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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......»»
Roque bares Duterte, China agreement to respect status quo in WPS
Roque bares Duterte, China agreement to respect status quo in WPS.....»»
Roque: Xi, Duterte agreed to keep West Philippines Sea status quo
The Philippines under former president Rodrigo Duterte had a “gentleman’s agreement” with China to keep the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, a former Cabinet official said yesterday, as fresh tensions surround the WPS due to recent incursions by Beijing that targeted a Filipino resupply mission and a research team......»»
DFA summons Chinese envoy over latest sea confrontation
The DFA said in a statement that the agency summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy to protest “aggressive actions” by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia against a civilian boat supplying troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. .....»»
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......»»
Australia, Britain Criticize China for Actions in Hong Kong
SYDNEY - Australia and Britain on Friday criticized China for its actions in Hong Kong and the South China Sea and its support of Russia, after a meeting in which London and Canberra deepened their security ties.The two countries called out 'recent unsafe and destabilizing behavior by China's vessels against Philippine vessels and crew near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea,' in a statement that contain.....»»
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......»»
Chip maker Intel beats earnings expectations as it pursues rivals
US chip giant Intel on Thursday said it made more money than expected in the recently ended quarter as it continued to invest in a "geographically balanced" supply chain. Intel shares jumped more than 7 percent to $34.88 in after-market trades. "We delivered a standout third quarter, underscored by across-the-board progress on our process and product roadmaps; agreements with new foundry customers, and momentum as we bring AI everywhere," said Intel chief executive Pat Gelsinger. Intel reported revenue of $14.2 billion, which was 8 percent less than the amount seen in the same quarter a year earlier but ahead of forecasts. Net income tallied $300 million, compared with $1 billion profit in the same period in 2022, earnings figures showed. "Our results exceeded expectations," said Intel chief financial officer David Zinsner, who said earnings benefited from "expense discipline." Intel has been working to catch up with rivals, especially Nvidia, when it comes to powerful chips needed to handle the computing demands of artificial intelligence. Intel touted investments being made in chip production facilities with an aim of creating a "geographically balanced, secure, resilient supply chain." California-based Intel is seen as a key tool for the United States to reduce its dependence on major global producers, such as Taiwan's TSMC. Earlier this year, Intel announced it would spend $25 billion on a new plant in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it the country's single largest foreign investment. The "agreement in principle" would see the semiconductor firm build the facility in the southern city of Kiryat Gat that would open by 2027 and operate at least until 2035, Israel's finance ministry said. Intel has been operating in Israel since the 1970s with development centers and a production site that employs some 12,000 people, the finance ministry said. In 2017, Intel acquired Israel-based Mobileye, which makes technology for automated driving systems in vehicles, for just over $15 billion. Gelsinger said Intel teams have kept operations going despite the war between Israel and Hamas. "Our utmost priority is the safety and welfare of our people in Israel and their families," Gelsinger said. "Despite all of these challenges, they're performing extremely well. I am praying for a swift return to peace." China Gelsinger said Intel was carefully studying updated rules in the United States that tighten curbs on exports of state-of-the-art AI chips to China. "We do believe that we'll have plenty of opportunity in China," Gelsinger said. "We are continuing to deploy our products there broadly, even as we comply and work with (the United States) around the regulations that they're putting in place." The new rules tighten measures from a year ago that banned the sale to China of microchips crucial to manufacturing powerful AI systems. Calls to further close the supply chain grew after the popularity of generative AI platform ChatGPT. When announcing the beefed-up curbs, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo insisted they were intended to close loopholes and prevent China's development of AI for military use. "It's true that AI has the potential for huge societal benefit. But it also can do tremendous and profound harm if it's in the wrong hands and in the wrong militaries," she told US media. The rules will not affect chips used in consumer goods such as laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles, though some will be subject to export licensing requirements. China has said it is "strongly dissatisfied" and "firmly opposes" the curbs. "The US continues to generalize the concept of national security, abuse export control measures, and implement unilateral bullying," the commerce ministry said in a statement. The post Chip maker Intel beats earnings expectations as it pursues rivals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China bolsters ‘patriotic education’ with new law
