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India backs Philippines in sea dispute with China
New Delhi has drawn a strong response from Beijing after reiterating its support for Manila in a territorial dispute India has "firmly reiterated" its support for the Philippines and its "national sovereignty," as Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. Ten.....»»
US Bolstering Philippines Amid Increasing Assertiveness by China
washington - The U.S. and Philippines will for the first time venture outside Manila's territorial waters when they begin joint annual combat drills in April, a Philippines government spokesman said Thursday.Colonel Michael Logico said elements of the Balikatan 2024 drills would be conducted about 22 kilometers (more than 12 nautical miles) off the west coast of Palawan, an island in the archipelago nation that.....»»
China urges dialogue amid Manila s South China Sea provocations
A Chinese diplomatic vehicle leaves the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines after a bilateral meeting in Manila, the Philippines, December 11, 2023. /CFPEditor's note: Ruqiya Anwar, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a PhD scholar of Media and Communication Studies in Pakistan. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessari.....»»
Countries queue for joint Phl patrols
The Philippines is considering multilateral patrols with other nations by next year, aside from the country’s maritime cooperative activities with the United States and Australia, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said Monday. But even without its allies, Brawner said the Philippines will continue its unilateral maritime and air patrol in its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea amid China’s encroachment “as it is our responsibility.” “But the joint maritime and air patrols with our allies and our partners will continue, we just don’t know for now how frequent they will be and also maybe the extent of our patrols, but we are working on that. We are constantly talking to our allies and partners,” he said. Brawner said many countries have signified an interest in conducting joint patrols with the Philippines. “They are also very much willing to conduct and to continue conducting this joint maritime and air patrols with the US in the West Philippine Sea,” he noted. “Aside from the bilateral joint exercises and joint operations that we are doing, there are also some countries who are expressing their desire to conduct this joint maritime and air patrols not just bilaterally but multilaterally,” he added. Brawner said they have yet to start the planning and preparation for the multilateral patrols. The safety of all patrol participants is a top concern, he added. The Philippines last week held joint MAC patrols with the United States and Australia, with Chinese military assets constantly shadowing the allies, whether on air or sea. The AFP chief said China’s activities during the MCAs were as expected. “I don’t think it was unusual, in fact, it happened this year, in May of this year, when US aircraft were flying over the South China Sea and they also encountered Chinese PLA (People’s Liberation Army) aircraft circling them so this is not the first time this happened,” said Brawner. He cited the US-PLA encounter in relation to Sunday’s incident in which two Chinese fighter jets not only shadowed but encircled two Philippine Air Force turboprop Super Tucano planes. Despite the harassment of the Tucanos, Brawner described the joint Philippines and Australia patrol as a “very successful event” as the AFP was able “to achieve the set objectives” for the joint activity. For his part, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. confirmed the country’s possible iterations of the MCA with other nations. “All iterations are possible with friendly and allied nations, that’s within the multilateral relations that we discussed earlier,” he said. By doing so, Teodoro said, these multilateral activities are part “of the acceptance of the righteousness of our country’s position.”.....»»
Rice sufficiency a pipe dream?
