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Goal: End terror
The United Nations, thus far, has fared dismally in fulfilling its role in the Israel-Hamas conflict that has been playing out for over two weeks. Instead of giving clarity to the situation by making an unequivocal stand against the reign of terror, the UN has turned into an accomplice of the Hamas terrorists in the unprecedented brutality that was wreaked on 7 October when more than 1,400 mostly civilians were massacred. The UN has repeatedly called for a humanitarian pause, which is coopting to the wishes of the terror group. More than 200 people were taken hostage by the extremists who rampaged through the peaceful communities. Relatives of the Hamas hostages and their supporters called on the UN the other day to do its part in bringing back their family members and rendering justice. One by one, members of the hostages’ families stood on a podium in front of the United Nations, pleading to world leaders for help rescuing their children, parents, brothers, and sisters who had nothing to do with the raging war. “We have not heard anything from anybody. Do your work. Give us signs of life. Give a sign of hope. We’re waiting for that. We’re not getting anything, I’m sorry,” said Orna Neutra, the mother of a hostage. In the plaza across the street, a solidarity rally displayed the horrors of war, putting up the names and photos of the missing hostages and setting shoes next to each poster. “These are the little shoes of 4-year-old girls that danced and walked in the kibbutz and now are held hostage in Gaza,” American resident Shany Granot-Lubaton said. “We just want people to understand how real it is for us. These are our family. These are our friends. This is what it looks like. These are real people.” The UN response led by Russia and China — which received support from the UN leadership — was appalling, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to deliver “desperately needed food, water, medicine and fuel,” which Israeli officials said would benefit the besieged terrorists. Russia and China on Wednesday vetoed the US-authored draft resolution condemning the terror attacks by Hamas on Israel. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said that had these nations endured a similar massacre, they would have acted with much greater force. “In Israel, we are fighting for our very survival. If any of your countries endured a similar massacre, I am certain that you would act with much greater force than Israel,” he said. “There would be no question in your mind that such a barbaric slaughter requires a broad military operation against the terrorists who committed such inhumane atrocities to eradicate their terrorist capabilities, to make sure that such atrocities can never happen again,” he said. The draft resolution condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel and called for the release of the hostages and compliance with international humanitarian law. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for universal condemnation of Hamas’s terrorism and the immediate release of hostages. “I implore every member here, use your voice, use your influence, use your leverage to secure their unconditional and immediate release,” Blinken said. Ten countries on the UN Security Council backed the resolution, while Russia, China, and the United Arab Emirates voted against it, and two other nations abstained. Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said his country won’t support the US resolution, adding that they see no point in it as the document has no demand for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the parties to the conflict. As a victim of similar atrocities inflicted by terrorists in Marawi City, Filipinos know a quick resolution is essential to end the crisis, which for Israel is the complete elimination of Hamas. The post Goal: End terror appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senators denounce China’s ‘abhorrent’ actions in WPS
Senators on Sunday condemned China for performing “dangerous blocking maneuvers” that resulted in a collision with the Unaiza May 2, an indigenous boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre. In separate statements, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senators Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Tolentino expressed their anger over the collision that put the safety of the Filipino crew at risk. “I am one with peace-loving Filipinos in strongly condemning this latest abhorrent actions of the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia that put in danger the lives of our brave countrymen who were on a routine resupply mission to our troops in Ayungin Shoal,” Zubiri said. “Let me salute our personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for displaying courage and restraint in continuing their resupply missions despite the hostile and treacherous acts of China Coast Guard and their maritime militia,” he added. Zubiri called on CCG to “respect human lives and abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws governing safe maritime travel.” “Our freedom of navigation in our own exclusive economic zone within our own continental shelf should be recognized and upheld,” he stressed. The Senate chief also reiterated his support for his colleagues' efforts to beef up the PCG and AFP’s budget for the next fiscal year to “better capacitate them in safeguarding our exclusive economic zones from illegal foreign intrusions.” “As leader of the Senate, I will make sure that our troops will get sufficient funds under the 2024 national budget to bankroll the much-needed upgrade of their equipment,” he said. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea accused the CCG of performing "dangerous blocking maneuvers" that resulted in a collision with the Unaiza May 2, an indigenous boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre. The NTF-WPS condemned the “provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action” of the China Coast Guard ship which “imperiled the safety” of the Unaiza May 2 crew. In the same resupply mission, a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel “bumped” the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Cabra’s port side which was escorting the Philippine vessels while it was lying approximately 6.4 nautical miles northeast of Ayungin Shoal. The NTF-WPS said it “condemns in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the CCG and the Chinese maritime militia done this morning.” ‘Enough’ Hontiveros echoed Zubiri’s call on China to “stop” its activities in the West Philippine Sea which she said clearly violates international law. “This latest collision is squarely the China Coast Guard’s fault,” she said in a separate statement. “The 2016 Arbitral Award has resolutely invalidated China’s claims in the West Philippine Sea, making this incident a clear violation of international law,” she added. Hontiveros said the PCG “has every right to be in the West Philippine Sea.” “China has no right to drive our forces into our own seas. Furthermore, they do not have the right to hurt and bump Philippine vessels that are only performing their jobs in our territories,” she stressed. “Chinese vessels have chased, blocked, and harassed our Philippine Coast Guard daily, 24/7 every single time we conduct our resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre,” she added. The opposition lawmaker also called on the international community to join the Philippines’ condemnation of China’s most recent violence against the Filipino people. “Our nations should not stop fighting for the rule of law. It is the only way to have a chance at true peace and stability across the region and the world,” she said. For his part, Tolentino said the recent confrontation between the Philippines and China clearly shows China’s continuous disregard for international law. He noted that the incident should be investigated by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the Code for Investigation ng Marine Casualties and Incidents of the International Maritime Organization. Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China claims the vast South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. On 12 July 2016, the Philippines won its arbitral case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration – a landmark decision that China continues to reject. The post Senators denounce China’s ‘abhorrent’ actions in WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese coastguard and Philippine vessel engage in standoff
MANILA, The Philippines: A Chinese coastguard ship's dangerously close encounter with a Philippine patrol ship near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea has sparked alarm and condemnation. The Philippines strongly protested the incident, highlighting concerns that ongoing territorial disputes in the region could escalate into a larger crisis. The confrontation also involved another Philippine coast.....»»
