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Australia’s biggest warship deployed in Philippine drills
Australia's largest warship took part in joint drills with the Philippines and the United States in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, as they seek to strengthen defence ties in the face of China's growing military presence. China deploys hundreds of coast guard, navy and other vessels to patrol and militarize reefs in the contested waters, which it claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that its position has no legal basis. HMAS Canberra is one of several ships involved in Exercise Alon in the Philippines, which is being held for the first time as part of Australia's annual Indo-Pacific Endeavour activity. Alon is Tagalog for "wave". More than 2,000 troops from Australia and the Philippines are taking part in the August 14-31 air, sea and land exercises. About 150 US Marines are also participating. Monday's simulated air assault in the south of the Philippine island of Palawan happened around 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the Spratly Islands, where longstanding tensions between Manila and Beijing have flared. "Like the Philippines, Australia wants a peaceful, stable and prosperous region which respects sovereignty and which is guided by rules-based order," Hae Kyong Yu, Australia's ambassador to Manila, said at Tarumpitao Point Airfield. Such exercises were "critical" because "through these we are putting our words into action", she said. The United States, Japan and Australia will also hold joint naval exercises off the Philippines this week. "That's always been the plan," Captain Phillipa Hay, commander of the Australian Amphibious Task Force, told reporters on board the HMAS Canberra. "Those ships have come from Talisman Sabre (exercises in Australia) and everyone is on their way home, it's very normal for us to train in company with partners when we proceed to and from exercises." The drills come after a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratlys was blocked by Chinese Coast Guard vessels using water cannon on August 5, triggering a diplomatic spat and international outrage. One of the charter boats carrying supplies to the outpost was prevented from reaching the shoal, while the other succeeded in unloading its cargo. The Philippine military has said it will send more supplies to the remote outpost, where a handful of Filipino marines are stationed on a rusty navy vessel. The BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately grounded on the reef in 1999 to check China's advance in the waters. China has demanded the Philippines remove the vessel and defended its actions as "professional". The post Australia’s biggest warship deployed in Philippine drills appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An inane idea
The conflict in the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea has birthed unnecessary and unpalatable narratives plus inane proposals to dramatize the country’s condemnation of the provocative and aggressive navigational acts coming from some government functionaries, apart from escalating the tension between claimants China and the Philippines. The repeated infuriating bullying by the Chinese Coast Guard on our own Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine vessels has been relentless. China has been oblivious to our countless diplomatic protests and calls for it to stop its incursions on our territorial waters, respect our sovereign rights and accept the arbitrary ruling handed by the Permanent Arbitration Court. It has turned deaf ears to our protestations. It has been unmoved by the collective expression of condemnation of its acts of aggression against the Philippines from countries consisting of the European Union, Japan, Australia Canada, and the United States. Not even the threat by the latter to use counter-offensive and defensive measures by way of enforcing the Mutual Defense Treaty between it and our country could soften China’s provocative and aggressive stance. It stubbornly refuses to recognize the arbitral ruling of the Permanent Arbitration Court that has rejected its nine-dash expansionist claim over a large part of the South China Sea while validating the Philippines’ claim over Ayungin Shoal as within its exclusive economic zone. China’s emergence from an underdeveloped and weak country to a superpower like the United States and Russia made it easy for it to adopt the maxim that might is right. Truly, from a sleeping giant, it has become a mighty dragon spewing fire. China’s unacceptable and outrageous assaults on our territorial waters, which must be stopped, is, however, not an excuse to call for a boycott of its products. It’s a stupid idea. The proponents have not considered the repercussions if we enforce such an inane thought. We cannot be hostage to that vexing conflict with China and throw to the winds the benefits derived from our trade relations with it. China, being the largest supplier of manufactured goods, is known as the “ world’s factory.“ Every imaginable household use, clothes, shoes, textiles, construction materials, kitchen and toilet fixtures, beauty equipment, electronic gadgets, toys, outdoor and interior decors, tiles, air conditioning units, electric fans, engineered floors, kitchen utensils, heavy machinery and equipment, engineered wood floors, and a thousand other items. Compared to US and European-made, Chinese-manufactured goods are much cheaper. No wonder, they are much preferred now by the average Filipino because of the affordable prices of these products. Quality-wise, they can give Western merchandise a run for their money. A government policy of boycotting goods coming from China will deprive millions of ordinary Filipinos to have them. This is an anti-poor program. The propagates of this boycott idea seem to be either ignorant or oblivious to the fact that China is the biggest trade partner of the Philippines. Philippines exports to China have reached a whopping $10.97 billion in 2022 while imports from China rose to $28.2 billion per the latest data. If we enforce a boycott policy of Chinese products, those figures will be jeopardized. Do those propagators of such foolish advocacy realize the monstrosity of that monumentally folly? (To be continued) The post An inane idea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China snubs Canada as restrictions on tourism travel lifted
