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US lawmaker promises ‘resolute reaction’ if Taiwan attacked
Any unprovoked attack on Taiwan will result in a "resolute reaction" from Washington, US Congressman Rob Wittman said Friday during a visit to Taipei. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory to be taken one day, by force if necessary, and it has ramped up pressure in recent years with near-daily air incursions and frequent military drills around the island. Wittman, a Republican, is vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees funding for the US military, and is leading a delegation on a three-day visit to Taiwan. "President Tsai (Ing-wen), know that any, any hostile, unprovoked attack on Taiwan will result in a resolute reaction from the United States," he said during a speech Friday. Wittman said peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region is built on "a foundation of strength". "We know strength is the best deterrence to anyone that may think there is an opportunity to act badly in this region." While the United States officially recognizes Beijing over Taipei, it is Taiwan's key ally, providing weapons and aid to boost its defenses against an increasingly aggressive China. Wittman also promised Friday to help resolve the delivery backlog of weapons purchased by Taiwan. This week, US President Joe Biden's administration approved direct military aid to Taiwan for the first time under a financing program for foreign governments. But the State Department insisted this move did not imply any recognition of Taiwanese sovereignty -- a red line for Beijing. This followed the approval in July of $345 million in military aid to Taiwan from leftover US stockpiles. The post US lawmaker promises ‘resolute reaction’ if Taiwan attacked appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
JV backs Kalayaan reso on Chinese envoy
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday expressed his support for a resolution approved by the Sangguniang Bayan of the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan declaring Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian persona non grata. In a Viber message, Ejercito, a staunch critic of China’s encroachment in the West Philippine Sea, justified the resolution declaring the Chinese envoy to the Philippines persona non grata. “The Chinese Ambassador representing the Chinese government has been caught lying several times,” he told DAILY TRIBUNE. Last week, the municipality of Kalayaan — the lone municipality in the West Philippine Sea — declared Huang a persona non grata. In its Resolution 125-0125, SB of Kalayaan, Palawan, declared Huang a persona non grata after the latter defended the harassment of the China Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea last 5 August. For his part, Ejercito said the Philippine government should no longer consider China as an “ally,” stressing its repeated illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea. “China should not be regarded as an ally anymore but instead as an adversary,” he said. “Note verbales coming from the Philippine government seem to be falling on deaf ears,” he added. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, as of 7 August, the country had filed a total of 445 diplomatic protests in the past three years. This year alone, the country has filed a total of 35 diplomatic protests, including the 5 August incident where China used a water cannon and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels while en route for a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. ‘Go slow’ Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday reminded local government units to be cautious in declaring foreign ambassadors in the country persona non grata. “We should go slow in declaring foreign ambassadors as personas non grata,” Pimentel told Daily Tribune. “Avoid this as much as possible,” he added. According to the Minority leader, an ambassador of a foreign country to the Philippines is the representative of that country to our country. He noted that grievances against any foreign diplomats in the country must be coursed through the Department of Foreign Affairs to be addressed “professionally.” “All grievances related to ambassadors and foreign relations must be coursed through our Department of Foreign Affairs so these grievances can be professionally handled,” he said. The vast South China Sea, which is claimed by the People’s Republic of China, covers the West Philippine Sea, which is also claimed by the Philippines. On 12 July 2016, the Philippines won its arbitral case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration — a landmark decision that the People’s Republic of China continues to reject. The post JV backs Kalayaan reso on Chinese envoy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden salutes ‘new era’ of united Japan, S.Korea in face of China
US President Joe Biden and the leaders of Japan and South Korea said Friday they saw a "new chapter" of close three-way security cooperation as the Asian allies joined a first-of-a-kind summit that has already rattled China. Going tieless at the bucolic Camp David presidential retreat, Biden praised the "political courage" of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in turning the page on historical animosity. "Your leadership, with the full support of the United States, has brought us here because each of you understands that our world stands at an inflection point," Biden told a joint news conference in the wooded hills outside Washington. Biden insisted the summit was not about China, which has been flexing its muscle both at home and in Asia under President Xi Jinping, including with major exercises around self-ruling Taiwan. But in a joint statement, the three leaders said they opposed the "dangerous and aggressive behavior" of China in maritime disputes in the East and South China Sea. "We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific," it said. The two US allies largely see eye to eye on the world -- and together are the base for some 84,500 US troops -- but such a summit would have been unthinkable until recently due to the legacy of Japan's harsh 1910-1945 occupation of the Korean peninsula. But Yoon, taking political risks at home, has turned the page by resolving a dispute over wartime forced labor, and is now calling Japan a partner at a time of high tensions with both China and North Korea. Yoon said he hoped to be "forward-looking" and called the summit a "historic day" in bringing a "firm institutional basis" to the three nations' joint relationship. The three leaders also agreed to a multi-year plan of regular exercises in all domains, going beyond one-off drills in response to North Korea, and made a formal "commitment to consult" during crises, with Biden saying they would open a hotline. The leaders also agreed to share real-time data on North Korea and to hold summits every year. Camp David marks the first time the three countries' leaders have met for a standalone summit, not on the sidelines of a larger event, and is the first diplomatic event since 2015 at the resort, which is synonymous with Middle East peacemaking. 