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Philippines resupply boat heavily damaged
Again, using water cannons and executing dangerous maneuvers, the Chinese coast guard made another attempt yesterday to block Filipino vessels from resupplying a military outpost on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, causing “major damage” and triggering condemnation from the US, the European Union and Japan......»»
US condemns China’s latest aggression in WPS
The Philippines reported on Saturday that the Chinese Coast Guard blocked and damaged a Filipino supply boat with water cannons while it was on its way to Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), causing injuries to personnel onboard......»»
Philippines resupply boatheavily damaged
Again, using water cannons and executing dangerous maneuvers, the Chinese coast guard made another attempt yesterday to block Filipino vessels from resupplying a military outpost on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, causing “major damage” and triggering condemnation from the US, the European Union and Japan......»»
China Coast Guard water-cannons anew Ayungin-bound civilian Philippine boat
A China Coast Guard vessel again blasted a Filipino supply boat with water cannons during the latter's attempt to bring much needed supplies to soldiers stationed at the Ayungin (Scarborough) Shoal......»»
From the Newsrooms: March 17 to 23, 2024
By: CMFR StaffPosted on: March 25, 2024, 8:00 amUpdated on: March 25, 2024, 1:00 am THIS WEEK, "From the Newsrooms" looks at the media coverage of two events. On March 20, a hearing in the House on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) revealed that Chinese nationals were included in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA). On March 21, Arnolfo Teves, the alleged mastermind of the Pamplona.....»»
Philippines lodges strong protest with China over water cannon attack in disputed South China Sea
Manila [Philippines], March 25 (ANI): In the wake of accusation by the Philippines that the Chinese Coast Guard wounded three of its soldiers during a water cannon attack in the disputed South China Sea, Manila on Monday summoned Beijing's envoy to lodge its strong protest, Al Jazeera reported. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, in a statement said that Manila conveyed its "strong protest against the aggressiv.....»»
From the Newsrooms: March 17 to 23, 2024
By: CMFR StaffPosted on: March 25, 2024, 8:00 amUpdated on: March 25, 2024, 1:00 am THIS WEEK, "From the Newsrooms" looks at the media coverage of two events. On March 20, a hearing in the House on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) revealed that Chinese nationals were included in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA). On March 21, Arnolfo Teves, the alleged mastermind of the Pamplona.....»»
Philippines lodges strong protest with China over water cannon attack in disputed South China Sea
Manila [Philippines], March 25 (ANI): In the wake of accusation by the Philippines that the Chinese Coast Guard wounded three of its soldiers during a water cannon attack in the disputed South China Sea, Manila on Monday summoned Beijing's envoy to lodge its strong protest, Al Jazeera reported. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, in a statement said that Manila conveyed its "strong protest against the aggressiv.....»»
WPS tension: Chinese vessel blocks PH research ship
A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel again made “dangerous maneuvers” on Thursday and tried to block a Philippine fishery vessel carrying marine scientists conducting research in the West Philippine Sea or WPS. Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS, told a press briefing on Friday that CCG vessel 5204 crossed the.....»»
Heads should roll over Chinese recruitment in PCG – lawmaker
Whether in good faith or not, recruiting Chinese nationals into the Philippine Coast Guard should make the concerned government officials “accountable” even if the foreigners were just members of an auxiliary group, a lawmaker said yesterday......»»