China has adopted a new law strengthening so-called patriotic education, state media said, the latest step in President Xi Jinping's drive to reassert the Communist Party's ideology in the country's classrooms. A crackdown on the highly lucrative world of for-profit private tutoring in 2021 was also seen as part of efforts to reassert ruling party control over the education system. The moves banned tutoring firms from hiring overseas teachers, with critics saying it was cutting off Chinese children from outside influences. The new law, which comes into effect on January 1 and was approved on Tuesday, will "strengthen patriotic education in the new era" and seek to impart a "patriotic spirit" in China's youth, according to state-run news agency Xinhua. A Xinhua commentary hailing the law's adoption by Beijing's top lawmaking body said that education had been "facing challenges" recently. "Some people are at a loss about what is patriotism," the commentary read. It attacked "the influences of some social thoughts, such as historical nihilism" -- a term often employed by Beijing's leadership to condemn accounts that run contrary to official rhetoric about the party. The law contains provisions already included in other legislation, the commentary said, including those banning "insulting the national flag and distorting or denying heroes' deeds and spirit". Zhao Leji, China's top lawmaker, said the law would help the country in "forging a mighty force" to build a "strong" nation, Xinhua reported. Education has long been used by the Communist Party to boost its legitimacy in the eyes of China's 1.4 billion people. Much of its narrative centers on its role in conquering absolute poverty and asserting China's position in a hostile international climate. But conspicuously absent are detailed discussions of the party's role in instigating China's bloody Cultural Revolution and Great Famine, in which millions died. The post China bolsters ‘patriotic education’ with new law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China to send youngest-ever crew to space station
Tiangong is the crown jewel of Beijing's space program, which has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon and made China the third country to put humans in orbit. The station is constantly crewed by teams of three astronauts, who are rotated out every six months. The Shenzhou-17 module carrying the trio to the station is scheduled to blast off at 11:14 a.m. (0314 GMT) Thursday from the Jiuquan launch site in China's arid northwest. "It is the crew of astronauts with the youngest average age since the launch of the space station construction mission," Beijing's State Council Information Office said in a statement. The all-male trio will be led by Tang Hongbo, who is on his first return mission to the Tiangong space station. "Throughout the past two years, I have often dreamt of going back to space," Tang said at a press conference on Wednesday. "The space station is our other home that takes us away from Earth and into the universe," he added. Accompanying him will be Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, both in their thirties and each making maiden space voyages. The crew has an average age of 38, compared to 42 for the crew of Shenzhou-16 when it launched. "According to the plan, the Shenzhou-17 spacecraft will conduct autonomous rendezvous and docking procedures after entering orbit," Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for China's space program, said during a Wednesday morning press briefing. It will dock with the station's core module "about six-and-a-half hours" after first initiating the procedure, he added. 'Space dream' Plans for China's "space dream" have been put into overdrive under President Xi Jinping. The world's second-largest economy has pumped billions of dollars into its military-run space program in an effort to catch up with the United States and Russia. In June, the return capsule of the Shenzhou-15 spaceship touched down at a landing site in the northern Inner Mongolia region, with state media hailing the mission as a "complete success". That month also saw the launch of the Shenzhou-16 capsule, which carried the first Chinese civilian -- Beihang University professor Gui Haichao -- into orbit. That crew will return to Earth on October 31 after completing a handover, officials said Wednesday. Beijing also aims to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and plans to build a base on the lunar surface. Spokesperson