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Mla slams Beijing’s expanded SCS claim
The Department of Foreign Affairs has strongly protested China’s inclusion of the entire West Philippine Sea in the newest version of its standard map, calling it “unacceptable.” Manila, through the DFA, made this very clear to Beijing on Thursday as it rejected China’s map that depicts its new “10-dash line” claim to the entire South China Sea, including maritime zones of the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia. The map was issued by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources on 28 August, drawing protests from Malaysia and India (see related story). “This latest attempt to legitimize China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the DFA said. The DFA reiterated to China that a 2016 international arbitral ruling invalidated its “nine-dash line” claim in the South China Sea and affirmed the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. This was in reference to the final judgment rendered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on 12 July 2016. “It (decision) categorically stated that ‘maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant parts of the nine-dash line are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China’s maritime entitlements under the Convention,’” the statement said. “The Philippines, therefore, calls on China to act responsibly and abide by its obligations under UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA added. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, but has not recognized the arbitral ruling. Neither did Beijing participate in the court’s proceedings. During a Malacañang press briefing, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Daniel Espiritu confirmed Manila had filed a diplomatic protest with Beijing regarding the issue. Beijing’s revised map features a sequence of 10 dashes arranged in a U-shape, encompassing not only parts of the Philippines but of self-ruled Taiwan as well as parts of the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia. “Suffice it to say that we have already expressed our opposition to that matter,” Espiritu told Palace reporters. “We are definitely against it, we reject it, and we continue to advocate for a peaceful resolution of disputes in that aspect,” he added. Asked how this would affect the Philippine position when Marcos meets with his Southeast Asian and Chinese counterparts during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Espiritu said the leaders would not complete their discussions on the matter in just one, two, or three meetings. “Progress has been made. We also expressed our profound satisfaction with recent developments in the South China Sea, particularly on the issue of the water cannoning,” Espiritu said. “We emphasized that these actions must be avoided, as they erode trust, escalate tensions in the South China Sea, and destabilize the peace and stability in the region,” Espiritu added. China’s defense For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the map, saying it is “in accordance with the law.” “On 28 August, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China released the 2023 edition of the standard map. It is a routine practice in China’s exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. Wang called on the countries affected by the new map to “stay objective and calm, and refrain from over-interpreting the issue.” Four of the 10 members of ASEAN are primary claimants to the resource-rich South China Sea — Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. Final and binding In reaction, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the Philippines does not recognize China’s nine-dash line claim, more so its expanded 10-dash line. “The arbitral award is final and binding,” Año said. “It gives us our maritime entitlement, our extended economic zone, our territorial waters, and our extended continental shelf.” The Philippines, he said, is not alone in its rejection of the 10-dash line. India and Malaysia have also expressed their opposition to the new map. “There would be more countries, I think, to react adversely against this 10-dash line,” Año said. “Our Armed Forces, our uniformed services, our government will do everything in their capacities to ensure that we are protecting our national interest.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meanwhile, will push for a rules-based international order and for parties to follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea during the upcoming 43rd Asean Summit next month, DFA Undersecretary Espiritu said on Thursday. “The Philippines will continue to uphold and exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law,” Espiritu added. He said Marcos is expected to have one-on-one meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. “With Vietnam, the focus will be on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and, of course, cooperation on rice and food security,” he said. ‘Cancel China projects’ With Beijing’s unrelenting expansion into the SCS, Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said the government should reconsider existing and upcoming China-assisted infrastructure projects. “Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had earlier suggested a boycott of all Chinese companies and products, including the Chinese Communication Construction Company, to protest Beijing’s continued incursion into our territory,” Ridon said. “Why not push that call up a notch and call on the Marcos administration to cancel all China-assisted infrastructure projects in the pipeline?” he added. There are presently six major infrastructure projects financed with Chinese loans, the biggest of which is the PNR South Long Haul Project, a 380-kilometer railway that will link Calamba in Laguna and Legazpi in Albay. The project, which started in 2016 and is set to be completed in 2024, has a total price tag of P175.3 billion. The post Mla slams Beijing’s expanded SCS claim appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Proposed P5.768T 2024 budget 9.8% higher than 2023
