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Philippines Defense Secretary wants more troops in islands near Taiwan
MANILA, The Philippines: The Philippines is set to bolster its military presence on islands adjacent to Taiwan, aiming to enhance its territorial defense capabilities, as announced by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. During his visit to naval facilities on the remote Batanes islands, less than 125 miles from Taiwan, Teodoro instructed the military to increase troop deployments and called for the development o.....»»
Return of hard balancing in Philippine policy towards China s maritime expansion in South China Sea
During the second visit to Manila of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on February 2, Filipino and U.S. security officials announced that additional Philippine military facilities would host U.S. forces under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement......»»
Danish envoy backs Phl’s push for rules-based order amid WPS conflict
An envoy from Denmark has expressed its support to the Philippines in promoting a rules-based order and international rule of law in light of the recent collision incident involving Beijing and Manila vessels, in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Wednesday, Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Denmark's ambassador to the Philippines, Michael Skjold Mellbin, met with Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to tackle the ongoing defense cooperation between the Philippines and Denmark. Among the discussed topics was the recent incident in Ayungin shoal wherein Mellbin stressed that such events have “put the lives of Filipino sailors at risk” and “undermines regional security." Further, Mellbin has invited the the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard for a study visit in Copenhagen, Denmark to avail of the “exchange of insights on the law of the sea.” He said asked the PN and PCG to provide inputs on Denmark’s naval, coastal, and marine defenses, technologies, and doctrines. Teodoro welcomed the invitation and described it as a” good opportunity in light of current defense realities” in the WPS. Andolong said the possible cooperation between the Philippines and Denmark on cyber defense and information technology was also discussed during their meeting. Also, Teodoro and Mellbin agreed to put a premium on countering disinformation and proactively addressing threats in the information ecosystem. “The Danish ambassador acknowledged the Philippines’ support in upholding the rules-based international order, in relation to the ongoing war in Ukraine,” Andolong said. “Both sides looked forward to concretizing Philippines-Denmark cooperation as global security challenges persist and become more unpredictable and volatile,” he added. The post Danish envoy backs Phl’s push for rules-based order amid WPS conflict appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan, U.S.: ‘We got your back’
Key allies of the country expressed their unwavering support after a Chinese Coast Guard ship intentionally collided with a Philippine Navy boat to stop a resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. described the maneuver as an escalation of China’s aggression within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. Japan issued a statement expressing support after the incident. “Japan expresses serious concern for actions which increase regional tensions, including a dangerous action that caused a collision between Chinese and Filipino ships on 22 October,” the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. It added that Japan believes the issue of the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability in the region and is a legitimate concern of the international community, including Japan. “Thus, Japan opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force as well as any actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea,” it said. Citing the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement last February, the Foreign Ministry said the “government of Japan concurs with the Philippines’ long-standing objections to unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities, and threat or use of force in the South China Sea.” “Furthermore, Japan highly appreciates the government of the Philippines for having consistently complied with the arbitral tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China regarding the South China Sea, and has shown its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the (West Philippine Sea), as stated in the statement by the Foreign Minister of Japan issued on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the issuance of the award,” it said. Japan said it would continue to cooperate with the international community, such as the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States, to “protect free, open and peaceful seas.” ‘Ironclad’ vow The United States, meanwhile, reiterated its “ironclad” commitment to the Philippines. According to a White House statement, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assured National Security Adviser Eduardo Año of US support in safeguarding its sovereign rights in the WPS under the Mutual Defense Treaty between both nations. “Sullivan reiterated US support for our Philippine allies following the PRC Coast Guard and maritime militia’s dangerous and unlawful actions on 22 October, obstructing a routine Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal,” the statement read. “Sullivan emphasized the ironclad US commitments to the Philippines under theUS-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces — to include those of its Coast Guard — in the Pacific, including in the West Philippine Sea,” it added. Signed in 1951, the Philippines and the United States agreed that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declared that it would act to meet the common dangers by its constitutional processes. The White House said Sullivan and Año “reaffirmed the enduring alliance and friendship between our nations and discussed upcoming US-Philippine engagements and ways to further strengthen our close partnership.” Manila vs Beijing Both Manila and Beijing condemned the incident, which they said violated their sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation in the WPS. The two countries traded blame for the incident, which also sparked concern from Australia, Canada and South Korea. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected Beijing’s historical nine-dash line claim to the WPS. Militia boats utilized Teodoro labeled the Chinese actions near the shoal as deliberate. “Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit the Unaiza May 2 and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra,” Teodoro said. “We are here to decry in the strongest terms this egregious violation and illegal act within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China’s distorting of the story to fit its own ends.” His comments came hours after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with security officials and ordered the Coast Guard to investigate the incident, which was “being taken seriously at the highest levels of government,” Malacañang said. The military monitored “a large number of Chinese maritime militia vessels” swarming in the West Philippine Sea, National Security Council spokesperson, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, said. In a television interview, Malaya said these vessels were spotted “not only in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc but also in other features, including (Scarborough Shoal) and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal.” “We are alarmed by the environmental degradation our Coast Guard ships were able to monitor in these areas,” he told the ANC. Malaya noted that environmental degradation or coral destruction would directly impact the livelihood of the fishermen in the WPS. “Sometimes we forget the reasons why we are pushing our rights in the WPS. Some critics say this is just posturing on the part of the Philippines or a tug-of-war between China and the Philippines. No, this is not,” he stressed. “This is a battle for the resources of our country, particularly for our fishermen, so that when we monitor coral destruction in parts of the WPS, it alarms the government because it directly impacts the livelihood of our fishermen,” he said. Malaya also slammed China’s “maligned information operation” and sharing of “false narratives” in its sweeping claims on the WPS. “Definitely, there’s a maligned information operation going on nowadays that is shared to the public and we are just happy it is not just the Philippine government that is sharing our side here — we have allies, if we may call them witnesses, from the media,” he said. The post Japan, U.S.: ‘We got your back’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manila says Chinese vessels ‘intentionally’ hit Philippine boats
Manila said Monday that Chinese vessels "intentionally hit" Philippine boats at the weekend, escalating a diplomatic row over two collisions in the South China Sea. The countries have traded blame over Sunday's incidents near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both sides filing diplomatic protests and releasing videos to support their accusations. The two collisions happened during a Philippine resupply mission to troops stationed on a navy vessel that was grounded on the shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's territorial claims. Philippine officials accused a Chinese coastguard ship and a "militia" vessel of "dangerous maneuvering" that resulted in collisions with a Philippine resupply boat and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro took it one step further Monday, labelling the Chinese actions near Second Thomas Shoal deliberate. "Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit Unaiza May 2 and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra," Teodoro said. "We are here to really decry in the strongest possible terms this egregious violation and illegal act within the (Philippines') 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China's distorting the story to fit its own ends." His comments came hours after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos met with security officials and ordered the coastguard to investigate the incident, which was "being taken seriously at the highest level of government", his communications team said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning on Monday accused the Philippines of "continuing to spread false information and hype things up". Earlier Monday, the Philippine foreign ministry summoned China's ambassador to Manila and lodged a diplomatic protest over the incident. Spokeswoman Teresita Daza said the ambassador was unavailable and was represented by his deputy chief of mission. "Ayungin Shoal is part of our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and we have sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it," Daza said, using the Philippine name for the shoal. The Chinese foreign ministry and embassy in Manila also issued "stern representations to the Philippines" over its "infringements" at Ren'ai Reef, Mao said, using China's name for Second Thomas Shoal. China has said a "slight collision" happened after the Philippine resupply boat ignored "multiple warnings and deliberately passed through law enforcement in an unprofessional and dangerous manner". In the other incident, China accused the Philippine Coast Guard of reversing in a "premeditated manner" into a Chinese fishing vessel. No Filipino crew member was injured, but the supply boat was damaged and forced to turn back, Philippine officials said. A second supply boat reached the tiny garrison on the grounded BRP Sierra Madre and unloaded its cargo. Manila's longtime ally Washington has led a chorus of international criticism of China's alleged interference in the resupply mission. The US State Department on Sunday reiterated its mutual defence pact with the Philippines "extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft –- including those of its Coast Guard –- anywhere in the South China Sea". 'Arbitral ruling is binding' China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored a 2016 international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island. Previously warm ties between Manila and Beijing have cooled since Marcos took power in June 2022, as he seeks stronger relations with the United States. The Marcos administration has publicly criticized Chinese actions in the South China Sea, publishing photos and videos to support its claims of Chinese harassment and the blocking of its vessels. Beijing has released its own images of the incidents. Despite the challenges, the Philippines would "continue to do what is necessary" to supply its troops on the BRP Sierra Madre with provisions, said Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Council. Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes in the South China Sea. Tensions flared in August when China Coast Guard vessels used water cannon against a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, preventing one of the boats from delivering its cargo. The post Manila says Chinese vessels ‘intentionally’ hit Philippine boats appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A history of storytelling through art collections
