Today’s News 28 April 2021 (Wednesday)

A. NAVY NEWS/COVID NEWS/PHOTOS Title Writer Newspaper Page 1 Two Filipinos die from COVID-19 in India CNN Staff P Journal 2

B. NATIONAL HEADLINES Title Writer Newspaper Page 2 DepEd eyes opening of classes on Aug. 23 J Mateo P Star 1 3 15 Senators wants Parlade reprimanded D Yap PDI A1

C. NATIONAL SECURITY Title Writer Newspaper Page 4 China asks Phl to stop activities, exercises M Punongbayan P Star 1 in WPS 5 Confusion over Duterte-Xi ‘Verbal M Quiatan PDI A9 Agreement’ 6 Palace respects senate resolution J Aning PDI A4 denouncing Chinese incursions in WPS 7 No need for China fishing deal M Blancaflor D Tribune A1

D. INDO-PACIFIC Title Writer Newspaper Page China tells PH to respect its sovereignty, P Journal 6 8 rights 9 Senators condemn Chinese intrusion B Tamayo M Times A8 PH, chile sign MOU on economic E Gomez B Times B2 10 cooperation

E. AFP RELATED Title Writer Newspaper Page 11 Hold NTF- Elcac to account PDI A8 12 Duterte hands off sack Parlade calls M Blancaflor D Tribune A1 Malaya A12 13 Senator’s censure Parlade over ‘stupid’ R Africa comment 14 15 Senators want Parlade censured P Romero P Star 1 15 U.S., Phl armies conduct bilateral training D Tribune B15 U.S. Army 5th SFAB, Philippine Army P Tonight 7 16 conduct bilateral training in Nueva Ecija 17 Air Force chopper crash kills 1 J Roson D Tribune B15 18 Air Force chopper cashes; 1 dead C Maghanoy M Times A3 19 PAF helicopter crashes; 1 dead M Punongbayan P star 10 20 PAF combat chopper crashes in Bohol M Sadongdong M Bulletin 1 21 PAF chopper crashes in Bohol, pilot killed A Dalizon P Tonight 1 PAF chopper crashes in Bohol; pilot dead, 3 M Sadongdong Tempo 1 22 others hurt 23 Pilot dies in PAF chopper crash A Dalizon P Journal 13 PAF chopper bumagsak: Piloto patay, 3 D Franche Ngayon 9 24 sugatan 25 Reso vs Parlade gumulong sa Senado G Garcia Ngayon 3

F. CPP-NPA-NDF-LCM Title Writer Newspaper Page 1st project PDI A2 26 Pantry now a hub: Patreng’s N Valenzuela keeps on giving and growing M Purification P Tonight 6 27 Senate employee’s union sets community pantry 28 Investigate red-tagging vs pantry organizers M Gullang D Tribune B15 Probe on red-tagging of pantry organizers R Pacpaco P Tonight 10 29 urged Calida red-tags colmenaries, others in front M Ramos PDI A4 30 of SC 31 NPA leader, wife slain in Agusan Sur clash M Punongbayan P Star 10 DOJ backs enactment of law criminalizing M Ramos PDI A4 32 red-tagging 33 84 NPA Calabarzon rebs surrender to PNP A Dalizon P Tonight 7 PNP succeeds in major role in war on terror, A Dalizon P Tonight 5 34 insurgency - Sinas PNP Triumphs in war on terror, insurgency - A Dalizon P Journal 11 35 Sinas Nurse sa Cagayan ni red tag, J Cantos Ngayon 9 36 – nagpasaklolo

G. MNLF/MILF/BIFF/ASG Title Writer Newspaper Page NIL NIL NIL NIL

H. EDITORIAL-OPINION-COMMENTARY-SPECIAL Title Writer Newspaper Page Has the Duterte administration made us a P Star 9 37 A Masigan stronger nation? 38 Parlade ignorant to parley M Villanueva P Star 9 39 Is Jesus Christ a communist? B Chanco P Star B3 40 Tunnel vision J Binay M Bulletin 7 41 Provocateurs’ folly D Tribune A4 42 Maranao lawyers’ community pantry M Lanto D Tribune A4 43 Preponderance of doubt I Aberia M Times A6 44 Regionally destabilizing P Journal 4 45 Senate bipartisan resolution P Tonight 4

I. ONLINE NEWS Title Link NATIONAL NEWS Duterte faces difficult decision on next https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/may-quarantine- 46 quarantine status for NCR Plus level-of-ncr-a-difficult-decision-for-duterte- palace-says/ Duterte Honors Heroism Of Health https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/28/dute Workers During 500th Anniversary Of rte-honors-heroism-of-health-workers-during- 47 The Victory At Mactan battle-of-mactan-quincentennial- commemoration/ Duterte spox says Battle of Mactan https://news.abs- 48 should be 'warning' vs would-be cbn.com/news/04/27/21/battle-of-mactan- invaders invaders-malacaang Neda Insists: Severe Pork Shortage https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/28/ned 49 Merits MAV Hike a-insists-severe-pork-shortage-merits-mav- hike/ NAVY NEWS Duterte to do what's best for PH on https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/duterte-to-do- 50 China’s incursions, even if action is whats-best-for-ph-on-chinas-incursions-even- unpopular — Roque if-action-is-unpopular-roque/ Fisherfolk in WPS areas protected by https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138133 51 BFAR intervention plans Palace respects senato https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138193 52 rs’ stance against China’s presence in WPS Joint fishing in 12nm territorial sea of https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138173 53 BdM sans deal: Roque PCG welcomes CSC Commissioner https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/pcg-welcomes- 54 Lizada as Auxiliary General csc-commissioner-lizada-as-auxiliary-general/ AFP RELATED 55 PAF attack helicopter crashes in Bohol https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138137 PAF combat chopper crashes in Bohol; https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/paf-combat- 56 pilot dead, 3 survive chopper-crashes-in-bohol-pilot-dead-3-survive/ Go extends financial aid to victims of https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138247 57 Bohol chopper crash SC Justice Carandang to quiz Esperon https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/natio - ity pantry n/785362/sc-justice-carandang-to-quiz- 58 on ‘red tagging’ of commun organizers esperon-on-red-tagging-of-community-pantry- organizers/story/ 15 senators seek censure of NTF- https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/15-senators- 59 ELCAC’s Parlade seek-censure-of-ntf-elcacs-parlade/ Duterte won't step in, leaves decision on https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/duterte-wont- 60 Parlade to NTF-ELCAC — Roque step-in-leaves-decision-on-parlade-to-ntf- elcac-roque/ Guevarra: Congress Should Pass A https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/28/gue 61 Law To Define Red-Tagging And Its varra-congress-should-pass-a-law-to-define- Penalties red-tagging-and-its-penalties/ House leader asks CHR, NBI to probe https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/house-leader- 62 red-tagging of community pantries asks-chr-nbi-to-probe-red-tagging-of- community-pantries/ House resolution to probe use of P19-B https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/house- 63 anti-insurgency funds filed resolution-to-probe-use-of-p19-b-anti- insurgency-funds-filed/ Reds to benefit if NTF-ELCAC is https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/bato-reds-to- 64 defunded benefit-if-ntf-elcac-is-defunded/ PH & US armies hold first-ever 'training https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/ph-training- 65 rotation' in Fort Magsaysay rotation-in-fort-magsaysay/ 2 anti-communist group members killed https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/2-anti- 66 in ambush communist-group-members-killed-in-ambush/ Reds' killing sprees to further weaken https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138209 67 CP-NPA: ex-cadres Iloilo activists decry anew red-tagging https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/iloilo-activists- 68 decry-anew-red-tagging/ Senior NPA leader, wife killed in https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/27/news/ 69 Agusan clash senior-npa-leader-wife-killed-in-agusan- clash/868189/ Gov’t seeks dismissal of 37 petitions vs. https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/govt-seeks- 70 ATA; cites at least 3 justifications dismissal-of-37-petitionsvs-ata-cites-at-least-3- justifications/ OSG lawyers wither during https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/04/27 71 interpellation on anti-terror law /2094188/osg-lawyers-wither-during- interpellation-anti-terror-law In defending ATA, Calida references https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/04/27 72 Duterte: Nothing to be afraid of if you're /2094170/defending-ata-calida-references- no terrorist duterte-nothing-be-afraid-if-youre-no-terrorist Abolishing anti-terror law against int'l https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138202 73 obligations: SolGen ‘Subversive’ documents, campaign https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/natio materials of Neri Colmenares seized n/785346/subversive-documents-campaign- 74 from suspected NPA armory in Laguna materials-of-neri-colmenares-seized-from- —Calida suspected-npa-armory-in-laguna-calida/story/ INDO PACIFIC NEWS WTO chief warns EU, Japan, US not to https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/ 74 ‘target’ China using trade reform article/3131291/wto-chief-warns-eu-japan-us- not-target-china-using-trade Biden’s first 100 days: COVID-19, jobs, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bidens-first- 76 foreign policy, immigration, guns and 100-days-covid-19-jobs-foreign-policy- dogs immigration-guns-dogs-2021-04-27/ Shaken U.S. Capitol on high alert for https://www.reuters.com/world/us/shaken-us- 74 Biden’s first address to Congress capitol-high-alert-bidens-first-address- congress-2021-04-27/ U.S. legislation on China to be https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us- 77 delayed, lawmakers say legislation-china-be-delayed-lawmakers-say- 2021-04-27/ US legislation for US$112 billion tech https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3131 78 research funding to counter China will 244/us-legislation-us112-billion-tech-research- be delayed, lawmakers say funding-counter-china-will Blinken cautions Africa on China during https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/articl 79 virtual ‘trip’ to Nigeria and Kenya e/3131339/africa-should-beware-chinas- growing-role-top-us-diplomat-antony China vows to advance cooperation https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04- 80 with Asia and the Pacific 27/China-vows-to-advance-cooperation-with- Asia-and-the-Pacific--ZNAlBXGxYQ/index.html Beijing takes foreign media to Xinjiang https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/artic 81 in bid to dispel suspicion le/3131325/beijing-takes-foreign-media- xinjiang-bid-dispel-suspicion China’s Xi vows support for private firms https://www.scmp.com/economy/china- 82 amid concerns of government economy/article/3131307/xi-jinping-tries- intervention reassure-chinas-private-firms-their-place China’s Communist Party pilgrims mark https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/artic 83 centenary in Red tourism wave le/3131254/chinas-communist-party-pilgrims- mark-centenary-wave-red-tourism Activists fear HK immigration bill will https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- 84 allow arbitrary travel bans pacific/activists-fear-hk-immigration-bill-will- allow-arbitrary-travel-bans-2021-04-26/ Hong Kong leader says govt could https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- intervene in Bar Association if pacific/hong-kong-leader-says-govt-could- 85 necessary intervene-bar-association-if-necessary-2021- 04-27/ Hong Kong protest leader ‘ordered to https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hong-kong- 86 spy for Beijing’ protest-leader-ernie-chow-ordered-to-spy-for- beijing-96ds5fh6m Chinese official slammed for using https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east- 87 Hokusai wave parody in jab over asia/article/3131335/fukushima-water-chinas- Fukushima spokesman-draws-flak-using-hokusai-great China urges Japan to build stable ties https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04- 88 with concrete actions 27/China-urges-Japan-to-build-stable-ties- with-concrete-actions-ZNQ9TpMpPi/index.html China publishes landform survey report https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04- 89 on Diaoyu Islands 27/China-publishes-landform-survey-report-on- Diaoyu-Islands-ZNdvGnOCQM/index.html China Puts Aside Tensions With India, https://www.newsweek.com/china-puts-aside- 90 Invites Nation to Call on Combating tensions-india-invites-nation-call-combating- COVID covid-1586807 As US and China offer coronavirus aid, https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health- 91 India wary of hidden agendas environment/article/3131268/us-and-china- offer-coronavirus-aid-india-wary-hidden Youths in black: Myanmar protesters https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- 92 train to fight junta pacific/youths-black-myanmar-protesters-train- fight-junta-2021-04-27/ Myanmar’s Anti-Junta Protesters https://www.voanews.com/east-asia- 93 Turning to Rebel Armies for Military pacific/myanmars-anti-junta-protesters-turning- Training rebel-armies-military-training Fighting erupts in Myanmar; junta to https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- 94 ‘consider’ ASEAN plan pacific/fighting-erupts-myanmar-near-thai- border-thai-witnesses-2021-04-27/ Myanmar coup latest: 20 doctors https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar- 95 charged with inciting disobedience Coup/Myanmar-coup-latest-20-doctors- charged-with-inciting-disobedience Myanmar’s junta rebuffs ASEAN plan https://www.hindustantimes.com/world- 96 to end violence news/myanmars-junta-rebuffs-asean-plan-to- end-violence-101619518564046.html Myanmar’s junta to consider ASEAN’s https://www.scmp.com/week- 97 consensus after ‘stabilising’ country asia/politics/article/3131248/myanmars-junta- consider-aseans-five-point-consensus-after ASEAN risks enabling Myanmar junta to https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar- 98 buy time Coup/ASEAN-risks-enabling-Myanmar-junta- to-buy-time South Korea cancels ‘Chinatown’ https://www.scmp.com/week- 99 project amid anti-Chinese sentiment asia/politics/article/3131255/south-korea- cancels-korea-china-culture-town-project-amid Koreans express fears over Japanese https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021 100 fishery products amid Fukushima water /04/371_307878.html release plan Korea calls in Japanese diplomat to https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021 101 protest Tokyo's renewed claims to /04/120_307859.html Dokdo Moon says time approaching for https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021 102 resuming dialogue with North Korea /04/103_307872.html North Koreans blame China for their https://asiatimes.com/2021/04/north-koreans- 103 viral woes blame-china-for-their-viral-woes/ Southeast Asia’s Great Power https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/jonathan- 104 Dynamics stromseth-on-southeast-asias-great-power- dynamics/ Enhancing U.S.-China Strategic https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/04/enh Stability in an Era of Strategic ancing-us-china-strategic-stability-era- 105 Competition: U.S. and Chinese strategic-competition?utm_source=usip.org Perspectives DEFENSE NEWS China to PH: Stop marine drills in SC https://manilastandard.net/news/top- 106 stories/353009/china-to-ph-stop-marine-drills- in-scs.html China insists sovereignty over Panatag https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/04/27 Shoal, Pag-asa Island amid Philippine /2094130/china-insists-sovereignty-over- 107 coast guard drills panatag-shoal-pag-asa-island-amid-philippine- coast-guard-drills Philippines shouldn’t easily surrender https://news.tv5.com.ph/politics/read/may- West Philippine Sea, stresses karapatan-philippines-shouldnt-easily- 108 Lorenzana surrender-west-philippine-sea-stresses- lorenzana De La Salle professors ‘appalled by https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/04/27 109 failure of gov't' to defend West /2094119/de-la-salle-professors-appalled- Philippine Sea failure-govt-defend-west-philippine-sea UK Carrier Strike Group to head out on https://www.upi.com/Defense- 110 28-week deployment News/2021/04/27/uk-Carrier-Strike-Group- maiden-deployment/6681619558211/ UK aircraft carrier to set sail for Asia https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archiv 111 next month es/2021/04/27/2003756441 Chinese Military Companies And U.S. https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/chinese- 112 Financial Institutions: A Relationship military-companies-and-u-s-financial- Biden Must End institutions-a-relationship-biden-must-end/ U.S. Missile Defense Warhead https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/202 Program to Cost Almost $18 Billion 1-04-27/u-s-missile-defense-warhead- 113 program-to-cost-almost-18- billion?srnd=premium-asia ‘Mandatory’ Cyber Info Sharing Bill https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/mandato 114 Coming, Says Senate Intel Chair ry-cyber-info-sharing-bill-coming-says-senate- Warner intel-chair-warner/ As U.S. troops leave Afghanistan, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us- 115 lawmakers fear dark future for women troops-leave-afghanistan-lawmakers-fear-dark- future-women-2021-04-27/