An Indian agricultural economist advised the government to secure investments in rice farmland abroad as it believes the Philippines’ goal of rice self-sufficiency through domestic production is impossible. Dr. Samarendu Mohanty, former principal scientist at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, said the country has smaller arable land to grow enough rice to satisfy consumer demand for the commodity amid its expanding population. “In other countries, they have arable land. The Philippines doesn’t have it because the country is an island nation,” he said during the recent 6th International Rice Congress in Pasay City. “You can take all the measures to expand productivity here, like having certified seeds and fertilizer, but I don’t think you’ll be self-sufficient with the population you have,” Mohanty added. The agricultural economist said the solution is to invest in farmland abroad under a backward linkage method. This distributes inputs from the farm sector to the non-farm sector, which includes agrochemicals, processing, and trading. “You need to find a country where this can be done legally and where there is land and water. Many African countries — Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar — have bigger land the Philippines can invest in and get back the supply to the country,” Mohanty explained. “There’s an Indian company producing rice in Africa and exporting it somewhere else. The Philippines cannot invest in land in India because of land restrictions,” he added. ‘Out of luck’ According to the World Economic Forum, India is the world’s second-top rice producer after China. However, India and other countries recently announced they would limit their rice exports as consumer demand and commodity prices have risen in their local markets. “If you have to address it through imports and the exporting countries have food restrictions, then you’re out of luck. But if you have backward linkages, you can be assured that your rice was produced in Vietnam or another country. Nobody can take that away because that’s your investment,” Mohanty said. He said the government must create policies and conduct discussions with its foreign counterpart and business community abroad to negotiate investments in external rice production. “The government has to facilitate that. The private sector will enter if there’s assurance from the government that they can bring back rice to the country,” Mohanty explained. He said India will resume rice exportations in May next year, with the country’s total production of at least 135 million tons. A portion amounting to 25 million tons is usually left as surplus. The Indian embassy in Manila said on 18 October that India allocated 295,000 metric tons of rice to the Philippines, the biggest share of its non-basmati white rice export, following its bilateral talks with the Marcos administration in August. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said the two governments and the private sector will still discuss the rice imports’ price terms. She, however, was optimistic that the rice imports would help stabilize the prices of the commodity in the domestic market. Mohanty said India will likely export more rice in the future. “There’s a green revolution happening in the eastern part now. I expect India to have more than 30 million tons of surplus,” he said. The post Rice sufficiency a pipe dream? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM to reiterate ‘rules-based int’l order’ for SCS at ASEAN Summit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to reiterate the need for a rules-based international order in the South China Sea at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, amid increasing tensions between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos made this remark as he left Manila on Monday bound for Jakarta, Indonesia, to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. Marcos said he will also bring up issues on strengthening food security, calling for climate justice, tapping the potential of the digital and creative economies, protecting migrant workers in crisis situations as well as combatting human trafficking in the region. “Once again, I will use his opportunity to advance Philippine priorities in ASEAN and work with our other ASEAN member states not only in addressing the complex challenges facing the region but also in pursuing opportunities for ASEAN as an epicenter of growth,” Marcos said. Marcos said there will be discussions covering developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar and the conflict in Ukraine during the ASEAN Plus 3 and East Asia Summits. “I will also take the opportunity to meet the bilateral partners at the sidelines of the SEAN summit to advance cooperation that will benefit our national priorities,” he said. Marcos said his administration would continue to ensure that the Philippines’ “constructive engagements with ASEAN, dialogue partners and stakeholders” will serve the national interest of the country and the well-being of the Filipino people. The post PBBM to reiterate ‘rules-based int’l order’ for SCS at ASEAN Summit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China keeps ban on group tours to Canada
China’s Covid-era ban on group tours to a dozen countries was lifted last week but travel agents cannot arrange such visits to Canada. The Chinese embassy in Ottawa said Wednesday the exclusion of Canada was due to its anti-Beijing rattling. “The Canadian side has repeatedly hyped up the so-called ‘Chinese interference,’” according to a statement from the embassy. “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 embassy added. China-Canada relations hit a new low this year amid accusations of Chinese meddling in Canadian elections and the attempted intimidation of lawmakers 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. 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” but expects the country to be added to the list in the future. In 2019, Chinese tourists spent a collective US$255 billion on international travel. 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 United States 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. WITH AFP The post China keeps ban on group tours to Canada 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......»»