Narrative art is art that tells a story. It uses visual images of a sequence of events unfolding over time or an ongoing story to evoke emotions and capture one’s aspirations or culture. Narrative art preserves the past for future generations across diverse cultures. One of the country’s top bankers, Edwin Bautista, president of Union Bank of the Philippines, and his wife, professor Aileen Beltrano Bautista, debuted their private collections at the Salcedo Auctions titled Private Art, Public Lives, featuring A Passion for Connections: Objects and their narratives from Edwin and Aileen Bautista collection. “It’s a full story,” said Edwin when asked about the collections’ narrative. “The exhibit starts with the pre-colonial era. Basically, (Ferdinand) Magellan. There’s a portion that shows trade with China. Some ceramic pieces and gold pieces of jewelry that ancient Filipinos wore. This is like telling the story of how life was before the Spaniards came. That portion ends with the arrival of Magellan and his death at the Battle of Mactan.” The Bautistas’ collection of pre-colonial art pieces illustrating historical events of life before the Western World discovered the Philippines brings our imagination to life and provides us insights into our ancestors’ sophisticated artistry and rich culture. Philippine birth certificate An interesting collection is the map section that tells the story of the Philippines through maps and how the Philippines was seen in the eyes of the Western World. The collections trace the evolution of the Philippines through maps, Edwin said. The first Philippine map, which is also called the Birth Certificate of the Philippines, shows the first time the whole archipelago was officially named the “Philippines.” According to Edwin, there are only about three or four copies of that map. Some of the original maps do not show the island of Luzon. “Remember it was only after the third expedition of (Miguel Lopez de) Legazpi that the Spaniards landed in Luzon. Before him, there was only the Visayas. So you have Magellan and then Villalobos.” One of the most important collections in that section is the Murillo Velarde map or the Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Islas Filipinas (Hydrographical and Chorographical Chart of the Philippine Islands). The map was the first map made in the Philippines and first published in Manila in 1734 by the Jesuit cartographer Pedro Murillo Velarde, the engraver Nicolás de la Cruz Bagay and the artist Francisco Suárez. The Velardo map played a critical role in the Philippines case in The Hague for our claim over the West Philippine Sea islands as the 1734 map showed that the Spratly Islands, named Los Bajos de Paragua, and Scarborough Shoal, named Panacot, were part of “Las Islas Filipinas” constituting the Philippine archipelago during the Spanish regime. There were also old Philippine flags captured by the American soldiers during the Philippine-American war. But Bautista traced most of them and bought them from private collectors. Personal collections Edwin said all of the art pieces in the exhibit were from his and his wife’s own collection. They did not even know most of the artworks existed before they started their collection. His passion for the arts was ignited when he started collecting amulets (anting-anting). “My focus then was how to make the narrative full. It’s easy to collect amulets because there is an organized group of Filipinos who believe in them.” As for the source, he used to scour eBay, visit auction houses or even get tips from Buddhists and other religious groups. But for the Salcedo Auction exhibit, the Bautista couple commissioned well-known playwright and director Floy Quintos, who also owns the Art Gallery Deus in Manila. Floy shared: “The exhibition begins with two large ivory corpus that embody the very pinnacle of both Filipino craftsmanship and spirituality. It ends with contemporary folk amulets and carvings that speak for the enduring, resilient folk spirit of the Pinoy.” “In between these objects, many narratives have unfolded. The range of objects offers perspective and insights into our history, spirituality and creativity. The collection of Edwin and Aileen Bautista brings all these objects together to tell a story of our evolving nationhood. “From the blood, sweat, tears and passion of Edwin and Aileen Bautista comes the art collections worth preserving. The art pieces are the stars of our history, but the collectors connect all their stories to create a wonderful narrative. They inspire, educate and even entertain the public with their passion for the arts and gripping perspectives on our history and heritage.” The post A history of storytelling through art collections appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, UK strengthen bilateral relations, geopolitical issues cited
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met in Manila on Tuesday to further discuss ways to strengthen the two countries' bilateral relations. In his meeting with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Malacañang, Marcos Jr. underscored the long-standing friendship between the Philippines and the UK, which dates back to the early 19th century. He also noted the growing trade and investment ties between the two countries, as well as the increasing cooperation in areas such as climate change, security, and defense. In particular, Marcos said that the security and defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United Kingdom is a "welcome evolution." Creating security ties and collaborations with the United Kingdom, according to Marcos Jr., is "not traditional" for the Philippines. "But that seems to be the evolution, the geopolitics these days. It is a welcome evolution in my view, and again, your visit here I think, is a clear indication of that intent," the President said. Marcos added there has been a change in Europe's post-pandemic focus toward Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, to start the economic reform process. "We are not quite at pre-pandemic levels yet, but we are fast approaching that, and that, of course, is very important for us," Marcos said. Cleverly, for his part, said the UK is "committed to working with the Philippines to build a stronger, more prosperous future for both our countries." He also said that the UK is "ready to invest in the Philippines' economic growth and development." “There is still growth. I know that you are very focused on attracting investment into the country and I’ve been discussing with our ambassador about a UK export finance facility, which I hope would encourage UK companies to invest more broadly,” Cleverly said. The foreign minister said both nations can also work “very, very closely together” to combat climate change and accelerate clean energy access. “So I see lots of opportunities to build on what is a really positive bilateral relationship. And so my final thank you is to thank your nation through you, sir, for being a really good friend and partner to the UK, but with huge growth potential for that partnership,” added Cleverly. The post Phl, UK strengthen bilateral relations, geopolitical issues cited appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK boosts maritime cooperation with Phl amid tensions in South China Sea