China — a major source of outbound tourists — has left Canada off a list of countries now approved for travel by tour groups, its embassy in Ottawa said Wednesday, due to anti-Beijing rattling by Ottawa. Last week Beijing lifted a Covid-era ban on group tours to dozens of countries including the United States, Germany, Japan, and Australia, but not Canada. Travel agents turn to the list of approved destinations when promoting and arranging foreign vacations for Chinese nationals. There are currently 138 countries on the list. The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said in a statement that the reason behind the snub was "the Canadian side has repeatedly hyped up the so-called 'Chinese interference.'" It said "rampant and discriminatory anti-Asian acts and words are rising significantly in Canada" and "the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the safety and legitimate rights of overseas Chinese citizens and wishes they can travel in a safe and friendly environment." The United Nations tourism agency (UNWTO) says China grew to be the biggest tourism source market in the world prior to the pandemic. In 2019, Chinese tourists spent a collective US$255 billion on international travel. Group tours from China to Canada were first approved in 2010. In 2018, nearly 700,000 Chinese visitors came to Canada, spending an average of Can$2,600 (US$1,922) per visitor, or a total of Can$2 billion -- out of Can$22 billion spent collectively by all foreign travelers, according to a report by the Canada China Business Council. That same year, tit-for-tat arrests of a top Huawei executive in Vancouver on a US warrant and two Canadians living in China, accused of espionage, dealt a serious blow to bilateral relations. Ottawa accused Beijing of engaging in "hostage diplomacy," before a deal was eventually reached with US prosecutors that saw all three people released in 2021. China-Canada relations hit a new low this year amid accusations of Chinese meddling in Canadian elections and the attempted intimidation of MPs that led to the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat in May. Beijing responded by sending home a Canadian diplomat from Canada's consulate in Shanghai. Canadian government officials did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Janice Thomson, the head of tourism at Niagara Falls -- the top tourism destination in Canada -- said China's decision to leave Canada off its approved destinations list was "disappointing." She expressed hope that Canada would make it onto the list in a future round of country additions. The post China snubs Canada as restrictions on tourism travel lifted appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fear no China
One could find reason to disagree with the view that a warship of the Philippine Navy at Ayungin Shoal had been deliberately run aground as a “symbol of Philippine sovereignty over that area.” The ongoing word war between Beijing and Manila only strains diplomatic relations and bilateral cooperation through confrontational media hype over deference to China as the “natural leader of the Third World.” A few well-defined observations may be drawn and serious questions may be raised. China’s averment of the Philippines’ commitment to remove the BRP Sierra Madre, beached the past 24 years, and the latter’s refusal since it never expressed any commitment to do so only aggravates the growing tension that has hogged the headlines recently and instilled an ideological clash of world views. Wasn’t there a “bilateral code of conduct” signed to put to rest such a dispute or conflict, at least in the case of Mischief Reef? Call to mind that in November 1995, Chinese President Jiang and President Fidel V. Ramos, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Osaka, reportedly discussed the joint development of marine resources in the disputed regions. Ramos also proposed an “interim solution” where “each littoral state assumes stewardship over the sea closest to it without prejudice to the sovereignty claims.” In fact, when a new Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States was signed in 1999, the Philippines practically shelved its plans to strengthen its fortifications in the Spratlys. Whereas China would want the Sierra Madre removed to bring Ayungin Shoal back to its unoccupied state, an irreverent National Security Council official only amplified the rhetoric by saying that such removal is tantamount to “abandoning our sovereign rights and jurisdiction over West Philippine Sea.” It must invite a congressional review as to whether or not — using the same ploy at Scarborough Shoal — another Philippine Navy ship (LST 507) was towed away when the China Coast Guard made a veiled threat to blow it up. It becomes understandable why the China Coast Guard that monitors its claim over the South China Sea deems in accordance with “maintaining China’s ‘national face’ on the world stage” its response to Philippine vessels on a resupply mission to the Sierra Madre. China also believes that the “introduction of third-party forces will only complicate the situation,” its reference to the G7 (US, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, France, Germany) — consequent to President Benigno Aquino’s unilateral move “to humiliate China before the global public.” Note that Chinese nationalism cannot be undermined as the prime mover behind its tough stance against “recalcitrant neighbors” (e.g. Vietnam). The truth is that we failed to reach a level of “bilateral harmony” with China’s rise, a thing that Malaysia has done so effortlessly. If scholars are to be believed, the dynamics in play differ, viz., Malaysian politicians aim at giving face to China while Filipino politicians actively aim at destroying China’s public image to the pitch of a “global flashpoint.” Still, it’s best not to miss the forest for the trees. It sounds like a child’s game for the country’s national security official to unabashedly dismiss as a “figment of the imagination” the statement made by China’s envoy of a purported Philippine commitment to tow its grounded navy vessel from Ayungin. The dilapidated hulk is in a dismal state — gaping holes, corroded decks, unseaworthy, even worse than a decommissioned ship. How can you call that a “symbol of Philippine sovereignty?” Wherever these unfolding developments lead, the absolute fact remains that there is no single navy, marine, or soldier that the China Coast Guard has killed. If the Sino-Malaysian relationship resulted in highly profitable bilateral relations over the past four decades, why don’t we reconfigure Philippine threat perceptions of China precisely “to deny any external power’s hegemonial grip on the regional order,” as scholars suggest? Ought we follow what Brantly Womack describes as the “positive equilibrium between asymmetrical neighbors,” as well as Malaysia did? Perhaps let’s write new laws, draw new maps, then build installations over our territorial claims?” The post Fear no China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese expats in New Zealand under surveillance
A report from New Zealand’s spy agency claims that intelligence agencies of China had been persistently monitoring Chinese expatriates in the country. The report of the Security Intelligence Service, which warned of potential harm from the foreign interference, has signalled a newfound willingness to speak out and risk the wrath of China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner. New Zealand is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance alongside the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. But Wellington has been criticized in the past for taking a softer line on China putting its close trading relationships ahead of the security concerns of its allies. Meanwhile, the SIS report also accused Iran and Russia of espionage activities. Iran had been monitoring “dissident groups,” the report read, while Russian campaigns to spread disinformation were starting to sway a small number of New Zealanders. WITH AFP The post Chinese expats in New Zealand under surveillance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘I miss the sun’: Journalist detained in China issues rare message