Teddy Boy named special envoy to China
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. as the President’s Special Envoy to the People’s Republic of China for Special Concerns, the Presidential Communications Office announced on Wednesday in a Facebook post. Locsin’s recent appointment came amid the resurgence of tensions in the West Philippine Sea between China and the Philippines. In a Viber message to Palace reporters, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Marcos appointed Locsin to boost the bilateral relations between the two countries. Locsin, who is the Foreign Affairs Secretary of then-President Rodrigo R. Duterte from 17 October to 30 June 2022, takes on the new task “in a concurrent position” as the Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Chief Executive appointed Locsin UK ambassador with jurisdiction over Ireland, Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwick of Guernsey on 30 August 2022. During his tenure, he frequently lodged numerous diplomatic complaints and occasionally used the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize China. The newly-appointed special envoy is the son and namesake of Teodoro Locsin Sr., a journalist who was imprisoned during the 1970s for criticizing President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father of now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Following the overthrow of Marcos Sr. in 1986, the younger Locsin became the speechwriter and legal advisor to President Corazon Aquino. Subsequently, he wrote speeches for Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was elected Makati 1st District representative in 2001, a seat he held until 2010. Holding a master’s degree in law from Harvard University, Locsin is a lawyer and a media figure. The post Teddy Boy named special envoy to China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EDCA sites repel external threats: Gibo
Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. allayed fears that the establishment of military bases under the Philippines-United States bilateral Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA attracts external threats to the country’s national security. Teodoro said EDCA facilities in the country will further improve the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and will strengthen the Philippine defense posture amid China’s maneuvers after the Philippine government granted the US four additional EDCA sites, on top of the existing five facilities. While recognizing emerging challenges brought by rising tension in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea and the ongoing China-Taiwan dispute, Teodoro insisted that the Philippines must develop military bases throughout the perimeters of its archipelago “in order to secure our territory not only now but for future” internal and external threats. “That’s a very very good possibility that the EDCA-Taiwan nexus is being exploited as a cover for a lot of things. Partly, the real intention of occupying the West Philippine Sea but the whole SCS so I dispel that notion and these Philippine bases with EDCA facilities are for us purely for internal credible deterrent posture,” he said during a visit to Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela on Tuesday. He added: “I really want to see the phase of development and I want also to show the partnership between the local government and the national government. Isabela is a strategic food basket and the welfare of the people here is really important to us and the welfare of the infrastructure here which we need to protect against the internal security threats, and against perhaps even subversion by foreign elements using internal security elements.” Teodoro likewise believes in the possibility that China is just exploiting the supposed connection of the EDCA sites and the Taiwan situation as justification for occupying and setting up seven permanent military around the Spratly Islands in the WPS. Meanwhile, Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III expressed hope that his province would really benefit from the establishment of EDCA facilities. “As long as it is used for what Sec. Teodoro said, for our security and for the benefit of our constituents here,” he said. Albano is hoping that Isabela’s unexplored natural resources would become beneficial to the people of the province, especially those living in the coastal areas. “If we want to explore our natural resources at Benham Rise, the best is we can have a base and we can have friends who can supply us with a little security and a little of their technology and equipment. They can also help our farmers there — with fishing, rescue, like during (super typhoon) ‘Egay’ where many people drowned,” he said. Responding to the local government units still contemplating the benefits of EDCA facilities, Teodoro said: “The LGUs are free to voice their concerns but this is a national security imperative. Of course, national interest must prevail and that goes for everybody but there are some who are passionate and who are really nationalistic that oppose these (moves).” “We respect their viewpoints and, however, they must enjoy the freedom of speech that we have unlike in other countries you can’t criticize any other position I’d rather hear anytime and fight for it,” he said. The post EDCA sites repel external threats: Gibo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl slams China’s ‘coercive, unlawful, unjustifiable’ acts in WPS
The Philippines on Monday maintained its territorial rights over the Ayungin Shoal, stressing that it would never leave the area amid the continued escalation of geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea. At a joint press conference, members of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Security Council and the Philippine Coast Guard condemned China’s recent use of water cannon and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels that were en route to Ayungin Shoal for a routine troop rotation and resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre, the decommissioned ship grounded on the shoal to serve as an outpost for Philippine troops stationed on the shoal. “The Philippines condemns in the strongest terms the latest incident of harassment perpetrated by China Coast Guard, People’s Liberation Army Navy and Chinese maritime militia vessels, on August 5, against Philippine vessels, on a routine resupply mission in waters surrounding