US orders staff to leave Kabul due to https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/21 threats 116 06535/us-orders-staff-to-leave-kabul-due-to- threats

US, Tehran had tense encounter in https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archiv 117 Persian Gulf es/2021/04/28/2003756495 U.S. Navy Ship Fired Warning Shots At https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/04 118 Iranian Boats After Close Encounter /27/us-navy-ship-fired-warning-shots-at- iranian-boats-after-close-encounter/ US Navy's mass retirement of vessels https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International- to dent Taiwan deterrence relations/Indo-Pacific/US-Navy-s-mass- 119 retirement-of-vessels-to-dent-Taiwan- deterrence USN Arleigh Burke-class destroyer tails https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4187 120 Liaoning battle group near eastern 665 Taiwan U.S. naval destroyer tracking China's https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World- 121 Liaoning aircraft carrier News/2021/04/27/China-Liaoning-carrier-track- US-destroyer/4991619527310/ US Navy successfully conducts missile https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news- strike during first fleet exercise with detail/us-navy-successfully-conducts-missile- 122 unmanned systems strike-during-first-fleet-exercise-with- unmanned-systems US Navy Unmanned Battle Problem http://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News- Missile Launch Integrates Manned and Stories/Article/2586065/unmanned-battle- 123 Unmanned Systems problem-missile-launch-integrates-manned- and-unmanned-systems/ Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/arleigh- 124 Destroyers: The Navy’s Ultimate burke-class-guided-missile-destroyers-the- Weapon navys-ultimate-weapon/ US Marine Corps' Transformative https://www.military.com/daily- 125 Infantry 'Arms Room Concept' news/2021/04/26/why-some-marines-are- training-operate-every-infantry-weapon.html Japan tightens rules on tech theft to https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/J 126 safeguard research with US apan-tightens-rules-on-tech-theft-to-safeguard- research-with-US https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4187 127 Japan’s Diplomacy Bluebook backs Taiwan’s WHA campaign 742 Japan highlights ‘strong concerns’ over https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east- 128 China’s military expansion in annual asia/article/3131217/japan-highlights-strong- foreign policy report concerns-over-chinas-military-expansion Beijing makes protest over Japan's https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china- diplomacy report on Chinese military japan-military/beijing-makes-protest-over- 129 japans-diplomacy-report-on-chinese-military- idUSKBN2CE0R5 China’s Naval Modernization Effort https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/fo 130 cus-analysis/naval-technology/10058-analysis- china-s-naval-modernization-effort.html PLA sets up army, air force joint https://www.hindustantimes.com/world- defence system in western theatre news/pla-sets-up-army-and-air-force-joint- 131 command defence-system-in-western-theatre- 101619510485306.html China opens new front in national fight https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/artic 132 against spy threats le/3131158/china-opens-new-front-national- fight-against-spy-threats China announces measures to prevent https://www.hindustantimes.com/world- foreign spying in companies news/china-announces-measures-to-prevent- 133 foreign-spying-in-companies- 101619489881355.html China launches robot prototype capable https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/china 134 of catching space debris with net -launches-robot-prototype-capable-catching- space-debris-with-net-2021-04-27/ China commissions three major naval https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news- 135 vessels on PLAN's 72nd anniversary detail/china-commissions-three-major-naval- vessels-on-plans-72nd-anniversary China launches nine satellites https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04- 136 27/China-launches-nine-commercial-satellites- ZNDcp2WGoo/index.html Why two heads would be better than https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/arti 137 one for China’s ‘Mighty Dragon’ fighter cle/3131295/why-two-heads-would-be-better- jet one-chinas-mighty-dragon How Many Nuclear Weapons Does https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/how- 138 China Really Have many-nuclear-weapons-does-china-really- have/ The Number of Chinese Nuclear https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202 139 Warheads 1/04/27/the_number_of_chinese_nuclear_war heads_774594.html Chinese spy planes try to fly under https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-try- 140 Taiwan’s radar to-spy-under-taiwans-radar-xr68n53bp Taiwan catches PLA plane trying to https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4188 141 sneak below radar at only 30 meters 046 Taiwan looks to reduce aircraft losses https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news- 142 through F-16 Auto-GCAS detail/taiwan-looks-to-reduce-aircraft-losses- through-f-16-auto-gcas Indonesia says powerful underwater https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International- 143 wave likely sunk submarine relations/Indonesia-says-powerful-underwater- wave-likely-sunk-submarine Indonesian General Is Killed in Rebel https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/world/asi 144 Ambush, Sparking Fears of Retaliation a/indonesia-general-papua.html Fighting erupts in Myanmar near Thai https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar- 145 border Coup/Fighting-erupts-in-Myanmar-near-Thai- border Guerrillas seize military outpost from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/guerrillas- 146 Myanmar army seize-military-outpost-from-myanmar-army- tj0dqp5f6) ( SoKor military under fire for allegedly https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021 147 violating human rights in COVID-19 /04/119_307884.html measures South Korea to develop indigenous https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news- 148 attack helicopter for RoK Marine Corps detail/south-korea-to-develop-indigenous- attack-helicopter-for-rokmc Australian official warns drums of war https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- 149 are beating pacific/australian-official-warns-drums-war-are- beating-2021-04-27/ Australia warns of 'drums of war' after https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4187 150 China slams country for Taiwan 681 comments 10 years after death, Bin Laden still https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/world/2021/ 151 mobilizes jihadists 04/683_307861.html Generals call for military rule to halt https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/macron- 152 French decline dismisses-former-generals-warning-of-civil- war-in-france-qlzk9xs29 Since Napoleon’s day France’s armed https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/since- 153 forces have played politics napoleons-day-frances-armed-forces-have- played-politics-qbhgh9qsq Sunk Indonesian Submarine Should https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/sunk- 154 Worry Pacific Powers indonesian-submarine-should-worry-pacific- powers/ Could China Blockade Taiwan? https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/coming- 155 blockade-taiwan-china-183715 The Urgent Need for Improved Cyber https://russiamatters.org/analysis/us- 156 Defense solarwinds-response-unlikely-change-russias- behavior-highlights-need-improved-cyber The Nine Commandments of https://ip-quarterly.com/en/nine- 157 Countering Hybrid Threats commandments-countering-hybrid-threats Facing Prospect of Wars Involving https://nationalpost.com/opinion/balkan- 158 Russia and China devlen-facing-the-prospect-of-wars-involving- russia-and-china Partnership and Narrative in National https://thestrategybridge.org/the- 159 Security Strategy bridge/2021/4/27/partnership-and-narrative-in- national-security-strategy COVID NEWS PH vaccination program vs. COVID-19 https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/ph-vaccination- 160 is 'on track' — Galvez program-vs-covid-19-is-on-track-galvez/ Two House Members Set Launch Of https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/28/two- 161 ‘Ivermectin Pan-Three’ In QC house-members-set-launch-of-ivermectin-pan- three-in-qc/ Philippines could face India-like Covid- https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health- 162 19 surge environment/article/3131313/coronavirus- philippines-could-face-india-surge-doctor PH warns rich nations vs.hoarding https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/ph-warns-rich- 163 vaccines; calls for more equitable nations-vs-hoarding-vaccines-calls-for-more- distribution equitable-distribution/ COVID-19 Shows the Philippines’ Need https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/covid-19- 164 for a More Open Government shows-the-philippines-need-for-a-more-open- government/ COVID-19 Third Wave Menaces https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/covid-19- 165 Southeast Asian Nations third-wave-menaces-southeast-asian-nations/ Protein in lungs might stop https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archi 167 coronavirus: study ves/2021/04/28/2003756485 China says it will help South Asian https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china- 168 countries get COVID-19 shots says-it-will-help-south-asian-countries-get- covid-19-shots-2021-04-27/ Medical supplies flow into India as https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india- 169 COVID-19 deaths near 200,000 posts-323144-new-covid-19-cases-2021-04- 27/ India expects biggest share of U.S. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india- 170 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine -govt expects-biggest-share-us-doses-astrazeneca- sources vaccine-govt-sources-2021-04-27/ What you need to know about the https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health- coronavirus right now coronavirus-snapshot/what-you-need-to-know- 171 about-the-coronavirus-right-now- idUSKBN2CE0EW Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020- 172 Across the World coronavirus-cases-world- map/?srnd=coronavirus Covid map: Where are cases the https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51235105 173 highest?

J. OPINION/EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Title Link 174 From bogeyman to coup plot https://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/ev eryman/352959/from-bogeyman-to-coup- plot.html 175 Hold NTF-Elcac to account https://opinion.inquirer.net/139718/hold-ntf- elcac-to-account 176 Confusion over Duterte-Xi ‘verbal https://opinion.inquirer.net/139704/confusion- agreement’ over-duterte-xi-verbal-agreement 177 Provocateurs’ folly https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/04/28/pro vocateurs-folly/ 178 Parlade ignorant to parley https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/04/28/2 094207/parlade-ignorant-parley 179 Preponderance of doubt https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/28/opinio n/columnists/preponderance-of-doubt/868206/

180 Tagged to hack https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/04/28/tag ged-to-hack/ 181 How Joe Biden has made a common https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article enemy of China to rally domestic and /3131072/how-biden-has-made-common- foreign allies enemy-china-rally-domestic-and-foreign 182 To prevent war in Taiwan Strait, Japan https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/To- needs to unite with US prevent-war-in-Taiwan-Strait-Japan-needs-to- unite-with-US 183 On Myanmar, ASEAN pushes https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- boundaries of "non-interference" pacific/myanmar-asean-pushes-boundaries- non-interference-2021-04-26/ 184 Think tanks can link Taiwan, India https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/ar chives/2021/04/28/2003756464 185 Would People in Mainland China and https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/would-people- Hong Kong Choose Democracy If They in-mainland-china-and-hong-kong-choose- Could? democracy-if-they-could/ 186 Defending the Free World Again https://www.project- syndicate.org/commentary/liberal- democracies-must-defend-free-world-again-by- chris-patten-2021-04

Duterte faces difficult decision on next quarantine status for NCR Plus

Published April 27, 2021, 5:32 PM by Genalyn Kabiling The next quarantine classification of National Capital Region Plus for the month of May may be a “difficult decision” for President Duterte, Malacañang said Tuesday as the nation’s recorded cases of coronavirus soared past a million.

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President is expected to take into consideration the protection of the people from the coronavirus disease as well as from the problem of hunger when he decides on the risk classification of Metro Manila and other areas.

The government task force in charge of handling the pandemic response is expected to meet on Tuesday, April 27, to discuss the country’s coronavirus situation and submit a recommendation, particularly whether to extend or lift MECQ in NCR Plus, to President Duterte. The Chief Executive is expected to deliver a public address on Wednesday, April 28.

“Siyempre po napakabigat ang mga opinyon ng mga doktor lalung-lalo na sa klasipikasyon. Pero ang Presidente po, siyempre kinakailangan mas malawak po ang kaniyang pananaw dahil kung tayo po ay magsasalba ng ating mga kababayan laban sa COVID-19, dapat siguraduhin din ng Presidente na masasalba rin natin ang mas maraming mga kababayan laban po sa kagutuman (Of course, the opinion of the doctors on the quarantine carries weight but the President must have a wider view because if we want to save our people from COVID-19, the President must also ensure to save more of our people from hunger),” Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday.

Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IAITF) would hold a “long and thorough” discussion on the quarantine classification of the country for May. Risk classification of a place depends on factors including two-week attack rate, daily attack rate, and critical health care utilization rate.

“Ang tingin ko po ang rekomendasyon (I think the recommendation) will be a reasoned recommendation to the President na I expect will be also a difficult decision for the President,” he said.

“Mahirap po talaga ang desisyon pero magkakaroon po ng mahaba at saka thorough na balitaktakan mamayang hapon at ang tingin ko po ang rekomendasyon will be a reasoned recommendation to the President na I expect will be also a difficult decision for the President,” he added.

From a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal have been placed under the less restrictive MECQ until the end of April to stem the spike in coronavirus cases. The provinces of Quirino and Abra as well as Santiago City, Isabela are also placed under the MECQ until April 30.

The MECQ rules included a stay-at-home rule except for going to work and getting essential needs as well as limited mass gatherings and business operations.

Areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) are Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao City, Lanao del Sur, and Quezon. The rest of the Philippines stayed under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

The country has endured a rapid increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, prompting authorities to impose lockdown measures to slow down the transmission. As of April 27, the country reported 7,204 new cases, pushing the total number to 1,013,618. The country’s death toll has reached 16,916.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/may-quarantine-level-of-ncr-a-difficult-decision-for-duterte-palace- says/

Duterte Honors Heroism Of Health Workers During 500th Anniversary Of The Victory At Mactan BYSAMUEL MEDENILLA APRIL 28, 2021

2 MINUTE READ

The Lapu-Lapu monument in Mactan, Cebu. Photo from the National Quincentennial Commission President Rodrigo R. Duterte commemorated on Tuesday the 500th anniversary of the Battle Mactan by citing the heroism of the healthcare workers (HCW) during the ongoing pandemic.

In his pre-recorded video message, Duterte likened the patriotism of HCWs to that of Lapu- Lapu, when he fought and won against against Spanish invaders.

“Today, let us honor the worthy heirs to Lapulapu’s legacy, frontliners and healthcare workers who despite the challenges that come their way, continue to work for the safety and wellbeing of our people and the advancement of our nation,” Duterte said.

“They are our contemporary heroes that we must emulate,” he added.

For his part, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President may be also considered as a “modern day Lapu-Lapu” for his independent foreign policy.

“This means we are a friend to all [nations]–we have no enemies, but we do also bow to any foreign power,” Roque said in an online press briefing on Tuesday.

New Museum Duterte was unable to personally attend the celebration organized by the the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The NQC held several events including wreath laying and cultural program, in the Liberty Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, which will become the site of the Quincentennial Museum.

National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Rene Escalante noted the significance of the Battle of Mactan, which he said is the first recorded instance of the country defending its sovereignty.

Escalante said the event will be commemorated in the Quincentennial Museum, which is expected to start construction next year.

He noted the construction was supposed to begin this year but was postponed due to the pandemic.

“This is already include in our 2022 budget proposal and our timetable for this is two years,” Escalante explained.

“The first year will be for the construction of the building, while the second year will be for curatorial. So we are expecting anytime in 2023 we will be opening the museum,” he added. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/28/duterte-honors-heroism-of-health-workers-during-battle- of-mactan-quincentennial-commemoration/

Duterte spox says Battle of Mactan should be 'warning' vs would-be invaders Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News

Posted at Apr 27 2021 02:37 PM | Updated as of Apr 27 2021 03:17 PM

The statue of Lapu-Lapu, who was the datu of Mactan, an island in the Visayas in the Philippines at the Luneta Park in Manila on March 1, 2010. Lapu-Lapu is known as the first native of the archipelago to resist Spanish colonization. Noel Celis, AFP

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said Tuesday the Filipino victory against Spanish forces in the Battle of Mactan 500 years ago should serve as "warning" to foreign powers that seek to occupy Philippine territory.

Datu Lapu-Lapu and his warriors defeated Western firepower led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in Mactan island, Cebu on April 27, 1521.

Lapu-Lapu “reminds one and all of what it is to be a Filipino, to be great, to stand up against colonizers, and to offer our lives for country and our people,” said Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque.

“Let this be a warning to foreign powers that seek to occupy territories that belong truly to the Filipino,” Roque said during the opening on Monday of a Cebu museum that commemorates the Victory at Mactan.

“As President Duterte has said, we want to be friends with everyone, but make no mistake, 500 years ago, we made Lapu-Lapu into a hero. And today, many of our Filipinos would become heroes defending territory that is truly ours,” he added.

Foreign powers should perhaps “learn from the Filipinos’ past,” he said.