Lin reiterated that aim Wednesday, saying that the "goal of landing Chinese people on the moon by 2030 will be realized as scheduled". Lunar plans The country's lunar plans were dealt a setback in 2017 when the powerful Long March-5 Y2 rocket failed to launch on a mission to put communication satellites into orbit. That forced the postponement of the Chang'e-5 launch, originally scheduled to collect Moon samples in the second half of 2017. Another robot, the Chang'e-4, landed on the far side of the Moon in January 2019 -- a historic first. Chang'e-5 eventually landed on the Moon in 2020, raising a Chinese flag on the lunar surface and returning to Earth with the first lunar samples in four decades. The final module of the T-shaped Tiangong -- which means "heavenly palace" -- successfully docked with the core structure last year. The station carries several pieces of cutting-edge scientific equipment, according to state news agency Xinhua, including "the world's first space-based cold atomic clock system". The Tiangong is expected to remain in low Earth orbit at between 400 and 450 kilometers (250 and 280 miles) above the planet for at least 10 years. China will send its youngest-ever crew of astronauts to the Tiangong space station this week, officials said Wednesday, as Beijing pursues plans for a manned mission to the Moon by the end of the decade. Tiangong is the crown jewel of Beijing's space program, which has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon and made China the third country to put humans in orbit. The station is constantly crewed by teams of three astronauts, who are rotated out every six months. The Shenzhou-17 module carrying the trio to the station is scheduled to blast off at 11:14 am (0314 GMT) Thursday from the Jiuquan launch site in China's arid northwest. "It is the crew of astronauts with the youngest average age since the launch of the space station construction mission," Beijing's State Council Information Office said in a statement. The all-male trio will be led by Tang Hongbo, who is on his first return mission to the Tiangong space station. "Throughout the past two years, I have often dreamt of going back to space," Tang said at a press conference on Wednesday. "The space station is our other home that takes us away from Earth and into the universe," he added. Accompanying him will be Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, both in their thirties and each making maiden space voyages. The crew has an average age of 38, compared to 42 for the crew of Shenzhou-16 when it launched. "According to the plan, the Shenzhou-17 spacecraft will conduct autonomous rendezvous and docking procedures after entering orbit," Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for China's space program, said during a Wednesday morning press briefing. It will dock with the station's core module "about six-and-a-half hours" after first initiating the procedure, he added. 'Space dream' Plans for China's "space dream" have been put into overdrive under President Xi Jinping. The world's second-largest economy has pumped billions of dollars into its military-run space program in an effort to catch up with the United States and Russia. In June, the return capsule of the Shenzhou-15 spaceship touched down at a landing site in the northern Inner Mongolia region, with state media hailing the mission as a "complete success". That month also saw the launch of the Shenzhou-16 capsule, which carried the first Chinese civilian -- Beihang University professor Gui Haichao -- into orbit. That crew will return to Earth on October 31 after completing a handover, officials said Wednesday. Beijing also aims to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and plans to build a base on the lunar surface. Spokesperson Lin reiterated that aim Wednesday, saying that the "goal of landing Chinese people on the moon by 2030 will be realized as scheduled". Lunar plans The country's lunar plans were dealt a setback in 2017 when the powerful Long March-5 Y2 rocket failed to launch on a mission to put communication satellites into orbit. That forced the postponement of the Chang'e-5 launch, originally scheduled to collect Moon samples in the second half of 2017. Another robot, the Chang'e-4, landed on the far side of the Moon in January 2019 -- a historic first. Chang'e-5 eventually landed on the Moon in 2020, raising a Chinese flag on the lunar surface and returning to Earth the first lunar samples in four decades. The final module of the T-shaped Tiangong -- which means "heavenly palace" -- successfully docked with the core structure last year. The station carries several pieces of cutting-edge scientific equipment, according to state news agency Xinhua, including "the world's first space-based cold atomic clock system". The Tiangong is expected to remain in low Earth orbit at between 400 and 450 kilometers (250 and 280 miles) above the planet for at least 10 years. The post China to send youngest-ever crew to space station appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Collision or ramming?