'You can never become a Westerner' Even if Biden said the summit did not target China, Rahm Emanuel, the blunt-speaking US ambassador to Japan, took another tone when he previewed the meeting, saying the three nations were defying China with the United States showing, "We are the rising power; they are declining." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the two economically developed Northeast Asian democracies instead to work with Beijing to "revitalize East Asia." "No matter how blond you dye your hair or how sharp you shape your nose, you can never become a European or American, you can never become a Westerner," he said in a video shared on official media. "We must know where our roots lie," he said. But China's pressure tactics have led to a sharp deterioration in its favorability in Japan and South Korea, which have traditionally been more discreet than the United States in their comments. Tensions have also risen with North Korea, which has launched a volley of missiles in recent months and is feared to respond to the summit with new action. The leaders' joint statement renewed a call on North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and urged all nations to enforce sanctions. As the Camp David summit opened, North Korea said it had scrambled jets in response to what it called a US spy plane's incursion. Global allies The summit also set its focus beyond North Korea and even Asia. Tokyo and Seoul have offered a major boost to Ukraine as major non-Western powers joining pressure against Russia's invasion. Kishida said greater cooperation with South Korea was "almost inevitable" in light of the "crisis" in the world order. "Due to Russia's aggression of Ukraine, the international order is shaken from its foundation. The unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas are continuing and the nuclear and missile threats of North Korea are only becoming even greater," Kishida said. The summit aims to institutionalize three-way cooperation to make it difficult for any reversal by a future leader -- a South Korean president who again seizes on hostility with Japan or, potentially, a return of Donald Trump, who has disparaged US troop commitments overseas as wasteful. To the surprise of many observers, Yoon's embrace of Japan has drawn relatively muted protests at home. Yoon, a conservative, has quickly become a close US ally, with Biden welcoming him for a rare state visit in which the South Korean leader regaled the audience by singing "American Pie." But Yoon is constitutionally prohibited from serving more than a single term, which ends in 2027. The post Biden salutes ‘new era’ of united Japan, S.Korea in face of China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden salutes ‘new era’ of united Japan, S. Korea in face of China
US President Joe Biden on Friday hailed a "new era" of unity with the leaders of South Korea and Japan as the allies unveiled new three-way security cooperation at a first-of-a-kind summit that has already rattled China. Going tieless in the Camp David presidential retreat, Biden praised the "political courage" of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in turning the page on historical animosity. "Our countries are stronger -- and the world will be safer -- as we stand together. I know that's a belief that we all three share," he told them as he opened the talks in the mountains west of Washington. Biden said the three would pursue "this new era of cooperation and renew our resolve to serve as a force of good across the Indo-Pacific and, quite frankly, around the world." The two treaty-bound US allies largely see eye to eye on the world -- and together are the base for some 84,500 US troops -- but such a summit would have been unthinkable until recently due to the legacy of Japan's harsh 1910-1945 occupation of the Korean peninsula. But Yoon, taking political risks at home, has turned the page by resolving a dispute over wartime forced labor, and now calling Japan a partner at a time of high tensions with both China and North Korea. "Today will be remembered as a historic day, where we established a firm institutional basis and commitments to the trilateral partnership," Yoon said. The three leaders will agree to a multi-year plan of regular exercises in all domains, going beyond one-off drills in response to North Korea, and will announce a "commitment to consult" during crises, said Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor. The leaders will also agree to share real-time data on North Korea and to hold summits every year, officials said. Camp David marks the first time the three countries' leaders have met for a standalone summit, not on the sidelines of a larger event, and is the first diplomatic event since 2015 at the resort, which is synonymous with Middle East peacemaking. You can never become Westerner Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, said the summit would have an "affirmative vision" on how the countries can deliver together and was "not taking aim at a country." But Rahm Emanuel, the blunt-speaking US ambassador to Japan, took another tone when he previewed the summit, saying that the three powers "created something that is exactly what China was hoping would never happen." For Emanuel, the former congressman turned ambassador, China should understand one thing: "We are the rising power; they are declining." China has flexed its muscle both at home and in Asia under President Xi Jinping, exerting disputed maritime claims and carrying out major exercises near Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy claimed by Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the two economically developed Northeast Asian democracies instead to work with Beijing to "revitalize East Asia." "No matter how blond you dye your hair or how sharp you shape your nose, you can never become a European or American, you can never become a Westerner," he said in a video shared on official media. "We must know where our roots lie," he said. But China's pressure tactics have led to a sharp deterioration in its favorability in Japan and South Korea, which have traditionally been more discreet than the United States in their comments. Tensions have also risen with North Korea, which has launched a volley of missiles in recent months and is feared to respond with new action in response to the summit. As the Camp David summit opened, North Korea said it had scrambled jets in response to what it called a US spy plane's incursion. Global allies But the summit hopes to move beyond a focus on North Korea or even just Asia. Tokyo and Seoul have offered a major boost to Ukraine as major non-Western powers join pressure against Russia's invasion. The