Sovereign interest
The Philippines is earning plaudits for the Marcos administration’s tough balancing act of asserting its territorial claim on the West Philippine Sea while preventing the tense situation with China from escalating. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has made it his policy to improve relations with the United States that were strained under the last administration, while continuing to engage with China but recognizing the need to respect each country’s position. Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute cited recent moves by the country that showed it will not back down from China’s assertiveness, but neither will it take actions to provoke its anger. “While Beijing attempts to tighten its grip on the region with a new ten-dash line, a multi-billion dollar military modernization drive is underway in the Philippines,” a Lowy report said. It said many analysts believe that Manila’s pronouncements about confrontation are “gestures” rather than real attempts to challenge China. An open conflict would have tremendous geopolitical and economic costs for the Philippines. “Beijing remains Manila’s top trade partner and import supplier,” Lowy said. It cited instances in which the Philippines stepped back from adding fuel to the fire. “The Philippines’ decision to skip last month’s joint military exercise with the United States, Australia and Japan in the South China Sea is seen as a way of avoiding conflict with China,” it noted. It said that Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro had refused to cooperate with Taiwan on security issues, which has been viewed as the country’s continued adherence to the One-China policy. “Despite his harsh remarks on Beijing, some Chinese international relations experts are optimistic about the appointment of Teodoro Locsin as Manila’s Special Envoy to China as he has not only favored cooperation with Beijing but has been critical of the West,” it added. Lowy said Locsin’s appointment is read as Manila’s attempt to stabilize ties with Beijing, adding that “others are disappointed with the choice.” This recognition from independent observers indicates the Marcos administration is skillfully threading a thin line to show it is insisting on its sovereign stake while pushing back against Beijing. Manila’s resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre landing craft, for instance, which is considered the eye of the storm in the current friction, has been a pure play by Philippine forces. Manila’s supply and coast guard ships are constantly in a game of tag with huge Chinese Coast Guard vessels which try to frustrate the provision of supplies to the platoon of Marines guarding the outpost. Last month, China’s coast guard water-cannoned a Navy supply boat. Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified this as “safeguarding our sovereignty in accordance with law” and criticized Manila for “ignoring China’s goodwill and sincerity.” China then demanded the Philippines remove the beached Sierra Madre. Lowy reported that “Manila has further aggravated Beijing by describing the danger of conflict in the Taiwan Strait as a ‘major security concern,’ in its newly published National Security Policy.” It quoted various state mouthpieces in China as having criticized former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s condemnation of the ten-dash line and his claim that Manila “wouldn’t resist a fight” for its maritime rights. China has always referred to the Duterte period as when an ideal engagement had existed with the Philippines. Duterte initially exerted efforts to win the trust of the Chinese but had always indicated to President Xi Jinping that he would have to raise at some point the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that favored the Philippines. China continues to follow its playbook that the Philippines is being manipulated by the US to take bold actions in the West Philippine Sea conflict. Beijing glosses over the fact that when the late President Noynoy Aquino bungled the handling of the 2012 faceoff with China, it was the US that abandoned the Philippines as it did nothing to stop the reclamation of features in the disputed area. Similarly, China has advocated dialogue but, thus far, nothing has come of it, even after the Philippines gave way to its wishes over the past six and more years. The post Sovereign interest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China ships, jets swarm off Taiwan
China’s Shandong carrier strike group, along with other warships of the People’s Liberation Army, earned condemnation from Taiwan for its naval exercises near the self-ruled island. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, more than 100 Chinese warplanes and nine navy ships were sighted in the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan and the Philippines. Over the past decades, the People’s Republic of China has maintained its stance that Taiwan is a renegade province that it intends to reunite with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s defense ministry described the number of warplanes detected around the island as a “recent high.” “Between the morning of 17th to 18th September, the Ministry of National Defence detected a total of 103 Chinese aircraft which was a recent high and has posed severe challenges to the security across the Taiwan Strait and in the region,” the agency said in a statement. While Beijing refrained from issuing an official statement on the sorties, Taiwan called on China to stop its “destructive unilateral actions” in the area. Beijing’s “continued military harassment can easily lead to a sharp spike in tensions and worsen regional security,” the ministry said. About 40 of the Chinese fighter planes crossed the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China, and entered its southwest and southeast air defense identification zone, the statement said. Taipei reported similar incidents last week following an increased number of incursions by Chinese warplanes and ships. High alert The uptick came as Beijing said its troops were on “high alert” after two ships belonging to the United States and Canada sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s defense ministry said 68 Chinese aircraft and 10 naval vessels were detected around the island between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning. Some of those planes and warships were heading to an unspecified area in the Western Pacific to “conduct joint sea and air training” with China’s Shandong aircraft carrier, the ministry said. The Shandong, one of two operational aircraft carriers in the Chinese fleet, was detected last week around 60 nautical miles (110 kilometers) southeast of Taiwan heading to the Western Pacific, Taipei authorities said. Japan, too Meanwhile, Japan’s defense ministry said its navy had detected six ships — including frigates, destroyers, one fast combat support ship, and the Shandong — sailing through waters some 650 kilometers (400 miles) south of Miyakojima island, east of Taiwan. It also confirmed that jets and helicopters had been detected taking off and landing on the Shandong. China’s increased military activities in the South China Sea were attributed to the multiple military drills being conducted by the United States with its allies in the Asia-Pacific. Among them are the ongoing US-South Korea exercise in the Yellow Sea, a drill involving the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea in the East China Sea, and the 19-nation Super Garuda Shield exercise. Counter to naval drills Last month, Japan, Australia and the Philippines conducted a naval drill led by the US. “Politically, China aims to counter the military containment by democratic allies led by the United States,” Su Tzu-yun, an analyst at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defence and Security Research, told AFP. Taiwan had reported a large number of Chinese warplane flights around the island following last August’s visit to Taipei by Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the US House of Representatives. In April, Beijing conducted a three-day “Joint Sword” military exercise to simulate the encirclement of the island, after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met with US house Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. At the time, Taiwan detected 71 Chinese warplanes in a 24-hour period, matching the previous record daily high set in December 2022. WITH AFP The post China ships, jets swarm off Taiwan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What’s in a dash?