Second round of Fukushima wastewater release to start next week
Japan will begin releasing a second batch of wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant from next week, its operator has said, an exercise that angered China and others when it began in August. On 24 August, Japan began discharging into the Pacific some of the 1.34 million tons of wastewater that has collected since a tsunami crippled the facility in 2011. "The inspections following the first release have been completed... The (second) discharge will start on 5 October," TEPCO said on Thursday. China banned all Japanese seafood imports after the first release, which ended on September 11, despite Tokyo's insistence that the operation poses no risk. Russia, whose relations with Japan are also frosty, is reportedly considering following suit on a seafood ban. In the first phase around 7,800 tons of water were released into the Pacific out of a planned total of 1.34 million tons, equivalent to more than 500 Olympic swimming pools. TEPCO says that the water has been filtered of all radioactive elements except tritium, which is within safe levels. That view is backed by the UN atomic agency. China has accused Japan of using the ocean like a "sewer", accusations echoed at the United Nations last week by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of the Solomon Islands, who has developed close relations with Beijing. The release, which is expected to take decades to complete, is aimed at making space to eventually begin removing the highly dangerous radioactive fuel and rubble from the wrecked reactors. "As was the case for the first discharge, we will continue to monitor the tritium levels. We will continue to inform the public in ways that are easy to understand based on scientific evidence," TEPCO official Akira Ono told reporters Thursday. Despite China's ban on Japanese seafood imports, Chinese boats are reportedly continuing to catch fish off Japan in the same areas that Japanese vessels operate. Rahm Emanuel, the US ambassador to Japan, last week posted photos of what he said were Chinese fishing boats off Japan on 15 September. "They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Chinese vessels fishing off Japan's coast on September 15th, post China's seafood embargo from the same waters," Emanuel said on social media platform X. The post Second round of Fukushima wastewater release to start next week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipino fisherman chased by China coast guard in disputed waters
Filipino fisherman Arnel Satam guns the motor of his tiny wooden boat as he makes a dash for the shallow waters of Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, with Chinese coast guard speedboats in hot pursuit. In a high-seas chase lasting several minutes, Satam tries in vain to outrun the faster boats in the hope of slipping inside the ring of reefs controlled by China, where fish are more abundant. Friday's pursuit was witnessed by AFP journalists on board the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship BRP Datu Bankaw, which was delivering food, water and fuel to Filipino fishermen plying the contested waters, sometimes for weeks on end. The fishermen complained that China's actions at Scarborough Shoal were robbing them of a key source of income and a place to shelter safely during a storm. "I want to fish in there," a defiant Satam, 54, told journalists as he stood barefoot on his light blue outrigger bearing a Superman "S" emblem. "I do this thing often. They already chased me earlier today," he said, adding the Chinese speedboats had bumped his vessel. "I just laughed at them." Scarborough Shoal is 240 kilometres (150 miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan. Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China helped negotiate, countries have jurisdiction over the natural resources within about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) of their shore. China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, snatched control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, it has deployed coast guard and other vessels to block or restrict access to the fishing ground that has been tapped by generations of Filipinos. Philippine officials also accused the Chinese coast guard of laying a 300-metre (-yard) long floating barrier across the entrance to the shoal shortly before the BRP Datu Bankaw arrived. The temporary barrier "prevents Filipino Fishing Boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities," the Philippine coast guard and fisheries bureau said in a joint statement condemning its installation. Resupply missions It took 18 hours for the BRP Datu Bankaw to make the more than 300 kilometre journey to Scarborough Shoal from a port in Manila Bay. More than 50 wooden outrigger fishing vessels, which Filipinos call "mother boats", were operating in the deep waters outside the shoal when the Philippine ship dropped anchor last Wednesday. Some of the fishing crews had been there for two weeks already using nets, lines and spears to catch tuna, grouper and red snapper. To enable them to stay at sea for longer and catch more fish, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources carries out regular resupply missions. Four Chinese coast guard boats patrolled the waters, keeping the BRP Datu Bankaw and Filipino fishermen away from the shoal. The voice of a Chinese coast guard radio operator crackled over the airwaves 15 times, ordering the BRP Datu Bankaw to "immediately" leave "Chinese territory". The instruction was repeated in English on a scrolling digital message board on one of the Chinese coast guard vessels. Unfazed by the warnings, the 12 crew members of the BRP Datu Bankaw distributed 60 tonnes of fuel in blue plastic jerry cans to the fishing boats, as well as food packs for those running low on provisions. The supplies were free for the fishermen, but some showed their gratitude by giving the BRP Datu Bankaw crew tubs of freshly caught fish. 