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China’s 10-dash line flaunts ‘arbitrariness’, expert says
China is flaunting anew an “arbitrariness” by releasing its 2023 version of the map, which features a new 10-dash line that defines its purported boundaries in the South China Sea, according to Maritime law expert Professor Jay Batongbacal. “This is already the second time because the first time was in 2013. Based on some reports, it seems that they are introducing a new drawing. It may be small but other countries are already reacting like India and this time, Malaysia has already reacted,” Batongbacal said in a chance interview Thursday evening. China's Ministry of Natural Resources on 28 August issued the map, which covers a large part of the South China Sea, including the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. “Una pinapakita nito yung arbitrariness nung kanilang claim kasi nga nagbabago. Pangalawa, pinapakita rin nito na talagang walang basehan ‘yung kanilang dinodrawing na iyan. Talagang yung mga ibang bansa talagang hindi yan tatanggapin (First, it shows the arbitrariness of their claim because it changes. Second, it also shows that what they are claiming is really baseless. The other countries really can’t accept that.)" Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines have earlier rejected China’s claims under the new version of its SCS map, showing that Taiwan as well as India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region are part of Beijing's domain. Batongbacal said there’s a lot of misinterpretation and manipulation of information regarding China’s claims in the SCS, which overlaps the claims of its neighboring countries. “The Chinese government keeps pushing these narratives that are not really true. The problem is that this information is being reported as if it's true,” he said. Thus, Batongbacal pressed the need for the media outlets, particularly those assigned in the Philippines, to better understand the issues on SCS/WPS. “It is also very important to us because we are a democratic nation and the media plays a very important role in the molding and expression of the public opinion so the media needs to be well-informed, especially in our advocacy in the WPS. This is about our nation,” he said. China’s uncertainties, lack of stability Batongbacal said the Philippines keeps insisting that China should follow the rules-based international order and an international law referred to as “The Law of the Sea Convention.” “China should follow the rules that when we all negotiated—the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—and China itself supposedly ratified that agreement. It shows that even though China signed treaties, conventions, and agreements. yet anytime if it finds it inconvenient in its interest, it can ignore it,” he added. Batongbacal said such action from China shows a “lack of stability and uncertainties.” “And for countries like us, smaller, less powerful and can’t match—let’s say—large countries like China, if that’s our system in the world, then we will not have our independence or sovereignty—if like that. We will just fall into whatever other countries want of us whenever they want, right?,” he said. In the case of the WPS, Batongbacal further explained that China seems pushing for its own “wants and composition” despite signing agreements and international laws. “It keeps ignoring it and insists itself with the other countries. We really need to push back on it and we should stand international law. We should insist that China should follow the agreement and the international law,” he said. He, meanwhile, noted that the legal position of the Philippines was put on record through a series of diplomatic protests. “With it, no one can tell that we are accepting China's claims. It is very clear that we always oppose China that their activities are wrong and it will never be that such behavior would be acceptable in the international law,” he said. Batongbacal underscored the Philippines' need to stand up for legal rights and entitlement in the international community. Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier described China as “delusional and desperate” after issuing the new 2023 version of its 10-dash line map, claiming part of the WPS as theirs. “China is delusional. Wala na sa huwisyo itong Tsina. Kung ano-ano nalang ang ginagawa para mang-angkin ng mga teritoryong hindi naman sa kanya (China is our of its mind. It keeps on inventing to grab what is not theirs) This map is Beijing’s desperate attempt to assert its lies and propaganda,” she said. Hontiveros added that the Department of Foreign Affairs should also coordinate with the National Resource and Mapping Authority) to update a map that clearly shows the country’s exclusive economic zone, continental shelves, and territorial seas in the WPS. The post China’s 10-dash line flaunts ‘arbitrariness’, expert says appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reinsert ‘imminent danger’ in Charter, Robin asks
The recent incident involving the use of a water cannon and dangerous maneuvers by China against Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal warrants an amendment to the Constitution, Senator Robin Padilla said Monday. During his manifestation following Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s privilege speech on China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea, Padilla pushed anew for amendments to the 1987 Constitution. “If we are reaching the point where the whole Senate is really frustrated about the actions of China, I want to remind you all that we also have a responsibility in these four walls of the Senate,” he said in Filipino. “We have a provision in our Constitution that we need to amend and that is about the declaration of martial law,” he said. He said the deletion of the phrase “imminent danger” in the 1987 Constitution, which had been an important factor in the declaration of martial law on 21 September 1972, must be corrected. “When are we going to act? That is my question. Do we have to wait for an invasion?” he asked. “Are we going to wait for them to land in Palawan before we amend the Constitution and insert back the phrase ‘imminent danger?’” he added. He continued: “The imposition of martial law does not mean we will have a flashback of what happened in 1972. It is not like that. Martial law is a thing utilized to organize the Filipino people correctly.” ROTC Padilla stressed the importance of the legislation of the proposed mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps program for higher education institutions and technical-vocational students. “It is undeniable that China has military reservists. Maybe they will just walk on us or pee on us — we will get drowned already,” he said. “What I am saying to my beloved colleagues in the Senate is let us level our anger at China with an action like the mandatory (ROTC),” he added. He continued: “I am hoping that at least with the ROTC, let us prepare our fellow Filipinos. The same goes with the imminent danger.” The post Reinsert ‘imminent danger’ in Charter, Robin asks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Padilla invokes Martial Law to deal with China-WPS row