Jailed Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei has described the bleak conditions she faces in detention in a rare public message released on Thursday ahead of the third anniversary of her imprisonment by Beijing. "I miss the sun," reads the message, described as a "love letter" to Australia dictated to officials on a consular visit. "In my cell, the sunlight shines through the window but I can stand in it for only 10 hours a year." The message was shared with Australian news outlets and on the social media platform X by Cheng's partner, Nick Coyle, on Thursday evening. Cheng, a former anchor for Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, is formally charged with "supplying state secrets overseas", though no further details have been supplied. Her detention came as relations between Australia and China cratered, raising speculation it was politically motivated. Last year Coyle said he had serious concerns about a "range of health issues" Cheng faced behind bars. In Thursday's poignant message, the mother of two said she hadn't seen a tree in three years and spoke of her longing for Australia and the outside world. She said her bedding in jail was only taken out to air once a year. "When it came back last time, I wrapped myself in the doona (quilt) and pretended I was being hugged by family under the sun," the message read. "Most of all I miss my children," it ended. Cheng has been detained since August 2020 but was only formally arrested in February 2021. She was tried last March behind closed doors, with even Australia's ambassador to China blocked from entering the court to observe proceedings. The court deferred the verdict and Cheng's sentence, which could extend to life in prison. "She has missed her daughter going to high school. Her parents aren't getting any younger and Lei is their only child. So time is getting more and more precious," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Coyle as saying on Thursday. Last month Australia's foreign minister said she had again raised Cheng's case when she met China's top diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Jakarta. Ties between the two sides have been improving since the election of Australia's center-left Labor government in May last year. Last week, China announced it was removing extra tariffs on Australian barley imposed in 2020 at the height of the dispute. The post ‘I miss the sun’: Journalist detained in China issues rare message appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl sends note verbale to China
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government has sent a note verbale to China after a Chinese coast guard vessel used a water cannon on a Philippine boat that was on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. In an interview with the media following a command conference in Bulacan, Marcos said the note verbale included pictures and video of the incident. “Our secretary of foreign affairs summoned Ambassador Huang (Xilian) today and gave him a note verbale, including pictures and video of what happened, and we are awaiting their reply,” Marcos told reporters. The incident happened Saturday as the Philippine Coast Guard was escorting chartered boats carrying food, water, fuel and other supplies for Filipino military personnel stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. [caption id="attachment_168205" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela (left), spokesperson for the National Security Council Jonathan Malaya (center) and spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Colonel Medel Aguilar take part in a press conference in response to recent aggression by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila on 7 August. | Ezra Acayan / POOL/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE[/caption] Howls of protests The US State Department on Sunday condemned the Chinese action, saying it was carried out by its coast guard and “maritime militia,” and it directly threatened regional peace and stability. Britain, Australia, Canada and the European Union also criticized Beijing’s action. 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 accused the China Coast Guard of breaking international law in blocking and firing a water cannon at the resupply mission, which prevented one of the charter boats from reaching the shoal. Another charter boat successfully delivered its cargo. China said it had taken the “necessary controls” against Philippines boats that had “illegally” entered its waters. Marcos said, “We continue to assert our sovereignty and territorial rights in the face of all of these challenges, consistent with international law and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) especially.” He said the Philippines would also continue to communicate with the Chinese government to try and resolve the issue. “Of course, China’s position is that they say, ‘we own this, that’s why we are defending it.’ On our side, we say, ‘no, this is ours, that’s why we are also defending it.’ That’s why there’s a gray area being discussed now,” Marcos said. The incident at Ayungin Shoal is the latest in a series of Chinese provocations in the West Philippine Sea. In recent months, Chinese coast guard vessels have harassed Philippine fishing boats and blocked resupply missions to its military outposts in the area. 444 diplomatic protests The Philippines has repeatedly called on China to respect its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. China, however, has refused to recognize the Philippines’ claims to the area. For context, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday the Philippines has so far filed 444 diplomatic protests against China regarding its activities in the West Philippine Sea since 2020. Of this number, this year alone Manila has so far filed 34 diplomatic protests against Beijing. In the same media interview, Marcos said the recent West Philippine Sea incidents are unrelated to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent visit to China. Marcos was asked about what Duterte reported to him regarding his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and why the incidents have recurred. “I don’t think it’s related. I don’t think this is related to his visit,” Marcos said. He said he and Duterte discussed the latter’s conversation with Xi, but that some things that were discussed need to remain confidential. “That is between President Digong and myself,” Marcos said. He said the incidents in the South China Sea involved “operational aspects” of the Philippines’ military, navy, and coast guard, which is why it is “difficult to discuss them in too much detail.” “These are things that are being handled by our military, our navy, our coast guard,” he said. Duterte and Xi met in Beijing on 17 July, shortly after the Philippines marked the seventh anniversary of the arbitral decision that affirmed the nation’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, countering China’s extensive territorial assertions. Chinese media reported that Xi expressed hope that Duterte would maintain a significant position in fostering an amicable collaboration between the Philippines and China. Another report said that Xi urged Duterte to “play an important role in the friendly cooperation between the two countries.” Marcos acknowledged the former president’s visit to China and expressed openness to establishing fresh channels of communication amid ongoing concerns in the South China Sea. The post Phl sends note verbale to China 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......»»
