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China urges Philippines to ease South China Sea tensions

Car Nicobar: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized contraband drugs worth Rs 300 crore from a Myanmar ship in the Indian Ocean region. According to the ICG officials, the cargo was suspected to be part of a larger drug networking cartel operating in the Indian Ocean region. The massive drug seizure was made on September 19 by ICG ship Rajveer near the Car Nicobar Islands of India. (Photo: IANS)

The Chinese Foreign Minister’s comments come amid rising bilateral tensions over the location of a grounded warship that serves as a military outpost in the contentious waters…reports Asian Lite News

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged the Philippines to work with China to seek an effective way to defuse tensions in the South China Sea. Wang’s remarks came during a visit to Singapore and Malaysia which took place on Thursday and Friday.

China has repeatedly expressed its willingness to resolve differences with the Philippines through bilateral dialogue, hoping that the Philippine side would abide by a consensus reached in the past, Wang said.

The comments come amid rising tensions between the two countries over the location of a grounded warship that serves as a military outpost in the South China Sea.

The Philippines intentionally grounded the World War Two-era warship Sierra Madre in 1999 as part of its sovereignty claim to the Second Thomas Shoal, which lies within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and rotates a handful of troops through the ship.

Manila won an international arbitration award in 2016 against China’s claim over almost all of the South China Sea, after a tribunal ruled Beijing’s sweeping claim had no legal basis, including at the Second Thomas Shoal.

China, which does not recognise the ruling, has built militarised, man-made islands in the South China Sea and its claim of historic sovereignty overlaps with the EEZs of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Concern over stand-off

Global concerns are rising over a territorial dispute between China and the US- aligned Philippines on a grounded warship situated in the South China Sea. On Saturday, the Philippine military accused Beijing of breaking international law by using a water cannon against its warship near the Spratly Islands and blocking vessels carrying food, water, fuel and other supplies.

While the Chinese Foreign Ministry defended the actions with claims that Manila was bringing construction materials into the vessel, Manila called Beijing’s tactics as ‘excessive and dangerous’.

Jonathan Malaya, a senior official of Philippine National Security Council, reiterated that Manila will “never abandon our post in Ayungin Shoal” or the Second Thomas Shoal.

While the Spratly Islands are a collection of islands and other marine features such as reefs, banks and more, the Second Thomas Shoal is an atoll — a ring-shaped coral reef — in the Spratly Islands located in the South China Sea.

China stated action was taken after the Philippines “repeatedly ignored” demands to remove the grounded World War II ship from the South China Sea, which Beijing claims is under its expansive control. It also accused Manila of trying to “permanently occupy” the Ren’ai Reef, the Chinese term for the Second Thomas Shoal.

In response, the Philippine Foreign Ministry Tuesday observed that the “permanent station” at the atoll was in response to China’s “illegal occupation” of the Mischief Reef in 1995. Mischief Reef is located roughly 250 km from the Philippines’ Palawan Island and about 1,000 km from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

The grounded warship BRP Sierra Madre is currently under the commission of the Philippine Navy and is used as a makeshift military base. It has been at the centre of the conflict between Beijing and Manila after it was intentionally grounded in the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to function as a military post in the region.

India calls for peace

Referring to the recent incident of water cannon being used at Philippines supply boat by Chinese coast guard ship, India on Friday said that issues in the South China Sea need to be resolved peacefully while urging China and the Philippines to adhere to international laws.

“Let me emphasize where we are on the South China Sea developments. We’ve always felt that the issues need to be resolved, disputes peacefully, and the rules-based order, and we would certainly urge parties to follow that as well as ensure that no such incidents do not happen,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said when asked whether the tension between China and Philippinesis concerning India.

He further stated, “I mentioned specifically that I have already made a comment regarding the need to adhere to international law. I think I’d leave it at that.”

The “excessive and offensive” use of a water cannon by Chinese ship to block a Filipino supply boat occured at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

He reiterated that India has a long-standing position on the disputes regarding South China Sea as parties need to adhere to international laws.

“We have also underlined the need for peaceful settlement of disputes,” he added.

