PH troops accused of destroying Chinese fishing nets in Ayungin ---- Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Beijing has accused Filipino troops of destroying and removing fishing nets installed by Chinese fishermen within the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. China’s official news agency Xinhua made the allegation on Tuesday, claiming that military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre “repeatedly damaged” the fishing nets last May 15. • Philippines vows to maintain BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal: official Over 2,000 meters of Beijing’s fishing nets were damaged while more than 100 meters were confiscated by Manila, Xinhua alleged. • US to deploy assets in South China Sea as PH asks for ‘greater deployment’: PCG ABS-CBN News has reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Navy for comment, but both have yet to respond as of posting. 'PH CAN DO SO' Professor Renato de Castro, an international studies professor at the De La Salle University, said the AFP had a right to conduct such operations, given that Ayungin Shoal is within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This means the Philippines has sovereign rights over the area. • 'Atin 'To' mission 'doing best' to bring provisions to fishers in West PH Sea “It’s our legitimate right to do so because it is impeding normal military procedures… Those fishing nets are not there to catch fish,” De Castro told ABS-CBN News on Thursday. The international affairs analyst added China placed the fishing nets very close to the BRP Sierra Madre to obstruct “naval and humanitarian operations.” “It’s not installed there by the Chinese fisherfolk. They were installed there by the China Coast Guard to impede a normal routine naval and humanitarian operation. We have to provide basic food to Marines on board the BRP Sierra Madre,” De Castro claimed. This allegation is the latest in China’s series of accusations against personnel of the BRP Sierra Madre. De Castro believes this is part of China’s moves to weaken the Philippines’ narrative and to gain the sympathy of the international community. • Philippines says China disrupted medical evacuation in West PH Sea “They’re reacting to the speech delivered by the president. They accuse us of hyping the tension in the South China Sea, so they’re trying to basically distract the narrative, the discourse, and telling the world that we are the ones triggering the tension,” De Castro noted. • 'Subtle yet strong': Experts praise Marcos speech at Shangri-La Dialogue Beijing has also accused Filipino troops of pointing their guns at China Coast Guard personnel last May 19. The Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied these allegations.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Russia defense ministry says destroyed 36 Ukrainian drones --- Agence France-Presse

MOSCOW, Russia — Russian forces destroyed three dozen Ukrainian drones in areas near the border, Moscow's Ministry of Defense said Sunday. "Air defence systems on duty destroyed fifteen UAVs over Kursk region, nine UAVs over Lipetsk region, four UAVs each over Voronezh and Bryansk regions and two UAVs each over Oryol and Belgorod regions," the ministry said in a Telegram post. Voronezh Governor Aleksandr Gusev said on Telegram that air defences had "destroyed several Ukrainian UAVs" and "there were no casualties or damage". Both sides have used drones, including larger self-detonating craft with ranges stretching hundreds of kilometres, extensively throughout the conflict, which began in February 2022. Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian territory this year, targeting both energy sites that it says fuel Russia's military, as well as towns and villages just across the border. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major new land
Read more

UP Diliman Professors Share Scientists’ Procurement Struggles at Senate Hearing

By Harvey Sapigao Senate hearing of the revised procurement law (Photo credit: Senate of the Philippines) College of Science (CS) Dean Giovanni Tapang held up a little white device as he finished his presentation. “This is a ₱150,000 component,” he described. “Isa lang gumagawa nito sa buong mundo, pero ang hirap pilitin sila na magregister sa PhilGEPS,” he continued, referring to the requirement that foreign companies must first register to the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) before they can sell products to local scientists. Marine Science Institute (MSI) Deputy Director Dr. Irene Rodriguez explained that the small device is a resin that filters metals in water. “May budget tayo,” she said, “pero ang problema ko ay ‘yung resin na ito.” This and other bottlenecks brought about by the procurement law, or the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184), slow down research and development in the country. UPD leaders were invited to the Senate he
Read more

How war is putting Middle East aviation at risk ---AL JAZEERA

The human suffering in Gaza is accompanied by losses that are undermining this vital industry With more than 40 years' experience in aviation, including a stint as chief executive Bahrain's Gulf Air and sitting on the International Air Transport Association's Board of Governors, Royal Jordanian’s CEO Samer Majali is someone who knows the industry in the Middle East – and its challenges – like few others. In an exclusive interview with The National yesterday, he spoke for many executives when he described how six months of violence in Israel and Palestine had hurt his airline and the region’s economy. While the human cost is, of course, the biggest, and Palestinian society is bearing the brunt of this war, its consequences are far reaching. The plummeting bookings, operational difficulties and financial losses being experienced by the aviation sector are being exacerbated by a widespread perception that the Middle East is in turmoil. “They lump the region as a homogeneous
Read more