China last week released a new map that expanded its original 9-dash line territorial claim in the South China Sea with the addition of a 10th dash east of Taiwan. That move by Beijing drew strong condemnation from the Philippines, Malaysia and India, and a statement of concern from the United States. Other nations, especially those with overlapping claims in the South China Sea, can be expected to also vigorously oppose Beijing’s new map which was built on the original claim it first floated in the 1940s. While the Philippines resoundingly won its case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague with a final ruling in 2016, Beijing has refused to be bound by it and now mocks the same with a 10-dash line map. Just to recap, the arbitral court recognized the Philippines’ maritime entitlement in the West Philippine Sea, which overlaps with the South China Sea. At the same time, it declared China’s sovereign claim over nearly the entire SCS legally and historically baseless. The addition of the 10th dash east of Taiwan is troubling because it may be used by Beijing to lay claim to the Pratas Islands, which are claimed not only by Taiwan but also by Vietnam. Located in the northern part of the South China Sea, the Pratas Islands are strategically important because from there one may control access to the Taiwan Strait. Geopolitical experts are warning that China’s new map may be preparatory to Beijing building military bases in the Pratas as it has done in the Mischief, Gaven, Hughes and Cuarteron reefs, just to name a few. Beijing’s control of passage in and out of the Taiwan Strait is simply inconceivable and unacceptable. Without a doubt, the Taiwan Strait is a vital commercial waterway that connects the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with an estimated half a million ships passing through it each year. The strait is critical for trade between China, Japan, South Korea, and the US. It is also a major oil and gas shipping route from the Middle East to East Asia. The numbers should give us an idea why China’s 10th dash is being pilloried by nations as inconsistent with international law that guarantees the freedom of navigation. An estimate had put the value of goods transported through the Taiwan Strait at $1.5 trillion in 2022, making it the world’s third busiest strait, after the Strait of Hormuz and the Malacca Strait. China, of course, claims Taiwan as its territory and, in fact, its President, Xi Jinping, has vowed to retake it by force if it comes to that. China has claimed the strait as its internal waters, but the US does not recognize that claim. One possibility looms large on the horizon: That China will use the 10-dash line claim to justify its continued militarization of the South China Sea, leading to heightened tension between it and the rest of the world that fears unwarranted control by Beijing of the Taiwan Strait. It has to be emphasized that both the 9-dash line and 10-dash line claims of China have not been recognized by international law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, which is the main international treaty governing the use of the oceans, does not recognize any country’s right to claim territorial waters beyond its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. As China has yet to formally adopt the 10-dash line, however, there’s a need to review how the arbitral court had ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016 based on three main findings: First, China has not historically exercised exclusive control over the waters within the nine-dash line; second, the line cannot be considered a valid maritime boundary; and third, China’s actions in the South China Sea, including its land reclamation activities, have violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights and its exclusive economic zone. While Beijing may choose to ignore the arbitral ruling, it is nonetheless a strong legal opinion on the matter that could embolden other countries to challenge China’s overreach into their respective territories. China’s actions in the South China Sea are a reminder of its growing assertiveness in the region. Beijing has been steadily militarizing its claims in the South China Sea, and it has also been using its economic power to pressure other countries into accepting its claims. The world must stand firm against China’s aggression and make it clear that nations will not tolerate Beijing’s attempts to bully its neighbors or violate international law. The stakes are high in the South China Sea. The region is home to some of the world’s most important shipping lanes, and it is also rich in natural resources. China cannot be allowed to have its way and put the region in a stranglehold. The post What’s in a dash? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PHL will push for support, consensus on South China Sea conflict at ASEAN summit
The Philippines will push for statements on the South China Sea in the upcoming 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Indonesia, a Foreign Affairs official said on Thursday. During the Malacañang Press Briefing, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Daniel Espiritu said the Philippines is concerned about recent incidents in the Ayungin Shoal and the new map released by China. "The Philippines is definitely pushing for statements in that regard," Espiritu said. "But, of course, I cannot give you yet the final text of that because it's still being negotiated," he added. Espiritu said the Philippines is working with other Association of Southeast Asian Nation members to reach a consensus on the statements. For context, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will meet with Cambodia's new Prime Minister Hun Manet, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Jakarta, Indonesia next month. Espiritu said there are external partners who support the Philippines' position, but he could not say if it will be enough to secure consensus. "I cannot predict at this point if it will be at the level of consensus in the end," he said. Espiritu said the Philippines is not seeking to condemn China, but it wants to make clear its concerns about the recent developments in the South China Sea. "We are saying something in that regard, yeah, not exactly with the word condemnation," he said. Espiritu said the language of the statements is still being negotiated, and he could not predict what the final outcome will be. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to join the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Jakarta, Indonesia on 5-7 September 2023. Code of Conduct Meanwhile, Espiritu said the creation of the code of conduct (COC) for the contested South China Sea might experience some delays because of differing stances among the countries making claims in the region. Espiritu said, "We will have to wait" since discussions were still underway due to "many" roadblocks that hinder the COC's completion. "Definitely our national interest varies. Pero, I cannot exactly say what these are to you. Since several countries are involved here and nand'yan din 'yung ASEAN, we will have to devise a compromise every step of the way," Espiritu said. "It has been happening for a very long time. I think it will take a little bit longer for its completion," he added. The post PHL will push for support, consensus on South China Sea conflict at ASEAN summit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US commerce secretary meets Chinese counterpart in Beijing