The recent incident involving the use of water cannon and dangerous maneuvers by China against Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal warrants an amendment in the country’s Constitution, Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla said Monday. In his manifestation during Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri’s privilege speech about China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea, Padilla pushed anew his desire to amend the 1987 Constitution. “If we are reaching the point where the whole Senate is really frustrated about the actions of China, I want to remind you all that we also have a responsibility in these four sides of the Senate,” he said in Filipino. “We have a provision in our Constitution that we need to amend and that is about the declaration of martial law,” he added. He pointed out the deletion of the phrase “imminent danger” in the 1987 Constitution. The provision was among the requirements for declaring martial law under the 1973 Constitution, but was no longer included in the new Charter. The 1987 Constitution must be amended, he stressed, to bring back the "imminent danger" requirement. “When are we going to act? That is my question. Do we have to wait for an invasion?” Padilla demanded. “Are we going to wait for them to land in Palawan before we amend the Constitution and insert back the phrase ‘imminent danger’?” He continued: “The imposition of martial law does not mean we will have a flashback to what happened in 1972. It is not like that. Martial law is a thing we can use to organize the Filipino people correctly.” Padilla likewise stressed the importance of the proposed mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps program for higher education institutions and technical-vocational institution students. “It is undeniable that China has military reservists. Maybe they will just walk on us or pee on us — we will get drowned already,” he said. “What I am saying to my beloved colleagues in the Senate is, let us level our anger to China with an action like the mandatory [ROTC]. I am hoping that at least [with] the ROTC, let us prepare our fellow Filipinos. The same goes with the 'imminent danger' [provision].” The post Padilla invokes Martial Law to deal with China-WPS row appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stalled CoC tabled anew
The long-delayed negotiations for a Code of Conduct or CoC on the West Philippine Sea resume next month reviving hopes for a binding agreement that China will adhere to in defusing maritime tensions, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed. Talks between ASEAN members and China are scheduled in Manila in August. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague issued an award that basically invalidated the nine-dash line claim of China but did not settle sovereignty issues. China refused to participate in the proceedings and said it did not recognize the ruling. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo announced the latest development following the completion of the second reading of the Single Draft CoC negotiating text. Pandemic stalled talks Constraints brought about by the pandemic prevented ASEAN and China from holding CoC negotiations over the past two years. According to Manalo, Manila anticipates adopting an “effective and substantive” agreement next month. In addition, the DFA chief advocated for stronger cooperation on several issues related to ASEAN and Beijing relations, saying that everyone involved “must ensure that gains are not undercut by threats to regional peace, security, and stability, as well as major power rivalries.” “Regarding developments in the South China Sea, we call for the effective management and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law,” Manolo said. Both ASEAN and China reiterated through a joint statement their intent to expedite the negotiations on the long-stalled CoC. Back in November 2022, Manalo bared that at least two or three rounds of negotiations were expected to take place this year. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are at odds over the resource-rich South China Sea, with China claiming the disputed waterway entirely. China remained firm over its territorial claims, notwithstanding the 2016 arbitral award. Last week, the Philippines, joined by its allies, celebrated the seventh anniversary of the country’s victory in the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration. The post Stalled CoC tabled anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoE mulls NGCP audit within year
The Department of Energy may order within the year the holding of the long-delayed comprehensive system and performance audit of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the country’s lone transmission system operator. “We will be issuing the necessary orders to commence this, of course within the year. We’re just waiting for all the audit reports to be in and accepted by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” Lotilla said in a recent interview with reporters. Lotilla reiterated that a comprehensive review is needed to get to the bottom of all the country’s transmission problems, which usually causes power interruptions. “Our job is to make sure that we have the proper, called for comprehensive study and audit that will be the basis for finding out what is the solution for finishing three major interconnection projects,” the Energy chief said. “We need to finish these projects first and foremost because these will free up stranded power. There’s 600 megawatts or