19 Enero,2025 Linggo
election campaign period, gun ban begins
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ABS 2025
US won’t let South China Sea aggression prevail
By Nidz Godino
“We’re going to continue to work with our friends and partners, especially here in the Philippines…we’re going to continue to amplify Philippines’ message…we’re going to continue to uphold international law,” US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said United States will not allow China to prevail with its illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive acts and give in to Beijing’s muscle flexing in South China Sea.
Carlson said US is working with Philippines to ensure Philippine interests and international law are upheld.
She said if purpose of positioning “is to flex their muscle, maybe even doing so ahead of US inauguration, we’re not going to cave to that.”
Philippines protested China’s deployment of its largest coast guard vessel, known as “monster ship,” within Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), saying it is alarming and clearly intended to intimidate fishermen operating around shoal in contested waters of South China Sea.
The ambassador stated US will push back on any attempts to circumvent international law through bullying practices.
“It’s illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive or what some people call gray zone tactics…we will not let them prevail, we’ll continue to expose them, intent has been to flex muscle and we will continue to push back,” Carlson said.
China was accused of pushing its South China Sea claims close to Philippine coast to normalize its illegal grab of most of waterway.
Philippines and China agreed to seek common ground and find ways to cooperate despite their disagreements in South China Sea, their foreign ministries said earlier, as heated rows persist over vessels deployed around disputed features.
Two countries on Thursday held 10th round of talks under bilateral consultation mechanism set up to address issues in South China Sea, where disputes have been frequent and tense, with ties at their lowest point in years.
Both countries agreed to advance coast guard and marine scientific cooperation and pledged to resolve issues peacefully.
“We firmly believe that despite unresolved challenges and differences, there is genuine space for diplomatic and pragmatic cooperation in dealing with our issues in the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro said in her opening remarks at the 10th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on South China Sea in Xiamen.
China, through Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, said it called on Philippines to remain committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.
Both agreed to boost communication and deepen dialogue, but also called out each other out over recent standoffs.
US ally Philippines said it had expressed serious concern about conduct of China’s coast guard, including its sustained presence in Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
China, for its part, lodged complaints over recent “maritime infringements and provocations” and for “hyping up” maritime disputes.
China’s expansive territorial claims in key maritime trade route overlap with EEZs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
2016 ruling of international arbitral tribunal said Beijing’s claims, based on its historic maps, have no basis under international law, a decision China does not recognize.
At dialogue in Xiamen, Philippines also raised presence and maritime activities, particularly that of CCG 5901 or “monster ship” and CCG 3103 in Philippine maritime zones that are inconsistent with 1982 UNCLOS and Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
The so-called monster ship of China Coast Guard (CCG) remained inside West Philippine Sea and is being driven away from coastline of Zambales by patrol vessel of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Last Jan. 15, CCG patrol ship 5901, with length of 165 meters and weight of 12,000 tons, sent radio challenge to PCG’s offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang, stating it was “violating Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,” according to video shared to reporters by Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the PCG on West Philippine Sea concerns.
He maintained movements of CCG vessel “have not been continuous or expeditious, failing to meet necessary criteria for exercising right of innocent passage.”
“In response, BRP Gabriela Silang has effectively maintained protective position through skillful seamanship, successfully keeping the China Coast Guard at average distance of 60-70 nautical miles from Philippine coastline,” he pointed out.
Tarriela asserted CCG’s sustained presence in West Philippine Sea defined by 2016 arbitral ruling, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and Republic Act 12064 or Maritime Zones Act “disregards more critical issue of China Coast Guard’s illegal presence within Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.”
Effort of Gabriela Silang to continuously follow CCG 5901 was “vital to prevent it from approaching the Zambales coast,” he added.
From Jan. 4 to 15, Tarriela has reported about CCG’s presence off shores of Zambales 11 times, almost every night.
Participating for the very first time, Philippine Army paratroopers joined their fellow airborne unit soldiers from at least 10 countries in this year’s New Year Indo-Pacific Jump held in Japan over the weekend.
Delegation , led by Army vice commander Maj. Gen. Leodevic Guinid, joined other allied nations in the event on Jan. 11 and 12 at the 1st Airborne Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Camp Narashino, Chiba prefecture.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said Special Forces Regiment commander, Brig. Gen. Rosendo Abad Jr., also joined airborne troopers in demonstrating Philippine Army’s military free fall and airborne capabilities, “manifesting Philippine Army’s readiness to conduct airborne operations in special operations to support Territorial Defense Operations.”
Immediately following aerial showcase were Simulated Air Assault Operations featuring demonstration of participating units from United States Army, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, Singaporean Army, Australian Army, Royal Netherlands Army, French Army, Canadian Army, British Army, Polish Land Forces, Italian Army, German Army and 1st Airborne Brigade, JGSDF.
Dema-ala said simulation showcased capabilities and synchronized collaborations of Indo-Pacific nations in addressing common threats or adversaries in the region.
According to him, New Year Jump in Indo-Pacific in Japan has been held annually since 1974 to pray for safety of airborne jumps throughout the year and foster greater understanding and confidence in the JGSDF.
He said activity also aims to build relationships of trust, as well as to strengthen cooperation among Airborne Forces and disseminate strategic messages to contribute to peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region.
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