When nations compete for dominance, the concepts of fairness and sovereignty often go by the wayside. This weekend’s collision of Philippine vessels with Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea should serve as a vivid reminder of China’s aggressive expansionism in this crucial maritime region. While troubling, this incident is just part of a larger pattern of Chinese harassment of Philippine vessels within our territorial waters. China once again relied on its victim-blaming strategy, accusing the Philippines of “deliberately stirring up trouble” in an incident that the Philippine Coast Guard allegedly planned. These claims are ridiculous and unfounded, part of China’s long-running endeavor to legitimize its illegal acts in the West Philippine Sea. But regardless of Beijing’s bluster, the Philippines has the right to stand up to a neighborhood bully. Its claim to sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea is firmly rooted in the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling, which categorically rejected China’s extensive claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas that overlap with the West Philippine Sea. This landmark decision made it evident that China’s historical claims do not hold up under international law, in an area where competing claims by other countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have sparked geopolitical concerns. Historically, the territorial irritants that have the potential to become full-blown conflicts have centered on fishing rights, oil and gas reserves, and the strategic importance of controlling these waterways. Still, unlike China’s bold territorial expansion and contempt for international jurisprudence, the Philippines’ approach is founded on the rule of law. China’s predilections extend beyond the assertion of spurious territorial claims, as it includes the unauthorized construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea. These man-made islands function as military outposts, providing China with a strategic regional advantage. Such acts are not only illegal, but they also pose a direct threat to regional peace and stability. As the Philippines struggles for its rights, exposing China’s duplicity on a global scale is critical. While China portrays itself as a rational and responsible nation in international crises such as the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the Israel-Hamas conflict, its actions in the South China Sea reflect a different face — that of a regional bully. China cannot preach peace and diplomacy while actively pursuing territorial expansion and disregarding international law when it does not support its aspirations. The collision (or was it an intentional incident of ramming by China of Philippine vessels?) near the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands is just the latest chapter in China’s unrelenting pursuit of regional supremacy. Philippine efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and defend international law merit support not only from its neighbors, but also from the world community at large. The West Philippine Sea is more than just a body of water; it represents sovereignty, justice, and the triumph of law over aggression. The Philippines’ resistance to China’s bullying is a fight for the rights of all nations that value international norms, territorial integrity, and conflict resolution through peaceful means. China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea and its disrespect for the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration must be countered by the international community with the position that in the South China Sea, might does not equal right. As we consider the perilous situation in the West Philippine Sea, it’s critical to understand that this is not a one-off occurrence but part of a larger pattern. The Philippines has been subjected to constant harassment by Chinese vessels within its own waters. Filipino fishermen are being harassed, maritime resources (like coral reefs) are being pillaged, and Filipino military troops are being put in danger by Chinese warships that have no business being in Philippine waters. There can never be a repeat of the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff, which allowed China to build bases on man-made islands. As it stands resolute against China’s gunboat diplomacy, the Philippines serves as a beacon of hope for all nations confronting unjustified hostility. The Philippines’ dedication to upholding international law, maintaining its sovereignty, and defending its people’s rights is admirable. The post Collision or ramming? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
McKeown becomes first woman to hold every backstroke world record
Australian Kaylee McKeown said she was "super stoked" after becoming the first woman to hold world records in all three backstroke disciplines by smashing the 50m mark. The 22-year-old clocked 26.86 seconds at the World Cup in Budapest on Friday to better the previous best of 26.98 set by China's Liu Xiang in 2018. "I am super stoked with that," said McKeown, who is a red-hot favorite to dominate in the pool at next year's Paris Olympics. "The only thing I can keep doing is training hard and keep believing in myself and believing in my coach. "I never saw myself as a sprinter so it's really nice to have that under my belt. "Next year is going to be a really tough year so the more confidence I can build, the better," she added. McKeown has held the 100m world record since June 2021 and bagged the 200m in March. She swept the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke titles at the world championships in July and also owns the Olympic 100m and 200m golds. The 50m back is not contested at the Olympics. mp/smw © Agence France-Presse The post McKeown becomes first woman to hold every backstroke world record appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Apple scraps Jon Stewart show over China, AI clashes: report