On August 5, the Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard ships of firing water cannons and making dangerous manoeuvres at its ships in the South China Sea.

“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemns the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) dangerous manoeuvres and illegal use of water cannons against PCG vessels,” the PCG wrote in a statement shared on its official Facebook account Saturday.

PCG vessels were escorting ships carrying supplies to military troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands chain, known in China as the Nansha Islands.

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China urges Philippines to tow its vessel from Ren’ai Reef

Analysts say the incident escalated an already tense situation and could lead the United States and its allies to accelerate plans for joint patrols in the waterway…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the spat between China and the Philippines over the latter’s warship being allegedly targeted by water canons, Beijing urged the Philippines to immediately tow away the grounded warship from Ren’ai Reef, the Global Times reported on Tuesday.

Quoting a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Global Times reported that claiming the Ren’ai Reef as a part of China’s Nansha Islands, Beijing called for restoring the original status of the reef.

The Philippines, according to the report, repeatedly made promises to tow away the warship illegally “grounded” on the reef. However, it has not only failed to tow away the warship but has even attempted to repair and reinforce it on a large scale to achieve permanent occupation of the Ren’ai Reef 24 years after the issue first came to a head, the report added.

A Chinese spokesperson called it a serious violation of international law and the declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea signed by China and ASEAN members.

He claimed that the current situation in the Ren’ai Reef could be attributed to the Philippines ignoring China’s goodwill and sincerity, and transporting construction materials to the warship.

Analysts say the incident escalated an already tense situation and could lead the United States and its allies to accelerate plans for joint patrols in the waterway.

A smaller Philippines boat was cannon-sprayed by a large Chinese Coast Guard ship as it attempted to deliver supplies to a garrison of Philippine marines at Second Thomas Shoal, a South China Sea feature in Manila’s exclusive economic zone that China calls Renai Reef and also claims as its sovereign territory.

Photos from the Philippine Coast Guard also showed the Chinese ship moving dangerously close in front of the Philippine Coast Guard vessels as they escorted the resupply boats, according to CNN.

“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemns the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) dangerous manoeuvres and illegal use of water cannons against PCG vessels,” the PCG wrote in a statement shared on its official Facebook account Saturday.

By Sunday, Washington, Manila’s principal ally, had denounced China’s actions while reaffirming that it will uphold its end of the mutual defence pact with the Philippines.

“The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces — including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea — would invoke US mutual defence commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. (ANI)

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Philippines slams Chinese Coast Guard for blocking its vessels

The PCG said that the actions by CCG not only disregarded the safety of the PCG crew but also violate international law…reports Asian Lite News

The Philippines on Sunday accused China of “blocking and water cannoning” a chartered supply boat in the South China Sea, which was en-route to Ayungin Shoal for a routine troop rotation and resupply mission, The Manila Times reported.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) condemned Chinese Coast Guard (CCG)’s action calling it “excessive and offensive.”

“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemns the CCG’s dangerous manoeuvres and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels escorting the indigenous boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday, August 5, 2023,” the Philippines Coast Guard said in a Facebook post.

The post by PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, CG Commodore Jay Tarriela, stated that the boats that were blocked were delivering food, water, fuel and other supplies to our military troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

The PCG further said that the actions by CCG not only disregarded the safety of the PCG crew but also violate international law

“Such actions by the CCG not only disregarded the safety of the PCG crew and the supply boats but also violated international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the PCG stated.

It further called on CCG to restrain its forces, respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights and observe international maritime obligations.

“The PCG calls on the China Coast Guard to restrain its forces, respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, refrain from hampering freedom of navigation, and take appropriate actions against the individuals involved in this unlawful incident,” the PCG further stated.

It added, “We ask that China Coast Guard, as an organization with a responsibility to observe state obligations under UNCLOS, COLREGs, and other relevant instruments of international maritime safety and security, to cease all illegal activities within the maritime zones of the Philippines”.

Reacting to the incident, the United States said it stands with Manila amid the “dangerous actions” by the CCG, The Manila Times reported.