Ayungin Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea,” the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said. “The Philippines demands that China immediately stop its coercive, unlawful and unjustifiable activities in our maritime zones,” it added. Ayungin Shoal is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines. NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya asserted the Philippine government would keep its position in Ayungin Shoal through the BRP Sierra Madre. “For the record, we will never abandon Ayungin Shoal. We are committed to Ayungin Shoal,” Malaya said when asked about the Philippines’ next actions following the incident. “They’re probably looking for weaknesses in the Philippine position or are trying to gauge our commitment to supply our troops in the shoal, and we are here precisely to reassure the Filipino people that as directed by our President, we are consistent with the President’s directive during the SONA that we will not lose an inch of our territory,” he added. The BRP Sierra Madre is a World War 2 landing ship tank that has been stationed at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. Asked how the government would maintain its presence in the Ayungin Shoal, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said the government has heightened its assets in the area. “We have already increased the number of our assets in that area for the conduct of maritime patrols and of course, to do rotation and reprovision missions,” Aguilar said. “As to what we will do exactly, that we cannot tell you for security reasons,” he added. Diplomatic processes For its part, the DFA condemned China’s “aggressive” actions in Ayungin Shoal and called on China to stop its “illegal activities” in the country’s maritime zone. “The Department of Foreign Affairs is one with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard in their pursuit of our shared mandate to protect and uphold our legal maritime entitlements,” DFA spokesperson Tess Daza said. “The DFA is making full use of our diplomatic processes and is exercising all possible actions available to us, including the summoning of the Chinese ambassador over this incident,” she added. Daza noted that Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian was summoned by the DFA on Monday morning to convey the Philippine government’s strong protest against on the water cannon operation of the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels against Philippine indigenous boats conducting regular rotation and resupply and humanitarian missions to Ayungin Shoal. The DFA personally handed over Huang the note verbale of the Philippines for the 5 August incident. As of 7 August, the agency said the country has filed a total of 445 diplomatic protests in the past three years. For this year alone, the country has filed a total of 35 diplomatic protests. The Philippine government, through Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz, also handed the country’s diplomatic protest in Beijing over the incident. The DFA firmly asked China to direct its vessels to “stop” their “illegal actions” against Philippine vessels and to “stop interfering” in legitimate Philippine government activities. It also urged China to comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, the 2016 Award in the South China Sea Arbitration, and the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, and adhere to its commitments under the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. According to the DFA, the incident “undermines efforts to strengthen mutual trust and confidence” between Manila and Beijing. “We value our relations with China and we hope that they too value the relations with the Philippines, but clearly, this incident undermines efforts to strengthen mutual trust and confidence – a crucial element in friendly relations among states,” Daza said. “It does provide tension in our bilateral relations,” she added. The post Phl slams China’s ‘coercive, unlawful, unjustifiable’ acts in WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris
India announced a new multi-billion-dollar deal for French fighter jets on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris for a two-day trip that will see him feted as the guest of honor during France's national day celebrations. India's defense ministry said that the country intended to order 26 more Rafale jets as well as another three Scorpene-class submarines, with the price and other terms still being worked out. India is one of the biggest buyers of French arms, and Modi announced a landmark deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets during a 2015 trip to Paris that was worth around 4.0 billion euros at the time. Some of those Indian-piloted Rafales will take part in a flypast on Friday during France's Bastille Day military parade where Modi will sit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron as guest of honour. "This closeness is not limited to just the leaders of two countries, it is in fact a reflection of the unwavering friendship between India and France," Modi told an enthusiastic crowd of Indians living in France on Thursday evening. Despite differences over the war in Ukraine and tensions over human rights in India, Western democracies are courting Modi and India as a counterweight to China in Asia. Macron's red carpet welcome comes weeks after Modi was given the rare honor of a White House state dinner in Washington -- a city he was once banned from visiting. "India is one of the pillars of our Indo-Pacific strategy," an aide to Macron told reporters this week on condition of anonymity. Human rights But amid the pomp and diplomatic courting in France, a resolution from the European Parliament on Thursday served as a reminder of Modi's controversial leadership style and Hindu nationalist agenda that has critics at home and abroad. Sitting in Strasbourg in eastern France, EU parliamentarians approved a motion that urged India to end violence in the country's restive northeastern Manipur state and to protect minorities there. Clashes between the majority Meitei, who are mostly Hindus, and the mainly Christian Kuki tribe have left at least 120 people dead, 50,000 displaced and over 1,700 houses destroyed, the parliament said. It criticized the "nationalistic rhetoric" of the local state government, run by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Modi's role during Bastille Day in France was "an affront not only to