US comedian Jon Stewart's talk show on Apple TV+ has reportedly been canceled after just two series due to clashes between its host and the company over topics such as China and artificial intelligence. Stewart told staff that executives from Apple -- which has vast commercial interests in China and AI -- had expressed concern over proposed new content for "The Problem with Jon Stewart," The New York Times said. Apple did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. Stewart became a household name in the United States as the host of Comedy Central's long-running "The Daily Show," before stepping down to pursue other interests in 2015. Streaming platform Apple TV+ launched "The Problem with Jon Stewart" as a flagship current affairs show in 2021. The show takes a satirical look at a different topical issue each week. Episodes in the most recent season included "Globalization: Made In America" and "Searching for Allies." Since Apple first established a presence in China in 1993, the US tech giant has grown into a major provider of smartphones, laptops and consumer electronics in the country. Apple chief Tim Cook made a surprise visit to China this month, and he has previously spoken of his company's "symbiotic" relationship with the nation. In an earnings call in August, Cook said Apple views AI and machine learning as "core fundamental technologies that are integral to virtually every product that we build." amz/hg/sst © Agence France-Presse The post Apple scraps Jon Stewart show over China, AI clashes: report appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sub bolsters Taiwan defense vs China
Taiwan unveiled its first domestically built submarine on Thursday to bolster the island’s defenses against China. President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the launch ceremony for the Hai Kun or “Narwhal” in English at CSBC Corporation's Kaohsiung shipyard, according to Taiwan News. Tsai performed the bottle-breaking ritual and named the submarine, which means “giant fish” in Chinese. National Security Council Secretary General Wellington Koo, American Institute in Taiwan Director Sandra Oudkirk, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai and other dignitaries attended the ceremony, CNA reported. Strongly opposed by Beijing for her refusal to accept China’s authority over the island, Tsai launched a submarine program in 2016 with the aim of delivering a fleet of eight vessels. Construction on the first started in 2020 by CSBC Corporation, a company specializing in container ships and military vessels. Carrying a price tag of $1.5 billion, the submarine’s displacement weight is about 2,500 to 3,000 tons, with its combat systems and torpedoes sourced from the United States defense company Lockheed Martin. Ben Lewis, a US-based independent analyst who focuses on the Chinese military’s movements around the island, said the Taiwanese submarine can pose a threat to Chinese amphibious assault and troop transport capabilities. “They have practised extensively the use of civilian vessels to augment their existing troop delivery platforms, and a submarine could wreak havoc on vessels not designed for naval warfare,” Lewis said. The submarine will still need at least three years to become operational, Zivon Wang, a military analyst at Taipei-based think tank the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies, said. “The launch... does not mean that Taiwan will become very powerful right away but it is a crucial element of Taiwan’s defense strategy and a part of our efforts to build deterrence capabilities,” Wang said. China’s state-run Global Times on Monday published an op-ed saying Taiwan’s submarine deployment plan to block the Chinese military was “daydreaming.” “The plan is just an illusion of the island attempting to resist reunification by force,” it said. The post Sub bolsters Taiwan defense vs China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No torpedoing submarine plan
Mere days had passed after the Department of National Defense signaled a reboot of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization Program when France and South Korea came knocking on the door to offer to develop our submarine force. For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, the versatility and stealthiness of submarines make them ideal for a variety of missions, including intelligence gathering, deterrence, and actual combat. They can, likewise, protect valuable maritime assets and patrol sea lanes without being seen. If the Philippines’ plan to acquire submarines comes to fruition, it will send a strong message to the international community that it is committed to defending its sovereignty and maritime rights, which are currently being violated with impunity by China in the West Philippine Sea. Last 14 September, French Ambassador-designate Marie Fontanel-Lassalle paid Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. an introductory call to reiterate her country’s support for a credible defensive posture by the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region. According to reports on the meeting between the envoy and Teodoro, an offer by French defense manufacturer Naval Group to fill the Philippines’ shopping list for two to three submarines had been refreshed, including building a base for the modest fleet in Subic Bay. The Philippine Navy had previously announced that Subic Bay would be its preferred location for the submarines that the Philippines has been planning to acquire since the Ramos presidency, a push that was put on hold by the Asian financial crisis in 1997. As early as 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic put everything on hold, Filipino naval and defense officials