summit aims to institutionalize three-way cooperation to make it difficult for any reversal by a future leader -- a South Korean president who again seizes on hostility with Japan or, potentially, a return of Donald Trump, who has disparaged US troop commitments overseas as wasteful. To the surprise of many observers, Yoon's embrace of Japan has drawn relatively muted protests at home. Both Japanese and South Koreans feel that there are "a number of fundamentally aligned values and interests that should bring them together," said Mira Rapp-Hooper, senior director for East Asia and Oceania on the National Security Council. Yoon, a conservative, has quickly become a close US ally, with Biden welcoming him for a rare state visit in which the South Korean leader regaled the audience by singing "American Pie." But Yoon is constitutionally prohibited from serving more than a single term, which ends in 2027. The post Biden salutes ‘new era’ of united Japan, S. Korea in face of China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Poor team player
A string of blunders by the United States contributed greatly to the aggressiveness of China in the West Philippine Sea, in disregard of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated most of China’s maritime claims. A geopolitical expert even suggested that America’s traditional ally, the Philippines, was left out in the cold after the Obama administration initiated its Asian pivot to contain China. Dean Cheng, senior advisor to the China program at the US Institute of Peace, a federal watchdog on the global situation, assessed the recent deployment of “ships and other maritime forces to the disputed Spratly islands near the Philippines.” Cheng identified China’s goal as coerce the Philippines into withdrawing from the contested Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) to effectively cede it to the People’s Republic of China or PRC. The expert who advises the US government said China’s actions “are in defiance of the international Permanent Court of Arbitration’s findings that undermined the PRC claims to the Spratlys and they constitute a serious challenge to the international rules governing maritime conduct.” Cheng traced the unabated Chinese incursions to the poor handling of the situation during the 2012 standoff at Scarborough Shoal that practically encouraged Beijing to build permanent military structures on the sea formation. The weak response of the US government to China’s sea maneuvers emboldened increasingly drastic actions in the disputed region which Beijing claims is historically its territory. “It is worth recalling that in 2012, the United States chose to persuade the Philippines to withdraw from Scarborough Shoal (a separate set of features north of the Spratlys) while making no effort to compel the PRC to do the same. In effect, Washington forced Manila to cede that set of features to the PRC,” Cheng said. Worse, under President Barack Obama, the US took a three-year hiatus from freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, an absence that coincided with massive Chinese construction on features it controlled. “For the United States to once again fail to counter Chinese efforts to dominate a region that sees some $3.37 trillion in trade would reinforce a perception of American withdrawal,” according to Cheng. Over the years, Cheng said, the PRC has become more assertive in supporting its ambiguous claims. It has extended patrols in the area, often arresting foreign fishing boats for violating the nine-dash line while requiring everyone who wishes to fish there to register with Sansha in the Paracels, a Chinese prefecture. China has also undertaken extensive land reclamation on rocks and reefs under its control, totaling over 3,000 acres on artificial islands in the Spratlys — dwarfing all other claimants combined. “Despite promises not to militarize these new features, the PRC has deployed artillery pieces and rockets and built runways that can support both fighter and cargo aircraft,” Cheng said. China is intent on coercing the Philippines out of its position in the Spratlys, regardless of legal rights and claims. According to the US expert, it is likely that the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s findings have only strengthened China’s “resolve to secure the Spratlys (as well as the separate Scarborough Shoal and Macclesfield Bank territories). At the same time, the PRC is likely trying to signal to the region that American support is both escalatory and counterproductive.” The US has not matched its strong statements on the West Philippine Sea dispute, such as its frequent assurances to the Philippines of an iron-clad alliance, with determined moves, thus giving China the impetus to gradually ramp up its actions. When the ball was in its court, the US, because of domestic political considerations, exited the game leaving its teammate at the mercy of its powerful opponent. The post Poor team player appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dangerous escalation: U.S. troops in Hormuz
US President Joe Biden sent 3,000 soldiers to the Red Sea last 6 August in what TV Vantage News viewed as a step towards responding to “Iranian aggression.” Washington justified the move by saying Iran had captured around 20 tankers in the Gulf in the last 20 years. The US fears that continued “Iranian aggression” will worsen with the currently high global price of oil. The US soldiers are aboard two warships, the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, and the USS Carter Hall, used for docking. The goal is for the rapid deployment of troops on oil tankers which are considered potential targets for capture by the Iranian navy. The idea is for the presence of US soldiers to act as a “deterrence” against an Iranian assault. They are thus being placed up front as possible sacrificial lambs if Iran insists on assaulting the troop-laden tankers. Biden’s move is essentially a psychological tactic. It is similar to terrorists using civilians as shields against an assault. Soldiers have no value or role in a naval confrontation of missiles and drones. In fact, Iran’s undeterred response to the US troop initiative is to arm its warships with the new Abu Mehdi missiles, which have a range of 1,000 kilometers. How can soldiers face missiles? It is like the children sent by the Church as crusaders, in the hope the Muslims would not harm children. They were instantly massacred without hesitation. Who drew first blood? Actually, the original aggressor, the one that drew first blood, was the US, consistently capturing Iranian vessels, prior to the troop initiative, on the pretext of its almighty sanctions. For a long time, Iran had no response for fear of derailing the ongoing nuclear deal negotiations, which was a thorn in its throat, until finally they could not take it anymore. They also must have felt that the negotiations were not going anywhere. Iran’s Defense Minister