause as he stood before members of Congress in joint session for his first SONA on 25 July 2022. The words of the President serve as the title to the microsite recently launched by the Department of Foreign Affairs, which marks the seventh year of Manila’s victory against China at the PCA. That victory, the DFA said on the site, “authoritatively ruled that the claim of historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash’ line had no basis in law and is without any legal effect.” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo describes the site as a central resource of information regarding the award and its contribution to the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS and international law. China, ironically, was among the first to ratify UNCLOS in 1992. Said Manalo, “Anniversaries remind us of the trajectory we have taken as a nation and as a people. In the decision (by the Philippine government, under then President Benigno C. Aquino III) to file an arbitration case, the Philippines opted to take the path of principle, the rule of law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Tribunal’s decision affirmed the correctness of that course of action.” It took three years from the Philippines’ filing of its case against China until 12 July 2016 for the PCA to issue its ruling that crushed China’s claims over the SCS, including its nine-dash line, denouncing the encroachment in and harassment by armed Chinese maritime elements of Filipino fishermen in the WPS. China has long argued that its claim over the South China Sea is historical in nature, with Chinese scholars and analysts contending that islands in the South China Sea were first discovered by China’s Han dynasty over two millennia ago. In his book Asia’s Cauldron, US scholar and strategist Robert D. Kaplan says that between the 10th and 14th centuries, during the Song and Yuan dynasties, many official and unofficial Chinese accounts show the South China Sea to be within China’s national boundaries. He, however, argued that this “historical rights” argument has been challenged on several fronts. First, there is scant proof that China had controlled the South China Sea after the mid-17th century. “Indeed, after a burst of seafaring exploration during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), China’s emperors largely shut their empire off from the seas,” said Chinese marine geographer Wang Ying who contends that, consequently, there is scarce cartographic proof of China’s rights over the SCS. While the nine-dash line concept has been around since 1947, Chinese maps — for the longest time — hardly gave it any prominence. This changed in 2009 when a map marking the nine-dash line was included in the documents submitted by China to the UN during a dispute with Vietnam. Today, Chinese passports are emblazoned with a map with nine dashes through the South China Sea as well as a 10th dash that counts Taiwan as part of Chinese territory. Still, there exists vagueness over what China’s nine-dash line implies. Wang says the dash lines mean that “the ocean, islands, and reefs all belong to China and that China has sovereign right over them. But it’s discontinuous, meaning other countries can pass through the lines freely.” Notwithstanding the ambiguities over its nine-dash line concept and the quashing by the PCA of its claim over the SCS, China, to this day, refuses to recognize the 2016 arbitral ruling even as nations, including the US, Germany, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the European Union have expressed strong support for the landmark decision that recognized Philippine sovereign rights over its EEZ in the WPS. For the US, the 2016 ruling of the tribunal constituted under UNCLOS is “final and legally binding.” The EU called the ruling a “significant milestone” and a “useful basis for the peaceful resolution of disputes…” even as Canadian Ambassador David Hartman said, “We have always been strong in our position; we have been an active vocal proponent on the enforcement of it, encouraging all parties involved to respect the ruling.” Speaking for President Marcos, DFA Secretary Manalo welcomed “the growing number of partners that have expressed support for the Award. We are honored that the Award stands as a beacon whose guiding light serves all nations. It is a settled landmark and a definitive contribution to the progressive development of international law. It is ours, as much as it is the world’s.” A world, that is, that an obdurate China doesn’t seem to want to be part of nor care for unless it can be bent to its will. 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DTI wants stronger China-Phl alliance
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual wants tighter trade cooperation between China and the Philippines particularly in terms of investments. During the China (Zhangzhou)-Philippines Economic and Trade Cooperation and Exchange Briefing on Thursday at Century Park Hotel in Manila, Pascual underscored China’s role as its largest trading partner. China is the country’s largest source of imports and the third-largest export destination in 2022. The visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to Beijing brought home investment leads amounting to $22.8 billion. The event included presentations from different bureaus and projects and a signing ceremony organized by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines and Zhangzhou Municipal People’s government. Investments welcome “We welcome investments from Chinese enterprises to the Philippines further to enhance the bilateral relationship between our two countries. Such investments can take advantage of the development momentum brought about by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP agreement to which the Philippines and China are signatories along with 13 other countries in the East and Southeast Asian Region,” according to the trade chief. Further, Pascual cited the country’s improving business climate given its strategic geographical location. It recently enacted reforms that will provide simplified procedures, enhance transparency, and promote investor-friendly policies. He also cited a range of sectors that would be potential investment