had reviewed and found worthy of consideration the Scorpene diesel-electric submarine manufactured by France’s Naval Group. France, however, would have to fight it out with other bidders like Spain and South Korea, with the latter stepping up its push to supply the vessels that operate primarily under water. Last week, executives from South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean were in Manila to make a formal pitch for their newest Jang Bogo-III submarine. The Korean offer, like France’s, was a mere update, at the center of which is a 77-meter, 2,800-ton diesel-electric submarine with a beam of 9.7 meters. It boasts the latest propulsion system and lithium-ion battery technology that would allow it to operate longer. Of course, acquiring submarines is not a cheap proposition. However, it is a necessary investment for the Philippines’ national security. Experts have maintained that, in the long run, it will be cheaper to build a submarine force than to maintain a large surface fleet. As Teodoro moves for the “re-horizoning” of the AFP Modernization Program, the Marcos administration may want to start from scratch any negotiations for military equipment that had been made during the two previous administrations. That is as it should be as the Philippines must choose the best updated and re-priced proposals from several countries. As the submarine acquisition will demand a huge capital outlay, it is a must that the country shops wisely, not necessarily for the cheapest, but for what would fill its strategic and defensive needs. The acquisition process should be fully transparent and fair as it would involve taxpayer money, if not more foreign loans. The acquisition of submarines — just like the purchase of planes, ships and tanks — by the Philippines would also necessitate investments in training and infrastructure to support the new force. With increasing challenges from China in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines is being compelled by exigencies to put into motion Horizon 3 of the AFP Modernization Program to bolster its external defense capabilities. There would be those who would oppose more military expenditures, but the Philippines, located as it is in one of the most problematic areas of the world, must be wise to prepare for its security. With the jets and surface ships that the country had procured under Horizons 1 and 2, having a few submarines is the logical next stop for a country of over 7,000 islands surrounded by water. Any decision on which submarines to acquire should be based on a thorough assessment of each proposal’s technical capabilities, cost effectiveness, and the long-term benefits they offer to the Philippine Navy. Transparency in the acquisition process is paramount to ensure that the chosen submarines meet the country’s defense needs while adhering to its budgetary constraints. The post No torpedoing submarine plan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Missed opportunity
The Department of Energy, before the Marcos administration, had issued Department Circular 2021-09-0028 seeking to establish the Philippine Strategic Petroleum Reserve Program, which was a squandered program that would have softened the impact of the successive oil price increases. A national petroleum reserve would have significantly helped shield the country against global supply and price disruptions, considering that the country is a net importer of petroleum products. An energy expert cited as a clear example of the country’s vulnerability to global supply and price shocks the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis on our domestic petroleum prices. Former Energy Secretary Al Cusi warned that the momentum of the fuel price surge will be hard to stop since even before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus was already confronted with a production shortfall. The oil bloc refused to raise output despite pressure from the United States, Japan, China, India, and influential International Energy Agency members. Setting up strategic reserves was Cusi’s advocacy since it would address both the uncertainties on supply and provide a buffer against sudden price spikes. Under the proposal, private oil companies and the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company would build a strategic petroleum reserve to pool resources to ensure supply is not disrupted. PNOC would lead in maintaining the fuel reserve that would be more than the current 40-day average stock. The program was modeled after similar petroleum reserves, or SPR, of developed nations such as Japan and the United States. Several countries, including the United States, maintain a stockpile of crude oil to provide a buffer against disruptions in oil supplies. The SPR is an emergency response tool to mitigate potential oil shortages due to natural disasters, geopolitical events, and other unforeseen circumstances. The United States established its fuel reserve in 1975 following the Arab oil embargo of 1973-1974. The SPR is managed by the Office of Fossil Energy within the US Department of Energy. Underground storage facilities in salt caverns along the gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana are used. Like the DoE proposal, the primary purpose of the SPR is to ensure the availability of crude oil during severe supply disruptions. The reserve can be tapped into when significant disruptions in oil production, imports, or refining capabilities could lead to shortages and significant price increases. Releasing oil from the SPR aims to stabilize the market and provide relief to consumers, industries, and the overall economy. The US SPR has a capacity of approximately 713.5 million barrels of oil. Until September 2021, the US SPR held around 635 million barrels of crude oil. The decision to release oil from the SPR rests with the US President, who can authorize such action in response to a severe supply disruption. The release typically occurs in coordination with the International Energy Agency and after consultation with other major oil-consuming countries. Aside from the US and Japan, Germany and South Korea also maintain strategic petroleum reserves to safeguard against oil supply disruptions and market volatility. Saying that the local program should have received the government’s support is crying over spilled milk. The government, however, should consider having a buffer stock of fuel since the frequent price spikes have become a threat to the livelihood of Filipinos and thus endanger national security. The post Missed opportunity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reef harvesting being validated