Nasser Kenaani, in response to the US troop initiative, said the US troops were not necessary and that the region can handle local security by themselves without foreign interference. Indeed, the US move may be seen as an invitation to a confrontation rather than a “deterrence.” The presence of US troops in Hormuz has “massive implications both for the US and for the rest of the world,” according to Vantage. The US, in its military initiative in Hormuz, is actually a multi-tentacled octopus spreading itself too thin across the planet, such as in the protracted war in Ukraine, and in the Taiwan Strait. The US is worried that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are shifting towards relations with China. US carriers are tied down in the West Philippine Sea, especially following the recent Philippine diplomatic protests over China harassing its Coast Guard. The Philippines may invoke mutual defense if push comes to shove. The US maintains 17 military bases throughout the breadth and length of the Philippine archipelago. The Hormuz chokepoint, where about 20 percent of global oil supplies pass through, is a mere 39 kilometers wide between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. It is considered one of the most dangerous powder kegs in the entire Middle East, capable of evolving into a full-scale war in the blink of an eye. History of US-Iran conflict In 1988, a tanker war ensued wherein the US attacked Iranian oil rigs and sank many Iranian vessels. All these happened after the US lost control of Iranian oil and gas with the fall of the Shah, the greatest single tragedy of the US in its search of gulf energy. Since then, the Pentagon had been planning the future invasion of Iran, staging the most expensive and ambitious $250-million war game called 2002 Millennium Challenge. In 2011, the sinking of the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain was predicted by military experts. Admiral William Fallon, ex-US Centcom Commander and head of the Fifth Fleet, in fear of Iranian underground hypersonic missiles, said, “There will be no attack on Iran on my watch.” He was sacked instantly and replaced by Gen. David Petreaus. Pentagon initiatives are deterred by 1) an Iranian underground air force with hypersonic missiles and killer drones (now being used by Russia in Ukraine); 2) Iran being an ally of Russia (an attack on Iran instantly involves Russia), and 3) a more sober civilian government opposing Pentagon brinkmanship. In his frustration, Biden, worried about his reelection and his dwindling charisma, is sending US troops to Hormuz, a dangerous catalyst to all-out war. The post Dangerous escalation: U.S. troops in Hormuz appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl-Vietnam initiate talks on agreement re South China Sea
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said both the Philippines and Vietnam had already initiated talks on an agreement regarding territorial claims in the South China Sea. Speaking to outgoing Vietnam Ambassador to the Philippines Hoang Huy Chung in a farewell call, Marcos underscored the importance of maritime cooperation between the two countries. He also expressed hope that such an accord could bring some stability to the region. "Now that we are going to start discussions on the agreement that we have between the Philippines and Vietnam, I think it is a very, very important – it will be a very, very important part of our relationship and it will bring an element of stability to the problems that we are seeing now in the South China Sea," the President said. President Marcos said the agreement "will be a very big step" between the Philippines and Vietnam. For his part, Chung said he wanted to stay longer to build up stronger and closer relations with the Philippine government as he emphasized that the country considered Vietnam as one of its strategic partners. The ambassador said Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong extended his gratitude to President Marcos and the Philippine government for working closely with them, especially on their common interest in the West Philippine Sea and the prevention of further incidents in the Philippine waters. Chung also expressed his endorsement of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea framework for resolving maritime conflicts in the South China Sea, an area where Vietnam also asserts its ownership of certain disputed areas. He acknowledged the imperative of safeguarding the unhindered movement of vessels and aircraft in the disputed sea route, a conduit through which more than a trillion dollars' worth of trade traverses annually. "And President, Vietnam, we have every respect for your thought that you are a friend to all, none enemy," Chung told President Marcos. Marcos then thanked Vietnam's longstanding positive rapport with the Philippines, a connection that has persisted since the era of his late father, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Sr. Marcos affirmed that the sentiments have endured, with the Philippines consistently maintaining a kind and empathetic role as a neighboring ally in Asia, particularly concerning agricultural, diplomatic, security, and defense matters. The post Phl-Vietnam initiate talks on agreement re South China Sea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China says US ally seeks to permanently occupy disputed island
Manila accused Beijing of using "excessive" force during a standoff in contested waters last week China has said the Philippines was to blame for a recent spat near the disputed Ren'ai Jiao atoll, which saw a Chinese military vessel unleash water cannons against two of Manila's supply ships. Both countries claim the i.....»»
China claims US ally seeks to permanently occupy disputed island
Manila accused Beijing of using "excessive" force during a standoff in contested waters last week China has said the Philippines was to blame for a recent spat near the disputed Ren'ai Jiao atoll, which saw a Chinese military vessel unleash water cannons against two of Manilla's supply ships. Both countrie.....»»
China says US ally seeks to permanently occupy disputed island
Manila accused Beijing of using ?excessive? force during a standoff in contested waters last weekChina has said the Philippines was to blame for a recent spat near the disputed Ren'ai Jiao atoll, which saw a Chinese military vessel unleash water cannons against two Philippines supply ships. Both countries claim the island is part of their sovereign territory.The Ch.....»»
China claims US ally seeks to permanently occupy disputed island
Manila accused Beijing of using ?excessive? force during a standoff in contested waters last weekChina has said the Philippines was to blame for a recent spat near the disputed Ren'ai Jiao atoll, which saw a Chinese military vessel unleash water cannons against two of Manilla's supply ships. Both countries claim the island is part of their sovereign territory.The C.....»»