India's minority communities, journalists and human rights defenders but also to India as a democracy," the text's chief negotiator, Pierre Larrouturou, said. A protest called against Modi drew only a few dozen people in central Paris on Thursday. Strategic partnership Modi has visited France four times since Macron came to power in 2017, while Macron was honored with a state visit to New Delhi in 2018. Aides on both sides have talked up the personal chemistry between the two leaders and pointed to cooperation on climate change, space technology, and nuclear power as part of a 25-year-old "strategic partnership" between France and India. Modi told the French newspaper Les Echos that bilateral trade had doubled in the last nine years and Macron's "thinking really matches ours". India and France "are naturally compatible" and "we see France as one of our foremost global partners," Modi added. Few observers expect Macron to raise rights concerns with Modi publicly. "The fact that explains France's relative success in this relationship is that unlike the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and a few other European countries, you've hardly seen France commenting on the internal affairs of India," Constantino Xavier from the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, a New Delhi-based think tank, said this week. "That has been appreciated on the Indian side." Modi has been dogged by allegations he was complicit in religious violence during his tenure as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat in 2002 when around 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots. The Indian government and judicial probes have cleared him of culpability. Since his first crushing electoral victory in 2014, he has also been denounced by rights groups for increased discrimination and violence towards the country's Muslims, as well as stifling independent media. "Diversity is the biggest strength of our democracy," he told the meeting on Thursday evening that also lauded the country's economic growth. Many European and American businesses, including US tech giant Apple, are ramping up production there to mitigate the threat of supply chain disruptions from China. The war in Ukraine has heightened concerns in the West about the risk of conflicts disrupting the flow of key raw materials and technology from China, but it has also exposed a rift with India. New Delhi, which has long sought to balance its ties with Moscow and the West, has declined to condemn Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and has emerged as a top buyer of discounted Russian oil during the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. The post India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Australia to provide Phl with drones, military training
The Australian government on Thursday said it will provide drone equipment and military training to the Philippines amid the growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced this after her first bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. "We want to work with the Philippines to support ASEAN's vital contribution to regional peace and security, including through maritime cooperation," Wong said. “We discussed today, the way in which we will enhance our cooperation, this includes Australia providing drone equipment, training, and other technology to strengthen your coast guards’ maritime domain awareness and protection capabilities,” she added. Wong also said the Australian government will be providing information and technical assistance to Philippine maritime officials to increase their capacity to deal with illegal fishing activities in the maritime zone. The Armed Forces of the Philippines previously admitted that its air and naval assets are not enough to properly secure and monitor the West Philippine Sea. Last month, dozens of Chinese fishing vessels believed to be conducting illegal activities, including illegal fishing, were spotted near the Philippine exclusive economic zone. ‘Security partners’ Wong said Australia sees the Philippines as a vital long-standing security partner in the Indo-Pacific region. “Your President said that in order to achieve our common goal of peace and prosperity for our peoples we need to work with like-minded partners. We are like-minded partners and we see you as such and we recognize that no single country can do this alone,” she said. “We want a region that is predictable, that operates by agreed rules, standards and laws in which sovereignty is respected,” she added. Wong also hinted at the possibility of a joint maritime patrol between Manila and Canberra in the West Philippine Sea. “We are committed to continuing Australia's long-standing presence in the region including in the west Philippines Sea [and] South China Sea,” she said. “We are open to cooperating with all our partners to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight and the Philippines is a long-standing important security partner for us,” she added. A joint maritime patrol between the Philippines and Australia was first made public by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles during his visit to the country in February. According to Wong, the Defense departments of the two countries are already “discussing the best pathway to take this forward and we want to keep working with the Philippines on that.” Wong also noted that Australia will aid the Philippines mitigate the environmental impacts of the recent oil spill in Mindoro and support women’s leadership in maritime security. ‘Trade, investment cooperation’ The Australian foreign minister also announced that Australia’s Official Development Assistance to the Philippines will increase to an estimated AUD89.9 million in 2023-2024 to support programs including cooperation on shared priorities such as inclusive economic growth, education, training and scholarships, disaster and climate resilience, and peace and stability in Mindanao. She said this is in addition to an AUD10.95 million commitment to support the Philippines to establish a new immunization information system and a strengthened laboratory network and surveillance system, addressing disruptions to routine immunization during the pandemic. Likewise, Manalo and Wong agreed to enhance trade and investment cooperation, including exploring possible cooperation on critical minerals, and to continue exploring opportunities to improve two-way tourism. The Philippines and Australia said that both nations “looked forward to further strengthening people-to-people connections through the Work and Holiday Visa Arrangement being negotiated between the two countries.” The post Australia to provide Phl with drones, military training appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, Japan should engage both China, US ‘constructively,’ says DFA’s Manalo