Through the US Embassy in Manila, the US Department of State (USDS) on Sunday called on China to abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling as well as “to respect the freedom of navigation – a right to which all states are entitled.”

The US also reaffirmed that an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces, including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea, “would invoke US mutual defence commitments under Article 4 of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.”

“Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking manoeuvres, PRC (People’s Republic of China) ships interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew,” The Manila Times quoted the USDS as stating.

Such actions by China “are inconsistent with international law and are the latest in repeated threats to the status quo in the South China Sea, directly threatening regional peace and stability,” it added.

By impeding the delivery of provisions to Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, China has also “undertaken unwarranted interference in lawful Philippine maritime operations,” The Manila Times further quoted the USDS as stating. (ANI)

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Indian student pilot, trainer killed in Philippines plane crash

Video screenshot shows warplane aerial refueling as the air force and naval aviation corps of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) fly warplanes to conduct operations around the Taiwan Island, Aug. 4, 2022. The Eastern Theater Command on Thursday conducted joint combat exercises and training around the Taiwan Island on an unprecedented scale. (Xinhua/IANS)

Rescue operations are underway to retrieve the bodies of Tabuzo and Konde from the crash site in Apayao province…reports Asian Lite News

An Indian student and his trainer pilot died after the wreckage of a small plane was recovered following a crash in the Philippines, authorities said.

Anshum Rajkumar Konde and Captain Edzel John Lumbao Tabuzo were onboard the Cessna 152 aircraft that went missing in Cagayan province on Tuesday, according to the official Philippine News Agency.

Rescue operations are underway to retrieve the bodies of Tabuzo and Konde from the crash site in Apayao province, the agency said.

The plane’s wreckage and bodies were spotted by a medical and rescue team on board a Black Hawk helicopter of the Philippine Air Force on Wednesday.

The aircraft was on its way to Tuguegarao City Airport in Cagayan from the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte.

The last signal transmission from the aircraft was received 35 nautical miles northwest of Alcala, Cagayan, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

Last February, all four people on board a Cessna died after it crashed near Mayon Volcano’s crater.’

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Philippines, EU revitalise free trade talks

Marcos welcomed resuming negotiations for Philippine-EU free trade…reports Asian Lite News

The Philippines and the European Union (EU) on Monday agreed to revitalise trade and relaunch free trade agreements (FTA) talks.

The two sides forged the new cooperation during a meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Manila, reports Xinhua news agency.

As the first-ever EU Commission president to visit the Southeast Asian country in nearly six decades, von der Leyen said her visit signals accelerating “a new era of cooperation” between the EU and the Philippines, vowing to bring the bilateral trade relations “to the next level”.

For his part, Marcos said in a speech that he discussed with the EU chief “economic relations with particular focus on revitalising trade” between the two regions.

Marcos welcomed resuming negotiations for Philippine-EU free trade, adding that his administration would work with the bloc’s experts to achieve the bilateral FTA, the first round of which took place in 2016 in the Philippines.

Marcos also thanked the EU’s long-term support for his country, particularly on the EU’s recognition of a seafarer certificate issued by the Philippines that will benefit over 50,000 Filipino seafarers working onboard EU-flagged vessels. 

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Philippines, EU to resume free trade talks

For his part, Marcos said in a speech that he discussed with the EU chief “economic relations with particular focus on revitalising trade” between the two regions…reports Asian Lite News

The Philippines and the European Union (EU) on Monday agreed to revitalise trade and relaunch free trade agreements (FTA) talks.

The two sides forged the new cooperation during a meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Manila.

As the first-ever EU Commission president to visit the Southeast Asian country in nearly six decades, von der Leyen said her visit signals accelerating “a new era of cooperation” between the EU and the Philippines, vowing to bring the bilateral trade relations “to the next level”.

For his part, Marcos said in a speech that he discussed with the EU chief “economic relations with particular focus on revitalising trade” between the two regions.

Marcos welcomed resuming negotiations for Philippine-EU free trade, adding that his administration would work with the bloc’s experts to achieve the bilateral FTA, the first round of which took place in 2016 in the Philippines.