AFP urged: Stop sending trainees to China
Senator Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday stressed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines should stop sending its high-ranking personnel to China “to study and train” within the Chinese’s military academy as it would be a “slap in the face” of Filipinos. This comes as information he received disclosed that the Chinese government is paying all the expenses of the AFP officials undergoing massive training and studies in Beijing amid the harassment incidents against the Filipino soldiers in the West Philippine Sea. During Monday’s public hearing by Committee on National Defense, Senator Francis Tolentino said that a number of ranking AFP officials who faced the congressional Commission on Appointments had completed their schooling at the Beijing Military Academy and other training institutions of the Communist People’s Liberation Army. This information was then confirmed by Department of National Defense Undersecretary Ireneo Espino before the senators. Tolentino also said that even the Philippine National Police Academy had also been sending its cadets for training in China, which he described as “indeed very alarming.” “We have not been accepting cadets from our [military] treaty ally while we have been sending [our soldiers] to the country harassing us in the West Philippine Sea. What’s the rationale behind this? How did this happen?” Tolentino asked AFP and DND officials. The post AFP urged: Stop sending trainees to China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China demands Philippines remove grounded ship from disputed waters
China Tuesday renewed calls for the Philippines to remove an ageing ship from a reef which Manila uses to press its stake in the Spratly Islands in defiance of Beijing's claim to nearly the entire South China Sea. The move comes after the Philippines at the weekend accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon against boats on a resupply mission to its garrison stationed on the grounded vessel. The BRP Sierra Madre -- deliberately grounded in the late 1990s in an effort to check the advance of China in the hotly contested waters -- has long been a flashpoint between Manila and Beijing. The handful of Philippine marines deployed on the crumbling vessel depend upon resupply missions to survive their remote posting. The Philippine military and coast guard accused the China Coast Guard of breaking international law by blocking and firing water cannon at the resupply mission, preventing one of the charter boats from reaching the shoal. Beijing has defended its actions as "professional" and accused Manila of "illegal delivery of construction materials" to the grounded ship. "The Philippine side has repeatedly made clear promises to tow away the warship illegally 'stranded' on the reef," a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said Tuesday. "Twenty-four years have passed, the Philippine side has not only failed to tow away the warship, but also attempted to repair and reinforce it on a large scale to achieve permanent occupation of the Ren'ai Reef," they added, using the Chinese term for the Second Thomas Shoal. "The Chinese side once again urges the Philippines to immediately tow away the 'stranded' warship from the Ren'ai Reef and restore the status of no one and no facilities on the reef," they said. - 'Illegal activities' - Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island. China's coast guard and navy vessels routinely block or shadow Philippine ships patrolling the contested waters, Manila says. The Philippines has issued more than 400 diplomatic protests to Beijing since 2020 over its "illegal activities" in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said. China appeared to be "trying to gauge our commitment to supply our troops" at the shoal, National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told reporters on Monday. "For the record, we will never abandon Ayungin Shoal," Malaya added, using the Philippine name for Second Thomas Shoal. Saturday's "David and Goliath" incident showed the Chinese had established what appeared to be a "blockade" of the shoal, Malaya said. Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes over the South China Sea but former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was seen as cosying up to China in the hope of attracting investment. Since succeeding Duterte, President Ferdinand Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on his country's maritime rights, seeking to strengthen defence ties with former colonial ruler and longtime ally the United States. ehl-oho/je/mtp © Agence France-Presse The post China demands Philippines remove grounded ship from disputed waters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl summons China ambassador over water cannoning of boats
Manila summoned Beijing's envoy on Monday after the China Coast Guard blocked and water cannoned Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos said. The incident happened Saturday as the Philippine Coast Guard escorted charter boats carrying food, water, fuel and other supplies to Filipino military personnel stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. The Philippine military and coast guard have accused the China Coast Guard of breaking international law by blocking and firing water cannon at the resupply mission, preventing one of the charter boats from reaching the shoal. Another charter boat successfully unloaded its cargo. "Our Secretary of Foreign Affairs summoned Ambassador Huang (Xilian) today and gave him a note verbale including pictures, video about what happened, and we are awaiting their reply," Marcos told reporters. "The position of China, of course, is they say 'this is ours so we are defending it', and we, for our part, are saying 'no, we own it so we are defending it'. So that becomes a grey area that we are discussing." China maintained over the weekend that it had taken "necessary controls" against Philippine boats that "illegally" entered its waters. The US State Department on Sunday condemned the Chinese actions, saying they directly threatened regional peace and stability. Britain, Australia, Canada and the European Union also criticized Beijing's conduct. Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island. China's coast guard and navy vessels routinely block or shadow Philippine ships patrolling the contested waters, Manila says. The Philippines has issued more than 400 diplomatic protests to Beijing since 2020 over its "illegal activities" in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said. China appeared to be "trying to gauge our commitment to supply our troops" at the shoal, National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told reporters on Monday. "For the record, we will never abandon Ayungin Shoal," Malaya added, using the Philippine name for Second Thomas Shoal, located in the Spratly Islands. 'David and Goliath' Malaya said Saturday's "David and Goliath" incident showed the Chinese had established what appeared to be a "blockade" of the shoal. "There were only two (Philippine) coast guard vessels and two Philippine supply boats against six large Chinese coast guard vessels and two Chinese militia vessels, and more People's Liberation Army naval vessels at near proximity to the area," he said. Malaya said he believed it was the largest Chinese presence at the shoal "in recent memory". At one point, a China Coast Guard vessel came "within 20 yards (18 meters)" of a Philippine coast guard boat, which he said could have resulted in a collision. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, which includes representatives of various government agencies, condemned the Chinese actions "in the strongest terms". "As a low tide elevation, Ayungin shoal can neither be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor is it capable of appropriation under international law," the task force said in a statement. Second Thomas Shoal was part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, and the resupply and upkeep of the BRP Sierra Madre were "legitimate Philippine government activities", it added. The Philippine military deliberately grounded the Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal in the late 1990s, and keeps up a tiny garrison there to maintain a presence in the hotly contested waters. In a statement on Monday, the Chinese coast guard urged Manila to "tow away" the ship and "restore the reef to its original state". Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes over the South China Sea, but former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was seen as cozying up to China in the hope of attracting investment. Since succeeding him, however, Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on his country's maritime rights, seeking to strengthen defense ties with former colonial ruler and longtime ally the United States. The post Phl summons China ambassador over water cannoning of boats appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Duterte as special envoy to China: ‘Why not?’ Zubiri says
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Thursday said he sees nothing wrong with the proposal to appoint former President Rodrigo Duterte as special envoy to China. In a television interview, Zubiri was asked about his stand on the proposal to appoint President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s predecessor to represent the country in its negotiation with China on the issue of the West of the Philippines. “Why not? Anyone who can help diplomacy in this part of the world, in this economic zone of ours, the exclusive economic zone would be a big help,” he said. “It could be president former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he added. Aside from the former chief executive, Zubiri said that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who floated the idea to tap Duterte, could also represent the country in its negotiation with China. “It could also be Alan, why not Senator Alan as well to help in the backchanneling since he’s quite close to some of the officials there being the former Secretary of Foreign Affairs?” he said. On Wednesday, Zubiri and 20 other senators met with Marcos and his wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in the Malacanang Palace after the latter hosted a “casual dinner.” Prior to his dinner with senators, Marcos also met with the older Duterte, who went to China last month. Zubiri said during their meeting with the president, the latter mentioned that it was Duterte who brought up the issue of the West Philippine Sea during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “What he mentioned to us, was during the duration of President Duterte’s meeting with Xi Jinping, the topic of the West Philippine Sea never was brought up,” he said. “Apparently, it was never, according to the President, casually saying that it was never brought up,” he added. He continued: “It was actually President Duterte to mention to Xi Jinping that on the issue of the West Philippine Sea, look kindly to the Philippines.” Duterte’s trip to China caught the national attention as the country was waiting for the decision of the International Criminal Court on the appeal of the Marcos administration to block its investigation into the former president’s controversial war on drugs which killed thousands of suspected drug personalities. Asked whether the Department of Foreign Affairs was aware of Duterte’s trip to China, the agency said it “had no official information on the visit of the former president to China.” Marcos, however, clarified that Duterte’s trip to China was “not a surprise.” During his term, Duterte veered away from the Philippines’ traditional ally – the United States -- and developed warmer ties with America’s rival, China. The post Duterte as special envoy to China: ‘Why not?’ Zubiri says appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden to host Japan, South Korea leaders 18 Aug — White House
US President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol for a summit at his retreat outside Washington on 18 August, the White House said Friday. "The leaders will celebrate a new chapter in their trilateral relationship as they reaffirm their strong bonds of friendship and the ironclad alliances between the United States and Japan, and the United States and the Republic of Korea," an official statement said. The summit, held at the Camp David presidential retreat in rural Maryland near Washington, DC, will be a chance to "discuss expanding trilateral cooperation across the Indo-Pacific and beyond," the White House said. They will address the "continued threat" from North Korea and "advance a shared trilateral vision for addressing global and regional security challenges, promoting a rules-based international order, and bolstering economic prosperity." Biden has made a priority of getting close US allies Japan and South Korea to overcome years of tension and work together in the face of nuclear-armed North Korea's ongoing saber rattling and fear of confrontation with superpower China. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul are at one of their lowest points, with diplomacy stalled and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calling for increased weapons development, including tactical nukes. In response, Yoon has pulled South Korea closer to long-standing ally Washington and sought to bury the hatchet with former colonial power Japan. In April, Seoul and Washington said that if Pyongyang ever used its nuclear weapons against the allies, it would face a nuclear reaction and the "end" of its regime. The post Biden to host Japan, South Korea leaders 18 Aug — White House appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kim oversees N. Korea military parade showcasing new drones, ICBMs
Flanked by visiting Russian and Chinese officials, Kim Jong Un oversaw a North Korean military parade featuring new drones and Pyongyang's nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported Friday. At least four new North Korean military drones were towed on trailers through Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung square at the parade late Thursday, state media images showed, while another drone appeared to conduct a flyover overhead. Standing between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese politburo member Li Hongzhong in the VIP viewing stands, Kim smiled and saluted as thousands of soldiers marched past, trailed by the country's most powerful ICBMs, which are banned under UN sanctions. The event, featuring Kim's first-known foreign guests since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, was to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, which ended open hostilities and is celebrated as Victory Day. Kim "extended warm militant greetings" to the parade, the official Korean Central News Agency said, and North Korea's defense minister Kang Sun Nam made a speech. The United States has no chance "of survival in case they use nuclear weapons against the DPRK", Kang said, referring to the North by its official name. He warned that any attempts by the United States to use armed force against the North would cause an "unimaginable and unforeseen crisis". The parade featured an array of new weaponry, including some first unveiled at a defense expo on Wednesday in Pyongyang, visited by Kim and Shoigu. North Korea's new underwater nuclear attack drone, called the "Haeil", appeared at the parade for the first time, Seoul-based specialist site NK News reported. "The strategic reconnaissance drone and the multi-purpose attack drone which was newly developed and produced... made circular flights in the sky above the (Kim Il Sung square," KCNA said. The "excitement and great joy of the spectators reached its height" when the nuclear-armed country's newest ICBM -- the solid-fuel Hwasong-18, tested in April and July this year -- was paraded through the square, KCNA said. The tests were roundly condemned by Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, and violate UN sanctions banning the North from any tests using ballistic missile technology. 