“It was here in Cebu that we had initial contacts with our Spanish brothers and sisters, but it was also here in Cebu that the Filipinos told the whole world, ‘We will die for our country,’” said Roque.

The Spanish colonization of the Philippines did succeed despite Magellan's slay in Mactan, and the country was under Spain's rule for over 300 years.

Roque's statement came following the government's diplomatic protests against a swarm of 240 Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea.

Roque declined to expound on his statement, saying he was not referring to any particular incident. He said “history itself speaks for itself, and we do not need to make any further pronouncement.” “I’m not referring to any particular issue, I’m just reminding the whole world of Philippine history, the proud moment when the Philippines stood up and prevailed against colonizers,” he added.

Duterte “will do what he thinks is best for the country,” Roque said, when asked if the President would consider a foreign policy shift away from China.

“Importante po na ang Presidente ay gumawa ng tamang desisyon maski ito po ay hindi popular,” he said.

(It is important that the President makes the right decision even if it's not popular.)

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/21/battle-of-mactan-invaders-malacaang

Neda Insists: Severe Pork Shortage Merits MAV Hike BYCAI ORDINARIO APRIL 28, 2021 3 MINUTE READ

The Department of Agriculture-Bantay Presyo and the Caloocan City Local Government conduct pork and fish price monitoring operations at the Maypajo Public Market in this file photo. THE recent spike in the price of pork already indicates a “severe pork shortage” in the Philippines, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

The Neda also confirmed at the hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole on Tuesday that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has cleared a resolution for approval by the President to declare a state of calamity with regard to the African Swine Fever (ASF).

During the hearing, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said meat inflation in Metro Manila has already reached 59 percent in March from around one percent in 2020. This, coupled with the 26-percent decline in hog production in the first quarter of the year, already point to a shortage.

“The mere fact that the inflation spiked so high suggests a severe shortage,” Chua said. “If the private sector statistics were correct, then [it should be] consistent when we compare the price and the quantity. [We should see] a consistent story. Unfortunately, we don’t. But with the official statistics, we see a consistent story of a severe supply shortage and a severe increase in the prices.”

Based on PSA data, hog production in the first quarter last year was at 571,259 MT. If the first quarter hog production declined by 26 percent, this would place the local hog industry’s production at around 422,731.66.

Chua told senators that for the past three years, the average pork consumption per capita was 15.9 kilograms (kg) per person.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/28/neda-insists-severe-pork-shortage-merits-mav-hike/

Duterte to do what's best for PH on China’s incursions, even if action is unpopular — Roque

Published April 27, 2021, 5:20 PM by Raymund Antonio President Duterte will do what is best for the country even if his chosen course of action may be unpopular. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said this on Tuesday, April 27, amid growing criticisms of the government’s seemingly passive stance against Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Speaking during his virtual press briefing, Roque maintained that the President has “executive privilege.”

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after his meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on April 19, 2021 (KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/FILE PHOTO)

“Alam ninyo po, kaya mayroon nga tayong tinatawag na executive privilege – importante po kasi na ang Presidente ay gumawa ng tamang desisyon maski ito po ay hindi popular na desisyon (You know, that’s why we have what’s called executive privilege — it’s important for the President to make the right decision even if it is an unpopular decision),” Roque said from Cebu, where he attended the commemoration of the 500th year since Lapulapu defeated the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

Executive privilege refers to the right of the President to maintain confidential communications under certain circumstances.

Roque noted that the President is free to “do what he thinks is best for the country” because he does not need to campaign anymore.

The spokesman also said that the Palace “respects” the views of the 11 senators who filed a resolution denouncing China’s illegal and unwarranted incursions on WPS. Senate Resolution No. 708 was initiated by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon as principal author, while 10 other senators signed as co-authors of the measure.

The 10 are Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senators Nancy Binay, Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla.

The senators criticized the continuous presence of Chinese vessels in the disputed waters despite repeated diplomatic protests by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Chinese vessels remain at the Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef), which is merely 170 nautical miles west of Palawan province.

At one point, in March, there were over 200 Chinese vessels there that Beijing said were merely seeking shelter from the weather condition. https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/duterte-to-do-whats-best-for-ph-on-chinas-incursions-even-if-action-is- unpopular-roque/

Fisherfolk in WPS areas protected by BFAR intervention plans

By Christine Cudis April 27, 2021, 8:40 pm

PROTECTED. Filipino fishermen operating in the West Philippine Sea have the financial and technological backing from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the agency assured on Tuesday (April 27, 2021). The agency also puts prime importance on food security. (PNA file photo)

MANILA – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said on Tuesday it has programs that will benefit fisherfolk in coastal communities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Through its regional offices, BFAR provides necessary interventions under programs such as fisheries development, fisheries regulation and law enforcement, and fisheries extension program.

“BFAR is strongly committed to fulfilling its mandate of ensuring food security, especially in this challenging time of the Covid-19 pandemic, alleviating the economic conditions of the fisheries sector especially the fisherfolk, and addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing among other challenges that continue to hound the Philippine fisheries sector," BFAR said in a statement.

Data from BFAR-Region I showed more than PHP73 million worth of livelihood resources and technology projects were turned over to fisherfolk and other fisheries stakeholders in Pangasinan.

BFAR Region III, on the other hand, has been distributing fish aggregating device (payaos) and vessels in the 14 local government units of Zambales since 2016.

Additionally, BFAR-III has an open line with fisherfolk and commercial fishing vessel operators in order to monitor and assess the situation in fishing areas.

BFAR reiterated Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s directive that encourages unity and whole-of-nation approach to uphold the Filipinos' rights over WPS and the Exclusive Economic Zone.

"We remain committed in our mandate to address IUU fishing in Philippine waters in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 14 in protecting and conserving our oceans while we continuously advocate for a science-based fisheries management and development," the agency said. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138133

Palace respects senators’ stance against China’s presence in WPS

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos April 27, 2021, 5:24 pm

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday said it respects the position of several senators against China’s illegal activities in the country's exclusive economic zone (EZZ) and other parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This, after around 11 senators signed a Senate resolution, condemning the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the highly-contested waters despite a series of diplomatic protests lodged by the Philippines against China.

“The Palace respects that as the views of 11 policymakers of the country,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press briefing.

Under Senate Resolution 708 authored by Senate Minority Franklin Drilon, the senators said the continued presence of Chinese vessels violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Other senators who signed the resolution on Monday are Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto and Senators Nancy Binay, Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Manuel Lapid, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, and Ramon Revilla Jr.

Amid the maritime dispute, Roque reassured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte would make a “right” decision that would be beneficial to the country.

“Importante po kasing ang Presidente ay gumawa ng tamang desisyon maski ito po ay hindi popular na desisyon. At ang Presidente naman po, hindi na kinakailangan mangampanya. (It’s important that the President makes the right decision even if it’s not a popular decision. And the President is no longer campaigning). So he will do what he thinks is best for the country,” he said.

On July 12, 2016, the PCA in The Hague, Netherlands invalidated China's nine-dash line, a geographical marker Beijing invoked to assert its extensive claims in the strategic waters.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on April 14 already filed two diplomatic protests against China amid the prolonged presence of its vessels in WPS. The DFA’s filing of twin verbale notes came following reports that around 240 Chinese vessels were spotted in the Julian Felipe Reef at WPS on April 11.

On April 21, the National Task Force (NTF) for WPS said it is already coordinating for the deployment of more assets needed by Area Task Forces in securing the country’s control and sovereignty over the maritime territory.

The NTF-WPS also promised to uphold the country’s sovereignty over its territory as mandated by the 1987 Constitution, as well as to protect the country’s sovereign rights over the Philippine EEZ in accordance with international law. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138193

Joint fishing in 12nm territorial sea of BdM sans deal: Roque

By John Rey Saavedra April 27, 2021, 5:10 pm

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (Screengrab from PTV video)

CEBU CITY – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., on Tuesday said joint fishing between Filipino and Chinese fishermen can be done in the 12 nautical mile territorial sea around Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea even without agreement between the two countries.

Roque, in a press briefing at the sidelines of the Philippine quincentennial commemoration of the Victory of Mactan, invoked a provision of the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to support his assertion on traditional fishing rights between contesting countries.

“The Tribunal notes that the traditional fishing rights may exist even within the territorial waters of another State 381 and considers that its jurisdiction to address this dispute is not dependent on a prior determination of sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal,” Roque said, quoting paragraph 407 of the arbitral ruling.

In explaining the provision, he said traditional fishing ground can be done in the 12 nautical mile territorial sea around Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, among the fishermen from the Philippines, China, and even Vietnam, not by virtue of an agreement, but because of the decision of the international arbitral court in The Netherlands, which the Filipinos are relying on.

He said a portion of the arbitration award must be respected, even if it is not favorable to a country.

“Pinanindigan po ng Presidente natin, President (Rodrigo) Duterte itong panalo natin kasama po yung desisyon na meron talagang traditional fishing na puedeng mangyari sa parte ng mga Pilipino, Vietnamese, at Tsino dyan po sa Scarborough Shoal (President Duterte has stood for our arbitral win which includes a decision on the traditional fishing rights by the Filipinos, Vietnamese and Chinese there in Scarborough Shoal),” Roque said.

Meanwhile, Roque said Duterte recognized the heroism of Lapu-Lapu in winning the battle against Spanish invaders on April 27, 1521, which made him the first Filipino to stand and fight against the then colonial interest of Europeans. "Dahil dito kinalala ni President Rodrigo Roa Dutete ang kabayanihan ni Lapu-Lapu. Nagbigay- pugay ang ating Pangulo ng kanyang nilagdaan ang EO 17 noong Abril 7, 2017 or apat na taon na ang nakalipas na nag-create ng Order of Lapu-Lapu na nagkilala ng mga opisyal at mga tauhan ng pamalahaan at maging pribadong indibidwal sa kanilang natatanging serbisyo or extraordinary service kaugnay ng kampanya o adbokasiya ng Pangulo(Because of this, President Rodrigo Roa Dutete considers the heroism of Lapu-Lapu. The President paid his tribute to him when he signed Executive Order 17 last April 7, 2017 or four years ago which created the Order of Lapu-Lapu that seeks to recognize officials and workers of the government and even private individuals who display extraordinary service in relation to the campaign or advocacy of the President)," he said.

He added that some members of the Philippine Marines were bestowed with the Order of Lapu- Lapu award for fighting against the ISIS-inspired Maute fighters in Marawi City in 2017.

Duterte also signed a proclamation declaring April 27 a "special working day" in the entire country to pay tribute to the heroism of Lapu-Lapu. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138173

PCG welcomes CSC Commissioner Lizada as Auxiliary General

Published April 27, 2021, 11:46 AM by Richa Noriega Civil Service Commission (CSC) Commissioner Aileen Lizada has been appointed as official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Auxiliary Executive Squadron in Davao City.

Lizada was promoted to the rank of Commodore, or equivalent to Brigadier General in the military.

(Photo courtesy of the PCG) She took her oath before PCG Commandant Admiral George Ursabia Jr. in Davao City on Friday, April 23.

PCG WELCOMES CSC COMMISSIONER LIZADA AS AUXILIARY COMMODORE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, Admiral George V…

Posted by Philippine Coast Guard on Sunday, April 25, 2021 The CSC commissioner said she was honored to become part of the PCG that she considered as “one of the most hardworking and dedicated agencies amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.” (Photo courtesy of the PCG) Lizada served as the former Chief of Staff of then mayor, now President Duterte. She also served the office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao and the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) before her appointment in the CSC on Dec. 5, 2018

She was conferred the “Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice” award by then pope, now Saint John Paul II for her “integrity, work ethic, and character” in 2000.

Under the PCGA Manual 2012, the PCGA Executive Squadron shall be composed of individuals whose position and influence in the society could support the Coast Guard in the attainment of its mission, under the supervision of the PCG Commandant.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/pcg-welcomes-csc-commissioner-lizada-as-auxiliary-general/

PAF attack helicopter crashes in Bohol

By Priam Nepomuceno April 27, 2021, 1:29 pm

MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) confirmed that one of its McDonnell Douglas MD-520 "Defender" attack helicopters crashed in Bohol after a maintenance flight on Tuesday.

"We can confirm that we have a downed aircraft in the vicinity of Bohol. As of now, that is the only thing that I can tell you. Right now, we are still gathering all the information needed so that we will be able to give you (more) information," PAF spokesperson Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano said in an interview with reporters.

Mariano said the mishap took place around 9:30 a.m.

The helicopter took off from Mactan Island for a periodic maintenance flight and shortly went down in the shoreline of Getape, Bohol.

"Investigation is still ongoing to (determine what exactly happened in that) incident," he added.

Mariano said they are still confirming reports on survivors and fatalities from the incident.

The PAF is known to operate around 12 to 16 models of these attack helicopters.

It has acquired 25 units of these helicopters in the early 1990s and it was used to support troops during encounters with the New People's Army and lawless elements like the Abu Sayyaf Group for the past few years.

The MD-520 is derived from the MD-500 light utility helicopter. It can be armed with .50 caliber heavy machines and air-to-ground rockets. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138137

PAF combat chopper crashes in Bohol; pilot dead, 3 survive

Published April 27, 2021, 3:00 PM by Martin Sadongdong A Philippine Air Force (PAF) attack helicopter crashed during a maintenance flight in Getafe, Bohol Tuesday morning, April 27, killing the pilot and injuring three others.

Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano, PAF spokesperson, said a McDonnel Douglas 520-MG “Defender” combat chopper from the 15th Strike Wing went down on the shorelines of Gestafe town around 9:30 a.m.

“We can confirm that we have a downed aircraft in the vicinity of Bohol,” Mariano said.

Mariano said the pilot did not survive the crash after he chose to stay inside the chopper as it crashed while the survivors managed to jump into the sea before the impact.

The PAF has yet to release the identities of the lone fatality and the survivors as their families were being notified of the incident.

Mariano said the pilot-in-command was captain while the survivors included the co-pilot with a rank of 1st Lieutenant; and two crew members who are both Airman First Class. The body of the pilot was already retrieved on site.

Local police and the Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) identified the fatality as Captain Aurelios Olano.

The survivors were brought to a medical facility in Talibon, Bohol for immediate treatment, said Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The cause of the crash was already being investigated by the authorities as of this writing. However, Mariano said the chopper took off from a PAF military base in Mactan Island, Cebu and was conducting a periodic test flight when it crashed into the shore.

“The aircraft is on a maintenance flight and those are the areas na pinaggagawaan nila ng maintenance flight (where they do maintenance flight),” he said.

“Ito po ay isang engineering flight so doon po chine-check yung equipment such as the radios, mga communication device, and others (It was an engineering flight where they check the radios, the communication device, and others,” he added.

Mariano said PAF probers from the 505 Search and Rescue Group, the 47th infantry Battalion, and the Bohol PDRRMO were already sent on-site to retireve the aircraft.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes, PAF Commanding General, ordered the immediate grounding of all MD 520-MG choppers in their fleet to subject them into a maintenance check.

“May utos na ang ating Commanding General na i-ground ang lahat ng ating MD 520-MG aircraft for an inspection until such time that they are certified again to be air worthy (The Commanding General ordered the grounding of all our MD 520-MG aircraft for an inspection until such time that they are certified again to be air worthy),” Mariano said.

The ill-fated MD 520-MG chopper was part of the batch of attack helicopters that were delivered into the Philippines from 1990 to 1995, Mariano said.

Paredes grieved the death of the pilot even as he assured that the PAF will provide all the necessary assistance and financial aid to his bereaved family.