Rodriguez: Downgrade Phl embassy in Beijing over China ‘bullying’
Lawyer-lawmaker Rufus Rodriguez, a staunch critic of China’s encroachment and aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea, prodded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday to take “more drastic” actions against China's latest "harassment" on Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy vessels. “We cannot allow these harassment and bullying tactics and encroachment on our maritime territory to continue. We have to take more drastic actions instead of filing the usual diplomatic protest note,” Rodriguez stressed. His remark was set off Beijing's most recent bullying action, when Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons at Philippine vessels heading to Ayungin Shoal in the WPS. The vessels were resupplying a platoon of Filipino soldiers stationed on a rusting Navy ship on the shoal off Palawan. Rodriguez disclosed that he had already asked the President to downgrade the Philippine embassy in Beijing to show "deep indignation, anger and protest" over the water cannon blast. “The President should also order our unusually quiet and inactive ambassador there to return to Manila and to replace him with a lower-level diplomatic officer,” remarked the Cagayan solon. A resolution, which would “effectively shrink" the Philippines' ties with Beijing, is set to be filed at the House of Representatives, according to Rodriguez. Philippines allies Canada, Japan, Australia and the United States denounced Beijing's use of water cannons on Philippine vessels last Saturday. Earlier, the PCG said it strongly condemned the CCG's "dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against PCG vessels." The post Rodriguez: Downgrade Phl embassy in Beijing over China ‘bullying’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl protests China’s latest water cannon aggression
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the Philippine government sent a note verbale to China after a Chinese coast guard vessel used water cannon on an indigenous boat on a supply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. In an interview with the media following the command conference in Bulacan, Marcos said the note verbale included the pictures and videos of the incident. "We continue to assert our sovereignty and territorial rights in the face of all of these challenges and consistent with the international laws and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), especially," Marcos said. He said the Philippines would also continue to communicate with the Chinese government to try to resolve the issue. "Of course, China's position is that they say, 'We own this; that's why we are defending it.' On our side, we say, 'No, this is ours; that's why we are also defending it.' That's why there's a gray area being discussed now," Marcos said. The incident at Ayungin Shoal is the latest in a series of Chinese provocations in the West Philippine Sea. In recent months, Chinese coast guard vessels have been seen harassing Philippine fishing boats and blockading resupply missions to Philippine military outposts in the area. The Philippines has repeatedly called on China to respect its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. However, China has refused to recognize the Philippines' claims to the area. The Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the Philippines has so far filed 444 diplomatic protests against China regarding its activities in the West Philippine Sea since 2020. Out of this number, Manila has so far filed 34 diplomatic protests against Beijing this year. The United States, Australia, Japan and Canada have expressed their backing for Manila and criticized the actions of China. A Philippine Naval ship called the BRP Sierra Madre has been intentionally grounded at Ayungin Shoal since 1999. The shoal is located at a distance of 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province, Palawan. It is a component of the country's 200-nautical mile continental shelf, as stipulated by the UNCLOS. The post Phl protests China’s latest water cannon aggression appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. threatens MDT use
The Philippines and the United States condemned the China Coast Guard or CCG on Sunday for firing water cannons and interfering with the legal operations of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar confirmed that at least one chartered supply boat being escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard was “blocked and water-cannoned” by a CCG vessel on Saturday, 5 August. The Philippine vessels were en route to Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal for a routine troop rotation and resupply mission when they were attacked by the CCG, Aguilar said in a statement to journalists. Aguilar characterized the attack as a “wanton disregard of the safety of the people on board and in violation of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, and the 2016 Arbitral Award.” “The Ayungin Shoal is a low tide elevation that is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, pursuant to the 1982 UNCLOS and as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the Department of Foreign Affairs stressed in a statement. The US State Department immediately issued a warning that China’s provocative actions in the WPS, which overlaps with the South China Sea, or SCS, could make it invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty, or MDT, with the Philippines. Signed in 1951, the MDT states that if either country is attacked by an external party, the other country will come to its defense. The United States also called on China to abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling that found China’s claims in the South China Sea to be illegal. “Such actions by the PRC are inconsistent with international law and are the latest in repeated threats to the status quo in the South China Sea, directly threatening regional peace and stability,” a US State Department statement said. “By impeding necessary provisions from reaching the Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC has also undertaken unwarranted interference in lawful Philippine maritime operations,” the US pointed out. Heightened tension The incident further heightened tension between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea, notwithstanding the visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Beijing in January. Filipino lawmakers immediately condemned China’s actions (See related story). In a separate statement, the PCG reported that the use of water cannons by the CCG forced the Philippine vessels to change course, preventing them from reaching Ayungin Shoal. In recent months, the CCG has been increasingly aggressive in its patrols of the area, leading to a number of incidents between the two countries. The 2016 arbitral ruling recognized the WPS as part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone while invalidating China’s nine-dash line claim of ownership of nearly the whole of the South China Sea. China has rejected the arbitral ruling. “The United States calls upon the PRC to abide by the arbitral ruling as well as to respect the freedom of navigation, a right to which all states are entitled,” the US State Department said. It added that an armed attack on Philippine vessels, aircraft, and armed forces, including those of its coast guard in the WPS, “would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.” In February, the CCG vessels pointed a military-grade laser light at the BRP Malapascua, which caused temporary blindness in some of its Filipino crew. In separate statements, Japan, Australia, Canada and the European Union called on China to stop its harassment of Philippine vessels. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko decried the incident. “Totally unacceptable, any harassment and actions which infringe on lawful activities of the sea and endanger the navigational safety,” Koshikawa said in a tweet. “Australia is concerned by the latest actions directed against the Philippines, which are dangerous and destabilizing,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu said in another tweet. Yu also called on China to “respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for peace and stability in the South China Sea, which is a vital international waterway.” The Canadian Embassy in the Philippines echoed the same sentiments and said the country “unreservedly condemns the dangerous and provocative actions taken by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine vessels.” Likewise, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron expressed concern about the incident. “Very concerned about dangerous action in South China Sea. The EU stands with the Philippines in upholding the rules-based international order,” Veron said. The post U.S. threatens MDT use appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan, Australia, Canada, EU condemn China’s ‘unacceptable’ actions vs. Phl vessels in WPS
Several countries on Sunday condemned China's actions against Philippine vessels in the Ayungin Shoal, which involved the firing of water cannon and imposing dangerous maneuvers. In separate statements, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the European Union called on China to stop its harassment of Philippine Coast Guards vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko described the incident which occurred on 5 August as “totally unacceptable.” “Totally unacceptable any harassment and actions which infringe on lawful activities of the sea and endanger the navigational safety,” Koshikawa said in a tweet. “We strongly support [the] Philippines position; upholding maritime order based on UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” he added. The envoy is referring to the 2016 arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the larger South China Sea. China, however, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, continued to ignore the arbitral ruling, and insisted on its nine-dash line claim. Likewise, Australia expressed its concern about the latest aggressive actions of China against Philippine vessels on its own territory. “Australia is concerned by the latest actions directed against the Philippines, which are dangerous and destabilizing,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu said in a separate tweet. Yu also called on China to “respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for peace and stability in the South China Sea, which is a vital international waterway.” The Canadian Embassy in the Philippines echoed the same sentiments against the People’s Republic of China’s “dangerous” actions against PCG vessels. “Canada unreservedly condemns the dangerous and provocative actions taken by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine vessels on August 5th, in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal inside the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines. Unsafe maneuvers and use of water cannons to disrupt the lawful operations of Philippine vessels is unacceptable, and inconsistent with the obligations of the People's Republic of China under international law,” the embassy said in a statement. “Continuing acts of intimidation and coercion by the PRC against its neighbors undermine safety, security, and stability across the region, and raise the risks of grave miscalculation,” it added. Ottawa also called on Beijing to recognize the 2016 arbitral decision on the South China Sea, which is final and binding, and comply with its obligations under international law. “Only by ensuring full respect for international law can we collectively set conditions for effective and collaborative management of maritime resources, maintenance of maritime safety and security, preservation of marine biodiversity, and respect for maritime boundaries, while ensuring the rights of all states under international law are protected,” it said. Likewise, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron expressed the EU’s concern about the incident. “Very concerned about dangerous action in South China Sea. The European Union stands with the Philippines in upholding the rules-based international order,” Veron said. He also noted the EU supports the recognition of the 2016 arbitral decision on the South China Sea. The post Japan, Australia, Canada, EU condemn China’s ‘unacceptable’ actions vs. Phl vessels in WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wise up, China and Russia
Dear Editor “The map is not the territory.” — Alfred Korzybski China and Russia can have and keep their respective maps with all their might. In the case of China, it is its map of the entire South China Sea, but not the sea itself because no Philippine territory (West Philippine Sea to be specific) is owned by any foreign country. In China’s nine-dash line map, Chinese officials are free to commit all the aggressions and bullying they want to do and no nation will protest, not even the Philippines. They can build as many illegal structures there as they want and our government will not file for sure a single note verbale because Filipinos respect China’s dignity. Furthermore, there is no need for the Philippine government (in such an instance) to assert the ruling of the Arbitral Court that found there is no more need for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prepare for the defense of our maritime territory against China. And what about the Philippines continually expecting the promised support/backing of big, developed nations like the United States, Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the entire European Union and many other thinking nations for any eventuality — in defense of