The Philippines and the United Kingdom have agreed to bolster their maritime cooperation, British Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Spencer Cleverly said Tuesday. During his one-day visit to the Philippines, Cleverly signed a joint statement of intent to develop a framework agreement with his Filipino counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. “This is an exciting time for our relationship. Our UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership benefits our people, including on climate, trade, science, and tech, and shared security,” he said in his speech before reporters at the Manila Diamond Hotel, Roxas Boulevard. “Our relationship is founded on our shared values, and shared belief in openness, freedom and the rule of law,” he added. Cleverly announced that the UK agreed to broaden its maritime cooperation with the Philippines by sharing knowledge on maritime law, promoting maritime domain awareness, and advancing environmental protection. Aside from his meeting with Manalo, the English top diplomat also visited the Philippine Coast Guard to “hear about the work they do to uphold UNCLOS and protect the environment.” The visit came weeks after the China Coast Guard aggressively attempted to block the Philippine vessels from its resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. Several countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, France, and New Zealand, condemned China’s actions. Cleverly said the UK wants to build “enduring partnerships with the Philippines and like-minded countries across this region to safeguard security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.” For his part, Manalo said the UK is an “important long-standing partner of the Philippines, especially in this time of geographic upheavals, economic disruptions, and challenges to the rule of law.” “During our meeting today, we also discussed pressing and evolving regional and international issues of mutual concern,” he said. “The Philippines and the UK are like-minded partners through our shared values of democracy and the rule of law, our unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order, and our pursuit of peace and stability,” he added. Aside from maritime cooperation, the two foreign ministers also discussed areas of defense, security, climate, economics, and people-to-people ties in their meeting. Cleverly is the first British Foreign Secretary that has set foot in Manila since 2016. The post UK boosts maritime cooperation with Phl amid tensions in South China Sea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
More Korean tourists, investors eyed for ‘insurgency-free’ Mindanao areas
Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong on Friday said the Korean government has expressed willingness to further expand their business ventures in Mindanao, following the declaration of some areas in the region as having been freed from the insurgency problem. This development was discussed during the introductory call of the Republic of Korea ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa on Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on 17 August. Andolong said Teodoro and Lee likewise discussed the upcoming” high-level” visit of Korean President Yoon Suk Yeo to Manila, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Philippines-ROK diplomatic relations. “[This will] be an occasion for our two countries to reaffirm our commitment to strengthen our longstanding relations and further explore ways of building shared opportunities,” he added. During their meeting, Teodoro conveyed the country’s appreciation for Korea’s assistance in addressing the Philippines’ internal security issues and providing aid during calamities. The Defense chief also cited Korea’s assistance in the capacity-building of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “The Secretary also recognized the opportunity to diversify defense cooperation with the ROK, which has been among the Philippines' largest partners in terms of defense materiel and logistics,” Andolong said. He added that both officials seek to further improve the “high influx of Korean tourists and investors” in the Philippines. “Recalling the declaration of the Davao region as insurgency-free, Secretary Teodoro shared with Ambassador Lee that he sought to further expand this status of a secure tourism and investment-ready destination across the whole of Mindanao,” Andolong said. The Davao region has maintained its “insurgency-free” status for more than a year now, after a long history of being a place of clashes between the military and communist rebels. In April 2022, Korean delegates, particularly former Ambassador Kim In-Chul, along with other Korean government organizations and private sector companies, held an official business visit in Davao City to assess possible areas of investment opportunities in Mindanao such as infrastructure, telecommunications, connectivity, energy and agri-business for Davao City and Panabo City. The post More Korean tourists, investors eyed for ‘insurgency-free’ Mindanao areas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Conflict evolves
A new form of the Cold War that started in the 1950s is playing out in the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea that the mainland has claimed as historically part of its territory. A 2016 award of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, or PCA, invalidated the historic claim. China, however, said it does not recognize the ruling and it will only accede to bilateral discussions on the maritime conflict. United States security officials have laid out a scenario of heightened posturing in the WPS that is being referred to as the gray zone conflict in which China’s aggressiveness is expected to heighten short of an actual armed conflict. Geopolitical experts said the evolving military relations of the United States and the Philippines are geared toward the WPS developments. In May 2023, new bilateral defense guidelines were issued to clarify the conditions under which American forces would come to the aid of their Philippine counterparts under the terms of the Mutual Defense Treaty. The guidelines marked a change in American policy in the South China Sea from “scrupulous noninvolvement” to one that seems focused on deterring provocative Chinese actions in “gray zone” scenarios, according to Felix Chang, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and the chief operating officer of DecisionQ, an artificial intelligence engineering company. He said the Philippines had long sought a clarification of America’s obligations but Washington was reluctant to give it. The US government’s previous concern was that Manila might use the mutual defense treaty as leverage to advance its maritime and territorial claims against its neighbors in the South China Sea, potentially drawing the United States into confrontations with them, most notably China. The recent American policy shift in the South China Sea, however, follows others that have occurred over the last decade. The major factors that paved the way for the new bilateral defense guidelines have been Manila’s continued commitment to rebuilding its external defense capabilities and Washington’s growing perception of China as