Arevalo said Gen. Cirilito Sobejana was saddened by the loss of the Philippine Air Force and ordered a speedy investigation on the incident to determine the cause of the crash.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/paf-combat-chopper-crashes-in-bohol-pilot-dead-3-survive/

Go extends financial aid to victims of Bohol chopper crash

April 27, 2021, 11:14 pm

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go talks to one of the three injured passengers of a Philippine Air Force helicopter crash inside an ambulance at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu on Tuesday. (Contributed photo)

MANILA –The Office of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has committed to extend financial assistance to the fatality and three injured passengers of a Philippine Air Force helicopter that crashed in the waters off Jandayan Island off Getafe town, Bohol province on Tuesday morning.

The pilot identified as Capt. Aurelios Olano was killed in the mishap.

Senator Go personally expressed his sympathy to the injured passengers and Olano’s family.

Aside from the financial assistance, the Go’s office and President Rodrigo Duterte committed to shoulder the hospitalization of the three injured Airforce personnel.

The three were first brought to President Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Hospital in Talibon town, Bohol.

They were later transferred to Cebu where two of them were admitted to the Allegiant Regional Care Hospital while the other was brought to the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Airbase Hospital.

Olano will be brought to Bohol following a Requiem Mass at Mactan Airbase.

Based on official reports, the helicopter left Mactan Airbase for a periodic maintenance flight but suddenly experienced turbulence while on air.

Go was in Cebu to grace the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Victory of Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City. He also headed for the opening of the 103rd Malasakit Center located in Carcar Provincial Hospital.

He distributed assistance to the members of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association, habal- habal drivers, and public market vendors in Carcar City.

Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Undersecretary Anthony Gerard Ybañez Gonzales visited the injured Air Force personnel on Tuesday evening and personally turned over the financial assistance from the President and Senator Go. (PR)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138247

- of community pantry organizers BySC VIRGIL Justice LOPEZ, GMACarandang News to quiz Esperon on ‘red tagging’ Published April 27, 2021 7:54pm

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang on Tuesday vowed to - anizers as the high tribunal tackled petitions againstinquire thewith anti-terror National Security law. Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. about the “red tagging” of community pantry org Carandang made the statement after Assistant Solicitor General Raymund Rigodon said during the oral arguments that he had no personal knowledge regarding the basis of some government officials to associate the organizers with the communist movement.

Rigodon instead sug

gested for Esperon to answer Carandang’s queries.

“We will toss the questions to him later on. I have some questions for General TheEsperon,” SC will Carandang continue the said. interpellation of government representatives on May 4.

Esperon is the vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), whose two spokespersons Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy made controversial remarks against some people behind community pantries.

The Cabinet official has since asked Parlade and Badoy to refrain from making statements about the matter.

Last week, critics slammed police officers over the profiling of community pantry organizers. The alleged red-tagging also led to the temporary closure of community pantries on Maginhawa Street in Quezon City and Cagayan de Oro City.

Some senators have called for the realignment of the NTF-ELCAC's P19-billion allocation under the 2021 national budget, which was intended for the development of communities recently cleared of communist insurgency, following incidents of alleged red-tagging of community pantry owners.

Malacañang rejected the proposal. -MDM, GMA News https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/785362/sc-justice-carandang-to-quiz-esperon-on- red-tagging-of-community-pantry-organizers/story/

15 senators seek censure of NTF-ELCAC’s Parlade

Published April 27, 2021, 2:39 PM by Hannah Torregoza Fifteen senators on Tuesday, April 27, have filed the resolution which seeks to censure National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr. for his “disrespectful and derogatory” remarks against members of the Senate following their call for a review and possible defunding of the agency’s P19-billion budget.

(Senate of the Philippines PRIB) Senate Resolution No 709, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, was also signed by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Leila de Lima, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Grace Poe, and Joel Villanueva.

In seeking Parlade’s censure, the senators reminded the NTF-ELCAC spokesperson that “progressive thinking is not communism.”

“The senators’ reprimand of Lt. Gen. Parlade is justified and scrutiny of the NTF-ELCAC’s use of its budget is warranted, in light of the deplorable acts and pronouncements of Lt. Gen. Parlade as NTF-ELCAC Spokesperson,” they said in the resolution.

“Instead of engaging in a constructive debate, Lt. Gen. Parlade has chosen to demean and disparage the Senators, through statements that display his limited grasp of Congress’ role in the budget process and show his lack of respect not just for the Senators as duly-elected representatives of the people but also for the Senate as an institution,” they stressed.

The lawmakers also defended the rise of community pantries in the country from red- tagging after the NTF-ELCAC subjected its organizers to profiling. “Contrary to the assertions of Lt. Gen. Parlade, progressive thinking is not communism and expression of opinions or criticisms and purposeful involvement in humanitarian community efforts do not constitute rebellion, sedition, or terrorism,” the lawmakers said.

“If Parlade’s pronouncements and profiling of community pantry organizers were done pursuant to NTF-ELCAC’s policy direction, then the agency has clearly departed from its mandate and members of the Senate have basis to realign its funds to more worthy causes that would make better use of taxpayers’ money, such as providing much-needed aid to people suffering from the effects of the pandemic,” the senators lamented.

Drilon said he is certain that the resolution will be adopted when session resumes on May 17.

“This is as good as adopted when we resume session on May 17. It is a certainty that Parlade will be censured by the Senate for this kind of conduct when we resume session,” the minority leader said.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/15-senators-seek-censure-of-ntf-elcacs-parlade/

Duterte won't step in, leaves decision on Parlade to NTF- ELCAC — Roque

Published April 27, 2021, 6:16 PM by Raymund Antonio Malacañang is leaving the decision to the government’s counter-insurgency task force whether or not its spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. should be sacked from his post over his controversial remarks on community pantries and senators.

Noting that President Duterte “does not micromanage,” his spokesperson Harry Roque said it is up to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to decide on Parlade’s fate.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

“Bahala na po ang NTF-ELCAC kung susundin nila ang rekomendasyon ni Senator (Panfilo) Lacson (It’s up to the NTF-ELCAC if they will follow the recommendation of Senator Lacson),” he said in his Tuesday’s online media briefing.

The Senate has adopted a committee report recommending the removal of Parlade as the task force’s spokesperson. Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense, sponsored the report.

Several lawmakers have also pushed to defund the national anti-communist task force next year and reallocate its P19 billion budget for financial aid over Parlade’s involvement in red-tagging incidents.

With this threat, the military official responded by calling the senators “stupid,”prompting the latter to file Senate Resolution No. 709 stating that Parlade should be censured for his “disrespectful, derogatory, and demeaning statements.” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon led the filing of the resolution. Signing it were Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and 11 other senators.

Palace stands with the National Security Adviser (NSA) chief Hermogenes Esperon’s gag order on Parlade and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy following their disparaging remarks against some organizers of community pantries.

Esperon is the vice chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC.

Roque said he has already talked to Esperon and he confirmed telling both spokespersons to remain calm and be more careful with their statements.

He emphasized that officials should be more careful with their words and “kailangan mas malawak ang kanilang pananaw (should be more open minded).”

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/duterte-wont-step-in-leaves-decision-on-parlade-to-ntf-elcac-roque/

Guevarra: Congress Should Pass A Law To Define Red-Tagging And Its Penalties BYJOEL R. SAN JUAN APRIL 28, 2021 2 MINUTE READ

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday threw the ball back to the House of Representatives on the issue of red-tagging, saying that it should pass a law if it really intends to criminalize such activity.

Guevarra made the comment after House of Representatives Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez sought the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NB) to conduct an investigation on reports of red-tagging of some community pantry organizers.

While he assured the request would be discussed with the NBI, Guevarra said lawmakers could also do their part by passing a law that would clearly define red-tagging and imposing penalties against individuals who will be found guilty of such action.

“It would be best, however, that Congress enact a law clearly defining and expressly penalizing what is loosely called today as ‘red-tagging’,” Guevarra said.

Without a law that covers red-tagging, Guevarra complaints related to red-tagging “may revolve around defamation, harassment, coercion, unjust vexation, or violation of privacy laws, but not for an offense called ‘red-tagging.”

“If the Congress is minded to criminalize red-tagging, it should enact the appropriate legislation,” Guevarra stressed.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/28/guevarra-congress-should-pass-a-law-to-define-red- tagging-and-its-penalties/

House leader asks CHR, NBI to probe red- tagging of community pantries

Published April 27, 2021, 10:48 AM by Vanne Elaine Terrazola Another leader of the House of Representatives has joined the calls against the red-tagging and reported profiling of organizers of community pantries.

House deputy speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez said Tuesday, April 27, that he filed a resolution asking the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the red-tagging and profiling activities that forced the closure of community pantries.

People line up at the community pantry set up by 26-year-old Ana Patricia Non in Maginhawa Street, Quezon City. Non’s initiative has inspired over 300 makeshift pantries that have sprouted in various areas of the Philippines. (MANILA BULLETIN/Mark Balmores)

“Unfortunately, many community pantries were forced to close because their owners/organizers became afraid of being red-tagged after being approached by police and asked for their personal information,” he said in Resolution No. 1725.

Rodriguez cited the experience of his constituents in Cagayan de Oro, when one community pantry in Barangay Kauswagan was closed after its organizer was “red-tagged and systematically harassed with leaflets being circulated and posted everywhere”.

He said a restaurateur had also complained of being approached and “profiled” by individuals who introduced themselves as police officers.

Quezon City resident Ana Patricia Non, initiator of the Maginhawa Community Pantry that spawned similar donation-driven efforts throughout the country, was forced to stop her program last Tuesday, April 20, after being linked by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to communist rebels.

Police officers were also reported to have approached other community pantries and asked organizers for their personal information, including their affiliation and Facebook accounts.

“There is a need to look into the red-tagging activities and put a stop to it if it results in good ideas like community pantries being forced to closed down,” Rodriguez appealed, saying the initiative, which aimed to provide food items to people severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, “exemplifies the bayanihan spirit of Filipinos.”

The CHR earlier raised concern over the “shameful and politicking actions” done by government officials and law enforcement authorities against community pantry volunteers.

“We remind the government, particularly, local law enforcement officers, that collecting data including the affiliation of community pantry organizers, is an encroachment upon the right to privacy of citizens and represents yet again an overreach and abuse of police power,” CHR spokesperon Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement.

Several lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate have called for an audit of the billions of funds allocated to the NTF-ELCAC, with which the red-labelling activities have been associated.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/house-leader-asks-chr-nbi-to-probe-red-tagging-of-community- pantries/

House resolution to probe use of P19-B anti-insurgency funds filed

Published April 27, 2021, 7:26 PM by Vanne Elaine Terrazola Officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF- ELCAC) might also have to face lawmakers at the House of Representatives to defend its use of its P19-billion budget amid criticisms on its red-tagging activities against community pantry volunteers.

House of Representatives (MANILA BULLETIN File photo/Alvin Kasiban)

This, as House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero filed Resolution No. 1729, which “strongly” urges the lower chamber to look into the utilization of the government’s anti-insurgency funds.

Romero noted that the NTF-ELCAC has been heavily criticized by the public “owing mostly to its highly questionable and controversial habit and practice of red-tagging various individuals through mainstream or social media.”

The administration ally particularly mentioned the task force’s spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr. and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy for red-tagging Ana Patricia Non, who initiated the “now wonderfully popular” community pantry in Quezon City.

Parlade and Badoy’s “unsubstantiated and baseless claims”, he said, exposes community pantry organizers to “serious dangers against their rights”.

“The rampant and unlawful profiling and obvious red-tagging of organizers to associate them as members of the CPP-NPA and therefore ‘terrorists…is simply to too wicked to be ignored,” Romero said. “Attributing malice, without presenting hard evidence, sows division among Filipinos and send chilling effect to those who may want to help their kababayan (countrymen),” he added.

“It is a great disservice to the Filipino nation to allow NTF-ELCAC to proceed with their mandate without a thorough review by Congress, through its legislative oversight function, of how the same office is using its funds which may be well be put to better use in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Romero pointed out.

In a related development, members of the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc also filed on Tuesday, April 27, a bill that would reallocate the NTF-ELCAC’s funds for the provision of a P100 emergency daily wage subsidy to workers in the private sector.

The progressive lawmakers said the bill, which is based on the demands of several labor groups, aims to close the gap between the nominal amount of daily minimum wages and its real value.

“Ordinary citizens are already doing their part to help their fellow Filipinos through the community pantry, while the government have been repeatedly remiss in providing financial aid amidst the lockdowns…It’s time for the government to give its share, to bring something to the table,” Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite, one of its authors, said.

“Since there are calls to defund the NTF-ELCAC, this bill presents another alternative to where their funds could be reallocated. Kesa nilulustay ni Parlade at Badoy ang perang iyan, ibigay na lang natin ‘yan sa mga manggagawa (Instead of Parlade and Badoy wasting the funds, let’s just give that to the workers),” he said.

“Let’s put that fund to better use. Sayang lang ‘yan kung popondohan lang ang chismosos- in-tandem na ito (Funds are being wasted by these rumormongerers in tandem),” Gaite appealed.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/house-resolution-to-probe-use-of-p19-b-anti-insurgency-funds-filed/

Bato: Reds to benefit if NTF-ELCAC is defunded

Published April 27, 2021, 6:29 PM by Hannah Torregoza Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday, April 27, warned that communists and terrorists will likely benefit if the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is defunded of its P19-billion budget.

Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa supports the retention of the NTF-ELCAC’s P19-billion budget. Officials of the goverment’s anti-insurgency task force are criticized for linking civilians to communist rebels. (Senate of the Philippines)

Echoing Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s view, Dela Rosa said he finds it unfair to to defund the NTF-ELCAC if this was only triggered by the alleged red-tagging of community pantry organizers, specifically of Patricia Non, who organized the first pantry in Maginhawa in Quezon City, by the agency’s spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief defended Parlade, saying the military official was only doing a background check on community pantry organizers.

If senators push through with removing the funds allocated for the NTF-ELCAC, Dela Rosa said those who will stand to gain are the Communist Party of the Philippines, New Peoples’ Army and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

“Hindi po tama. Para sa akin ay wrong move ‘yon (It’s not right. For me, defunding it would be a wrong move),” Dela Rosa said in an interview with DWIZ.

“Dahil dapat i-separate natin ‘yong personality ni Parlade bilang isang anti-communist at yung NTF-ELCAC bilang isang ahensya ng gobyerno na (We need to separate Parlade’s personality as an anti-communist and the NTF-ELCAC as a government agency that has been) very effective in gaining grounds against the CPP-NPA-NDF,” he said. The senator pointed out Malacañang has already said that a bigger portion of the P19-billion budget — amounting to P16.4-billion — is going to be utilized to fund for development projects in barangays already cleared of insurgencies.

“Sasabihin ng mga taumbayan doon na nakatira sa mga cleared barangays na naghihintay, nag-aabang na dumating ‘yong kanilang mga barangay development programs, sabihin nila ‘Itong gobyerno na ito walang isang salita’ (The people living in those cleared barangays who are waiting for funds for their barangay development programs will be disappointed at the government for reneging on its promise),” Dela Rosa said.

“’Mabuti pa bumalik na lang tayo sa NPA.’ So, sino makikinabang? ‘Yong NPA, ‘di ba?” (They will say: ‘Let’s go back to being part of the NPA.’ So will benefit? Those NPAs will),” the lawmaker stressed.

Some senators and House lawmakers are seeking a review of the P19.1-billion budget given to the NTF-ELCAC after red-tagging civilians involved in the community pantries that have sprouted in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

On Monday, Senator Joel Villanueva led four other senators in filing Senate Resolution No. 707 which seeks an inquiry into how the NTF-ELCAC is spending its money and possibly realigning the agency’s funds to boost the government’s COVID-19 response.