'Send the US a signal' The parade is a key part of "promoting Kim Jong Un's ruling legitimacy and internal unity in this economically challenging time", Yangmo Ku, a political science professor at Norwich University, told AFP. But this year, with the inclusion of high-level guests from Moscow and Beijing, Pyongyang is also sending America "a signal that under strengthened ties with Russia and China, North Korea is militarily ready to cope with strategic threats from its enemies", he said. "All these acts mean the emergence of the new Cold War surrounding the Korean Peninsula," Ku added. Beijing is North Korea's most important ally and economic benefactor, their relationship forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War in the 1950s. "China's representation at North Korea's parading of nuclear-capable missiles raises serious questions about Beijing enabling Pyongyang's threats to global security," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Russia, another historic ally, is one of a handful of nations with which Pyongyang maintains friendly relations, and experts said it was noteworthy that Moscow had sent Shoigu to the anniversary celebrations -- a rare visit by a Russian defense chief in the post-Soviet era. Kim has been steadfast in his support for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles -- a charge Pyongyang has denied. Russia's President Vladimir Putin sent a speech, read out by Shoigu at an anniversary event, according to KCNA, in which Moscow's leader hailed North Korea for its "firm support for special military operations against Ukraine". Easley said that "given Russia's need for ammunition for its illegal war in Ukraine and (Kim's) willingness to personally give the Russian defense minister a tour of North Korea's arms exhibition, UN member states should increase vigilance for observing and penalizing sanctions violations". The inclusion of foreign guests at this year's celebrations is a post-pandemic first, and hints at new flexibility toward enforcing border controls. North Korea has imposed a rigid Covid-19 blockade since early 2020, preventing even its own nationals from entering the country. It only resumed some trade with China last year and allowed new Beijing envoy Wang Yajun to take up his position this year. He is the first known senior diplomat to cross into North Korea since the border closure in January 2020. The post Kim oversees N. Korea military parade showcasing new drones, ICBMs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan says North Korea threat more serious than ‘ever’
Japan said Friday that North Korea posed a more serious threat to its national security than "ever before", as nuclear-armed Pyongyang rattles its neighbours with repeated missile tests and belligerent rhetoric. In its annual white paper -- a rundown of the most pressing military threats and plans to ensure stability -- Japan's defence ministry made a case for a significant hike in domestic defence spending as the world enters "a new era of crisis". While China's growing military might and Russia's invasion of Ukraine were major focuses of the white paper, North Korea also ranked as a key concern for Japan. "North Korea's military activities pose an even more grave and imminent threat to Japan's national security than ever before," the document said. "It is believed that North Korea has the ability to attack Japan with nuclear weapons fitted to ballistic missiles." The white paper, approved by the cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday morning, comes as North Korea ramps up the frequency of its missile tests. North Korean state media on Thursday released photos of Kim Jong Un giving Russia's defence minister a tour of the country's newest and most advanced weaponry, including intercontinental ballistic missiles and previously unseen military drones. Russia, another historic ally of North Korea, is one of a handful of nations with which Pyongyang maintains friendly relations. Kim Jong Un has been steadfast in his support for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles -- a charge Pyongyang has denied. Pyongyang's recent weapons tests -- the latest was on Monday -- come as Tokyo, Seoul and Washington increase military cooperation to counter the North's growing nuclear threats and China's influence in the region. The white paper said China's military activities posed "an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge" to Japan while reiterating that joint military drills with Russia were also a concern. China regularly sends government ships to islands in dispute with Tokyo while also conducting naval drills in waters including in the Pacific, raising alarm in Japan and area nations. Beijing has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with many leading democracies fearing China may also move to aggressively take over Taiwan. "The international community is facing its greatest trial since World War II and we have entered a new era of crisis," Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said in the document. The white paper reiterated Tokyo's commitment to boost its military spending and capacity. For decades, Japan has capped military spending at around one percent of GDP. But late last year, Kishida's government approved a plan to increase defence spending to two percent of GDP by fiscal year 2027, to around 11 trillion yen ($78.7 billion). The post Japan says North Korea threat more serious than ‘ever’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Risa slams Cayetano for blocking WPS reso