Marcos also thanked the EU’s long-term support for his country, particularly on the EU’s recognition of a seafarer certificate issued by the Philippines that will benefit over 50,000 Filipino seafarers working onboard EU-flagged vessels.

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India, Philippines keen to strengthen bilateral ties

Stressing the need for a responsive global order, he said, “The Philippines appreciates India’s advocacy for a reformed multilateral system that promotes inclusivity, transparency and accountability…reports Asian Lite News

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday held talks with visiting Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and both the leaders underlined their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations and people-to-people ties.”Hon’ble Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr. Enrique A. Manalo, called on the Hon’ble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today,” according to a tweet by the Vice President’s official Twitter handle on Wednesday. “Discussions focused on the shared values and complementarities that form the foundation of the two nations.

Both leaders underlined their commitment towards imparting a renewed impetus to the India-Philippines bilateral relations, and further strengthening of people-to-people ties,” it said.Enrique Manalo arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a four-day visit to India.The Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said India and the Philippines are working together to amplify their voices for the developing world in the global discourse, adding that Manila supports New Delhi’s endeavours to enhance not only the effectiveness but also the accountability of the United Nations.”To this day, we (India and the Philippines) are working together to amplify their voices and perspectives of the developing world in all important global discourses,” he said while addressing a Lecture on ‘Shared values and common outlook: The journey of Philippines-India Cooperation.The lecture was hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs(ICWA).

Stressing the need for a responsive global order, he said, “The Philippines appreciates India’s advocacy for a reformed multilateral system that promotes inclusivity, transparency and accountability. Through collaboration and constructive engagement, we help shape a more equitable and responsive global order.” (ANI)

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Vietnam slams China, Philippines for activities in SCS

The vessels of China and Vietnam confronted each other after a Chinese research ship entered Hanoi’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to carry out a survey….reports Asian Lite News

The Vietnam government has criticized China and the Philippines for their recent activities in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and stressed that it “resolutely opposes the activities that violate its sovereignty,” The Diplomat reported.

While addressing a press conference in Hanoi on May 18, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said that China and the Philippines were “violating the sovereign rights and jurisdictions of Vietnam,” as per the news report. She further said, “Vietnam has and is taking appropriate measures, which comply with international law, to ensure our legitimate rights and interests.” The statement of Pham Thu Hang comes after Chinese and Vietnamese vessels confronted each other on multiple occasions this week, as per The Diplomat report.

The vessels of China and Vietnam confronted each other after a Chinese research ship entered Hanoi’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to carry out a survey. The incursion came after a Vietnamese announced that it was expanding its oil drilling operations in Vanguard Bank, a Vietnamese-held feature claimed by China.

The development came after the Chinese government opened a hot-pot restaurant on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands. Vietnamese nationalists have been angered by Chinese nationalists. As per the news report, South Vietnamese soldiers were displaced by China from the Paracels using force in 1974.

Pham Thu Hang has denounced the Philippines’ recent deployment of navigational buoys in disputed waters. On May 14, the Philippine Coast Guard announced that it had deployed five buoys in the South China Sea, including at Whitsun Reef in the Spratly Islands, which is also claimed by Vietnam, as per the news report.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said that the placement of the buoys, each of which is adorned with the Philippine flag, demonstrates “the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)”, as per The Diplomat report.

Responding to the question regarding Philippine buoys, Pham Thu Hang said that Vietnam “strongly opposes all acts violating Vietnam’s sovereign rights.” She further said that her government has adequate “legal basis and historical evidence” to assert sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagos according to international law.

Pham Thu Hang called on all relevant parties to respect the sovereignty of Vietnam. She said, “Vietnam asks all relevant parties to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, international law, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea while making practical and positive contributions to the maintenance of peace and stability in the South China Sea, as well as creating a conducive environment for the negotiations for a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea,” The Diplomat reported.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s remarks showcase that the Southeast Asian claimants in the South China Sea – Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have myriad complex and unresolved maritime and territorial disputes of their own, as per the news report.