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Tuesday the government was validating if the reported coral reef destruction in the West Philippine Sea could be preparatory to China’s reclaiming land to build artificial islands. “We have to validate it because according to the arbitral award, that is a violation of an international treaty — the destruction of maritime life, particularly if the coral destruction is a cause of, or used for the reclamation of artificial islands,” Teodoro said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard had observed the destruction of the marine environment resources at Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal amid the swarming of Chinese militia vessels as early as July. AFP WesCom chief, Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, reported a “concerning resurgence” of Chinese vessels at Rozul Reef in August, a month after they drove away around 50 Chinese maritime militia vessels from the area. China has reclaimed land in the Spratlys Group of Islands, where it built airstrips and radar and missile stations. Carlos said about 40 Chinese fishing vessels were spotted in the area on 15 September. He noted that the latest figure was higher than the 33 vessels spotted on 24 August and the 24 monitored on 7 September. Swarming was also observed at Escoda Shoal, where five Chinese fishing vessels were spotted, and at Baragatan Bank, where two CFVs were seen. This was followed by a report that the once abundant coral reefs at Rozul Reef were “extensively” destroyed after the Chinese militia ships left the swarmed area. In August, Carlos reported that they monitored more than 400 fishing vessels in the entire WPS, with 85 percent believed to be Chinese-owned. The post Reef harvesting being validated appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US, China call for stable ties in latest top-level talks
America's top diplomat and China's vice president voiced hope Monday for more stability in the often tense relationship as the rival powers held their second high-level talks in days. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meeting Vice President Han Zheng in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, said he believed in "face-to-face diplomacy" to deal with disagreements. "I think it's a good thing that we have this opportunity to build on the recent high-level engagements that our countries have had," Blinken told Han as they opened their meeting at China's mission to the United Nations. The talks aim to "make sure that we're maintaining open communications and demonstrate that we are responsibly managing the relationship between our two countries." Han said that the world's two largest economies face "a lot of difficulties and challenges." "The world needs healthy and stable US-China relations, which benefit not only China and the US, but the whole world," he said. The meeting comes as the United States watches personnel changes in Beijing with growing intrigue. Qin Gang, handpicked by President Xi Jinping as foreign minister, was abruptly replaced in July by the veteran policymaker Wang Yi. US officials initially expected Wang to travel to the annual UN meeting, where he may have met briefly with President Joe Biden; but instead, China sent Han, better known for his tenure as mayor of Shanghai than for diplomacy. But Wang, who also is the Communist Party foreign policy director, held talks over the weekend with Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, in Malta. The United States and China remain at loggerheads on a host of issues including Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy that Beijing claims and has not ruled out seizing by force. China charges that the United States is stirring up Taiwanese independence supporters, and has repeatedly staged shows of force. The United States says it is seeking the preservation of the status quo and has stepped up support, including last month for the first time approving direct military aid to Taiwan, which traditionally buys its own weapons. Blinken in the talks "underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. Touching on nations with close ties with China, Blinken also discussed the "provocative actions" by North Korea and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Miller said. China has also been outraged by US restrictions on high-end investment and exports of semiconductors from the United States, which says it is doing that to safeguard its own security. But the tone has become comparatively civil. Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen both traveled this year to Beijing, resuming contact that had all but ceased during the pandemic. The approach to China stands in contrast with the US refusal of most dialogue with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, with Blinken and other senior US officials doubting the utility of talking to Moscow. The post US, China call for stable ties in latest top-level talks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beijing going on an island-building binge?