'This is ours' "We are very grateful for this assistance," said Johnny Arpon, 53, whose 10-metre boat "Janica" arrived at the shoal in time to stock up on extra diesel. Some of the Filipino fishermen crowding around the BRP Bankaw in small outriggers to receive provisions climbed aboard to eat snacks and drink fresh water. They told journalists they had been chased and water cannoned by Chinese vessels in the past and even had their anchors cut. "They should give it back to us because this is ours," said Nonoy de los Reyes, 40, referring to Scarborough Shoal. "They should leave this place." After decades of overfishing by countries surrounding the waters, the men have to spend longer at sea to catch enough fish to cover their costs and, hopefully, make a small profit. China's blocking of the shoal had made the situation even tougher and the fishermen said they hated them for it. "We barely have any catch so we'll probably need to stay two more weeks," said Alex del Campo, 41, who had already spent more than a week at sea. A day earlier, del Campo and two other fishermen had made a daring bid to enter the shoal in their small boats, but were chased away by Chinese coast guard personnel in rigid-hulled inflatable vessels. "We are defenceless because they are armed and there was just one fisherman in each of our three boats," del Campo said. "If they ram and sink our boats who will save us?" The post Filipino fisherman chased by China coast guard in disputed waters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hero within all of us doesn’t make the news
Often remembered only when their special day is marked, the nation's heroes deserve more than passing mention in a two to three-paragraph story either buried in the inside pages or turning up in a rehashed editorial or opinion piece. It's that time of the year again when many of us take a day – or a long weekend off – for beach bums or sun worshippers, or take the occasion to do our laundry, declutter closets, reunite with old friends or relatives, catch up with reading books you meant to curl up with on a rainy day, or the time when you give your pet dog a shampoo and a brisk rubdown. It is a day all wage-earners look forward to because it means extra holiday pay or a fatter paycheck. In short, except for their kin and descendants of their closest friends who attend obligatory rites at national shrines, we often take our heroes for granted, storing them temporarily in the dustbins of history, only to be resurrected at the next celebration of National Heroes Day or Araw ng Mga Bayani. Students recite their names by rote only to pass history or related subject tests, mouthing facts and figures without paying attention to their meaning or importance in the Philippine setting. Bonifacio, Rizal, Aguinaldo, Mabini, Antonio and Juan Luna, Gabriela and Diego Silang, Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes-Escoda, Maria Orosa, Gen. Vicente Lim, and countless others. Youngsters often recall these personalities only because several streets, towns, and military camps have been named after them. When the award-winning film "Heneral Luna" was shown to capacity crowds with Apolinario Mabini, often called the "Brains of the Philippine Revolution" and the "Sublime Paralytic" playing a stellar role, many in the audience wondered aloud why he was always shown in a seating position. Parents who were fortunate enough to have been raised by families with more than textbook or quiz/trivia knowledge of the making of our history through the participation of these remarkable figures decry the fact that many of today's youth are more familiar with the eating or wardrobe preferences as well as the latest squeeze or amour of their favorite Korean or Hollywood idol than the roles played by Gabriela Silang, Antonio Luna, or Llanes-Escoda in the resistance against Spanish, American, and Japanese invaders. Some young people and even adults are known to sing all of their idols' top hits by heart at the drop of a hat. Still, they need to be made aware of the contributions of Nicanor Abelardo, Lucio San Pedro, and Sister Rosalina Abejo to the richness of Philippine music. Is this sad state of affairs a result of the failure of history and arts and culture classes in our school's curriculum, a lack of trained teachers to teach these courses, or simply growing disinterest in these subjects among our students? Have the heroes who are supposed to serve as role models or inspirations not only for the young but to the citizenry in general lost their luster or have faded glory? It would be a pity if such is the case, especially in these times when we need them most to rally behind a cause, symbolize or motivate advocacy, or provide us hope in a world tottering on the brink of war, facing disease, hunger, and the disastrous effects of climate change. While we should not forget those, who led us towards the path of independence from the harsh consequences of foreign rule that