what belongs to Filipinos in the disputed sea? By the way, China’s nine-dash line is stranger than fiction, according to world experts. Are you willing/ready and capable to going to war with the world, dear China? German Chancellor/dictator Adolf Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, which triggered World War 2, yet Hitler was the one who ended up invaded by hell as he ultimately committed suicide in 1945, out of frustration and desperation, or guilt. Aside from many other lesser crimes against humanity that evil Hitler committed, he massacred over six million Jews at the altar of his selfish and narcissistic ambition. Unforgivable. Pray that Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin would take a cue from Hitler’s colossal blunder — vis-a-vis the West Philippine Sea, Ukraine and Taiwan. I read somewhere two years ago that a Western superpower has advanced scientifically and technologically in ways unprecedented and unparalleled in the matter of military might. I was led to ask: What nation could be more powerful than this nation which has the knack/capability, an unseen weaponry or “mechanism” in space to detect and redirect at the same time any kind of nuclear bomb launched against it — back to its point of origin? Watch out and wise up, China, Russia (and North Korea)! Learn from world history before it’s too late. Wouldn’t you behave and allow sanity, civility, reason and peace to prevail? What seems to be so difficult about the act when it won’t even cost you a dime or a single, precious human life to do it? Remember, good always triumphs over bad. Reni M. Valenzuela renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com The post Wise up, China and Russia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Possible Chinese malware in US systems a ‘ticking time bomb’: report
The Biden administration believes China has implanted malware in key US power and communications networks in a "ticking time bomb" that could disrupt the military in event of a conflict, The New York Times reported Saturday. The Times, quoting US military, intelligence and security officials, said the malware potentially gave China's People's Liberation Army the ability to disrupt US military operations if Beijing were to move against Taiwan at some point. The systems affected, the Times said, could allow China not only to cut off water, power and communications to US military bases, but also to homes and businesses across the United States. The report comes two months after Microsoft warned that state-sponsored Chinese hackers had infiltrated critical US infrastructure networks. Microsoft singled out Guam, a US Pacific territory with a vital military outpost, as one target but said malicious activity had also been detected elsewhere in the United States. It said the stealthy attack, carried out since mid-2021, was likely aimed at hampering the United States in the event of a regional conflict. Authorities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Britain warned at the same time that Chinese hacking was likely taking place globally, affecting an extensive range of infrastructure. Discovery of the malware, the Times said, sparked a series of meetings in the White House Situation Room involving top military, intelligence and national security officials in an effort to track down and eradicate the code. The newspaper quoted one congressional official as saying the malware operation amounted to "a ticking time bomb." The White House issued a statement Friday that made no mention of China or military bases. "The Biden administration is working relentlessly to defend the United States from any disruptions to our critical infrastructure, including by coordinating interagency efforts to protect water systems, pipelines, rail and aviation systems, among others," said Adam Hodge, acting spokesman for the National Security Council. He added that President Joe Biden "has also mandated rigorous cybersecurity practices for the first time." Reports of the malware operation come at a particularly strained point in US-China relations, with China aggressively asserting its claim that Taiwan is Chinese territory and the US seeking to ban sales of sophisticated semiconductors to Beijing. bbk/dw © Agence France-Presse The post Possible Chinese malware in US systems a ‘ticking time bomb’: report appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Blinken in Tonga warns of ‘predatory’ Chinese aid
Antony Blinken on Wednesday became the first US secretary of state to visit Tonga, dedicating a new US embassy and warning South Pacific nations about the perils of "predatory" Chinese investment. As part of a drive to build Washington's influence across the region and to counter Beijing's growing clout, Blinken touched down in Nuku'alofa on a diplomatic charm offensive. "We're a Pacific nation," and "we very much see the future in the Indo-Pacific region," Blinken told his hosts while pledging support on projects that are important to them. "We really understand what is a priority for the people here," he said, citing issues like climate change, development and illegal fishing. "There are a long list of things that we're working on together, but it's all driven by focusing on what's concrete, what can really make a difference in people's lives." But he also had a barbed warning about aid from Beijing -- which has increased dramatically in recent years -- saying it often comes with strings attached. "As China's engagement in the region has grown, there has been some -- from our perspective – increasingly problematic behaviour," Blinken said. He claimed China had been behind "some predatory economic activities, and also investments that are done in a way that can actually undermine good governance and promote corruption". Earlier this year, Micronesia's then-leader David Panuelo publicly accused China of engaging in harassment and espionage, and bribing members of his cabinet. Diplomatic hub Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago of about 100,000 people, is the latest in a string of Pacific island states being targeted in a renewed US diplomatic push. The new US embassy in the capital Nuku'alofa was officially opened in May, but Blinken's hosts said his visit signalled Washington's renewed interest in the region. "His presence here today is a testament to the fact that our partnership is growing from strength to strength," said Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, welcoming a "shared respect for democracy, rule of law and the rights and freedoms of others". The United States also has plans to open embassies in Vanuatu and Kiribati. In February, it restored its embassy in Solomon Islands after a 30-year hiatus. Chinese state-controlled media painted Blinken's visit as evidence that the United States no longer had confidence in its ally Australia to manage relations with Pacific Island nations. The