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s move to oppose the adoption of a resolution urging the Department of Foreign Affairs to elevate China’s harassment in the West Philippine Sea in the United Nations General Assembly was “not completely surprising.” In a television interview, Hontiveros, who authored the resolution, said Cayetano’s actions during Wednesday’s session were expected. “When I saw that Senator Cayetano stood up, I wasn’t completely surprised because this is not the first time that he did not support pressing the case against China,” she said. “Our resolution is very simple. It is expressing the sense of the Senate to urge the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs to sponsor a resolution in the UNGA calling on China to respect and to comply with that Hague ruling, and to cease and desist from her harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea,” she added. During the period of interpellation on the resolution, Cayetano argued that urging the DFA to bring the WPS issue to the UNGA without consulting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the matter may “not be the best strategy.” “We should strengthen the position of the country. I disagree with the president on some issues. I might disagree with him on the China issue — how to deal with China,” Cayetano said. “But I do believe he was the one elected, and we should at least hear out his people — the national task force on the West Philippine Sea and the DFA — so that we know where we’re going,” he added. Citing overlapping claims with other Southeast Asian countries, he also questioned why the resolution is “limited only” to China. Hontiveros, however, lamented that the Senate resolution is just a “simple expression” of the Senate, as an independent institution, of “what we feel the Executive may further do.” She also clarified that the move was “not mutual” with any and all other political and diplomatic moves that the government should take. “Yes, it was a bit surprising, but then again, given his (Cayetano) history short of easing the Philippine foot on the gas pedal vis-a-vis China, I have to confess I wasn’t completely surprised,” she stressed. Cayetano took the helm at the DFA during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who veered away from the United States, the country’s traditional ally, and developed warmer ties with China. ‘Huge humiliation’ For her part, Senator Imee Marcos, the eldest sister of the president, expressed concern about the move to bring the WPS issue to the UNGA. “We already have in hand the arbitral judgment, which is far more powerful and important,” Marcos said in an interview at the Kapihan sa Senado. The presidential sister also cautioned that the 2016 landmark victory of the Philippines against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration may get weakened should the country lose in the voting at the UNGA. “Furthermore, I also worry that we may not generate the necessary votes. It’s a huge humiliation if we lose in the General Assembly,” she pointed out. ‘Confident’ Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who co-sponsored the resolution on Wednesday, expressed his confidence that the upper chamber would still adopt it next week. “We are still confident that the Resolution will pass this week. As to whether we will retain the original wording, that remains to be seen,” Zubiri said in a separate statement. While senators differ on how to put forward the issue, he noted, that the Senate is “united” in the desire to “condemn the harassment and bullying of our fisherfolk and Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea and ultimately, to enforce the 2016 arbitral award.” The post Risa slams Cayetano for blocking WPS reso appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hontiveros hits Cayetano’s move against Senate reso on China harassment
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s move to oppose the adoption of a resolution urging the Department of Foreign Affairs to elevate China’s harassment in the West Philippine Sea to the United Nations General Assembly was “not completely surprising.” In a television interview, Hontiveros, who authored the resolution, said Cayetano’s actions during Wednesday’s session were expected. “When I saw that Sen. Cayetano stood up, I wasn’t completely surprised because this is not the first time that he did not support pressing the case against China,” she said. “Our resolution is very simple. It is expressing the sense of the Senate to urge the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs to sponsor a resolution in the UNGA calling on China to respect and to comply with that Hague ruling, and to cease and desist from her harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea,” she added. During the period of interpellation on the resolution, Cayetano argued that urging the DFA to bring the WPS issue to the UNGA without consulting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the matter may “not be the best strategy.” “We should strengthen the position of the country. I disagree with the President on some issues. I might disagree with him on the China issue -- how to deal with China,” Cayetano said. "But I do believe he was the one elected, and we should at least hear out his people—the national task force on the West Philippine Sea and the DFA—so that we know where we’re going,” he added. Citing overlapping claims with other Southeast Asian countries, he also questioned why the resolution is “limited only” to China. Hontiveros, however, lamented that the Senate resolution is just a “simple expression” of the Senate, as an independent institution, of “what we feel the Executive may further do.” She also clarified that the move was “not mutual” with any and all other political and diplomatic moves that the government should take. “Yes, it was a bit surprising, but then again, given his (Cayetano) history sort of easing the Philippine foot on the gas pedal vis-a-vis China, I have to confess I wasn't completely surprised,” she stressed. Cayetano took the helm at the DFA during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who veered away from the United States, the country’s traditional ally, and developed warmer ties with China. ‘Huge humiliation’ For her part, Senator Imee Marcos, the eldest sister of the president, expressed concern about the move to bring the WPS issue to the UNGA. “We already have in hand the arbitral judgment, which is far more powerful and important,” Marcos said in an interview at the Kapihan sa Senado. The presidential sister also cautioned that the 2016 landmark victory of the Philippines against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration may get weakened should the country lose in the voting at the UNGA. “Furthermore, I also worry that we may not generate the necessary votes. It’s a huge humiliation if we lose in the General Assembly,” she pointed out. ‘Confident’ Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who co-sponsored the resolution on Wednesday, expressed his confidence that the upper chamber would still adopt it next week. “We are still confident that the Resolution will pass this week. As to whether we will retain the original wording, that remains to be seen,” Zubiri said in a separate statement. While senators differ on how to put forward the issue, Zubiri said the Senate is “united” in the desire to “condemn the harassment and bullying of our fisherfolk and Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea and ultimately, to enforce the 2016 arbitral award.” “That said, the Senate is a deliberative body whose members are open to discussion and reasonable compromise,” he said. “We are confident that we can come up with a wording of the Resolution that will meet our common desire while addressing the concerns of all the members of the Senate,” he added. During Wednesday’s session, the Senate chief instructed Senate Secretary Renato Bantug to invite DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea Andres Centino and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to an executive session next week. “We will meet with the DFA, the Task Force on the West Philippine Sea and the NICA to hear their concerns,” he said. The post Hontiveros hits Cayetano’s move against Senate reso on China harassment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»