a strategic adversary. In the event of an attack, given that the Philippines and the United States share a long-standing mutual defense treaty, American forces would be obliged to come to the country’s aid if the attack occurred in recognized Philippine territorial waters. “But until Manila and Washington issued new bilateral defense guidelines in May 2023, it was unclear what America’s obligations would be if the attack occurred in disputed waters or against non-military Philippine government vessels, like those of its coast guard. Such circumstances were considered ‘gray-zone’ scenarios,” Chang indicated. The newly issued bilateral defense guidelines that were hammered out during the recent state visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. cleared up the ambiguity. They also marked a change in American policy in the WPS from “scrupulous noninvolvement” to one that seems focused on deterrence. Chang indicated that for the Philippines, the change could not have come soon enough with China’s increasingly aggressive efforts to assert its sovereignty over the waters within its “nine-dash line.” Barack Obama’s administration was the first to take a slightly firmer stance on the WPS. Then, Chang said, American policy took on a more defiant tone under President Donald Trump, who formally rejected China’s “nine-dash line” claim. And with relations between China and the United States deteriorating further during the early years of the Biden White House, not to mention continued Chinese assertiveness in Southeast Asia, Washington had become open to clarifying the terms of its MDT with Manila. President Marcos visited Washington in May 2023, he was able to secure what his predecessors had not: a clarification of America’s obligations in “gray-zone” scenarios. Chang added the main reason for Washington’s opaque posture had been Manila’s longtime neglect of its external defense capabilities. The Philippines, which at one time fielded one of Asia’s largest and most modern armed forces, had allowed its navy to dwindle to four offshore patrol boats and its air force to mothball its last jet aircraft in 2005, he said. President Marcos’ recent talks with President Joe Biden was all about restoring equilibrium in the disputed seas. The post Conflict evolves appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DFA’s Manalo off to Vietnam, Laos to strengthen bilateral ties
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday announced the visit of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to Vietnam and Laos to review current relations and explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties with the two countries. In a statement, the DFA said Manalo will travel to Hanoi from 31 July to 3 August for the 10th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. Manalo and his Vietnamese counterparts are set to discuss areas of cooperation such as defense, maritime, economic and people-to-people ties. He is also slated to speak at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam with the theme, “Philippines-Vietnam Strategic Partnership in the Age of Change.” The 9th Philippines-Vietnam JCBC was held in Manila in 2019, attended by then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The DFA chief will then travel to Vientiane for the 2nd Philippines-Lao PDR JCBC on 3-5 August, where he will take stock of the current Philippines-Lao PDR relations and explore ways to expand cooperation. He will also engage with the diplomatic community through his talk at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, entitled “Closer Together: People at the Center of Philippines-Laos Relations.” The first Philippines-Lao PDR JCBC was also held in Manila last 2017, attended by then DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. According to the DFA, the JCBC is the primary mechanism that the Philippines has with both Vietnam and Laos that provides an opportunity to comprehensively discuss bilateral relations, as well as various regional and global issues. The post DFA’s Manalo off to Vietnam, Laos to strengthen bilateral ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Keeping masks on
Because of masks, I’ve relearned the essence of the proverbial phrase that the eyes speak as much as the mouth. There’s beauty, of course, when the ends of the mouth curve up slightly, lips moving apart to bare teeth the stress-relieving facial smile. But the open petals of the mouth no longer serve solely as the instrument of happy or friendly expressions. The eyes have it, too, perhaps even keener or more soulful than a mouth smile will ever be. Mask-wearing therefore forced many of us to pay attention to smiling eyes during the pandemic a devastating public health emergency now officially declared over. Mr. Marcos Jr. officially lifted last week the nationwide state of public health emergency caused by Covid-19, ending over three years of various degrees of pandemic restrictions, including mask-wearing in crowded public transport. But even as the government junks the required masking, many Filipinos, I believe, are unlikely to stop wearing masks completely any time soon. In fact, even before Mr. Marcos Jr. issued his final order against mask wearing he had already earlier eased mask rules, lifting the mandatory wearing of masks in public places like wet markets and malls. Yet, despite the eased rules which prompted many not to wear masks in public a general observation told us that many did still diligently wear masks. Just like others, I now find that putting on a mask is habitual, a reflex when sallying forth out of the house. It’s a habit hard to change, I find, just like frequently washing my hands. So, if only out of habit, cemented during the three years of the pandemic, I and many others will continue to wear masks no matter what the government says. The mask culture is now a Filipino cultural trait. Generally, it’s probably because Covid hasn’t entirely gone away. It is still causing infections, disease, and death. Wearing masks is still a proven defense and still provides some peace of mind. Still, there are probably other reasons. One is that even if Covid doesn’t now count as a health emergency Filipinos have found mask-wearing to be beneficial against other common illnesses like the flu and allergies. Avoiding other common respiratory illnesses persuades people to keep their masks on. Another significant fact that makes mask-wearing not a misguided affectation is that many Filipinos are realizing that wearing one is all about being unselfish. Filipinos are starting to respect the well-being of others, a mask etiquette that makes Filipinos culturally more Asian than Western. Wearing a mask has always been associated with good etiquette for many people in Asia. It is common courtesy in Asia to wear a mask in public, especially since one never knows who around them might have weakened immune systems or live with someone vulnerable. In contrast, most Western countries see mask-wearing as a highly charged social and