destinations such as petrochemicals, agriculture, e-commerce, logistics, medical/health industries, green industries, tourism and education, among others. As the Department of Trade and Industry formally launched on Thursday Executive Order 18 of President Marcos Jr., seen to create green lanes for strategic investments that is expected to enhance the ease of doing business. These green lanes are vital to address the barriers across multiple regulatory agencies which usually hampers the realization of foreign direct investments in the country. “The China-Philippines investment relations of the past five years have laid the foundation for a prosperous future. Come and be part of our thriving economy, vibrant culture, and bright future. The stage is set, the opportunities are vast, and the time is now. Let’s make it Happen in the Philippines!” he said. The post DTI wants stronger China-Phl alliance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biggest-ever airliner order marks first day of Paris Air Show
European aircraft maker Airbus got the Paris Air Show off to a soaring start on Monday with the announcement of the biggest-ever order for civil aircraft, as the French president joined a big crowd for the event's return after a four-year Covid hiatus. The 500-plane deal with low-cost Indian carrier IndiGo kicked off what organizers have billed as the "recovery airshow" after the coronavirus ravaged the sector and the biennial trade fair was canceled in 2021. Fighter jets and civilian aircraft streaked across the sky while suited and uniformed delegations, including Ukrainian military officials and President Emmanuel Macron, toured the stands. This year's airshow has a new focus on defence following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as the industry's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, with French President Emmanuel Macron arriving in a helicopter partly using sustainable aviation fuel. Macron called for "restraint" to protect the environment but said measures for aviation should be "reasonable" rather than "punitive", adding that the world shouldn't "give up on growth". Huge traffic jams around Le Bourget airport outside Paris were a testament to the interest in this year's show, as aircraft makers field hundreds of orders and airlines brace for a near-record number of passengers this year. The Ukraine conflict has also prompted countries to boost military spending, which could benefit aerospace defense firms. While Russia has been excluded from the event, Ukrainian military officials toured the huge exhibition space at Paris-Le Bourget airport, some taking photos of missiles on display. Passion for air hasn't disappeared Macron announced that Belgium is to be admitted as an observer to the French-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System program, which is seeking to develop the next generation of air combat technology. Macron, closing a ministerial conference on European air defense, called it a " major development". The FCAS is due to come into service by 2040 but has already suffered numerous delays. Also on the military front, Macron said that France, Estonia, Hungary, Belgium, and Cyprus are to jointly purchase Mistral short-range surface-to-air missiles. "This is a very fine example of sovereign cooperation between Europeans on a range that is entirely relevant and that was not sufficiently covered", the French leader said. There was star turns for the Rafale fighter made by France's Dassault and the American F-35 jet, with hundreds of visitors turning their phone cameras skyward and some plugging their ears against the deafening flypasts. Le Bourget offers a forum to announce deals with some 2,500 firms lining up to show off their latest planes, drones, helicopters and prototypes such as flying taxis. With 125,000 square meters (1,350,000 square feet) of exhibition space -- the equivalent of nearly 18 football pitches -- around 320,000 visitors are expected during the week-long event. "Passion for the air hasn't disappeared, that's good news," said Bertrand Godinot, easyJet's Netherlands and France director. Big deals Along with the Farnborough airshow in England, which takes place in even-numbered years, Le Bourget is a key sales event for the civil and defence industries. Airbus and rival Boeing compete fiercely in announcing orders for aircraft running into the billions of dollars. Monday's IndiGo-Airbus deal covers A320 family planes at a list price of $55 billion. Although closely held actual sale prices are usually lower, it marks the largest ever civil aviation order by volume, hailed by Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury as "an enormous milestone". Airbus and Boeing are also battling to solidify supply chains as they increase production to meet growing demand. The United States has a strong presence with 425 exhibitors, while firms from 46 other nations are present. China, which lifted Covid restrictions only at the beginning of this year, is also represented. However, Beijing is not displaying its first homegrown medium-haul passenger jet, the C919, built to compete with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. Flying taxis The airshow also hopes to open a window into the future as projects for flying taxis and other vertical take-off aircraft abound. Several prototypes will be on display as part of a "Paris Air Mobility" exhibition to showcase the latest innovations that developers hope will change how people travel. Macron arrived aboard Airbus' latest helicopter, the H160, in a flight fuelled with 30 percent sustainable aviation fuel before visiting the European group's stand where it laid out its net-zero-by-2050 plan. Macron had on Friday announced $2.2 billion to help develop technologies to reduce aircraft emissions. Air travel accounts for nearly three percent of global CO2 emissions but serves only a small minority of the world's population. With the industry targeting net zero emissions by mid-century, firms are turbocharging efforts to achieve it. The initial focus is on SAF, made from sources such as municipal waste and agricultural waste. But companies are also working to develop battery- and hydrogen-powered aircraft. The post Biggest-ever airliner order marks first day of Paris Air Show appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Friendship among nations