United States has been the dominant military force in the South Pacific since World War II. But the region is increasingly an arena for powers to compete for commercial, political and military influence. China, the rising military power in the region, has also asserted itself through its expanding diplomatic reach, investment, police training and security deals. While in Tonga, Blinken also commented on the abrupt removal of Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang from office. "I wish him well," Blinken said, while vowing to work with his replacement Wang Yi. "I've also known Wang Yi for more than a decade. I've met with him repeatedly," Blinken said. "I anticipate being able to work well with him as we have in the past." "It is important for us to manage this relationship responsibly. That starts with diplomacy, that starts with engaging, and I will work with whoever the relevant Chinese counterpart is." The post Blinken in Tonga warns of ‘predatory’ Chinese aid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Australia, US open large-scale war games
SYDNEY (AFP) — Australia opened a large-scale joint military exercise with the United States and almost a dozen other nations on Friday, as a senior officer revealed that a Chinese spy ship was following the proceedings. Officials formally launched the biennial Talisman Sabre exercise, involving more than 30,000 troops from 13 nations, including Britain, Japan, Indonesia, Canada and France. The drills come amid increasing concern about the threat posed to the region by China, which is not part of the military exercise. Speaking at a news conference onboard the HMAS Canberra, Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton told reporters that a Chinese spy ship had been spotted off the country’s northeastern coast the previous day. “We reached out on Thursday and hailed that vessel in the Coral Sea,” he said. “It’ll move down, I expect, and join the exercise or be in the location of the exercise again. They’ve done this for a number of years — we’re well-prepared for it.” He said the Chinese response to Australia’s communication had been “courteous and in accordance with normal norms at sea.” Australia and the United States have made it clear that they have their eyes on China’s activities in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia has announced moves to develop military facilities in its northern region, while also saying that the US military presence there will increase in coming years. A US “Indo-Pacific Strategy” last year announced efforts to work more closely with regional allies to “shape the region around China” to blunt Beijing’s influence. Lieutenant General Bilton said Australian defense officials “haven’t reached out to the Chinese specifically” ahead of the military exercise. He added: “This exercise is about us, it’s about our partner nations, building interoperability, trust and our ability to respond together to whatever crisis might exist in our region in the future.” For two weeks, until 4 August, troops will participate in field training, amphibious landings, ground force maneuvers, air combat and maritime operations. Most of this year’s exercise will take place in the northeastern Australian state of Queensland. The post Australia, US open large-scale war games appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tribune, Marcos share good gov’t journey (19)
In drafting the Baselines Law, which he helped craft as a member of the House of Representatives, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said in a Daily Tribune article that a new concept was introduced in which sea lanes were recognized inside the country’s boundary. He indicated that the idea had been realized and was now enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Philippines used to be considered an archipelagic state. Under the old definition, it was not clear where foreign ships could have passage. “The definition of the sea lanes is important since we determine where the country can provide security. That is our waters, you will pay for the services. It is similar to the arrangement that Singapore has with ships going to the Malacca Straits,” Marcos said. Within the archipelago, between the islands of the Philippines, there are no overlapping claims. The West Philippine Sea dispute will still have to be resolved. “We still have to talk to China. We still have to find ways to resolve the diplomatic difficulties that we are now having with China,” Marcos noted. He added that the countries in the sea dispute will have to come to a consensus, come to an agreement, and continue to negotiate. “It is not an easy process, but the Malampaya fields are the natural gas fields that lie in our baselines and within our exclusive economic zone. And that, again, is being questioned in certain cases, in certain areas, by China. And we continue to negotiate with them. We continue to find a way,” Marcos said. He simplified the problem down to its essentials. “The roadblock to that whole process has been very simple. China claims certain areas of the sea.” “The nine-dash line, it covers just about the entire West Philippine Sea. We, on the other hand, have established our baselines, which have been recognized and accredited by UNCLOS,” he stressed. “And therefore, there is a conflict. And so what happens now, especially when it comes to exploration for energy, for our energy needs, which law will apply? Because we say this is part of Philippine territory. And, therefore, Philippine law should apply. The Chinese say no, it is part of our territory. Therefore, Chinese local law should apply.” Marcos indicated that however slow it might be, claimant countries are inching toward a resolution. He predicts the resolution may have to come down to a compromise that “will just limit the application of laws, maybe to the vessels that are involved in the exploration or exploitation of whatever natural gas fields we can access.” Marcos said that “To reach a resolution, we must be constant. We must be transparent. And we must be accountable for all that we do. And I cannot see any other way to handle the problem other than that.” Just having the tensions increase in the region already affects trade, on all of the exchanges within ASEAN, within the region, with China, with the United States, and now with the aggrupation that is being formed, with Australia, with Japan, with South Korea. (To be continued) The post Tribune, Marcos share good gov’t journey (19) 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. The post China still intractable appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Blinken rallies SE Asia against ‘coercion’ in swipe at China