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with her Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Monday, saying it was "profoundly important" for the world's two biggest economies to have a stable relationship. Her visit is the latest in a series of high-level trips to China by US officials in recent months as Washington works to cool trade tensions with Beijing. The trips could culminate in a meeting between their leaders, with US President Joe Biden saying recently that he was expecting to sit down with China's Xi Jinping this year. Raimondo met on Monday morning with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, describing the economic relationship between the two countries as "the most significant in the world". "We share $700 billion dollars of trade and I concur with you that it is profoundly important that we have a stable economic relationship," she said, according to a readout from the US Commerce Department. "It's a complicated relationship; it's a challenging relationship," she told Wang. "We will of course disagree on certain issues, but I believe we can make progress if we are direct, open, and practical." Raimondo arrived in Beijing on Sunday and was met by Lin Feng, the director of the commerce ministry's Americas and Oceania department, as well as US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns. In posts on the social media platform X, Raimondo said she was "looking forward to a productive few days". During her trip, she will also travel to China's economic powerhouse Shanghai, the US Commerce Department said. She will leave on Wednesday. Trade tensions Relations between the United States and China have plummeted to some of their lowest levels in decades, with US trade curbs near the top of the laundry list of disagreements. Washington says they are crucial to safeguarding national security, but China sees them as seeking to curb its economic rise. This month, Biden issued an executive order aimed at restricting certain US investments in sensitive high-tech areas in China -- a move Beijing blasted as being "anti-globalisation". The long-anticipated rules, expected to be implemented next year, target sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sought to reassure Chinese officials about the expected curbs during a visit to Beijing last month, promising that any new moves would be implemented in a transparent way. And Raimondo on Monday told Chinese officials that while there was "no room to compromise or negotiate" on US national security, "the vast majority of our trade and investment relationship does not involve national security concerns". "We believe a strong Chinese economy is a good thing," she said. In June, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Beijing, where he met Xi and said progress had been made on a number of key sources of contention. US climate envoy John Kerry also visited China in July. But none of the visits led to major breakthroughs, and a recent Camp David summit between the United States, South Korea and Japan aimed in part at countering China sparked condemnation from Beijing. Following that summit, Biden said he still expected to meet Xi this year. The US president is inviting the Chinese leader to San Francisco in November, when the United States holds a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which includes China. They could also potentially meet next month in New Delhi on the sidelines of a G20 summit. The post US commerce secretary meets Chinese counterpart in Beijing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An inane idea
The conflict in the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea has birthed unnecessary and unpalatable narratives plus inane proposals to dramatize the country’s condemnation of the provocative and aggressive navigational acts coming from some government functionaries, apart from escalating the tension between claimants China and the Philippines. The repeated infuriating bullying by the Chinese Coast Guard on our own Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine vessels has been relentless. China has been oblivious to our countless diplomatic protests and calls for it to stop its incursions on our territorial waters, respect our sovereign rights and accept the arbitrary ruling handed by the Permanent Arbitration Court. It has turned deaf ears to our protestations. It has been unmoved by the collective expression of condemnation of its acts of aggression against the Philippines from countries consisting of the European Union, Japan, Australia Canada, and the United States. Not even the threat by the latter to use counter-offensive and defensive measures by way of enforcing the Mutual Defense Treaty between it and our country could soften China’s provocative and aggressive stance. It stubbornly refuses to recognize the arbitral ruling of the Permanent Arbitration Court that has rejected its nine-dash expansionist claim over a large part of the South China Sea while validating the Philippines’ claim over Ayungin Shoal as within its exclusive economic zone. China’s emergence from an underdeveloped and weak country to a superpower like the United States and Russia made it easy for it to adopt the maxim that might is right. Truly, from a sleeping giant, it has become a mighty dragon spewing fire. China’s unacceptable and outrageous assaults on our territorial waters, which must be stopped, is, however, not an excuse to call for a boycott of its products. It’s a stupid idea. The proponents have not considered the repercussions if we enforce such an inane thought. We cannot be hostage to that vexing conflict with China and throw to the winds the benefits derived from our trade relations with it. China, being the largest supplier of manufactured goods, is known as the “ world’s factory.“ Every imaginable household use, clothes, shoes, textiles, construction materials, kitchen and toilet fixtures, beauty equipment, electronic gadgets, toys, outdoor and interior decors, tiles, air conditioning units, electric fans, engineered floors, kitchen utensils, heavy machinery and equipment, engineered wood floors, and a thousand other items. Compared to US and European-made, Chinese-manufactured goods are much cheaper. No wonder, they are much preferred now by the average Filipino because of the affordable prices of these products. Quality-wise, they can give Western merchandise a run for their money. A government policy of boycotting goods coming from China will deprive millions of ordinary Filipinos to have them. This is an anti-poor program. The propagates of this boycott idea seem to be either ignorant or oblivious to the fact that China is the biggest trade partner of the Philippines. Philippines exports to China have reached a whopping $10.97 billion in 2022 while imports from China rose to $28.2 billion per the latest data. If we enforce a boycott policy of Chinese products, those figures will be jeopardized. Do those propagators of such foolish advocacy realize the monstrosity of that monumentally folly? (To be continued) The post An inane idea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go calls on Chinese gov’t to ‘stop bullying’ Philippines