destroyed countless lives, bred insurrections, and almost obliterated our sense of pride and national identity, let us not forget those in our midst who continue to tread the less-traveled road and remain anonymous. In recent times, these are the modern-day heroes like the brave and persevering soldiers who man the worn out and ready-to-fall-apart BRP Sierra Madre entrenched on Philippine soil at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, despite continuing threats and harassment from the Chinese Coast Guard whose government insists the Shoal is theirs. A July 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling under the United Nations said, "China's nine-dash line claim over the disputed waters is invalid." From the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, first responders or front liners like doctors, nurses, and others in allied professions were acknowledged as the heroes of the day, alongside countless supporters who donated medical equipment and facilities and organizers of community pantries that provided a seemingly endless supply of food to those in need. They are our firefighters, police and military forces (despite a rotten few), peacemakers, teachers, and rescuers in mercy missions to save lives in areas hit by floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other violent forces of nature. They may even be a neighbor who helps the homeless or vagrant by giving him not only food but odd jobs to keep them off the streets and away from the wretchedness of begging, a friend who has opened up her home to stray cats and dogs, a plant nursery owner who donates saplings and seeds so others can learn – and profit – from the joys of gardening. These community leaders have made a difference by initiating livelihood projects in their respective neighborhoods. It could even be you. Leading by example, you can teach others that settling tax obligations, obeying traffic rules, and paying it forward is all about being a good citizen. According to one wise man: "Heroes prove to us that no matter how much suffering there is in the world, there are supremely good people around whom we can count on to do the right thing even when most people are not prone to do so." The post Hero within all of us doesn’t make the news appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ironclad it must be
As the two giants on the world stage take their positions in the simmering conflict over a safe passage on the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines is again sandwiched between an immovable object and an unstoppable force. The last time the Philippines was caught in the middle was during the Obama administration’s Asian pivot when a freshly unwrapped cutter, which was a former US Coast Guard ship, was received by the Philippine Navy. President Noynoy Aquino then promptly sent it to the disputed area to catch “poachers.” A string of events then followed which concluded in a copout by the US after China started reclaiming Scarborough Shoal, on which solid structures now stand. The deployment of the “gray ship” — which has consequences in protocol during international disputes — resulted in a standoff between China and the Philippines in 2012. Despite the frequent vow of American officials, which later extended to President Joe Biden, that the alliance between the US and the Philippines is “ironclad,” historical experience says otherwise. Noynoy Aquino and some officials he designated lost Scarborough Shoal because they were gullible enough to believe that Washington would immediately come to the country’s aid considering the several defense agreements between them. It was the Americans who brokered the agreement in which the Philippines and China were supposed to withdraw from the Scarborough Shoal standoff in 2012. Former US Ambassador Jose Cuisia said it was then US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell who mediated to end the stalemate. The Philippine vessels hightailed it out of the conflict zone but the Chinese knew better and never left the area. Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the Aquino administration made a fatal blunder as they “acted without verifying the facts.” The Philippine forces withdrew based on the wrong belief that there was an agreement between the Philippines and China that both would mutually follow. Enrile lamented that Aquino and his officials swallowed the word of an American official “hook, line, and sinker.” The way that the Mutual Defense Treaty is crafted does not compel United States forces to respond quickly to aggression against the Philippines. It will be the call of the US Congress whether or not to authorize a response. Unless the MDT is renegotiated to become a pact similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, where the response is automatic to a particular threat, the Americans can’t be relied on to come to the rescue during an actual conflict. The WPS will always be an area of conflict because of the resources believed to be hidden beneath it. Past estimates of the proven reserves of oil and natural gas in the WPS are from seven to nine billion barrels of crude and 900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. China estimates that the area has potential reserves of 130 billion barrels of oil. The WPS is also a very strategic route, according to Enrile. “If that area is closed or controlled by another country, China in two months will wither away as a nation. They will have famine, riots, they will have no economy because 80 percent of their energy passes through the Strait of Malacca through the WPS,” he explained. The point is that both America and China will not allow the other to control the sea that lies within the area of maritime rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The US has no moral standing even to compel China to follow the international agreement since it is not a signatory to UNCLOS. There’s still a lot of proving that the US will have to do to back up its oft-repeated promise that it will not backpedal from its commitments when the going gets tough. The post Ironclad it must be appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lady solon raises China’s WPS ‘aggression’