On Tuesday, 15 senators signed Senate Resolution No. 709, which seeks to censure Parlade for calling the senators “stupid” when they pressed for a review and possible defunding of the agency’s P19-billion budget.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/bato-reds-to-benefit-if-ntf-elcac-is-defunded/

PH & US armies hold first-ever 'training rotation' in Fort Magsaysay

Published April 27, 2021, 5:10 PM by Roy Mabasa After wrapping up the successful annual Balikatan exercise last week, United States soldiers from the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) are now engaging in their first-ever partner training rotation with the Philippine Army, taking place from April to June 2021 at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

The bilateral events between the 5th SFAB and the Philippine Army involve subject matter expert exchanges across the spectrum of military operations to include communications, logistics, and unit training management.

Both sides are expected to learn and train, share best practices, collaborate on areas of mutual interest, and lay the groundwork for future exercises between the two nations.

“We are very excited to train with our Philippine partners,” said Capt. Oleg Sheynfeld, commander of the SFAB team in the Philippines. “Throughout our rotation, we will conduct subject matter expert exchanges to increase interoperability between our forces across the spectrum of military operations.”

The US team that arrived in the Philippines last month is part of the 5th SFAB’s Force Package 21-1, which began employing American soldiers into the Indo-Pacific in January 2021.

The 5th SFAB’s training teams are comprised of about 20 highly skilled, hand-selected soldiers capable of providing advanced training expertise in military specialties like communications, logistics, and medical aid. Collectively, the 5th SFAB team members bring with them more than 100 years of military experience. Philippine Army Spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala welcomed the partnership between the two armies that aims to enhance the capabilities and interoperability of both forces in conventional, joint, and combined operations as it promotes solidarity in the global fight against terror in all its forms.

Among the Philippine Army units that are taking part in the bilateral exercise include the 1st Brigade Combat Team, the 99th Infantry Battalion, Training, and Doctrine Command, Support Command, and the Forward Service Support Unit.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/ph-training-rotation-in-fort-magsaysay/

2 anti-communist group members killed in ambush

Published April 27, 2021, 10:08 PM by Calvin Cordova CEBU CITY—Two members of an anti-communist group were killed in an ambush in Batuan town, Bohol last Monday afternoon, April 26.

The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) said the ambush was carried out by at least 20 armed men allegedly belonging the New People’s Army (NPA).

The fatalities were identified as Rolando Pornes of Barangay Buhog, Carmen Bohol, and Jaime Cagatin of Barangay Salvador, Bohol.

Antonio Muring, 44, of Barangay Napo, Alicia, Bohol, and a member of CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) of the 47IB, Philippine Army was injured in the attack.

Micheal Hinampas of Barangay Bicao, Carmen, Bohol, and also a member of CAFGU, went missing after the ambush.

It was only on Tuesday morning, April 27, when Hinampas was rescued by pursuing policemen and soldiers in Barangay Cambacay, Batuan.

Police said the victims came from an anti-communist campaign and were heading home aboard their motorcycles when they were waylaid in Barangay Aloja past 5 p.m.

The victims belonged to the Bohol Organized New Guardians Association, Incorporated-Grupong Bol-anon Alang sa Kalamboan ug Kalinaw (BONGA GBKK), which involved in various campaigns against the CTGs in Bohol.

Police said Muring identified the assailants as their former co-members in the CTG.

Muring identified the assailants as Romeo Nabas and Ruben Nabas of Barangay Rizal, Batuan, Bohol.

“Our condolences to the families of those who died. We at PRO 7 will do our best to help them attain justice and make sure that their contribution in the campaign against terrorism will not go in vain,” said Police Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo, chief of PRO 7.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/2-anti-communist-group-members-killed-in-ambush/ Reds' killing sprees to further weaken CP-NPA: ex- cadres

By Marita Moaje April 27, 2021, 8:31 pm

MANILA – A group composed of former rebels condemned the ambush by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) which resulted in the death of their two members in Bohol on Monday.

The Sentrong Alyansa ng Mamamayan para sa Bayan (Sambayanan), in a statement Tuesday, warned that communist terrorist groups (CTGs) are courting disaster if they continue their killing sprees.

Sambayanan identified their slain colleagues as Rolando Pornis and Jaime Cagatin.

Two others, Michael Hinampas and Antonio Muring, survived the ambush but were badly wounded.

“The NPA's killing shall not go in vain as it would signal the rise of the masses against the CPP- NPA-NDF,” the group said.

The victims were ambushed by six CPP-NPA terrorists at the border of Barangays Aloha and Vambacay in Batuan town at around 4:30 p.m.

Sambayanan said the victims were onboard motorcycles on their way home to Carmen town after meeting with Barangay Aloha residents.

Attacking unarmed civilian volunteers is a strong indication that the CTGs are already hurting and affected by the current counter-political drives that the CPP-NPA started, the group said.

“This incident is reminiscent of the emergence of the Alsa Masa movement and similar uprisings of the masses against the CPP-NPA-NDF in other parts of the country,” Sambayanan’s statement read.

The ambush may just be the start of a bloody reaction by the CPP-NPA-NDF as they are slowly going down the drain.

“The wanton killings made by the NPA Sparrow Unit against soldiers, policemen, and civilians in both the cities and countryside triggered the phenomenal anti-communism movement in the country that eventually rattled the CPP-NPA-NDF to launch a senseless internal purging which ended with the reexamination and correction of itself (Ikalawang Dakilang Kilusang Pagwawasto or IDKP/Second Great Rectification Movement),” the statement read.

Sambayanan is a multi-sectoral alliance formed by former rebels and cadres of the CPP-NPA-NDF, after they returned to the fold of the law.

Members are now pushing for genuine peace and development, in support of Executive Order (EO) 70 signed by President Duterte in December 2018.

EO 70 created the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict that institutionalized a whole- of-nation approach in obtaining exclusive and sustainable peace.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138209

Iloilo activists decry anew red-tagging

Published April 27, 2021, 4:55 PM by Tara Yap ILOILO CITY – Activists in Iloilo are once again condemning the alleged red-tagging or alleged linkages to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing of the New People’s Army (NPA).

“This is a cowardly deed,” said Bryan Bosque, deputy spokesperson of Bayan-Panay.

This is after tarpaulins bearing the name and face of Bosque and other activits have again appeared in several places in Iloilo City.

Others include Lean Porquia, the son of slain activist Jory Porquia; John Ian Alenciaga of Altermedya Panay; Lucy Francisco of Gabriela-Panay; Irish Inoceto of Iloilo Pride Team; Maura Abellon of Kadamay-Panay; and lawyers Teofisto Melliza and Jobert Pahilga of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL).

The tarpaulin said the activists are qualified for the Enhanced Community Livelihood Integration Program (E-CLIP), the government’s reintegration program for former NPA rebels.

Bosque said the tarpaulins are only malicious, but also aims to silence them.

Bosque emphasized that it jeopardizes their safety and security, especially that other activists have been previously tagged before they were killed.

“If they were not killed, they were jailed or filed with trumped-up charges just like what happened to Bayan-Panay’s secretary general Elmer Forro,” Bosque added.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has ordered the tarpaulins to be taken down.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/iloilo-activists-decry-anew-red-tagging/

Senior NPA leader, wife killed in Agusan clash

ByAl Jacinto, TMT April 27, 2021

ZAMBOANGA CITY: A senior communist rebel leader and his wife were killed in a firefight with government troops in Agusan del Sur province in southern Philippines, officials announced Tuesday.

Officials said the fighting broke out in the village of Santa Maria in Trento town that killed Danny Huit, the committee secretary of the New People’s Army Guerrilla Front North. His wife, Naneth Catalino, also a member of the separatist rebel group, died while fighting alongside Huit.

Col. Oliver Maquiling, commander of the 701st Infantry Brigade, said members of the 67th Infantry Battalion clashed with the couple after tracking them down in the village.

Maguiling said a villager tipped off the soldiers about the presence of the rebels in the area. Huit and his wife tried to escape, but eventually were killed in the running gun battle, adding, no soldiers were injured or killed in the

Monday clash. He also lauded the relentless efforts of the troops in securing the communities against threats posed by rebels. A military dossier on Huit said he had a string of murder charges and was wanted in Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro provinces.

Maj. Gen. Greg Almerol, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, also praised the soldiers and the tipster for their vigilance.

“The sustained coordination between the troops and the people is the key to our goal of building an insurgency-free and resilient community. Without their firm support, we cannot fully uproot the evils brought by the communist terrorist group,” he said.

He also urged rebels to surrender peacefully to the government and take advantage of the amnesty being offered by the Duterte administration. “We are calling the remaining members of the communist terrorist group to yield to the government peacefully instead of fighting for a cause that only sow terror and violence.”

“Choosing to die for a cause that has already claimed many innocent lives is not a noble act. The blood of the people you killed for your selfish political agenda will forever haunt you. History will only absolve you if you choose to surrender peacefully and help the country in building a peaceful and progressive Philippines,” Almerol said.

He also lauded the 10th Infantry Battalion headed by Maj. Gen. Ernesto Torres to which the brigade and battalion belong.

For his part, Torres praised the soldiers for “standing by their mandate of protecting the people from lawless elements” and echoed Almerol’s call for rebels to surrender and avail the amnesty offer of the government.

Almerol and Torres were referring to the government’s amnesty program called E-Clip, a peace-building and social protection program that provides interventions and financial aid to those who surrender so they live peacefully with their family and become productive citizens of society.

The NPA has been waging a violent campaign for many decades now in an effort to put up a communist state in the country. https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/27/news/senior-npa-leader-wife-killed-in-agusan-clash/868189/

OSG lawyers wither during interpellation on anti- terror law Kristine Joy Patag (Philstar.com) - April 27, 2021 - 9:31pm MANILA, Philippines — In the resumption of the highly-anticipated debates on the petitions against the anti-terrorism law, Assistant solicitors general tasked to defend the government in the case fumbled during interpellation.

Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang was the first magistrate to quiz the respondents, represented by Solicitor General Jose Calida and his assistant solicitors general.

Calida delivered the opening statement but delegated fielding questions to his officials. On surveillance

Section 16 states that law enforcement agents or military agents may, upon written order from the Court of Appeals, secretly wiretap or listen in on any private communication between proscribed and designated terrorists or those charged with violations of the anti-terrorism law.

In her interpellation, Carandang asked: When does surveillance start?

Assistant Solicitor General Marissa Dela Cruz-Galandines initially agreed with Carandang that the government cannot conduct surveillance without authorization from the appeals court.

But the justice pointed out that for the government to obtain written authority from the court, they would have to present intelligence reports containing confidential information also gathered from surveillance.

“So that the government is into surveillance informal surveillance before going into a formal surveillance to be obtained upon application from the court of appeals. Is the government not violating any rules on the right to privacy because they are government agents conducting informal surveillance?” Caradang continued.

Galandines asserted that this is a matter involving national security, “therefore, your honor, we believe that there is no violation by the government in doing so.” On designation

A majority of the petitioners assailed the Anti-Terrorism Council’s power to designate a person or a group as terrorist—they argued that this encroaches upon judicial powers.

Galandines asserted that the designation would only trigger the powers of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the assets of the designated terrorists and sholud not authorize arrests.

Caradang repeatedly asked Galandines if she is certain this is the only effect of a designation. The latter later answered that designation is “without prejudice to the eventual filing of an action for proscription” which would be filed before courts.

But what steps would the Department of Justice take when it files the petition for proscription, the justice pressed. “What would be the support? Is just that it is plainly an application or an application appended with some other things some other information?”

Galandines paused and, before she could answer, got more questions from Carandang. The government lawyer in the end said the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, which would recommend action, may be better suited to answer the justice’s question. On delisting

Carandang brought up a Philstar.com report that the Anti-Terrorism Council has yet to craft internal rules for its process of delisting, according to the Department of Justice. Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, a designated terrorist may request delisting before the ATC within 15 days of the publication of their name. The section also lists six grounds for delisting, and how frequently the appeal may be filed.

Although asked, DOJ Undesecretary Adrian Sugay, who is also the ATC's spokesperson, did not say whether the council would require documents to be submitted or if hearings would be conducted for delisting.

Assistant Solicitor General Raymund Rigodon said he is not aware of developments on this. Carandang said they would have to wait for the issuance of the ATC’s internal rules on this.

Sugay, in an earlier interview, said: “[T]he delisting procedure may already be used. As I said, it is already in the IRR and parties designated are entitled to file such verified request as a matter of right.” On warrantless arrest

Section 29 of the law states that State agents, authorized by the ATC to take custody of a suspected terrorist, will not incur criminal liability when they detain a person for 14 days—extendible by another ten days—before the detainee is brought before judicial authorities.

Galandines said that the circumstances in this provision mirror Section 5, Rule 113 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure that provides that there are only three instances when a warrantless arrest is lawful:

• When a person is caught committing the crime • When a crime has just been committed and arresting officer has probable cause to believe based on his personal knowledge on the circumstances • When the person is an escaped prisoner.

Carandang pointed out partly in Filipino: “If you look at the items there, it talks of personal knowledge. What is the ATC’s personal knowledge in this, if police, state agent, or a citizen, witnessed [the crime] why would ATC issue a warrantless arrest when they did not witness it?”

The government lawyer asserted that the ATC will not issue a warrant of arrest.

But the justice asked whether the ATC would not actually be issuing a detention order. Carandang continued: "Isn’t the authority to detain equivalent to authority to arrest? You will arrest before you detain?"

Galandines asserted: “Your honor please, may we respectfully disagree the law enforcers can arrest following by virtue of a valid warrantless arrest… The participation of the ATC would come after the arrest, the valid warrantless arrest has already been effected and the ATC would now participate by allowing the detention for more than three days.” Carandang pointed out: That is not what is written in the law.

The justice then told Galandines to expound on the government's defense of Section 29 of the law. “Because this is a very contentious provision, the court would like to see the government position on this,” she added.

Carandang will continue her interpellation of the government lawyers in the next session, on May 4. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/04/27/2094188/osg-lawyers-wither-during-interpellation- anti-terror-law

Abolishing anti-terror law against int'l obligations: SolGen

By Benjamin Pulta April 27, 2021, 6:06 pm

MANILA – Nullification of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) will compromise international economic commitments and endanger the nation’s economic survival.

Thus, said Solicitor General Jose Calida on Tuesday during the resumption of the oral arguments on the ATA before the Supreme Court (SC).

Calida cited the 2020 Global Terrorism Index that indicated the Philippines has the dubious distinction of being the only Southeast Asian country in the top 10 nations most impacted by terrorism, adding that the anti-terror law “is essential to the Philippines compliance to international obligations”.

He noted that the international FATF (Financial Action Task Force) has set a deadline for the enactment of an anti-terrorism statute.

If the country fails to comply, the Philippines will be in danger of being included in the ”high risk and non-cooperative jurisdictions", he said.

“Without such a law the Philippines will be treated as a leper. FATF will see to it to either blacklist us or put us on the grey list,” he said.

The enactment of the ATA is compliant with the country’s obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) No. 1373 and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, Calida stressed.

“The latest Mutual Evaluation Report of the FATF rated the Philippines as only partially compliant to UNSCR No. 1373. The UNSC found the Philippines’ efforts in preventing terrorist financing as grossly deficient.”

Calida added that greylisting the country in the future would reduce investor and lender confidence and “may also result to limited access to banking or financial services” and could potentially affect millions of overseas Filipino workers and their families who “will be severely affected by the higher cost of remittances which reduce the amount of their support”. “Clearly, greylisting would seriously affect the country’s international trade, remittances, and humanitarian financial flows that support the country’s economic growth and development,” he said.

A grey list is made up of countries that are considered as a safe haven for terror funding and money laundering while blacklisted nations are those deemed non-cooperative in the global effort to curb money laundering and terror financing.

No justification

Calida emphasized that nothing will justify the murder of innocent people and helpless children.

“Terrorism must be outlawed by all civilized nations, not explained or rationalized, but fought and eradicated. Nothing can and nothing will justify the murder of innocent people and helpless children,” Calida said in his opening statement.

The questions raised, Calida said, are outside the powers of the court.