How important is the friendship between two countries? I guess it is the same as with two or more people. Every Filipino appreciates a friend, whether a compatriot or a foreigner. This is also common to the Chinese, which is why former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and five others were cited recently for bridging and advancing Philippine and China relations. Duterte and former Special Envoy of the President to China, Ambassador Carlos Chan, were hailed as “Hall of Fame” laureates for promoting Philippines-China understanding. The awarding ceremony held at the historic Manila Hotel on 8 June was attended by President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. The Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding, or APPCU, which honors individuals who advanced ties between the neighboring nations, creates awareness not only for Filipinos but other nationalities as well that both countries are on good terms contrary to what others may claim. APPCU organizers cited Duterte’s role in the “re-establishment of trust relations with China, which led to the stabilization of the South China Sea issues.” Other awardees were Rigoberto Tiglao, Dr. Jaime T. Cruz, Jose Ong Tajan and Regina Rosa D. Tecson. APPCU is “also recognized by other Asian leaders, allowing for the reopening of our fishermen’s access and the expansion of tourism, trade, employment, and international investments in the Philippines.” In addition, it acknowledged the Chinese help given to Filipino front liners with the early delivery of millions of vaccine doses to the Philippines during Duterte’s term. Duterte was represented by former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and PDP Laban president and Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez. In his speech, Medialdea said, “It is indeed a great honor coming from this great organization whose main goal is to strengthen the relationship between (the Philippines and China).” “I am sure former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will always cherish this award with the thought that both countries must continue to move forward in order to achieve what is best for all its people,” he added. Association for Philippine-China Understanding chairman Raul Lambino said the award conferred on the six laureates was a celebration of their “invaluable contributions” that not only elevated bilateral relations between the two states but had also “sown the seeds of friendship that will continue to bear fruit for generations to come.” “In this increasingly interconnected world, building bridges between nations and fostering mutual understanding is paramount,” Lambino said. “The relationship between the Philippines and China has always held tremendous significance given our shared history, cultural exchanges, and ever-growing economic cooperation,” he added. For his part, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century that call for solidarity among nations. “We firmly believe that upholding mutual respect and trust, cherishing good neighborliness and friendship, keeping the direction of our mutual understanding and mutual accommodation in settling our differences serve as the fundamental principles in our bilateral relations,” Huang said. “So long as the consensus between our two top leaders is implemented in real earnest and the above principles followed, we will be able to uplift China-Philippines relations to a new level, bring more benefits to our two peoples and contribute more positive energy to regional peace and stability,” he added. The APPCU organizers have the wisdom to hold such an activity that is not politically motivated but deeply rooted in their zeal for justice and peace to reign in the hearts of both Filipinos and Chinese. The post Friendship among nations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rubbing vaginal fluid on C-section babies boosts development: study
Babies born by cesarean section don't acquire the same healthy bacteria as those delivered vaginally, a setback to the development of their immune system thought to increase their risk of certain diseases later in life. But a new study, published Thursday in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, finds that exposing C-section babies to their mother's vaginal fluids after birth successfully restores this microbial balance, and has neurodevelopment benefits, too. The study used rigorous methods but was small, involving just 68 infants. Coauthor Jose Clemente of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai told AFP that if the findings are confirmed in bigger clinical trials, the technique could be used as a low-cost way to ensure C-section newborns start life on the same footing as vaginally delivered infants. "If the results can be generalizable to a larger population, then ideally we would like to see that this becomes a part of standard of care," he said. It comes as C-section rates are on the rise globally, now accounting for around one in every three births in the United States, though the World Health Organization estimates only 10-15 percent are medically necessary. Past research has shown infants born by C-section have vastly different gut bacteria composition compared to those born vaginally. The latter receive their early gut bacteria from their mother's birth canal, while C-section babies receive theirs mainly from their mothers' skin, breast milk and the environment. These differences tend to disappear by around the age of one, but even so, they can have certain lasting impacts, raising the risk for asthma, allergies and diabetes. 