The harvesting of corals on Rozul Reef could be part of China’s preparations for new reclamation in the West Philippine Sea, senators warned Monday. Citing China’s “playbook,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri suspected the destruction of the shoal’s seabed could be in preparation for reclamation activities in the area. “It’s possible. That has been their guidebook and playbook since the beginning where they destroy an area first and then reclaim it. That’s why we have to remain vigilant,” Zubiri said. The warning came on the same day that Japan’s ambassador to the Philippines, Kazuhiko Koshikawa, revealed in a social media post that his country had also been a victim of coral poaching in the past. “In the territorial waters and EEZ (exclusive economic zone) around Japan’s Ogasawara Islands, the large-scale poaching of precious corals by foreign vessels occurred 10 years ago, causing marine environmental and economic damage to Japan, leading to [a] diplomatic issue and strict JCG (Japan Coast Guard) controls,” Koshikawa tweeted on X. The envoy, however, did not name the country responsible for the pillaging of corals off Ogasawara Islands. Over the weekend, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command reported that there was massive coral harvesting at Rozul Reef. The report of missing and destroyed corals came following the sightings of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the area. The report was confirmed by the Philippine Coast Guard, which observed the same coral inundation in the seabed of Escoda Reef (Sabina Shoal), also in the West Philippine Sea. Airstrips Senator Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones, echoed the Senate chief’s observation that China may be planning to build manmade structures at Rozul Reef like it did in the Spratlys group of islands, also in the WPS. China built artificial islands in the Spratlys — at the Fiery Cross, Subi, Mischief, Johnson South, Cuarteron, Gave and Hughes reefs — where it constructed airstrips, radar stations and missile sites. “There might be a different plan for that, not only the harvesting of corals and the destruction of it. Because killing the corals is a prelude to one thing — when you kill it you can now do reclamation,” Tolentino said in a television interview. He noted that China’s actions in the reefs that are all within the Philippines’ EEZ violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. “If we are to file a claim for damages, it should be in the tribunal recognized by UNCLOS and the United Nations,” he said. He noted that the Philippine government may file cases against China before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Court of Justice, or the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea called for a Senate inquiry. “It’s ripe for a Senate resolution and investigation because it would not be the first time that China caused environmental degradation in our sea,” Hontiveros said. “They also dredged our seafloor to invent their artificial islands, militarize them, within the West Philippine Sea and our exclusive economic zone, to claim it as their territory,” she pointed out. The lawmaker expressed gratitude to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for its discovery of the damaged seabed at Rozul and Escoda Reefs. WITH LADE JEAN KABAGANI The post Beijing going on an island-building binge? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China announces massive cross-border project with Russia
A large fuel storage terminal will be built in the Far East, says Xuanyuan Group CEO China's Xuanyuan Group Industrial Development plans to build a massive logistics hub in the Amur Region in Russia's Far East, as freight turnover between the two countries has more than doubled over the past year, the group's.....»»