“Congress in its wisdom passed a new Anti-Terrorism Act. The political question is the reason behind this enactment. The doctrine of separation of powers barricades it from judicial scrutiny. The determination of this matter exclusively rests upon Congress. Due deference from the courts, is expected,” he said.

“It is the duty of petitioners to demonstrate actual case and controversy worthy of judicial resolution. Despite the braggadocio of the petitioners, they did not do it,” he added.

He said "outright dismissal is the only choice available" because there are other parties with direct and specific interests.

Calida said there are charges for violation of the ATA being litigated before regional trial courts.

“Ergo, any resolution, in this case, would be purely academic and hypothetical – a clear waste of this Honorable Court’s time and resources,” Calida added.

Among the cases being pursued, Calida cited the proscription case filed by the Department of Justice against the Abu Sayyaf Group before a Basilan court.

He noted the declaration of the Anti-Terrorism Council, designating the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and Islamic State East Asia, Maute Group, Daulah Islamiyah, and other associated groups, as terrorist organizations.

Faulty filings

Calida also noted formal defects in some petitions which failed to comply with the requirements of the high court.

He said there are petitions that did not submit a special power of attorney to allow counsel to represent their interests in the case; failed to state the required attestation in the rules of court; failed to comply with court rules requiring paragraphs to be numbered as required in court rules; and lacked the required verification and certification for non-forum shopping.

A total of 37 petitions were filed before the SC, questioning the ATA. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138202

Colmenares seized from suspected NPA armory in Laguna‘Subversive’ Calida documents, campaign materials of Neri

By VIRGIL LOPEZ,— GMA News Published April 27, 2021 6:35pm Updated April 27, 2021 6:39pm

left-leaning personalities including former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares,Authorities had an opponentrecovered of “subversive” the anti- documents and campaign materials of said Tuesday. terrorism law, the government’s top lawyer Solicitor General Jose Calida told the Supreme Court (SC) during the oral arguments on the law that these materials were seized after a police raid at an alleged armory of the Communist Party of the Philippines- (CPP-NPA) in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on March 30. New People’s Army "Likewise discovered in the armory were subversive documents, streamers, campaign paraphernalia of Congressman Colmenares, Bayan Muna, and Gabriela, and training materials on advanced revolutionary warfare," he said.

Calida then slammed t - NPA always resort to acts of terror in its bid to seize control of the government through a he communist rebels, saying it was “no secret that the CPP

"Petitionersrmed have struggle.” never spoken out against the recent atrocities committed by terrorists against our people. If they have never taken a stand on these acts, and if silence is complicity, there can only be one inescapable conclusion," he said.

In response, Colmenares accused Calida of red-tagging. really feel this mentioning of names [is] really uncalled for, when the respondents“Red tagging wantis a deadly to establish offense. the It evilnessis a threat of toterrorism life, liberty, and and the security.crime of And I Court. terrorism, because we have no relations at all to terrorism,” Colmenares told the ound, even if true, does not constitute an offense. This should not have been mentioned because for people like“The us, fact this that is red-campaign paraphernalia were f

Colmenares earliertagging claimed and that this red-tagging is dangerous, Your Honor.” to push for the proscription of militant groups as terrorist organizations under the law. was part of the security forces’ plan

Currently the ch Colmenares has argued before the SC justices in a bid to convince them to invalidate the lawairperson due alleged of the violations National of Union the Constitution. of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL),

The petitioners said that the law could violate basic rights and legitimize supposed state attacks against government critics.—LDF, GMA News https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/785346/subversive-documents-campaign-materials- of-neri-colmenares-seized-from-suspected-npa-armory-in-laguna-calida/story/

WTO chief warns EU, Japan, US not to ‘target’ China using trade reform

• When China feels targeted, rival powers will meet resistance on matters such as subsidies, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Trade Organization director general, says • Headway is possible by addressing concerns from all sides about trade practices rather than using trade to solve non-trade problems, she tells EU event

If China is singled out by other nations, it is unlikely to make concessions, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the World Trade Organization, said. Photo: Reuters

As some of the world’s most powerful economies look to tighten up global trading rules to deal with Beijing, the head of the

World Trade Organization has warned that they “have to show China is not being targeted”, or reform plans will face “a lot of resistance”. The European Union, Japan and the United States are among the world powers pushing for stronger rules on industrial subsidies at the WTO, as well as more transparency on the role state-owned enterprises play in economies.The EU is next month set to publish a white paper on subsidies, while it, Japan and the US are building on a trilateral statement on the issue last year that was seen as a thinly veiled attack on Beijing’s industrial policies. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3131291/wto-chief-warns-eu-japan-us-not- target-china-using-trade

Biden’s first 100 days: COVID- 19, jobs, foreign policy, immigration, guns and dogs Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden completes 100 days in office on Friday, April 30.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bidens-first-100-days-covid-19-jobs-foreign-policy-immigration- guns-dogs-2021-04-27/

Shaken U.S. Capitol on high alert for Biden’s first address to Congress

Jonathan Landay 4 minutes read President Joe Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday will take place in a U.S. Capitol on high alert, with memories fresh of the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the building by supporters of his predecessor, Donald Trump. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/shaken-us-capitol-high-alert-bidens-first-address-congress-2021-04- 27/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-legislation-china-be-delayed-lawmakers-say-2021-04-27/

U.S. legislation on China to be delayed, lawmakers say

David Shepardson 3 minutes read

U.S. and Chinese flags are seen before a meeting between senior defence officials from both countries at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., November 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

A U.S. legislative proposal to allocate $112 billion for basic and advanced technology research and science in the face of rising competitive pressure from China will be delayed by at least two weeks, U.S. Senate Republicans and staffers said Monday.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-legislation-china-be-delayed-lawmakers-say-2021-04-27/

US legislation for US$112 billion tech research funding to counter China will be delayed, lawmakers say

• The bipartisan Endless Frontier Act faces delay amid more than 230 amendments filed for consideration • The bill would also authorise another US$10 billion to designate at least 10 regional technology hubs and create a supply chain crisis response programme

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is leading the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, which seeks to boost US science and technology research to counter the competitive pressure from China. Photo: Agence France-Presse A United States legislative proposal to allocate US$112 China will be delayed by at least two weeks, US Senate Republicans and members of their staff said on Monday.

The bipartisan Endless Frontier Act was expected to be debated by the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, having been formally introduced on April 21. But with more than 230 amendments filed for consideration, Senate Republicans said the mark-up would not go forward until after a one-week Senate recess that ends on May 10.

Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, told reporters that lawmakers needed more time “for some consensus to develop”.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3131244/us-legislation-us112-billion-tech-research- funding-counter-china-will

Africa should beware China’s growing role, top US diplomat Antony Blinken warns during ‘trip’ to Nigeria and Kenya

• Biden’s Secretary of State vows greater US commitment in virtual talks with the two nations’ leaders • China has ramped up investment in Africa, with a focus on natural resources

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken takes part in a virtual bilateral meeting with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the State Department in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: AP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday cautioned Africa to beware of China’s growing role as he vowed a greater US commitment in talks with Nigeria and Kenya.

In what was billed as a virtual trip due to Covid-19 restrictions, the top US diplomat was holding talks with the two nations’ leaders and “touring” sites including a US-funded mobile hospital and renewable energy project.

Responding to questions from young Africans who have studied in the United States, Blinken said he hoped that African nations approach all their relationships “with your eyes wide open”.

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3131339/africa-should-beware-chinas-growing-role- top-us-diplomat-antony

China vows to advance cooperation with Asia and the Pacific island region

China's vice foreign minister said on Monday that the country plans to push for solid cooperation with the rest of Asia and the Pacific region to help the region recover from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ma Zhaoxu spoke during an online meeting with Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the ministry said.

Ma said Beijing was also proposing that the Asia Pacific collaborate on a memorandum of understanding on cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative.

He added that China is willing to contribute to the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Alisjahbana responded that she appreciated the support from China and would like to work together on the Belt and Road Initiative in promoting sustainable development and on climate issues.

She said she hoped to promote the stability of Asia and the Pacific island region along with China.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-27/China-vows-to-advance-cooperation-with-Asia-and-the- Pacific--ZNAlBXGxYQ/index.html

Beijing takes foreign media to Xinjiang in bid to dispel suspicion

• Trip arranged last week for about 10 foreign media outlets, including Associated Press • TV Tokyo, which also attended, reports that sanctioned company denies use of forced labour

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the far northwest of China. Photo: Getty Images

China organised a trip to Xinjiang for foreign media last week to defend its policies in the region following mounting international criticism of alleged human rights abuses.About 10 foreign media including Associated Press (AP) and TV Tokyo were invited to the region in the country’s far west, the South China Morning Post has learned.

According to a report by AP, Xu Guixiang, deputy head of the Communist Party’s publicity department in Xinjiang, met the media group in the city of Turpan, outside a location that had been identified previously by an unnamed Australian think tank as a re-education centre.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3131325/beijing-takes-foreign-media-xinjiang-bid- dispel-suspicion

Xi Jinping tries to reassure China’s private firms of their place in nation’s economic development

• During a trip to the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, President Xi says private sector can develop their businesses ‘boldly and with confidence’ • Xi’s message comes as the central government has ramped up control over the countries’ millions of private firms, in an effort to exert greater state influence over economic development

President Xi Jinping visits a machinery manufacturer in Liuzhou, Guangxi, on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

President Xi Jinping has sent a strong message to the nation’s private sector amid rising concerns about the government’s oversight intentions, declaring that they can develop their businesses “boldly and with confidence”.

“We encourage the development of private businesses. When they encounter difficulties, the [Chinese Communist] Party and the state will support them. And when confusion arises, guidance will be offered, with the hope that they can develop boldly and with confidence,” Xi said on Monday during his trip to the southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

To that end, during his visit to a food-processing centre in the city of Liuzhou, Xi conceded that it was no easy task developing small rice-noodle operations into such a large and vibrant industry there, the official Xinhua reported.

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3131307/xi-jinping-tries-reassure-chinas- private-firms-their-place

China’s Communist Party pilgrims mark centenary in wave of Red tourism at historic sites

• The cradle of the Chinese revolution is drawing tourists and party faithful, boosted by 2021 party celebrations and China’s post-pandemic rebound • Party leaders, historians and educators are pushing to reach young people, to boost their interest in modern Chinese history

province on April 12, 2021. The group, aged from their late 50s to over 80, gather regularly to sing Localto tourists retirees visiting sing theRed nearby Army revolutionary Zunyi Memorial songs Museum. in Zunyi Photo: in southwes AP tern China’s Guizhou On the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, tourists are flocking to historic sites and making pilgrimages to party landmarks.On a street where the Red Army once roamed, a group of retirees in historic pastel-blue army uniforms belts out tunes made famous through countless films, television shows and other forms of propaganda.Historic locations in Jiangxi and Guizhou provinces – the sites of revolutionary leader Mao Zedong’s early battles, his escape from Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces in the Long March and the cementing of his leadership in Zunyi – are experiencing an influx of tourists this year as post- pandemic travel returns to China.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3131254/chinas-communist-party-pilgrims-mark- centenary-wave-red-tourism

Activists fear HK immigration bill will allow arbitrary travel bans Reuters 6 minutes read

British National Overseas passports (BNO) and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China passports sit on top of baggage in Hong Kong, China, December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

An immigration bill on Hong Kong's legislative agenda for Wednesday would give authorities virtually unlimited powers to prevent residents and others entering or leaving the former British colony, lawyers, diplomats and rights groups say.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/activists-fear-hk-immigration-bill-will-allow-arbitrary- travel-bans-2021-04-26/

Hong Kong leader says govt could intervene in Bar Association if necessary

Reuters 3 minutes read Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday the government could intervene if necessary in the Bar Association, whose chief has been labelled an "anti-China politician" by Beijing's top representative office in the city.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-leader-says-govt-could-intervene-bar- association-if-necessary-2021-04-27/

Japan and China clash over Zhao’s Fukushima tweet using ‘Great Wave’ image amid strained relations

• Foreign Ministry spokesman used the image, altered to show workers dumping radioactive material, to take aim at Japan’s decision to release treated water at the power plant • Japan has reportedly lodged a protest with China over Zhao Lijian’s Twitter post, saying it insults Japanese culture and calling for it to be deleted

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian attends a press conference in Beijing in August 2020. Photo: Kyodo

Japan has protested to the Chinese government after Beijing’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian used an image of Hokusai’s The Great Wave Off Kanagawa to take aim at Tokyo’s decision to release treated radioactive water at the Fukushima power plant.Zhao on Monday tweeted the image, which adapted one of Japan’s most recognisable works of art to show a power plant in the background and workers in hazmat suits dumping radioactive material in the sea.

“If Katsushika Hokusai, the original author is still alive today, he would also be very concerned about #JapanNuclearWater,” Zhao wrote.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday told reporters Japan had lodged a protest over the tweet and asked for it to be taken down. Administrative Reform Minister Taro Kono, who has previously used face coverings to send a diplomatic message, on Wednesday wore a Hokusai-print mask.

Zhao has previously been criticised by other countries for tweeting that the novel coronavirus was brought by the US army to the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the original epicentre of the pandemic.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3131335/fukushima-water-chinas-spokesman- draws-flak-using-hokusai-great

China lodges solemn representations to Japan over diplomacy report

China has lodged solemn representations to the Japanese side over its annual diplomacy report, which expressed grave "concerns" over China's military capabilities and maritime activities, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson from the ministry, accused the report of hyping up the so-called "China threat," smearing China and interfering in the country's internal affairs.

China urged Japan to redress its mistake and build stable relations between the two countries with concrete actions, said Wang.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-27/China-urges-Japan-to-build-stable-ties-with-concrete-actions- ZNQ9TpMpPi/index.html

China publishes landform survey report on Diaoyu Islands

Updated 14:44, 27-Apr-2021

00:33

China's Ministry of Natural Resources on Monday published a landform survey report on the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands.

The report was issued after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga prompted the Joe Biden administration to commit the applicability of the Japan-U.S. security treaty over the Diaoyu Islands during his first visit to the U.S. earlier this month.

Based on historical data, the survey obtained new terrain data of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands, as well as the terrain data of waters 30 meters or less in depth, using technology such as satellite remote sensing.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-27/China-publishes-landform-survey-report-on-Diaoyu-Islands- ZNdvGnOCQM/index.html

As US and China offer coronavirus aid, India wary of hidden agendas

• As virus mutations send infections rocketing in India, offers of help have arrived from both Biden and Beijing • But the US has soured sentiment by dragging its feet; sceptics say China sees its chance to drive a wedge between Washington and New Delhi

A woman is consoled after her husband died from Covid-19 in Ahmedabad, India. Photo: Reuters

As India continues to battle a raging Covid-19 outbreak, with US President Joe Biden pledging Washington’s help on Monday, New Delhi has remained silent on Beijing’s offer of assistance, while Indian companies have struck their own deals with Chinese firms to import oxygen tanks and personal protective equipment.