'Vaginal seeding' In the new study, Clemente, an expert on the role of the microbiome in human health, collaborated with colleagues at the Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China to test out a technique known as "vaginal seeding," or smearing newborns with vaginal fluid. Chinese colleagues, led by researcher Yan He, rubbed 32 newborns delivered by C-section with a gauze soaked with their mother's vaginal fluids, and another 36 newborns with a gauze soaked with saline as a control. The gauze was placed inside the mothers' vaginas about an hour before C-section. Applying it to babies took about 30 seconds, starting with the mouth and face and moving to the rest of the body. Mothers were tested in advance to make sure they did not have sexually transmitted diseases or group B streptococcus. No infants experienced severe adverse events as a result of the experiment. At six-weeks-old, the group exposed to vaginal fluid had gut bacteria that was more "mature" and more characteristic of vaginally delivered babies than the group given the saline placebo. The team also looked at the babies' neurodevelopment at three months and six months using a standard questionnaire to ask their mothers about milestones, such as whether the babies were able to make simple sounds or had begun rolling or getting in the crawl position. The infants who received the vaginal seeding scored significantly higher at both three and six months. "We think this is partially because of how microbes are producing certain chemical compounds that might impact brain function," said Clemente, an expanding field of study that is backed by animal research. Crucially, he stressed, the experiment was "triple blinded," meaning nobody involved (mothers, healthcare providers or researchers) knew beforehand which babies belonged to which group, in order to eliminate any temptation to make the results match expectations. Dorothy Bishop, a developmental neuropsychology expert at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study, praised the "clever design," and said the team had laid the groundwork for bigger trials by establishing the safety and feasibility of the technique. However, she stressed that they had not yet proven developmental benefit and that the test scores from the placebo group "seem pretty average" rather than suggesting impairment. Next, Clemente is looking to expand the study with his Chinese collaborators to move the procedure closer to clinical practice, while he has another ongoing study assessing whether it reduces the risk of food allergies. In the meantime, he says, families should not try to replicate the procedure outside of clinical research settings. The post Rubbing vaginal fluid on C-section babies boosts development: study appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A complex geopolitical relationship
The geopolitical relationship between the Philippines and the United States has been a topic of debate and scrutiny, particularly in the context of China’s rising influence in the region. Some quarters argue that the United States is exploiting its alliance with the Philippines to advance its own selfish geopolitical interests against China. To understand the dynamics of the Philippines-US relationship, it is essential to consider their historical ties. The United States colonized the Philippines in the early 20th century and granted the country independence in 1946. Since then, the two nations have maintained a close alliance, primarily through the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. This treaty commits both countries to support each other in the event of an armed attack. One cannot deny that the United States has its own strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region, and the Philippines plays a significant role in that context. These interests include safeguarding regional stability, ensuring freedom of navigation, and promoting democratic values. The presence of American military forces in the Philippines, notably through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in 2014, serves these objectives. China’s increasing economic and military power in the Asia-Pacific region has led to concerns among many countries, including the Philippines. China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, including territorial claims that overlap with those of the Philippines, has created tension and heightened the need for regional allies. In this context, the United States provides a counterbalance to China’s influence, as it has a vested interest in maintaining a stable regional order. While it is true that the United States has its own interests in the Philippines, it is important to recognize that the relationship is not one-sided. The Philippines benefits from the alliance in various ways. The US provides military assistance, training, and equipment to enhance the capabilities of the Philippine armed forces. Moreover, economic ties between the two countries promote trade and investment, fostering economic growth in the Philippines. The South China Sea dispute is a central issue that affects both countries. The US has been vocal in supporting the Philippines’ position on maritime rights and freedom of navigation. By maintaining a presence in the region, the US helps deter any potential aggression by China and ensures that international law and norms are upheld. From the Philippines’ perspective, US support provides a crucial boost in its efforts to protect its territorial claims. While the Philippines benefits from its alliance with the United States, it also strives for strategic autonomy. The current administration in the Philippines has pursued a policy of engaging multiple powers, including China, to diversify its diplomatic and economic relationships. This indicates that the Philippines is not solely reliant on the United States but seeks to balance its interests with those of other nations in the region. The geopolitical relationship between the Philippines and the United States is complex and multifaceted. While it is true that the United States has its own strategic interests in the region, it is an oversimplification to label the alliance as solely driven by selfish motives against China. The Philippines benefits from the alliance in terms of security cooperation, economic ties, and support in the South China Sea dispute. At the same time, the Philippines also pursues a policy of strategic autonomy, engaging with various powers to safeguard its own interests. A comprehensive understanding of this relationship requires acknowledging the nuanced interplay of geopolitical factors and the evolving regional dynamics. The post A complex geopolitical relationship appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»