The Philippines would be "one step closer" to realizing the government's "transformative vision" for the country once Congress accepts the proposed National Budget for 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. The Chief Executive made the remarks in his Budget Message on Wednesday as the Department of Budget and Management turned over the Marcos administration’s proposed 2024 budget or National Expenditure Program worth P5.768 trillion to Congress. In his message, Marcos explained that the proposed budget aims to provide the resources required for government operations and the ongoing pursuit of economic reform. Initial information from the DBM showed that the proposed budget is 9.8 percent higher than the P5.268 trillion General Appropriations Act or the enacted budget for 2023. "With the Congress's approval of the proposed (Fiscal Year) 2024 National Budget, we will be one step closer to achieving our transformative vision for the country, the Agenda of Prosperity," Marcos said. "Our journey has just begun. We will march on — one nation, one people building a better future together," he added. The President said that the proposed budget for 2024 was a key part of the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which aims to strengthen the country's capabilities, protect the buying power of Filipinos, and improve output sectors to create more good jobs and products that can compete globally. "In turn, these strategies are to be supported by an enabling environment characterized by macroeconomic stability, infrastructure development, bureaucratic efficiency, strong rule of law and effective climate action," Marcos said. The President also highlighted the "strong headwinds" the country had to deal with last year as it tried to get its economy back on track. He pointed out that his economic managers made the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, which is now the "bedrock" of the plan to change the economy, to deal with these problems. The Chief Executive said that the Philippines' gross domestic product grew by 7.6 percent for the whole year of 2022, the biggest since 1976. Marcos said that the country's growth "set the stage" for continued growth in 2023, mentioning that the country's economy expanded by 6.4 percent for the first quarter of 2023, surpassing its Asian peers such as Indonesia, China and Vietnam. The World Bank, he also said, declared that the country could reach above-middle-income status within two years. "Likewise expressing confidence in our country's economic growth, the International Monetary Fund said that it was 'highest among the ASEAN-5', noting its resilience to global pressures," the Filipino leader added. Marcos Jr. likewise cited the country's good credit quality standing, improved revenue performance and high employment rate. "Our immediate economic recovery was the result of the collective effort of the Filipinos. Unity was what made it happen," Marcos said. "For the next five years, we must do more, building on all the gains that we have made – through the same whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. We need this not only to be effective but to be transformative," he concluded. The post Proposed P5.768T 2024 budget 9.8% higher than 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘World’s Biggest Trade Deal’ Signed by Asean, China, Other Partner Countries
The world’s largest free trade agreement is signed by fifteen nations in the Asia-Pacific region on Sunday as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) was signed during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) annual summit, bringing more imported products to every Asean country. The agreement was signed by the Asean member states comprising […].....»»
Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar on overseas deployment to ASEAN, arrives im Phillipines
Manila [Philippines], March 25 (ANI): India Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialized Pollution Control Vessel, reached Manila, Philippines on Monday, marking the commencement of its (overseas deployment) OSD mission to Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries. ASEAN countries includes Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, " acc.....»»
Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar on overseas deployment to ASEAN nations, arrives in Philippines
Manila [Philippines], March 25 (ANI): India Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialized Pollution Control Vessel, reached Manila, Philippines on Monday, marking the commencement of its (overseas deployment) OSD mission to Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries. ASEAN countries includes Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, " acc.....»»
Indian Coast Guard ship docks at Manila port amid tensions in South China Sea
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): Amid tensions in the South China Sea, the Indian Coast Guard ship, Samudra Paheredar docked at the Manila Bay in the Philippines as part of a broader initiative aimed at demonstrating ICG Marine Pollution Response capabilities, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an official release on Tuesday. The ICG ship which arrived at the port on Monday, is on an overseas deployment to ASEAN c.....»»
Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar on overseas deployment to ASEAN, arrives im Phillipines
Manila [Philippines], March 25 (ANI): India Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialized Pollution Control Vessel, reached Manila, Philippines on Monday, marking the commencement of its (overseas deployment) OSD mission to Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries. ASEAN countries includes Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, " acc.....»»
Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar on overseas deployment to ASEAN nations, arrives in Philippines
Manila [Philippines], March 25 (ANI): India Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialized Pollution Control Vessel, reached Manila, Philippines on Monday, marking the commencement of its (overseas deployment) OSD mission to Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries. ASEAN countries includes Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, " acc.....»»