political issue. Public courtesies aside, I also believe Filipinos will go on wearing masks because of the inescapable fact that masks protect against air pollution. Most urbanized Filipinos instinctively know and sharply feel the health effects of air pollution like coughing, sneezing, and tightness of the chest. Not for nothing that motorcycle riders cover their mouths and noses while traversing traffic-choked streets. Moreover, our air pollution woes now include the alarming health risk of inhaling microplastics — tiny plastic particles floating in the environment. A recent study showed Metro Manila residents face a large health risk when breathing in microplastics. Scientists say insidious microplastics are the newest “major pollutant of our generation.” A pollutant that initial studies show causes stress and havoc to the internal organs once it enters the bloodstream. Thus, even as Covid becomes less of a public health crisis, microplastics loom as the next public health emergency. Nothing is being done yet against microplastics and that only means our mask-wearing days aren’t over. The post Keeping masks on appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US-Phl bilateral ties ‘sky is the limit’ — US envoy
The opportunities in the bilateral relations of the Philippines and the United States are limitless, United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said Friday. In a video posted on her Twitter account, Carlson was asked what to expect next for the US-Philippines bilateral relationship. “We're coming out of a year where we have amazing momentum and, really, the sky's the limit,” she said. The ambassador, who is celebrating her first year in the Philippines, said that Washington is looking into expanding its economic cooperation with Manila. “I think one of the things that we'll be focusing on is expanding our economic ties. We are partners in prosperity, and I look forward to doing everything possible to continue that growth in our economies,” she said. Presently, the US-Philippine bilateral ties became warmer since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office last year. During the administration of his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, veered away from its traditional ally and developed warmer ties with America’s rival, China. Just this year, the Marcos administration approved four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in the country, to which American forces will have access. The locations of the additional four EDCA sites are in Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province. Of the four additional EDCA sites, three are situated in the northern part of the country, with the naval base at Cagayan's Santa Ana being about 400 kilometers from Taiwan. China considers Taiwan, an ally of the US, as part of its territory, to be retaken one day — by force, if necessary. ‘Proudest moment’ Likewise, Carlson shared her “proudest moment” since she took the helm at the US Embassy in the Philippines. “Well, you know it's been really an honor for me to welcome so many senior VIP visitors to the Philippines, and be able to show them this wonderful country and the amazing people that are here,” she said. “So the vice president Secretary of State Secretary of Defense but also the ability to welcome President Marcos to Washington for a four-day amazing visit. Those are my proudest moments so far,” she added. Marcos went to the US earlier this year while US Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Philippines last November. The post US-Phl bilateral ties ‘sky is the limit’ — US envoy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, Italy push for bilateral ties expansion on maritime security
The Philippines and Italy have agreed to push the enhancement of their defense partnership as both nations shared an interest in global peace and the freedoms guaranteed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, said the Department of National Defense on Thursday. This development came after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. welcomed the Italian delegation, led by Italian Ambassador to Manila Marco Clemente and visiting Deputy Minister of Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago in a courtesy visit to the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on 11 July. DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the two sides noted the 7th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitration Award on 12 July 2016—which upholds the primacy of the UNCLOS as the law of the sea—wherein Italy, among other states, has expressed firm support to the ruling. “Secretary Teodoro stressed the significance of broad international recognition of and support for the Award, which benefits all countries,” Andolong said. Andolong said Teodoro emphasized the importance of laying down a framework for defense cooperation, which will help build a foundation for resilience against future security challenges and also cover the enhancement of personnel capacities, including in the areas of the maritime domain and the law of the sea. Further to cooperation in terms of acquisition of hard assets, he added. The Italian Deputy Defence Minister’s brief visit to Manila came alongside the four-day goodwill visit by ITS “Francesco Morosini”—one of the Italian Navy’s latest and most advanced multipurpose offshore patrol vessels. The Italian government said the Morosini is in the region “to promote naval diplomacy and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” “The Deputy Minister’s visit as well as that of the Morosini signal Italy’s keen interest in fostering closer relations with the Philippines,” Andolong stressed. The post Phl, Italy push for bilateral ties expansion on maritime security appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PH, Italy finalizing defense cooperation pact
The Philippines and Italy are now finalizing a memorandum to improve their military cooperation, said Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente on Saturday. “We are working hard to finalize a memorandum that when agreed upon, after receiving the political authorization will make so much easier our industrial relationships,” Clemente said in an interview shortly after the Italian naval vessel “ITS Francesco Morisini” arrived in Manila for a 5-day port call. But, the Italian envoy did not release further details on the crafting of a defense agreement between Manila and Rome. “There will be negotiations to reach a more clear juridical context in the form of some agreements to improve the cooperation in the military industry context. The Italian technology in this field is amazing. We have a lot to offer,” he said. The port visit of the 144-meter multipurpose Italian patrol vessel in Manila from 7 to 11 July is part of its five-month naval campaign in the Indo-Pacific region. The Italian ship docking here reinforces the cooperation between Italy and the Philippines in order to promote naval diplomacy along with freedom of