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Tuesday called on Japan to engage both China and the United States “constructively,” following the recent tension in Taiwan Strait involving the two superpower countries. Speaking in a forum at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Japan, Manalo underscored the need to ensure that the security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region maintains trust and confidence among parties, amid the US-China rivalry and other geopolitical pressures. “This regional architecture must empower diplomacy and the rule of law to prevail over any influence engaging in coercion, intimidation, the use and threat of use of force in violation of the UN Charter,” he said. “The Philippines and Japan share a commonality which no other nation in Asia possesses, with the exception of South Korea – our treaty alliance with the United States, our historic and important relationship with America stands alongside our huge economic relationship with China. Hence, our two nations must continue to engage both China and the United States constructively, and support calls for Beijing and Washington to responsibly manage their strategic rivalry,” he added. ‘US-Philippines-Japan trilateral partnership’ Meanwhile, Manalo said that the trilateral security and defense partnership between Manila, Tokyo and Washington is still in its “early stages.” “[T]here was an understanding that we should explore the possibility of trilateral arrangements, but at this stage, we still have to discuss the Terms of Reference, what kind of activities, so it's really very much in the early stages,” he said. “The important thing is there is an understanding of the principle that it would be useful to have such types of trilateral cooperation activities,” he added. To recall, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin previously said that Manila and Washington have agreed to further integrate their “strong bilateral ties” into “multilateral networks” with Japan and Australia. In February, Defense Officer-in-Charge Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that the Philippines and Australia are looking into conducting joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea. In the same month, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez said that the country is negotiating with Australia and Japan to join with the US in conducting joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. The post Phl, Japan should engage both China, US ‘constructively,’ says DFA’s Manalo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DFA’s Manalo to discuss WPS with Canadian counterpart
Issues hounding the West Philippine Sea are expected to be discussed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo during his bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Mélanie Joly on 19 May, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. The DFA said Manalo and Joly will meet to “advance bilateral relations and sustain high-level engagements between the Philippines and Canada.” “At their bilateral meeting, Secretary Manalo is expected to bring up enhanced trade and investment between the two nations, developments in the West Philippine Sea, and cooperation in the energy, defense, and maritime sectors, among others,” the agency said in a statement. Canada, along with the US, Japan and Australia, has called out China for its continuing aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Likewise, the two diplomats are expected to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, including developments in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. According to Global Affairs Canada, Joly will be traveling to the Philippines from 18 to 21 May to boost the bilateral relations between the two nations. Joly is the second Canadian minister to visit the Philippines this year and the fourth Cabinet minister from Canada to visit during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Manalo said he welcomes Joly’s visit to the Philippines as “an avenue to deepen our two countries’ collaboration based on our shared values, including democracy and adherence to a rules-based international order.” “The Philippines and Canada’s continued cooperation shows how partnerships based on those shared values can withstand numerous challenges and obstacles,” he said. “I look forward to discussing matters of mutual interest and benefit to our countries and I am optimistic that this meeting can build on our nations’ rich and storied friendship,” he added. For Manalo, Joly’s visit to the country indicates a “return to high-level engagements between the two countries,” adding that he looks forward to building on existing areas of cooperation as well as exploring fresh avenues for collaboration with Canada. He is also expected to highlight the strong people-to-people ties that bind the two nations, chief among them the large Filipino diaspora in Canada. The agency said there are almost a million individuals of Filipino descent in Canada, representing 2.59 percent of the country’s population. Joly’s visit to the country comes amid preparations for the 75th anniversary of bilateral ties between the two countries in 2024. Bilateral ties between the two countries commenced in December 1949, when Canada established a trade mission in Manila. The post DFA’s Manalo to discuss WPS with Canadian counterpart appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Broader defense pacts sought