These nations oppose “China’s maximalist nine-dash line claim” to vast swathes of the South China Sea. However, the disagreements between these nations demonstrated by overlapping on maps of the South China Sea with one another are significant reasons that are preventing them from showcasing a united front against China’s activities in the region. (ANI)

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Philippines to join India, US in building digital public infra

The House of Representatives passed on third reading an e-governance bill on March 6. A counterpart bill in the Senate is currently at the committee level…reports Asian Lite News

Philippines Parliament Speaker Ferdinand Martin G Romualdez on Saturday suggested that the country along with US, and India should partner to construct digital public infrastructure, according to the Philippines House of Representative press release.

“It is very important for the Philippines, India, and the US to lead in this digital public infrastructure initiative because nations have much to gain from this,” he said following the Digital Public Infrastructure lecture at the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington. He also had a brief chat with Nandan Nilekani, one of the founders of the Indian multinational information technology company Infosys.

He said building public digital platforms “is very much aligned with the campaign promise of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to speed up the country’s digital transformation,” added the release.

“This is the reason why the House of Representatives has passed the E-Governance/E-Government Bill, which seeks to shift the entire bureaucracy to the digital space for faster and transparent delivery of services, and for better engagement with the public,” he said.

The House of Representatives passed on third reading an e-governance bill on March 6. A counterpart bill in the Senate is currently at the committee level.

If passed into law, the digitization of paper documents and processes is expected to encourage cooperation between the government and the private sector in improving the ease of doing business.

“Digitalization will definitely prove to be the panacea to the economic problems left behind by COVID-19,” Speaker Romualdez said.

The information technology and business process management industries in India account for over 55 per cent of the global outsourcing market.

The Indian Government also launched its Digital India Mission in 2015 to focus on using technology and digitalization to enhance governance.

Meanwhile, the United States Agency for International Development in January allotted USD 18 million to help Philippine small and medium enterprises enhance their digitalization transformation.

Romualdez bared that during the event IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva extended her best wishes to the Philippines and its strong economy, read the release.

“She is very, very delighted with our attendance and presence during the Spring Meeting of the IMF here in Washington D.C. We look forward to further interaction with the IMF, World Bank, and other leading financial institutions,” said Romualdez. (ANI)

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Philippines confronts Chinese diplomats  

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the seaway, which sits atop vast deposits of oil and gas…reports Asian Lite News

Protesting over China’s aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea, Philippine diplomats on Friday confronted their Chinese counterparts in closed-door talks over territorial disputes in the busy waterway, reported The Manila Times.

They also protested the targeting of a Philippine coast guard ship with a military-grade laser, but no resolution was reached on the issues, an official said. On February 6, 2023, a Chinese coast guard ship aimed a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some crew members of a Philippine patrol vessel off a disputed shoal. The Chinese delegation, led by Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, held two days of talks starting Thursday with Philippine counterparts, led by Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro and reviewed overall relations. The two sides focused on their territorial disputes Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said.

The talks opened with both sides citing an agreement between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who made a state visit to China in early January, to manage the territorial conflicts amicably while enhancing economic ties and other aspects of a near half-century of diplomatic relations, reported The Manila Times.

China’s representatives responded mostly by reiterating Beijing’s claim of sovereignty in most of the South China Sea and citing intrusions by Philippine vessels, the official said.

Territorial disputes in the busy waterway have long loomed as a potential flashpoint in Asia and have become a sensitive front in the regional rivalry between China and the United States, reported The Manila Times.

Washington lays no claim to the contested waters but has challenged Beijing’s extensive claims, including by deploying its warships and fighter jets and repeatedly warning that it would help defend the Philippines — a treaty ally — if Philippine forces, ships and aircraft are attacked.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the seaway, which sits atop vast deposits of oil and gas.

In recent years, the South China Sea has emerged as a major potential flashpoint in the Asia Pacific.

Not only does the strategic waterway hold vast resources of fish, oil and gas, but about a third of global shipping passes through it – worth about USD 3.4 trillion in 2016, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) China Power Project, reported CNN.

China also conducts regular military exercises in much of the South China Sea and maintains a large presence of coast guard and fishing vessels in the disputed waters, which has frequently stoked tensions with other claimants. (ANI)

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