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen at her residence in Taipei City, making her the highest incumbent Philippine official to meet with the leader of the self-ruled island. In their meeting, Hontiveros shared with Tsai the Philippines’ frustration over “China’s aggression” not only in the West Philippine Sea but in the entire South China Sea. “While I am here in Taiwan to particularly check on the overseas Filipino workers who were threatened by the Chinese Ambassador’s dangerous statements, I cannot help but raise an urgent issue that looms large over the Philippines — the external threat posed by China in our territories, a similar dilemma Taiwan also faces,” said the lady lawmaker. Hontiveros is referring to the remarks issued by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian where he allegedly threatened overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan. To recall, Huang earned the ire of Philippine government officials after “advising” the Philippines to “unequivocally oppose” Taiwan’s independence if it “genuinely cares” about 150,000 OFWs on the self-ruled island. The lady senator’s visit to Taiwan also came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ adherence to the One China policy during the visit of Chinese FM Qin Gang to Manila last month. China considers Taiwan, an ally of the United States, as part of its territory, to be retaken one day — by force, if necessary. Hontiveros also shared that China’s “intimidation, threats, and harassment” are a “daily occurrence that Filipino fisherfolk and Philippine Coast Guard personnel experience, adding that the tensions in our own seas have deprived our fisherfolk of their livelihood, especially since Chinese vessels have constantly shooed them away, at times even confiscating their bountiful catch.” Underscoring that the Taiwanese people should have the basic human right to self-determination, Hontiveros, however, emphasized that the Philippines will not meddle with the issue of Taiwanese independence. “While we in the Philippines will never interfere with the issue of your independence, I will always support nations who err on the side of democracy,” Hontiveros told Tsai. “We know that democracy is a powerful vaccine against armed conflict, as it requires fostering peaceful relations among citizens. When carried into the realm of foreign policy, this will result in peaceful international relations not only among our nations but also across the world,” she added. “Peace is necessary for the safety and security of all our citizens. Peace is essential for our economies to survive and thrive. Peace is our only option. With the continued and strengthened ties between the Philippines and Taiwan, I trust that true and lasting peace will reign,” said Hontiveros. The post Lady solon raises China’s WPS ‘aggression’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hague ruling enters 5th year
A Filipino fisherman, recalling an incident three years ago, said members of the Chinese Coast Guard chose the best catch of his fellow fishers and left liquor and a pack of instant noodles in exchange......»»
Hope for more survivors from Baltimore bridge collapse fades
BALTIMORE – The coast guard announced on Wednesday that hope of finding more survivors of the Baltimore bridge collapse has dimmed, and efforts have switched to searching for the bodies of the missing persons, as well as seeking more answers as to why a container ship crashed into the span. The coast guard announced on.....»»
EAM Jaishankar visits Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar in Manila
Manila [Philippines], March 27 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday during its port call to Manila and said that India's Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision will continue to give it a more contemporary form. He presented his remarks at the Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday and said that his visit and the ship's presence signify th.....»»
Panatag is proven PH territory; China claims it by bogus history
A civilian supply expedition to Panatag (Scarborough) is set this summer. The shoal is Philippine territory. Filipinos have every right to enter its 15,000-hectare lagoon bound by rocks and reefs......»»
Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar on overseas deployment to ASEAN, arrives im Phillipines
Manila [Philippines], March 25 (ANI): India Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialized Pollution Control Vessel, reached Manila, Philippines on Monday, marking the commencement of its (overseas deployment) OSD mission to Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries. ASEAN countries includes Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, " acc.....»»