‘Chasing Tuna in the Ocean’ ekis sa mga lokal na sinehan, bakit kaya?
PAGKATAPOS ng pelikulang “Barbie,” naging kontrobersyal naman ngayon ang bagong pelikula na “Chasing Tuna in the Ocean” dahil sa pagpapakita ng “nine-dash line.” Kung matatandaan, unang ipinagbawal ang “Barbie” dito sa Pilipinas at sa Vietnam dahil nahagip sa pelikula ang mapa ng South China Sea kasama ang nine-dash line. Ngunit nanindigan ang Movie and Television.....»»
Jollibee FY23 profit: P8.8-B (up 16%)
Jollibee posted an FY23 net income attributable of P8.8 billion, up 16% from its FY22 net income of P7.6 billion. Systemwide sales were up 16.3% to P345 billion, with the biggest growth coming from China (+21.9%), the Philippines (+17.6%) and EMEA (+16.0%)......»»
From the Newsrooms: March 3 to 9, 2024
THIS WEEK the news followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he traveled to Australia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia summit from March 4 to 6. The Australian government hosted this year's special summit in the city of Melbourne, to underscore among other issues roiling the region, maritime and security concerns in the South China Sea, an area which has been re-named by the P.....»»
From the Newsrooms: March 3 to 9, 2024
THIS WEEK the news followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he traveled to Australia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia summit from March 4 to 6. The Australian government hosted this year's special summit in the city of Melbourne, to underscore among other issues roiling the region, maritime and security concerns in the South China Sea, an area which has been re-named by the P.....»»
Australia, ASEAN Warn Against Confrontations in South China
Members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations are urging calm among those who operate in the increasingly volatile South China Sea.The plea was made Wednesday in a joint statement between ASEAN and Australia at the end of a three-day summit in Melbourne. The summit marked the 50th anniversary of Australia establishing formal ties with ASEAN.The declaration said Australia and ASEAN "recog.....»»
Australia, ASEAN Warn Against Confrontations in South China Sea
Members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations are urging calm among those who operate in the increasingly volatile South China Sea.The plea was made Wednesday in a joint statement between ASEAN and Australia at the end of a three-day summit in Melbourne. The summit marked the 50th anniversary of Australia establishing formal ties with ASEAN.The declaration said Australia and ASEAN "recog.....»»
PAGSS awarded by JDL Express of China for service excellence
Jiangsu Jingdong Cargo Airlines, a subsidiary of one of the biggest freighter and cargo operators, JDL Express of China, recently awarded the Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc (PAGSS), its Ground Handling and Cargo Handling partner in Manila. The award was given in commemoration of its successful launch and excellence in service. The said award […].....»»
Asean statement on South China Sea: the right step forward
In what is seen by many as an unprecedented move, the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations issued a stand-alone statement expressing concern about the developments in the South China Sea and reaffirming “the shared commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability in the region” where tension has been growing over conflicting claims in the South China Sea......»»
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Express Concern Over South China Sea Tensions
MANILA, Philippines - Foreign ministers of Southeast Asia's regional bloc ASEAN on Saturday expressed their concern over growing tensions in the South China Sea which they said could threaten regional peace and urged for peaceful dialogue among parties.'We closely follow with concern the recent developments in the South China Sea that may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region,' the bloc's top di.....»»
ASEAN foreign ministers urge peace, restraint amid South China Sea tensions
Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed concern over escalating tensions in the South China Sea and called on all parties involved to engage in peaceful dialogue. .....»»
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Express Concern Over South China Sea Tensions
MANILA, Philippines - Foreign ministers of Southeast Asia's regional bloc ASEAN on Saturday expressed their concern over growing tensions in the South China Sea which they said could threaten regional peace and urged for peaceful dialogue among parties.'We closely follow with concern the recent developments in the South China Sea that may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region,' the bloc's top di.....»»
Paradigm shift needed in ties with China, says Philippine President
MANILA, The Philippines: In an interview with Mainichi Shimbun on December 16, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that as diplomatic efforts with Beijing were headed "in a poor direction," a "paradigm shift" was needed in how the Philippines approaches the South China Sea issue. Japan for Tokyo's commemorative summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Marcos stressed that China.....»»