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go condemned at the Senate plenary on Monday, 7 August the recent harassment of Philippine vessels by the Chinese Coast Guard. The harassment in question took place during a peaceful resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal on 5 August. The Chinese Coast Guard used a water cannon against the Philippine vessels, an act Go has vehemently condemned. "Grabeng respeto ang ibinigay sa inyo, simula pa noong panahon ni dating pangulong Duterte. Sa anim na taon, binigay ni Pangulong Duterte ang lahat ng respeto,” he said in his manifestation in support of the privilege speech of Senate President Migz Zubiri. The senator’s condemnation references the cordial diplomatic relationship cultivated under the previous administration of then president Rodrigo Duterte, where much respect was extended to China. Go emphasized the need for resilience and strength in the face of such incidents, urging the nation to uphold its worth and to protect its sovereignty. He asserted, "What is ours is ours. We must remain consistent on our foreign policy of being friends to all enemy to none. But we must also stand firm on protecting our sovereignty." The senator has also appealed to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., being the chief architect of the country's foreign policy, to continue to safeguard the safety of Filipinos and the country’s national interests. He expressed his confidence that Marcos will uphold the country's sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea with the assistance of international partners. He emphasized that this issue does not solely concern the Philippines but also the entire world. Go called upon members of the international community to demonstrate sincerity not just in words, but in actions, in respecting other nations. The PCG has already condemned the Chinese Coast Guard's actions and called it "illegal" and "dangerous". These actions, the PCG said, not only disregarded the safety of the crew and the supply boats, but also violated international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, and the 2016 Arbitral Award. The post Bong Go calls on Chinese gov’t to ‘stop bullying’ Philippines appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate resolution, unnecessary and inappropriate
The Senate resolution condemning China for its “continued harassment” of Filipino fishermen and “incursions” into Philippine waters in the contested China Sea, and urging the government to raise the issue of Beijing’s intrusive actions before the United Nations General Assembly as being violative of the 2016 arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines, was passed unanimously last Tuesday. The Senate resolution is both unnecessary and inappropriate. Unnecessary because most, if not all, of the members of the Senate, have on various occasions and platforms expressed individually each position on the matter. Each senator has expressed his/her opposition and condemnation of China’s continued coercive actions against our fisher folks and coast guards. Every one of them at one time or another made his/her assertion of the Philippines’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. Each of them has expressed outrage at China’s refusal to honor the Permanent Arbitration Court’s decision nullifying China’s expansive claims and validating the country’s sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone or EEZ and continental shelf. Since their individual positions on the matter of China’s coast guards and militia bullying our fishermen and coast guards in the country’s waters have been made known, why do they have to make a resolution expressing their sense as a body? It’s an act of redundancy. Inappropriate, for the reason that the President of the Philippines has invariably declared at different times his unequivocal assertion of the country’s independence and enforcement of the arbitral award, as well as filed diplomatic protests, against the unlawful and unwelcome intrusions by China in the West Philippine Sea and therefore being the Chief Architect of foreign policy, it behooves the members of the Senate to respect it — and not to intrude into the former’s domain. The senators must remember that the Constitution has allocated — and demarcated — the functions and duties of the three branches of government. The executive branch enforces the law, the legislative branch passes laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws and imposes penalties for those violating them, and rules on conflicting claims. The President is the Head of State, and the head of government is composed of the aforesaid three branches. When the President speaks officially on matters of national security and national interest, and makes a pronouncement on a particular policy, in this particular case vis-a-vis the disputed waters in the South China Sea, the two branches cannot go against it, nor undermine it, by issuing contradicting statements or making it appear that it is wanting and ineffective, unless the presidential pronouncement is blatantly and evidently in violation of the Constitution. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s stand on China’s intrusions into Philippine waters is correct. He said his presidency will not surrender any square inch of the Philippine territory. It will continue to assert its sovereignty and will pursue the enforcement of the arbitral ruling even as it continuously protests Beijing’s intrusions. There is no need therefore for the legislative branch to make a separate position apart from the President’s. It cannot also dictate or teach the President in the matter of ways to enforce the ruling like bringing it to the attention of the United Nations, as if the latter is unaware of it. They forget that two Presidents, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., have already addressed the general assembly of the United Nations articulating, among others, the country’s affirmation of its independence and sovereignty and invocation of the validity and immutability of the arbitral award. The United Nations and the rest of the world know the conflict involving China and the Philippines. Many countries, like the United States, Japan, Australia, and the European Union, have already expressed support for the Philippines’ stand. The Senate resolution, wittingly or intentionally, makes it appear that the President’s position is weak, or his defense of our sovereignty is insufficient, hence they need to goad him to do better or embarrass him when the truth is — the said resolution makes for an impertinent and insulting narrative. If they could not yield to the temptation of a public outcry, and they feel the need to unleash their sentiments for the President to hear them, with the sincere intention of helping him, why didn’t they write him instead or whisper to him in confidence? Why do they have to upstage him? The post Senate resolution, unnecessary and inappropriate appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Recto Bank tactics
After years of being ordered by a pro-China leader to bite their tongues, Filipino security officials are now vocal and blunt about China’s devilish schemes in the West Philippine Sea or WPS. For their refreshing candor, our Coast Guard and military officials deserve our unequivocal cheers. Significant too is the fact that they’ve taken to heart one of China’s tactics of camouflaging armed Chinese maritime militia vessels as “innocent fishing boats” when our officials raised alarms last week that some 50 Chinese militia vessels were presently “swarming” Iroquois Reef, which is part of the crucial Recto Bank. “Swarming” is a threadbare Chinese scheme that’s often a prelude to China occupying South China Sea’s contested maritime features like reefs and banks. “Swarming” eventually proceeds to China constructing outright militarized artificial islands. As it is, the tactic begins with “swarming the area for a very long period. If you fail to notice them, they will increase their number eventually until they occupy the area,” says Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela. Our military and Coast Guard officials vow the necessary measures against the intruders in natural gas-rich Recto Bank (Reed Bank as it is internationally known), which is well within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer (200-nautical miles) exclusive economic zone. The Permanent Court of Arbitration or PCA ruled in 2016 that Recto Bank was within the Philippine EEZ, granting the country economic rights over the area. China refuses to recognize the ruling and claims the area as being within its territory, courtesy of