Indian analysts said New Delhi’s reticence reflected the prevailing public sentiment that Beijing was not sincerely concerned about India, but instead wanted to highlight Washington’s failure to send vaccine raw materials to India due to export curbs and stockpiled supplies of AstraZeneca vaccines.Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal said China was “accentuating how [India] is down on its knees begging for help to control its pandemic”. India’s latest surge, thought to be fuelled in part by mutations in the virus, has seen record daily infection numbers resulting in overwhelmed hospitals, desperate calls for oxygen supplies on social media and mass cremations in makeshift facilities. The country now has more than 17 million cases, the second-highest caseload worldwide behind the

United States

. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3131268/us-and-china-offer- coronavirus-aid-india-wary-hidden

Youths in black: Myanmar protesters train to fight junta

Reuters Chanting in Burmese their readiness to fight "for the people", around 120 youths jogged around a muddy forest clearing in the morning light in a video released by a group that has proclaimed itself a new fighting force against Myanmar's military junta. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/youths-black-myanmar-protesters-train-fight-junta-2021- 04-27/

Myanmar’s Anti-Junta Protesters Turning to Rebel Armies for Military Training By Zsombor Peter April 27, 2021 08:00 AM

Recruits for a new force formed by protesters receive classroom instruction at a training camp in an area held by an ethnic armed group in Karen State, Myanmar, April 9, 2021 in this picture obtained on April 26.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - As the death toll from the military crackdown against peaceful protesters in Myanmar mounts, some in the Southeast Asian nation are turning to armed combat to fight back. They are trading peaceful resistance against the coup in the cities and heading to the co borderlands to join a patchwork of rebel armies. untry’s remote One of the oldest and largest ethnic armed groups, the Karen National Union (KNU), told VOA protesters coming from the lowlands of central Myanmar have le redouts for training since late March. been trekking to the rebels’ hilly jung

National“We train Defense people whoOrganization, want to be an trained armed andwing who of the want KNU. to fight against the military regime,” said Maj. Gen. Nerdah Bo Mya, chief of staff of the Karen re [on] the same boat, helping one another. [We] help each other to survive and get rid of the military regime and to re-establish what we call the democratic “We a

Thegovernment,” general said he ethnicsaid. Karenni, Rakhine and Shan rebel groups were doing the same. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local rights group, says security forces have killed more than 750 people by opening fire on the mass demonstrations that swept the country in the wake of the February 1 coup. The military junta disputes the number, putting the figure well under 300, and claims to be responding to the protests with all due restraint.

The protests have wilted from the pressure, but a dogged civil disobedience movement continues to cripple much of the public and private sectors, from

Bachelet, warned that the country could still tip into an all-out civil war with banks to hospitals. Earlier this month the U.N.’s human rights chief, Michele

“echoeshttps://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/myanmars-anti-junta-proteste of Syria.” rs-turning-rebel-armies- military-training

Fighting erupts in Myanmar; junta to ‘consider’ ASEAN plan

Reuters Ethnic minority Karen insurgents attacked a Myanmar army outpost near the Thai border on Tuesday in some of the most intense clashes since a military coup nearly three months ago threw the country into crisis. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/fighting-erupts-myanmar-near-thai-border-thai-witnesses- 2021-04-27/

Myanmar coup latest: Junta asks civil servants to go back to work Some apps now allowed in internet 'walled garden'; ADB sees 9.8% GDP contraction in 2021

Demonstrators flash the three-finger salute during a protest in Yangon on April 27. © Reuters

Nikkei staff writersApril 17, 2021 17:14 JSTUpdated on April 28, 2021 16:43 JST

YANGON/BANGKOK -- Myanmar's military on Feb. 1 detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint in the country's first coup since 1988, bringing an end to a decade of civilian rule.

The Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy had won a landslide in a general election in November. But the military has claimed the election was marred by fraud.

For all our coverage, visit our Myanmar Coup page. https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Coup/Myanmar-coup-latest-Junta-asks-civil-servants-to-go- back-to-work

theMyanmar’s military’s State Administration junta rebuffs Council only Asean said the plan“suggestions” to end made violenceby Asean leaders “would be positively considered” if they facilitate the junta’s own platform and “served the interest of the country.” Bloomberg |

PUBLISHED ON APR 27, 2021 03:59 PM IST

Myanmar’s military government rebuffed a plan by Southeast Asian leaders to help end violence in the country, saying any “suggestions” would need to fit with the junta’s stated roadmap and come after “stability” is restored.

Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including coup chief Min Aung Hlaing, appeared to reach a five-point “consensus” on Myanmar during a special summit in Jakarta on Saturday that included an “immediate cessation of violence” following the military takeover on Feb. 1. It also said the bloc would appoint an envoy to mediate talks between “all parties” in Myanmar.

But in a press release on Monday, the military’s State Administration Council only said the “suggestions” made by Asean leaders “would be positively considered” if they facilitate the junta’s own platform and “served the interest of the country.”

“Myanmar informed the meeting that it will give careful consideration to constructive suggestions made by Asean leaders when the situation returns to stability in the country since priorities at the moment were to maintain law and order and to restore community peace and tranquility,” the junta said in the release, which was also presented to the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta.

The Myanmar statement lowers expectations that the dialogue process will prompt the military to release Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained civilian leaders, or alter a plan to hold a fresh election in early 2022 following a yearlong period of emergency rule. The move to appoint a special envoy is unusual for Asean, which traditionally has avoided direct interventions into domestic political disputes, and had been welcomed by Myanmar’s opposition.

Armed Attack On Tuesday, an armed ethnic group in Myanmar known as the Karen National Liberation Army seized a military outpost near the Thai border in a sign civil conflict will continue even as the junta pledged over the weekend to end the violence.

The KNLA, the armed wing of Karen National Union (KNU), -- the oldest ethnic armed group in Myanmar -- attacked a military border post in Thaw Le Hta near Thailand’s northwestern town of Mae Hong Song, resulting in several casualties, Saw Taw Nee, head of KNU’s Foreign Affairs Department, said by phone Tuesday.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/myanmars-junta-rebuffs-asean-plan-to-end-violence- 101619518564046.html

Myanmar’s junta to consider Asean’s five-point consensus after ‘stabilising’ the country

• The junta said in a statement that ‘constructive suggestions’ had come from Saturday’s talks, but the priority at the moment was to ‘maintain law and order’ and ‘restore community peace and tranquillity’ • Its response signals that junta chief Min Aung Hlaing is not emphatically behind the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ five-point consensus aimed at de- escalating Myanmar’s post-coup crisis

Myanmar junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing presides over an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw on March 27. Photo: Reuters

Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on Tuesday signalled he was not emphatically behind Asean’s “five-point consensus” plan to de-escalate the country’s post-coup violence, saying instead that the military would consider the proposals “after stabilising the country”. Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) had sought to suggest that the army chief was receptive to their plan, which included calls for a cessation of violence and for a special envoy to be granted access to the country, following crisis talks they held with him on Saturday. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3131248/myanmars-junta-consider-aseans-five- point-consensus-after

ASEAN risks enabling Myanmar junta to buy time Bloc's 'soft intervention' raises both doubts and hopes for end to coup crisis

Myanmar's junta chief, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, left, is welcomed at Soekarno Hatta International Airport on the outskirts of Jakarta on April 24. © Reuters

GWEN ROBINSON, editor-at-large, and RORY WALLACE, contributing writerApril 27, 2021 17:54 JST

YANGON/BANGKOK -- The landmark meeting in Jakarta on April 24 between leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Myanmar's junta chief, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has been portrayed as everything from a qualified success to a dismal failure.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Coup/ASEAN-risks-enabling-Myanmar-junta-to-buy-time

South Korea cancels Korea-China Culture Town project amid mounting anti-Chinese sentiment

• • Over 650,000 people signed an online petition against the project in Gangwon Province, despite officials repeatedly stating it was a cultural park, not a Chinatown • South Korean public sentiment against China has been growing in recent years, with an analyst warning this could damage diplomatic efforts to improve ties

Had it gone ahead, the Korea-China Culture Town would have been built on a site 10 times larger

Athan US$1 the billion country’s project most to build famous a tourist Chinatown district inin SouthIncheon Korea (pictured). has been Photo: scrapped AP due to mounting anti- Chinese sentiment sparked by an online petition wrongly depicting it as a Chinatown.

The decision came after what Gangwon Province head Choi Moon-soon said was a series of “fake news” allegations that taxpayers’ money would have been used to build a settlement town for Chinese immigrants – despite repeated clarifications that it was intended as a cultural park. “It is not a Chinatown,” the province had stated.

Kolon Global Corporation said on Monday it had cancelled the Korea-China Cultural Town project in the face of a fierce public ire sparked by the petition on the presidential Blue House website’s online petition page.

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3131255/south-korea-cancels-korea-china-culture- town-project-amid

Koreans express fears over Japanese fishery products amid Fukushima water release plan Posted : 2021-04-27 16:06 Updated : 2021-04-28 09:16 •

Minister of Food and Drug Safety Kim Gang-lip checks on the testing for radiation contamination of fishery products imported from Japan, at Gamcheon Port in Busan, April 19, amid growing concerns over safety following Tokyo's decision to release massive amounts of radioactive water into the sea. Yonhap

This is the first in a series of articles to highlight the possible effects of, and concerns over, Japan's decision to discharge radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. ― ED.

Government asked to enhance food safety controls

By Jun Ji-hye

An increasing number of Korean residents are expressing fears about the potential harmful impact of Japanese fishery products on their health, after the neighboring country announced it would release massive amounts of radioactive water into the sea.

On April 13, the Japanese government announced a plan to start releasing water containing tritium, an isotope of hydrogen, from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was devastated by a tsunami triggered by an earthquake in March 2011, into the Pacific Ocean beginning 2023, despite Seoul's protests.

The Fukushima plant, on the east coast of Japan, holds an estimated 1.25 million tons of contaminated water in more than 1,000 tanks.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/04/371_307878.html

Korea calls in Japanese diplomat to protest Tokyo's renewed claims to Dokdo Posted : 2021-04-27 11:28 Updated : 2021-04-27 11:28

Hirohisa Soma, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, enters the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, April 27. Yonhap

The foreign ministry called in a Japanese diplomat on Tuesday to protest Tokyo's repeated claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo in its annual foreign policy paper.

The ministry expressed regrets to Hirohisa Soma, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, after Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reported this year's Diplomatic Bluebook laying claim to Dokdo to a Cabinet session presided over by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

Choi Young-sam, the ministry spokesman, urged Japan to immediately retract its "futile" claims to Dokdo.

"We make it clear again that the government will respond sternly to any kind of provocation by the Japanese government regarding Dokdo," he said, stressing the islets are Korean territory historically, geographically and by international law.

Dokdo has long been a recurring source of tension between the two neighbors, as Tokyo continues to lay claim to the islets in its policy papers, public statements and school textbooks.

South Korea has been in effective control of Dokdo, with a small police detachment, since its liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

The claims to Dokdo came as the two countries are stuck in a protracted row over wartime history and trade.

Though the latest blue book retained its 2020 reference to South Korea as an "important neighboring country," it restated Japan's arguments related to the issues of Japan's wartime sexual slavery and forced labor.

Tokyo has maintained that the historical issues were already addressed under bilateral agreements, and that Seoul has failed to follow through on them.

On the sexual slavery issue, Choi demanded Japan act in line with the "spirits of apology and atonement" enshrined in the 1993 statement by then Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono and the 2015 bilateral deal on the issue.

"This is an unprecedented issue of human rights abuses against women in an armed conflict and of infringement on universal human rights," the spokesman said.

The Tokyo government has annually published the blue book on foreign policy and its stances on international affairs since 1957. (Yonhap)

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/04/120_307859.html

Moon says time approaching for resuming dialogue with North Korea Posted : 2021-04-27 14:31 Updated : 2021-04-27 14:31

President Moon Jae-in / Yonhap

President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that the time is drawing near for the two Koreas to resume dialogue, stressing the significance of their historic summit deal three years earlier.

"The time is approaching again when (we) should end long deliberation and restart dialogue," he said during a weekly Cabinet meeting.

He was speaking on the third anniversary of the signing of the Panmunjom Declaration with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. The agreement, reached during the Moon-Kim summit held at the border village, calls for joint efforts to achieve co-prosperity, establish lasting peace and get the two Koreas reunited.

"The Panmunjom Declaration is a milestone of peace that no one can undermine," Moon emphasized. "The path of peace, promised in the declaration, cannot be reversed under any circumstance."

Inter-Korean dialogue and Washington-Pyongyang denuclearization talks have been stalled for more than two years.

Moon cited "external conditions and realistic restraints" in making further progress on top of the accomplishment of signing the declaration.

Nonetheless, the security situations on the peninsula are being managed "more stably than at any other time," the president said.

"Peace, for now, is incomplete," he added. "We should move toward irreversible permanent peace on the basis of the Panmunjom Declaration."

He said that it is time to prepare for turning the "peace clock" again, taking lessons from troubles so far in the peace process.

He expressed hope that his in-person summit talks with U.S. President Joe Biden, scheduled to be held in Washington in late May, will serve as a chance for further cementing the alliance, closely coordinating North Korea policy and setting the right direction.

He said his government plans to find a way to advance the Korea peace process on the basis of robust cooperation with the Biden administration.

"I hope that the door will open for restoring dialogue and cooperation between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the U.S.," he said.

On the economy, he struck a markedly upbeat note.

"We have become able to say that the South Korean economy has come out of a dark and long tunnel, and it is back on track for economic growth," he said.

He referred to an announcement by the Bank of Korea that the nation's gross domestic product had expanded 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2021.

It marks faster-than-expected growth exceeding the level posted ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moon noted.

In spite of such a positive sign, many people here are still suffering difficulties amid a lingering crisis, he said, stressing the need for "inclusive growth."

"In particular, the issue of the gap (widened by the coronavirus outbreak) and inequality is a national task that should be addressed with focused capabilities," he said.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved a plan to establish a presidential committee on South Korea's campaign to go carbon neutral by 2050. (Yonhap)

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/04/103_307872.html

North Koreans blame China for their viral woes

Pyongyang bans ethnic slurs against Chinese people as Kim Jong Un's regime looks to Beijing for Covid-19 relief

By BRADLEY K. MARTINAPRIL 27, 2021 Print

Keep the virus out! This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on April 10, 2020, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a drill of mortar sub-units of corps of the Korean People's Army at an undisclosed location. Photo: AFP/KCNA via KNS

In the United States, an upsurge in anti-Asian violence and hate speech has been blamed on loose talk emphasizing the apparent Wuhan, China, origin of Covid-19. Now stories from a pair of specialty news organizations point to the rise of a similar phenomenon in North Korea.

People are suffering from the dire economic effects of Kim Jong Un’s border closure, intended to keep the coronavirus out – and there’s a tendency to blame the Chinese.

The Korean service of Radio Free Asia reports that the North Korean regime has seen fit to outlaw the use of ethnic slurs against residents who hold Chinese nationality. And Seoul-based DailyNK reports on a couple of incidents of fatal official violence against the Chinese. In these accounts, zealous pursuit of Kim Jong Un’s goal of keeping the coronavirus out of the country gets much of the blame. As Kim’s big new thing seems to be getting himself back in the good graces of Beijing, obviously such behavior needs to be stopped.

“Though the border remains closed, North Korea has received Chinese aid by both rail and ship,” explains Radio Free Asia, a US government- sponsored outlet whose mission statement calls for showcasing real news about un-free countries.

https://asiatimes.com/2021/04/north-koreans-blame-china-for-their-viral-woes/

Enhancing U.S.-China Strategic Stability in an Era of Strategic Competition U.S. and Chinese Perspectives Monday, April 26, 2021 / BY: Edited by Patricia M. Kim; Contributing Authors: Brad Roberts, Li Bin, Patricia M. Kim, Jiang Tianjiao, Zhao Tong, Bruce MacDonald, Frank Rose, Guo Xiaobing, Jinghua Lyu, Adam Segal, Qi Haotian, Lora Saalman PUBLICATION TYPE: Peaceworks Share This

Print the Page

As strategic competition between the United States and China intensifies, preventing a destabilizing arms race and lowering the risk of military, especially nuclear, confrontation is critical. The essays in this volume—based on a series of workshops convened by USIP’s Asia Center in late 2020—highlight both the striking differences and the commonalities between U.S. and Chinese assessments of the root causes of instability and the drivers of conflict in the nuclear, conventional missile and missile defense, space, cyberspace and artificial intelligence realms.

As strategic competition between the United States and China intensifies, the danger of a U.S.-China military confrontation is no longer a far-fetched scenario. Despite recognition in both capitals of the growing risks of major power conflict, the United States and China have few, if any, effective mechanisms to resolve their differences peacefully.