even more that gets stranded in Bataan, for instance,” he explained. ERC holds review Currently, the ERC is conducting a full regulatory performance audit of the NGCP, while Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management and National Transmission Corporation will also launch a contract performance review of the operator. The DoE had floated anew the call to subject NGCP to a comprehensive audit after the Luzon grid was placed in yellow and red alerts early this month due to the tripping of the transmission line that caused some power plants to fail. For its part, the NGCP already relayed that it will continue to open its gates to any government-funded audit of its systems and operations. However, NGCP spokesperson Atty. Cynthia Alabanza said Thursday that the China-backed company will only open its doors on the condition that any audit proceedings will follow its regulatory framework. “On the audit, for as long as it is within the regulatory framework that NGCP works under its franchise and concession agreement, we are open to that,” Alabanza said. The NGCP holds a 25-year franchise to solely operate the power transmission assets of the government and secure power reserves for contingency. Among others, NGCP is undertaking the P52-billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project or MVIP. The DoE previously said the project will launch within the first half of the year but will be pushed back anew to an indefinite date still within the year. The MVIP will link together all three major Philippine islands to create one grid. The NGCP was authorized by the ERC to start building the project way back in 2017. It was initially scheduled to be completed in 2020 but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara stated if NGCP had completed the Visayas-Mindanao connectivity project, Mindanao might have augmented Luzon’s electricity delivery. Still, Reyes pointed out that the resulting power outages have threatened the lives of the people, who are in critical need of life support services and medical attention throughout the summer months. He then emphasized that the reliability of power supply is necessary for the delivery of medical services and other life-affirming medical treatments, and these power interruptions caused by the lack of proper ancillary service agreements “clearly stems from NGCP’s failure to recontract these services early on.” The post DoE mulls NGCP audit within year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why Jake Cuenca pursued anew ‘TOTGA’ Chie Filomeno
Jake Cuenca previously described Chie Filomeno in interviews as The One That Got Away, but now it seems she’s the one that got back. While he said he’s not putting any label yet on his relationship with the actress-dancer, the two have happily rekindled their aborted romance......»»
Philippines vows hosting readiness for men’s volleyball world championship
The Philippines assured to leave no stone unturned in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025 — in terms of hosting for the first time ever and competing anew after 50 long years......»»
Fish catch in West Philippine Sea grows despite tensions with China
Despite rising tensions with China, the Philippines expanded its fish catch in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) last year to a four-year high of over 200,000 metric tons on the back of higher state support to fishermen......»»
China Coast Guard water-cannons anew Ayungin-bound civilian Philippine boat
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Warning on Chinese rocket debris out anew
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Japan steps up in its global role
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UCAL cagefest: Tadeo powers MCU anew in routing MGC
RJ Tadeo produced another solid all-around performance as newcomer Manila Central University scored its first back-to-back wins with a 76-60 drubbing of Guang Ming College of Tagaytay......»»
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Will China now play a long or short game against Taiwan?
Beijing [China], January 23 (ANI): Following the Taiwanese people's refusal to buckle to Chinese coercion in the January 13 elections, voting back into power the incumbent Democratic People's Party (DPP) with its new leader Lai Ching-te, opinion varies as to what Beijing's next course of action will be. Will China make a precipitative military move against Taiwan, or will it continue its policy of incessant coercion? Chin.....»»
Will China now play a long or short game against Taiwan?
Beijing [China], January 23 (ANI): Following the Taiwanese people's refusal to buckle to Chinese coercion in the January 13 elections, voting back into power the incumbent Democratic People's Party (DPP) with its new leader Lai Ching-te, opinion varies as to what Beijing's next course of action will be. Will China make a precipitative military move against Taiwan, or will it continue its policy of incessant coercion? Chin.....»»
China to ‘resolutely fight back’ if provoked on Taiwan
Denounced in the Philippines for her rebuke of President Marcos over the Taiwan issue, Chinese ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Mao Ning has lashed back at Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., saying China is ready to “resolutely fight back” if provoked......»»
Economic worries weigh down PSEi
Share prices continued to correct, finishing in negative territory anew yesterday on concerns over economic growth prospects here and in China......»»
Año to China: Joint maritime patrols not provocative
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año lashed back at China yesterday over its most recent statements accusing the Philippines of engaging in provocative actions through its joint maritime activities with the United States in the West Philippine Sea......»»
SMPC coal sales hit record high in 2023
Coal sales volume of integrated energy company Semirara Mining and Power Corp. hit a record high last year on the back of strong export sales, driven primarily by a recovery in China shipments......»»
China blasts Philippines plan to build Ayungin facilities
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning hit back at the Philippine armed forces over a plan to build a permanent structure at Ayungin Shoal in a bid to protect the country’s sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea......»»