a fictitious nine-dash line that’s attempting to turn a vast sea into a lake. Geographically, Iroquois Reef — locally called Del Pilar Reef — is part of the expansive Recto Bank, shorthand for a cluster of underwater banks and shoals located in an area of the shallow sea between Palawan and the Spratly Islands. Ignoring what is happening at Recto Bank is to our peril, harming not only our political interests but more importantly, our economic interests. Politically, the late President Noynoy Aquino unforgettably quipped, “Setting foot on Recto Bank is no different from setting foot on Recto Avenue.” Economically, since 1968, the Philippines, China, Taiwan and Vietnam have laid claim to Recto Bank in the hope of striking it rich by finding oil. Despite such enrichment prospects, no regional government has struck black gold anywhere in the South China Sea, however. But, says maritime expert Gregory B. Polling, “Unlike in 1968, now all the claimants know that there is no commercially viable oil and gas around the islands themselves. The exploitable basins are along the coasts and in a handful of underwater features like Reed Bank and Vanguard Bank.” Natural gas, therefore, is by far the more plentiful resource at Recto Bank. But in exploiting the natural gas, as Polling points out, “the only commercially viable way to extract it is to transport it by pipeline for use or processing on shore.” Pretty much how our Malampaya gas fields, predicted to run out in a few years, operate. Still, even if it wrests Recto Ban from us crafty China will find its adventure costly. China will need to lay an undersea pipeline across nearly 1,000 miles of difficult geography and contested waters to access the gas. “On-site liquefaction is the only other option,” says Polling. “But even if a company wanted to try, it is hard to see how it could compete with the liquefied natural gas produced more cheaply elsewhere.” So the only viable use for the natural gas at Recto Bank is for electricity generation by the nearest coastal state, which happens to be our country. “The gas from Reed Bank is no good to anyone outside the Philippines,” says Polling. So if the aggressive tactics of both the Chinese paramilitaries and Coast Guard aren’t readily explained by economics, China’s political and strategic concerns explain everything. It is in this political context that our Coast Guard’s proactive maneuver of consistently and publicly illuminating China’s aggressive tactics in the WPS works. China can’t long endure international embarrassment and condemnation. The post Recto Bank tactics appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Blinken rallies SE Asia against ‘coercion’ in swipe at China
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed unity Friday with Southeast Asian nations against "coercion", in a thinly veiled reference to Beijing, as host Indonesia warned at talks that the region should not become a proxy for global rivalries. Blinken met foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta at a gathering that also brought the top diplomats of China and Russia, the two main adversaries to the United States. A day after his latest talks with China on managing tensions between the two powers, Blinken made a clear if unstated allusion to concerns shared with many in the region over Beijing. "We share a vision of the Indo-Pacific that is free, open, prosperous, secure, connected and resilient," Blinken told ASEAN foreign ministers, using another term for the Asia region. "That means a region where countries are free to choose their own paths and their own partners, where problems are dealt with openly -- not through coercion," he said. "We must uphold the freedom of navigation in the South and East China Seas and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Friction has been rising for years between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines, over China's sweeping claims to much of the South China Sea. Maritime incidents have been on the rise and tensions have also soared over Taiwan, the self-governing democracy which Beijing claims and has not ruled out seizing by force. But host Indonesia warned that ASEAN cannot become a proxy, as tensions flare not only between the United States and China but over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "The Indo-Pacific must not be another battleground," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told ministers of the 18-nation East Asia Summit, which includes the United States, China and Russia, as well as Japan, India and Australia. Managing tensions The annual closed-door talks have often been a raucous affair as big powers clash, but the United States and China have been working to prevent disagreements from spiraling out of control. Blinken met Thursday evening for more than an hour and a half with China's foreign policy supremo Wang Yi, less than a month after the top US diplomat paid a rare visit to Beijing. He told Wang that Washington would hold hackers "accountable" after a breach of US government email accounts was blamed on Chinese state-backed actors, a US official said. Wang urged Washington to "work with China in the same direction" to improve ties and stop interfering in China's affairs, according to a statement on Friday by the foreign ministry in Beijing. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong held her own meeting with Wang on Thursday and said she had urged Beijing to "navigate our differences wisely" and provide "transparency" on a controversial policing pact with Solomon Islands. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also met Friday with Wang, where Tokyo and Beijing traded barbs over the former's plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. US shuns Russia While the United States has sought to increase communication with China, Blinken shunned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. It was first time Blinken and Lavrov were in the same room since a Group of 20 meeting in March in New Delhi, where they spoke briefly on the sidelines. US officials say Russia has no real interest in diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine, with Western powers instead ramping up military support to Kyiv. The US approach has caused unease in parts of the developing world, with countries including India and South Africa refusing to rally behind condemnation of Russia. Meeting with ASEAN, Blinken called for a "just and lasting peace to Russia's war of aggression" in Ukraine. In an interview with Indonesian media this week, Lavrov said the war in Ukraine would not end until Western nations gave up their efforts to "defeat" Russia. Pressure on Myanmar ASEAN talks have been dominated by the crisis in Myanmar. The bloc refused to invite the country's military junta, which seized power in February 2021. With Myanmar's chair at the table conspicuously empty, Blinken urged more pressure. "In Myanmar, we must press the military regime to stop the violence, to implement ASEAN's five-point consensus, to support a return to democratic governance," Blinken said. ASEAN reached a five-point peace plan two years ago with the junta, which has yet to implement it. Myanmar's neighbor Thailand has broken with the bloc by pursuing engagement with the junta, although its foreign minister said he also was able to see deposed elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday. Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan told reporters at the end of meetings Friday that ASEAN members "encourage all channels of communication to be open". The post Blinken rallies SE Asia against ‘coercion’ in swipe at China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US trafficking report highlights forced labor, exploited boys