navigation, respect for the international law of the sea, and a safe and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Clemente also confirmed that the Philippines and Italy will hold a joint military exercise here. “The exercise in the port of Manila will open a lot of opportunity… This presence of the ship Morosini can make a difference for the future of our bilateral relations,” he said. The “Morisini” mission purposes in the Indo-Pacific area are focused on promoting the international image of the Italian Navy and Italy as a whole but the deployment is actually also supporting marine international research, conducted by two Italian researchers of the Italian Superior Institute of Health, aiming to collect biological and physical samples up to 100 meters depth along her cruise in some parts of the Indo-Pacific basins. “Italy is very much interested in the stability of the region. The Indo-Pacific region is crucial not only for the obvious strategic reason that this area is where the main bulk of the trade goes through,” Clemente said. He added that stability in the region also means “free trade and stability of the economic situation.” The Italian vessel features a peculiar wave-piercing double bow—an engineering solution optimizing the vessel’s performances in terms of hydrodynamics and maximum attainable speed, with a significant reduction in fuel consumption. The post PH, Italy finalizing defense cooperation pact appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese envoy holds constructive discussion with Phl Defense chief
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Thursday said he had a “constructive discussion” with Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. In a Facebook post, Huang said he had paid a courtesy visit with Teodoro at the Department of National Defense. “We had a constructive discussion on promoting defense and military relations between China and the Philippines and maintaining peace and stability in the region,” the envoy said. The two officials met following the reported incident in the Ayungin Shoal where Chinese Coast Guards vessels blocked and carried out “dangerous maneuvers” against Philippine Coast Guards vessels. On Wednesday, PCG said that the incident took place on 30 June near the Ayungin Shoal, which falls within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. “During the operation, the PCG was constantly followed, harassed, and obstructed by the significantly larger Chinese Coast Guard vessels at a distance of approximately 100 yards,” the PCG said in a statement. “These CCGVs blatantly disregard the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea in their attempts to obstruct passage and discourage the PCG vessels from approaching Ayungin Shoal,” it added. Huang did not disclose what was discussed during his meeting with Teodoro, who was tapped by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as secretary of the DND last month. ‘Japan too’ The Japanese Embassy in the Philippines also took a swipe against “repeated intrusions” of China not only in the Philippine waters but also in territories they claimed. “As China’s unilateral actions such as repeated intrusions into Japan’s waters around the Senkaku Islands in the ECS, China's dangerous behavior in the South China Sea in defiance of the 2016 arbitration award is a grave concern for regional peace and stability,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said in a Tweet. Like the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea, Senkaku Islands have long been a sticking point between the bilateral relations of Beijing and Tokyo. However, the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands cemented Manila’s claims in the West Philippine Sea, rejecting China’s nine-dash line claim. China has continued to reject the arbitral ruling and stood by its historic rights over the area. As of July 5, the Philippine government through its Department of Foreign Affairs, has filed a total of 30 diplomatic protests against China in the last seven months. Over the span of three years, Manila has sent a total of 427 notes verbale against Beijing. The post Chinese envoy holds constructive discussion with Phl Defense chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. backs energy-secure Phl
USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer awarded more than P65 million ($1.16 million) in grants to support energy security and conservation in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela as part of his recent visit to the Philippines. Recipient organizations are USAID’s Filipino partners Tri-Sky Inc. and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation. Provided under USAID’s P1.6 billion ($34 million) Energy Secure Philippines program, the grants will support local energy planning and the installation of renewable energy technologies, such as solar roofing and nano generators in the province. With greater energy access, Cagayan and Isabela’s remote communities can better prepare for and recover from natural disasters. Communities surrounding the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in Lal-lo and Santa Ana will also benefit from the grants. “USAID understands that energy is the foundation for systems such as banking, telecommunications, digital platforms, health, education and transport, among other services,” Schiffer said. “We look forward to partnering with the Philippines to provide greater access to sustainable energy in remote communities, increasing prosperity for families across the country.” In partnership with the Mabuwaya Foundation and the Agta Indigenous Peoples community at Sitio Golden Valley in Barangay San Mariano, Schiffer also launched the “From Ridge to River” project, through which USAID will work with local communities, partners and government officials to conserve forests in northern Sierra Madre. “This launch is an important step toward preserving the natural beauty and ecological balance of the region, and we are proud to be part of it,” Schiffer said. During his time in the Philippines, Schiffer also spoke at the Asian Development Bank’s annual Asia Clean Energy Forum in Manila and visited a USAID-supported drug rehabilitation program in Mandaluyong City. Additionally, he traveled to Palawan, where he toured the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park; visited a waste collection and sorting site; sat with civil society organizations to discuss concerns over illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone; and visited the BRP Teresa Magbanua to learn about the Philippine Coast Guard’s protection efforts for marine resources in Philippine waters. The post U.S. backs energy-secure Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Basketball diplomacy at Paco Arena
The French Navy’s Aquitaine-class destroyer Lorraine ends its one-week port call in Manila tomorrow with a highlight of the visit a basketball friendly between the sailors and PBA team Blackwater at the Paco Arena last Tuesday......»»