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Wednesday stressed that the Philippines should forge broader defense pacts with its allies to counter Chinese encroachment in the South China Sea, including in the West Philippine Sea. “Japan, Australia, and the United States, as well as countries that have territorial claims in the South China Sea have to band together so that we can put up a respectable force against China’s aggression,” Ejercito said in a statement. “Because of China’s aggressive and hostile activities in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, it is important for nations to have alliances and coordinate with each other’s armed forces and coast guards to ensure that the freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea area is maintained,” he added. He also said that the ongoing joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States, as well as recent talks on the formation of a new defense pact with Japan, are “crucial steps in achieving regional stability amid China’s growing military aggression.” On Tuesday, the 38th Philippine-United States Balikatan exercise kicked off with more than 17,000 Filipino and American troops will be participating in the joint drills. The Balikatan joint military exercise was created under the US-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries. Meantime, Senator Risa Hontiveros echoed the same sentiment, stressing that a strong coalition will prevent escalating tensions in Taiwan. “We need the international community to help de-escalate and cool the tensions between the US and China especially around Taiwan,” Hontiveros said. “Let us create a strong coalition with our neighboring countries that are ready to stop any destabilization in our region.” She issued the statement a day after China concluded its three days of military drills around Taiwan, which is currently hosting around 150,000 to 200,000 Filipinos. The lawmaker said the escalating tensions in Taiwan are worrisome but the Philippines “shouldn’t be coaxed to participate in any kind of war.” “We have to uphold the Constitutional mandate of peace as the instrument of national policy or the abandonment of war as an instrument of national policy,” she said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, on the other hand, said that military cooperation between the Philippines and the United States should not involve any disputes in the South China Sea. “The US-Philippines military cooperation must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests,” Wang said. He issued the statement following the kick-off of the joint military exercises of the Philippines and the United States earlier this week. Wang also said that military cooperation between the Philippines and the United States should not target any third party. “Exchange and cooperation between relevant countries should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability,” said Wang. Earlier this day, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that Manila and Washington have agreed to further integrate their “strong bilateral ties” into “multilateral networks.” The post Broader defense pacts sought appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippines, China agree on importance of dialogue in sea disputes
The Philippines and China have agreed on the importance of dialogue during their bilateral talks on the South China Sea issue, which were held amid recent tensions triggered by the swarming of Chinese vessels in areas within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines......»»
Philippines, China resume bilateral talks on South China Sea
After a long postponement, the Philippines and China on Friday resumed bilateral talks on the South China Sea amid growing tensions over the critical waterway. .....»»
Duterte: Asia-Pacific states should ‘peacefully’ resolve maritime rows
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday maintained that Asia-Pacific countries should push to resolve disputes peacefully amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea. Duterte made the statement during his 20-minute conversation with Japan’s Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide as they discussed maritime disputes, coronavirus pandemic, Myanmar crisis, and bilateral cooperation between Manila […] The post Duterte: Asia-Pacific states should ‘peacefully’ resolve maritime rows appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China to donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to PH — Palace
Malacañang said Saturday that the Chinese government will donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines as the two countries reaffirmed ties and cooperation against the pandemic. Chinese State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (DFA OFFICIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT/ MANILA BULLETIN) The Office of the President (OP) made the statement as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi made a 40-minute courtesy call to President Duterte in Malacañang Saturday. In a statement, the OP said that Wang assured Duterte of China’s commitment to support the Philippines’ efforts to combat COVID-19, a disease that originated in Wuhan, China. “He (Wang) announced that China will donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines. He likewise affirmed China’s resolve to do everything to ensure that vaccines become a global good,” Malacañang said. According to Malacañang, Duterte lauded the continued high-level engagement between the Philippines and China even amid the pandemic and stressed the importance of both sides delivering on the promises of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation. Duterte stressed that cooperation on public health must be strengthened, particularly access to safe and effective vaccines, to safeguard the health of the people and in order to hasten the economic recovery of both nations and their neighboring countries. “The recovery of nations… sits on the back of stronger economies,” Duterte told Wang. “China plays a very key role in reviving our region’s economy. Let us do all we can to revive economic activities between the Philippines and China,” he added. Malacañang said that Duterte thanked China for its continuing support and cooperation in the country’s fight against COVID-19 in terms of medical equipment and supplies and sharing of experiences and expertise as well as in the repatriation of Filipinos. Economic cooperation Wang declared that China will continue to support the Philippines’ recovery through enhanced economic cooperation. He likewise reiterated his country’s determination to complete pending infrastructure projects. The Palace said that Wang underscored China’s commitment under President Xi Jinping to work closely with the Philippines to sustain the positive trajectory of the valued and special bilateral relations. At the start of his presidency in 2016, Duterte has expressed his desire to build stronger relations with China — even temporarily setting aside the country’s victory over the West Philippine Sea in The Hague to make it happen......»»