The United States on Thursday denounced the scourge of human trafficking, calling out forced labor and the little-known but growing problem of boys and young men caught up in the trade. The condemnation came as Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented a report on what he called "concerning trends" in human trafficking. Blinken blasted the rise in forced labor as worldwide supply chains were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Exploitative employers use a host of tactics to take advantage of lower-paid and more vulnerable workers," he said. According to State Department anti-trafficking official Cindy Dyer, "traffickers have leveraged pandemic-related economic hardships, increased global youth unemployment and international travel restrictions" to manipulate victims. These schemes have become "a multibillion-dollar industry" in recent years, she told reporters after Blinken's presentation. During his speech, Blinken also pointed to a rise in labor trafficking using online scams. The annual 188-country State Department report lays out how traffickers in Myanmar, Malaysia, Ghana, and Turkey, among other countries, deceived adults and children around the world with fake job offers posted online. The report lists countries that Washington says are actively engaged in trafficking, including Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Eritrea, North Korea, Iran, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, and Turkmenistan. Nations that appear on such lists can be punished with US sanctions or have US aid revoked. According to Dyer, China is "engaging in a policy or pattern of trafficking." "The PRC is actually taking efforts to try to make it more difficult for us to determine if their supply chain is clean for us to determine if forced labor is occurring," she said, using an acronym for China's official name. "We are aggressively monitoring this," she added, just days before Blinken is set to depart on a rescheduled visit to Beijing. Boys and men Blinken also emphasized the report's findings on the trafficking of young boys, which has seen a sharp increase in recent years. "The percentage of boys identified as victims of human trafficking rose fivefold" between 2004 and 2020, Blinken said, citing a UN report -- a higher proportion than among girls, women, or men. "For years there's been a widely held (perception) -- but incorrectly -- that trafficking affects exclusively female victims. This false perception has had some quite frankly devastating, intangible consequences" as fewer resources are allocated to support boys caught up in human trafficking, he said. In addition, "many boys frequently are less likely to seek services and self-identify," according to Dyer. "And what's even more troubling is that when they do, services are not always available for them." Blinken praised local anti-trafficking efforts in Seychelles, Hong Kong, and Denmark. The post US trafficking report highlights forced labor, exploited boys appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
G7 warns Russian’s allies, China
G7 foreign ministers warned Tuesday that those helping Russia wage war in Ukraine would face "severe costs", as they offered a united front on another key policy challenge: China. After two days of talks in the bucolic Japanese mountain resort town Karuizawa, the top diplomats from leading economies unveiled no new sanctions on Moscow over its invasion but pledged to crack down on those helping Russia evade the measures and acquire weapons. The ministers also put Beijing on notice over its "militarisation activities" in the South China Sea and insisted their Taiwan policy was unchanged despite recent controversial comments from France's president. While talks were dominated by Ukraine and regional challenges, including a demand that North Korea "refrain" from new nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches, the ministers covered a broad sweep of global policy problems. They met as fighting continues in Sudan between the army and paramilitaries, forcing the insertion of last-minute language demanding both sides "end hostilities immediately without pre-conditions". And there was a renewed condemnation of the increasing restrictions placed on women and minorities by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, described by the ministers as "systematic abuses". They demanded the "immediate reversal" of "unacceptable decisions" including a ban on women working with non-government organisations and the United Nations in the country. But it was clear that two crises dominated discussions above all — the war in Ukraine, and China's growing military and economic clout. The diplomats from Japan, Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and the European Union promised to continue "intensifying" sanctions on Russia and increase efforts to respond to those offering Moscow arms or other support, warning of "severe costs". They also slammed Russia's "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric" and called a threat by Moscow to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus "unacceptable". Warnings to China The statement made clear the ministers were mindful of the furor caused by French President Emmanuel Macron's comments last week, following a trip to Beijing, that Europe should avoid "crises that aren't ours". "There is no change in the basic positions of the G7 members on Taiwan," the final statement said, calling peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait "indispensable" to global security and prosperity. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and her counterparts sought throughout the G7 talks to play down differences, and the statement warned Beijing on everything from its nuclear arsenal to its business practices. It accused China of an "ongoing and accelerating expansion of its nuclear arsenal", and expressed concern Beijing is developing "increasingly sophisticated delivery systems, without transparency, good faith arms control or risk reductions measures". And, without directly mentioning China, the group pledged to step up cooperation against "economic coercion" — the practice of weaponizing import or export rules for political purposes. Even the warning on offering support to Russia in Ukraine may be read as a message for China, echoing repeated statements from Western officials cautioning Beijing against directly arming Moscow. The talks set the stage for a G7 leaders' summit next month in Hiroshima, where Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wants to make nuclear disarmament a key plank of discussions. Tuesday's statement devotes a long segment to disarmament and non-proliferation but contains little in the way of new pledges or commitments and refers specifically to the "current harsh security environment", suggesting a difficult path to real achievements. It calls on all countries to transparently document their nuclear arsenals, urges Russia to stick with a moratorium on nuclear tests and calls for China to hold "risk reduction" talks with Washington. The meeting in Karuizawa was held under tight security after Kishida escaped unharmed Saturday when an explosive device was thrown toward him. The post G7 warns Russian’s allies, China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
G7 vows ‘severe costs’ for those helping Russia in Ukraine