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed unity Friday with Southeast Asian nations against "coercion", in a thinly veiled reference to Beijing, as host Indonesia warned at talks that the region should not become a proxy for global rivalries. Blinken met foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta at a gathering that also brought the top diplomats of China and Russia, the two main adversaries to the United States. A day after his latest talks with China on managing tensions between the two powers, Blinken made a clear if unstated allusion to concerns shared with many in the region over Beijing. "We share a vision of the Indo-Pacific that is free, open, prosperous, secure, connected and resilient," Blinken told ASEAN foreign ministers, using another term for the Asia region. "That means a region where countries are free to choose their own paths and their own partners, where problems are dealt with openly -- not through coercion," he said. "We must uphold the freedom of navigation in the South and East China Seas and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Friction has been rising for years between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines, over China's sweeping claims to much of the South China Sea. Maritime incidents have been on the rise and tensions have also soared over Taiwan, the self-governing democracy which Beijing claims and has not ruled out seizing by force. But host Indonesia warned that ASEAN cannot become a proxy, as tensions flare not only between the United States and China but over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "The Indo-Pacific must not be another battleground," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told ministers of the 18-nation East Asia Summit, which includes the United States, China and Russia, as well as Japan, India and Australia. Managing tensions The annual closed-door talks have often been a raucous affair as big powers clash, but the United States and China have been working to prevent disagreements from spiraling out of control. Blinken met Thursday evening for more than an hour and a half with China's foreign policy supremo Wang Yi, less than a month after the top US diplomat paid a rare visit to Beijing. He told Wang that Washington would hold hackers "accountable" after a breach of US government email accounts was blamed on Chinese state-backed actors, a US official said. Wang urged Washington to "work with China in the same direction" to improve ties and stop interfering in China's affairs, according to a statement on Friday by the foreign ministry in Beijing. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong held her own meeting with Wang on Thursday and said she had urged Beijing to "navigate our differences wisely" and provide "transparency" on a controversial policing pact with Solomon Islands. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also met Friday with Wang, where Tokyo and Beijing traded barbs over the former's plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. US shuns Russia While the United States has sought to increase communication with China, Blinken shunned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. It was first time Blinken and Lavrov were in the same room since a Group of 20 meeting in March in New Delhi, where they spoke briefly on the sidelines. US officials say Russia has no real interest in diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine, with Western powers instead ramping up military support to Kyiv. The US approach has caused unease in parts of the developing world, with countries including India and South Africa refusing to rally behind condemnation of Russia. Meeting with ASEAN, Blinken called for a "just and lasting peace to Russia's war of aggression" in Ukraine. In an interview with Indonesian media this week, Lavrov said the war in Ukraine would not end until Western nations gave up their efforts to "defeat" Russia. Pressure on Myanmar ASEAN talks have been dominated by the crisis in Myanmar. The bloc refused to invite the country's military junta, which seized power in February 2021. With Myanmar's chair at the table conspicuously empty, Blinken urged more pressure. "In Myanmar, we must press the military regime to stop the violence, to implement ASEAN's five-point consensus, to support a return to democratic governance," Blinken said. ASEAN reached a five-point peace plan two years ago with the junta, which has yet to implement it. Myanmar's neighbor Thailand has broken with the bloc by pursuing engagement with the junta, although its foreign minister said he also was able to see deposed elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday. Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan told reporters at the end of meetings Friday that ASEAN members "encourage all channels of communication to be open". The post Blinken rallies SE Asia against ‘coercion’ in swipe at China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beijing hits U.S. as arbitral ‘mastermind’
After several countries backed the 2016 arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines’ claim in the West Philippine Sea, China yesterday maintained the same to be “void.” “China’s position on the so-called South China Sea arbitration and the award is consistent, clear, and firm. The arbitral tribunal gravely violated UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) and general international law,” the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement on Wednesday night. “The award is illegal, null, and void. China does not accept or recognize it and will never accept any claim or action based on the award,” it added. Likewise, the Chinese Embassy took a swipe at the United States for “playing up” the 2016 arbitral award to exert pressure on China. China averred that as “the mastermind behind the South China Sea arbitration,” the US “ropes in allies to play up the issue each year on the anniversary of the illegal award to gang up against China, exert pressure, and force China into accepting the award.” On Wednesday, the Philippines commemorated the seventh anniversary of the 12 July 2016 arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and received an outpouring of support from different countries. Foreign ministers and ambassadors from at least eight countries, such as the United States, Japan, the European Union, Australia, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, and India, reiterated their support for the landmark ruling. They also urged Beijing to recognize the arbitral ruling and stop its “harassment” in the South China Sea. Beijing, however, stood by its historic rights over the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the larger South China Sea. “China’s sovereignty and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history and are solidly grounded in history and the law. This shall under no circumstances be affected by any illegal award,” the embassy said. The post Beijing hits U.S. as arbitral ‘mastermind’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»