Equalizer in place
On 10 March 2022, a couple of weeks before President Rodrigo Duterte’s term ended and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez announced a sharp turn in policy after Duterte said he was ready to open the country’s military facilities to American forces under the improved Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA. Duterte then announced in his patented permutation of events that the Philippines had no choice but to allow the Americans access to local military installations if Russia’s war against Ukraine intensified and embroiled the United States. Romualdez thereafter revealed that the “President stated that if they (the United States) are asking for the support of the Philippines, it’s obvious that, of course, if push comes to shove, the Philippines will be ready to be part of the effort, especially if this Ukrainian crisis spills over into the Asian region.” Duterte added that in the event of an emergency, “the Philippines would allow US forces to return to the former naval station at Subic Bay and the nearby Clark Air Base.” The growing worry was that Beijing might take a page out of Russia’s playbook by applying gray zone operations, conducting hybrid warfare, and using force to acquire and eventually annex disputed territories. Thus, the implication, according to the American policy think tank Brookings Institution, that the Duterte administration expressed its willingness to allow American forces to use the Philippines as a staging ground in a Taiwan contingency. Before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in June 2022, Manila and Washington appeared to have struck a deal regarding their complementary roles. On 2 February, Philippine and US defense officials announced that the US military would be given new access to four Armed Forces of the Philippines bases nationwide under the enhanced EDCA. The two allies sought to expand the US strategic footprint in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region in the face of an aggressive and expansionist China. Negotiated by the two countries during US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s second visit to the Philippines, the improved EDCA increased the number of bases from five to nine. While it was billed as an agreement for rapid deployment of relief materials during emergencies and calamities, it was obvious that the United States can use the new sites for training, setting up equipment, and building runways and other facilities. Inside the EDCA camps, American forces will be allowed to build warehouses, living quarters, joint facilities, and store combat materiel — except for nuclear weapons which are prohibited by the Philippine Constitution. There was only limited construction of EDCA sites during Duterte’s six-year term. Nevertheless, the United States has allocated over $82 million for infrastructure investments at the five original EDCA sites. These investments support economic growth and job creation in the local communities. The decision to increase the number of joint locations was made in October 2022, when the United States sought to deploy more of its forces and weapons to the new joint military camps, mainly in the central northern Luzon region, which the 160-mile Luzon Strait separates from the self-governed island of Taiwan. This development coincided with the US and Filipino forces expanding their joint combat and disaster response training in preparation for future contingency operations in the South China Sea — which lies to the Philippines’ west, and the Taiwan Strait, which is north of the country’s Luzon region. In 2022, the newly formed 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, or MLR, deployed several combat concepts with the Philippine Marine Corps Coastal Defense Regiment in provinces on the Luzon Strait. By prepositioning MLR equipment in northeastern Luzon, “US Marines could respond more quickly in a crisis over Taiwan or aid the US military’s power projection into the Luzon Strait and South China Sea,” a Brookings Institute analysis said. The post Equalizer in place appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cagayan, Isabela get P65M in new energy grants
On 16 June, United States Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer awarded more than P65 million ($1.16 million) in grants to support energy security and conservation in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela as part of his visit to the Philippines from 15 to 18 June. The recipient organizations are USAID’s Filipino partners Tri-Sky Inc. and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation. Provided under USAID’s P1.6 billion ($34 million) Energy Secure Philippines program, the grants will support local energy planning and the installation of renewable energy technologies, such as solar roofing and nano generators in the province. With greater energy access, Cagayan and Isabela’s remote communities can better prepare for and recover from natural disasters. Communities surrounding the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in Lal-lo and Santa Ana will also benefit from the grants. “USAID understands that energy is the foundation for systems such as banking, telecommunications, digital platforms, health, education and transport, among other services,” Schiffer said. “We look forward to partnering with the Philippines to provide greater access to sustainable energy in remote communities, increasing prosperity for families across the country.” In partnership with the Mabuwaya Foundation and the Agta Indigenous Peoples community at Sitio Golden Valley in Barangay San Mariano, Schiffer also launched the “From Ridge to River” project, through which USAID will work with local communities, partners and government officials to conserve forests in northern Sierra Madre. “This launch is an important step toward preserving the natural beauty and ecological balance of the region, and we are proud to be part of it,” said Schiffer. During his time in the Philippines, Schiffer also spoke at the Asian Development Bank’s annual Asia Clean Energy Forum in Manila and visited a USAID-supported drug rehabilitation program in Mandaluyong City. Additionally, he traveled to Palawan, where he toured the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park; visited a waste collection and sorting site; sat with civil society organizations to discuss concerns over illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone; and visited the BRP Teresa Magbanua to learn about the Philippine Coast Guard’s protection of marine resources in Philippine waters. The post Cagayan, Isabela get P65M in new energy grants appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»