G7 foreign ministers warned Tuesday that those helping Russia wage war in Ukraine would face "severe costs", as they offered a united front on another key policy challenge: China. After two days of talks in the bucolic Japanese mountain resort town Karuizawa, the top diplomats from leading economies unveiled no new sanctions on Moscow over its invasion but pledged to crack down on those helping Russia evade the measures and acquire weapons. The ministers also put Beijing on notice over its "militarization activities" in the South China Sea and insisted their Taiwan policy was unchanged despite recent controversial comments from France's president. While talks were dominated by Ukraine and regional challenges, including a demand that North Korea "refrain" from new nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches, the ministers covered a broad sweep of global policy problems. They met as fighting continues in Sudan between the army and paramilitaries, forcing the insertion of last-minute language demanding both sides "end hostilities immediately without pre-conditions". And there was renewed condemnation of the increasing restrictions placed on women and minorities by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, described by the ministers as "systematic abuses". They demanded the "immediate reversal" of "unacceptable decisions" including a ban on women working with non-government organizations and the United Nations in the country. But it was clear that two crises dominated discussions above all -- the war in Ukraine, and China's growing military and economic clout. The diplomats from Japan, Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and the European Union promised to continue "intensifying" sanctions on Russia and increase efforts to respond to those offering Moscow arms or other support, warning of "severe costs". They also slammed Russia's "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric" and called a threat by Moscow to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus "unacceptable". Warnings to China The statement made clear the ministers were mindful of the furore caused by French President Emmanuel Macron's comments last week, following a trip to Beijing, that Europe should avoid "crises that aren't ours". "There is no change in the basic positions of the G7 members on Taiwan," the final statement said, calling peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait "indispensable" to global security and prosperity. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and her counterparts sought throughout the G7 talks to play down differences, and the statement warned Beijing on everything from its nuclear arsenal to its business practices. It accused China of an "ongoing and accelerating expansion of its nuclear arsenal", and expressed concern Beijing is developing "increasingly sophisticated delivery systems, without transparency, good faith arms control or risk reductions measures". And, without directly mentioning China, the group pledged to step up cooperation against "economic coercion" -- the practice of weaponising import or export rules for political purposes. Even the warning on offering support to Russia in Ukraine may be read as a message for China, echoing repeated statements from Western officials cautioning Beijing against directly arming Moscow. The talks set the stage for a G7 leaders' summit next month in Hiroshima, where Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wants to make nuclear disarmament a key plank of discussions. Tuesday's statement devotes a long segment to disarmament and non-proliferation but contains little in the way of new pledges or commitments and refers specifically to the "current harsh security environment", suggesting a difficult path to real achievements. It calls on all countries to transparently document their nuclear arsenals, urges Russia to stick with a moratorium on nuclear tests and calls for China to hold "risk reduction" talks with Washington. The meeting in Karuizawa was held under tight security after Kishida escaped unharmed Saturday, when an explosive device was thrown towards him. The post G7 vows ‘severe costs’ for those helping Russia in Ukraine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US warship sails through Taiwan Strait days after China drills
A US warship sailed through the waters separating Taiwan and mainland China, the US Navy said, days after Beijing staged war games around the self-ruled island. Led by the United States, multiple Western navies regularly conduct "freedom of navigation operations" to assert the international status of regional waterways such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. The USS Milius guided-missile destroyer "conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit April 16 (local time) through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law", the US Navy said in a statement. "The ship transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State." This was the first such US operation through the waterway since January. The US 7th Fleet shared images Monday on Twitter of crew looking out into the strait, one of the most crucial waterways in the world for international shipping. China said on Monday it had tracked a US warship through the Taiwan Strait, adding that the United States had "hyped up" the transit. Colonel Shi Yi, a Chinese military spokesman, said troops in the area "remain on a high level of alert at all times and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability". China claims Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its control one day. It also claims the entire Taiwan Strait as its territorial waters. Taiwan's defense ministry said on Monday that during the vessel's transit, its military had "closely monitored the dynamics in our surrounding sea and airspace, and the situation was normal." War games China launched three days of military exercises around Taiwan on April 8, simulating targeted strikes and a blockade of the island. The drills were in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's recent visit to the United States, where she met with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Beijing bristles at any official contact between Taipei and foreign governments. On the final day of last week's drills, Taiwan's defense ministry said 54 Chinese planes crossed into Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ) -- the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021. That same day, the USS Milius sailed through waters claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea. That deployment triggered condemnation from China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters. Since the war games ended, Chinese warships and aircraft have continued to circle Taiwan. On Monday, Taipei's defense ministry said it had detected four warships and 18 aircraft, four of which had crossed its southwestern ADIZ. The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon sailed through the Taiwan Strait on January 5, months after McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi visited the island. Pelosi's trip sparked China's largest-ever war games around Taiwan. The post US warship sails through Taiwan Strait days after China drills appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippines Launches Strategy of Publicizing Chinese Actions
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine coast guard has launched a strategy of publicizing aggressive actions by China in the disputed South China Sea, which has countered Chinese propaganda and sparked international condemnation that has put Beijing under the spotlight, a Philippine official said Wednesday.Manila's coast guard has intensified patrols in the disputed waters and taken extra efforts to document and p.....»»
China denies Microsoft hack, condemns US allies
China on Tuesday sharply denied US allegations it carried out a massive Microsoft hack, countering that Washington was the "world champion" of cyber attacks while raging at American allies for signing up to a rare joint statement of condemnation......»»
Roque bares Duterte, China agreement to respect status quo in WPS
Roque bares Duterte, China agreement to respect status quo in WPS.....»»