Enhancing strategic stability by lowering the risks of military, and especially nuclear, conflict; managing emerging technologies and new frontiers of conflict such as those in space and cyberspace; and preventing a destabilizing arms race are now more critical than ever to ensure that the United States and China can compete without disastrous consequences.

As the essays in this volume make clear, U.S.-China relations are beset by a profound lack of trust and mutual skepticism of each other’s strategic intentions. Stark differences in the two states’ nuclear doctrines, policies and interests in arms control pose significant challenges to pursuing strategic risk reduction. In addition, an action-reaction dynamic is laying the foundation for a dangerous and costly arms race.

U.S.-China strategic stability discussions are further complicated by the fact that they are not just bilateral in nature, but also have critical implications for third parties, especially U.S. allies, and are intertwined with other regional challenges. The sharp deterioration in the broader U.S.-China bilateral relationship and disappointment with past bilateral exchanges have impeded meaningful dialogue on security-related issues and diminished the political appetite for cooperative measures.

https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/04/enhancing-us-china-strategic-stability-era-strategic- competition?utm_source=usip.org

China to PH: Stop marine drills in SCS Says move escalates dispute, demands respect for its rights posted April 28, 2021 at 01:30 am by Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta, Jess Malabanan

China has urged the Philippines to stop its maritime exercises in the disputed territory in the South China Sea, warning it would escalate the dispute there. In his regular press conference on April 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin reasserted China's claims over the Nansha Islands or Spratly Islands, despite the 2016 arbitral ruling rendered in 2016 by Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidating its expansive 9-dash line claims over the disputed waterways and upheld the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea. China has refused to recognize the arbitral court ruling. "China enjoys sovereignty over Nansha Islands including Zhongye Island and Zhongsha Islands including Huangyan Island and their adjacent waters, and exercises jurisdiction in relevant waters," Wenbin said, when sought for comment on the Philippine Coast Guard’s maritime drills in the West Philippine Sea. "We urge the relevant side to respect China's sovereignty and rights and interests, and stop actions complicating the situation and escalating disputes," Wenbin said. Over the weekend, eight capital ships of Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources conducted sovereignty patrols at the West Philippine Sea despite the presence of several Chinese ships. Reports indicated that more maritime drills will also be held at Batanes Group of Islands, Benham Rise, and the southern areas of the Philippines. Recent reports also showed that 14 Chinese militia vessels of the more than 200 ships earlier sighted moored at the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in the West Philippine Sea were still there. The Philippines has filed numerous diplomatic protests against China over the continued presence of its ships within the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, four more senators—Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Pia Cayetano—signed a resolution condemning the illegal activities of the People’s Republic of China in the country’s EEZ and other parts of the West Philippine Sea. The resolution was authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and co-authored by Senator President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, and Senators Nancy Binay, Leila De Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, and Bong Revilla. Hontiveros said the government should keep on defending the country’s sovereignty and protecting the Filipino people by continuously asserting the Philippine victory at Hague. “The more that we consistently amplify our voices, the more that China will be forced to finally rethink her actions,” Hontiveros said. “We cannot shirk our collective responsibility to defend the Philippines. China’s overreaching ambitions should never be at the expense of any country, and therefore, her moves that endanger any nation should be blocked at every turn,” Hontiveros said. Meanwhile, maritime exercises of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the West Philippine Sea are currently underway. In a Facebook post over the weekend, the Coast Guard said crew members of their participating vessels, as well as PCG-manned BFAR vessels “have started their intensified training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, and logistical operations” as part of efforts to safeguard Philippine waters. PCG Spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said the maritime exercises are necessary to train both the PCG and BFAR's personnel since their mandate includes performing maritime law enforcement. The exercises meant that the Philippines, this time, is serious in asserting its rights, according to Collin Koh of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. "The PCG drill in the area wouldn't come across as anything more than just a small nuisance to Beijing and won't have any salutary effect that would change China's behavior," Koh told ABS-CBN News. "At best, the exercise along with the ramped-up Philippine presence in the Spratlys would signal to Beijing that Manila this time means business following the unprecedentedly robust response after the Whitsun Reef (Julian Felipe Reef) revelation last month," he added. These, however, will not amount "much to a challenge" to what he described as Beijing's "effective control" of the Scarborough Shoal since 2012. The Senate resolution asserts that China’s activities are in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in favor of the Philippines. It makes clear that China refusing to play by international rules “must be firmly resisted and denounced.” The resolution also states that “neither close diplomatic and political ties nor promise of donations, aids or loans, whether they actually materialize or not, should be mistaken as acceptance of China’s creeping hegemony over our region and country.” Hontiveros said the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, as well as Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Indonesia have pushed back against China’s recent actions in the South China Sea. “I am one with my colleagues in the Senate in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, China’s incessant activities in the WPS. We are united in our call for China to uphold the rule of law and to respect our country’s sovereignty," she said Gordon on Tuesday called on Filipinos to adapt the mind-set of the Filipino warrior chieftain Lapu-Lapu when it comes to opposing foreign intrusion in the West Philippine Sea. “Filipinos are never push-overs when it comes to defending our freedom and territory. We have a long and glorious history of being warriors against foreign intrusion and invasion, stretching from 1521 to the Second World War," Gordon said. Malacañang said it respects the position of the senators on China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea, even though the resolution is a departure from the administration’s non- confrontational policies. Also on Tuesday, the commander of the US 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade (5SFAB) said American military advisers would train with Philippine Army troopers in the next few days at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. “We are very excited to train with our Philippine partners,” said Capt. Oleg Sheynfeld, commander of the 5SFAB in the country. Sheynfeld added that they will conduct subject matter expert exchanges to increase interoperability between American and Filipino forces across the spectrum of military operations. US soldiers will learn and train alongside Philippine partners, sharing best practices and collaborating on areas of mutual interest, and laying the groundwork for future exercises between the two nations. “The Philippine Army and US Army bilateral training aims to enhance the capabilities and interoperability of both forces in conventional, joint and combined operations as it promotes solidarity in the global fight against terror in all its forms,” said Philippine Army spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala. At full capacity, the 5th SFAB operates with 820 professional advisors specially selected, trained, and equipped to advise, support, liaise, and assess with conventional partner security forces from the battalion to corps levels to build capacity in support of regional security. When called upon, the unit can employ up to 61 advisor teams to integrate with conventional foreign partner security forces.

https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/353009/china-to-ph-stop-marine-drills-in- scs.html

China insists sovereignty over Panatag Shoal, Pag- asa Island amid Philippine coast guard drills Patricia Lourdes Viray (Philstar.com) - April 27, 2021 - 12:53pm MANILA, Philippines — Beijing on Monday insisted that it has jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea following maritime exercises of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the area.

Last Saturday, ships of the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducted maritime exercises near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

DFA lodges new diplomatic protests as 160 Chinese ships remain in Philippine waters Philippine coast guard holds drills in West Philippine Sea Coast guard vessels have also been deployed near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island for their interoperability training.

The Chinese foreign ministry, however, called on the Philippines to stop such actions.

"China enjoys sovereignty over Nansha (Spratly) Islands including Zhongye (Thitu) Island and Zhongsha Islands including Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) and their adjacent waters, and exercises jurisdiction in relevant waters," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a press briefing on Monday. Wang was referring to Panatag Shoal, which the Chinese call Huangyan Island, and Pag- asa Island, which they call Zhongye Island, where the PCG recently conducted drills.

Panatag Shoal is a traditional fishing ground off the coast of Zambales while Pag-asa Island is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.

"We urge the relevant side to respect China's sovereignty and rights and interests, and stop actions complicating the situation and escalating disputes," Wang said.

In a media release, the PCG said the exercises were intended to intensify their training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance and logistical operations.

BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) and BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) were deployed to Panatag Shoal while BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) and coast guard-manned BFAR were sent to Pag-asa Island.

“We are supporting the whole-of-nation approach in securing our maritime jurisdiction, especially the efforts of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) to undertake maritime security, maritime safety, maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection roles in our country’s waters,” PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo earlier said.

On April 21, the Department of Foreign Affairs filed two more diplomatic protests against the continuing presence of at least 160 Chinese fishing vessels and maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

The new protests were in addition to the daily protests that the DFA files for every day that Chinese ships remain at Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/04/27/2094130/china-insists-sovereignty-over- panatag-shoal-pag-asa-island-amid-philippine-coast-guard-drills

‘MAY KARAPATAN’ | Philippines shouldn’t easily surrender West Philippine Sea, stresses Lorenzana April 27, 2021 , 01:16 PM (April 27, 2021) – The Philippines must not easily surrender sovereign rights despite mounting tensions in the West Philippine Sea due to the lingering presence of China, Department of Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana reiterated on Monday.

Lorenzana agreed with President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent remark that the Philippines can’t do much regarding China’s claim in the West Philippine Sea unless it is by force, but said the country will continue to impose territorial rights.

“Walang magagawa militarily to face the Chinese, tama ‘yun. I think he (Duterte) has been consistent on this. Okay naman din ‘yung kanyang policy to have a very good friendly relationship with China pero ‘wag naman natin i-surrender ang ating sovereign rights kasi meron naman tayong pinanghahawakan na dalawang dokumento na nagsasabing mayroon tayong karapatan sa lugar,” said Lorenzana in an interview with News 5’s Deretsahan.

The two documents Lorenzana was pertaining to are the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, both of which invalidated China’s nine-dash claim over the West Philippine Sea.

He, however, said that the two rulings did not state that the area is owned by the Philippines, but rather it allows the country to freely utilize the natural resources found in the area.

“Atin ‘yung sovereignty, mayroon tayong karapatan lang mag-exploit, but the area is not ours,” said Lorenzana.

The country has filed several diplomatic protests against China’s continued intrusion in the West Philippine Sea, but Lorenzana noted that Vietnam has also been doing similar activities.

“If you look at it legally, wala silang (China) karapatan dun. Ang problema lang kasi rito ay kine-claim din nila ‘yung area dahil historically daw territory nila ‘yun,” said Lorenzana. “In fact, dito sa West Philippine Sea natin, mas marami istraktura ‘yung Vietnam kaysa China. (‘Yung China) meron lang mga lima o anim. ‘Yung Vietnam mahigit 30 ang kanilang istraktura diyan.”

Duterte has been adamant that even if he personally raises the alarm over the maritime dispute with China, he can’t really do anything. “Even if I go there and sail there and ask questions, wala mang mangyari. Sasagutin ka lang. But you know the issue of the West Philippine Sea remains to be a question forever until such time that you know, we can take it back,” said Duterte in his public address last week.

Plenty of Filipino fisherfolks have repeatedly voiced out their concerns on the harassment being done by China’s vessels, but Lorenzana assured they will continue to protect their countrymen while calling for new ways to address the problem. He also admitted the maritime issue with China will not be resolved anytime soon.

“Ang problema lang ay ang fishing boats natin ay gawa sa kahoy karamihan. Siguro i- modernize natin ‘yung fishing boats natin para they can go anywhere,” said Lorenzana. “I think it needs some very bright people to really think how to solve this issue. Hindi natin kayo ito sa panahon natin. Believe me.”

https://news.tv5.com.ph/politics/read/may-karapatan-philippines-shouldnt-easily- surrender-west-philippine-sea-stresses-lorenzana

De La Salle professors ‘appalled by failure of gov't' to defend West Philippine Sea (Philstar.com) - April 27, 2021 - 11:00am MANILA, Philippines — Faculty members of De La Salle University on Monday decried what they called the government's failed response to China's long-running incursions on Philippine sovereignty.

In a statement, DLSU professors from the departments of political science and international relations said China's aggression in the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea "jeopardize the welfare of our fisherfolk and the sustainability of aquatic resources in the area."

University professors reject 'asserting sovereignty constitutes war' argument on West Philippine Sea Duterte query answered: UN could pressure China on West Philippine Sea Philippine coast guard holds drills in West Philippine Sea "We are equally appalled by the failure of our government to effectively secure the sovereignty of the country," they added.

Hundreds of Chinese ships are still lingering in the West Philippine Sea, prompting the Philippine government to file a slew of diplomatic protests and bolster its own presence in the area. However, President Rodrigo Duterte has been silent on the issue save for his continued reiteration of the claim that asserting Philippine sovereignty in the area will lead to war with China. "While the government has belatedly invoked the Hague ruling and filed diplomatic protests, the President should disabuse himself of the simplistic notion that the only other option is to antagonize China and risk war," DLSU professors said.

Gov't told: Explore other solutions

Echoing calls from lawmakers, the professors urged the government to consider "multilateral solutions" to China's aggression which affects not only the Philippines but other claimants in the South China Sea.

READ: Senators push ‘united stand’, multilateral approach on South China Sea dispute | LIST: World powers that criticized China's maritime militia ships at West Philippine Sea reef "We must seriously strengthen our maritime security capacity," they also said. "The Chief Executive must genuinely show the resolve he promised during his 2016 presidential campaign for in doing so he will fulfill his constitutional duty."

Duterte campaigned on taking a confrontational stance with China on the West Philippine Sea, even claiming that he would jet ski to a disputed island and plant a Philippine flag there.

But, in 2019, he announced an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping allowing China to trawl in Philippine waters. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque recently denied the existence of such an agreement, contradicting a previous spokesman who said the agreement was "informal" but "binding." "We must stand against those who think that might is right. It is time that our government values our country's patrimony," the professors said.

"We re-assert that appeasement emboldens the aggressor, peace without dignity is subjugation, and asserting our rights is not a declaration of war." — Bella Perez-Rubio

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/04/27/2094119/de-la-salle-professors- appalled-failure-govt-defend-west-philippine-sea

UK Carrier Strike Group to head out on 28- week deployment ByChristen McCurdy

HMS Queen Elizabeth, shown here in formation with its Carrier Strike Group during Exercise Westlant 19 in November 2019, is preparing for a 28-week global deployment. Photo courtesy UK Ministry of Defense April 27 (UPI) -- The UK Carrier Strike Group's 28-week maiden deployment will feature visits to India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, the British defense ministry announced. The strike group, led by the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, will visit more than 40 countries and undertake more than 70 engagements, according to a press release issued by the British government this week.

"When our carrier strike group sets sail next month, it will be flying the flag for Global Britain -- projecting our influence, signalling our power, engaging with our friends and reaffirming our commitment to addressing the security challenges of today and tomorrow," British defense secretary Ben Wallace said in the release.

The carrier strike group reached initial operating capacity at the beginning of the calendar year.

UK Carrier Strike Group to head out on 28-week deployment (https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/04/27/uk-Carrier-Strike-Group-maiden- deployment/6681619558211/)

UK aircraft carrier to set sail for Asia next month

A fleet of British warships and military aircraft billed as the “largest concentration of maritime and air power to leave the UK in a generation” are to depart next month for visits to India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, in a display of the UK’s ambition to exert a much stronger presence in Asia.

New aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the most powerful surface vessel in the Royal Navy’s history, is to set sail next month for Asia with eight fast jets on board. It is to be accompanied by six Royal Navy ships, a submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, 14 naval helicopters and a company of Royal Marines.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives at the British territory of Gibraltar on Feb. 9, 2018. Photo: AP British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace yesterday said the mission aims to show that the UK is “not stepping back, but sailing forth to play an active role in shaping the international system.”

“When our carrier strike group sets sail next month, it will be flying the flag for global Britain — projecting our influence, signaling our power, engaging with our friends and reaffirming our commitment to addressing the security challenges of today and tomorrow,” Wallace said in a statement.

The deployment is expected to last about six months and visit more than 40 countries.

Wallace was expected to reveal more details to parliament later yesterday.

Last month, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the Indo-Pacific region would become the UK’s defense and foreign policy focus as the country reconsiders its place in the world order after leaving the EU.

Johnson had planned to visit India to boost trade and investment ties as part of that plan, but he was forced to cancel the trip as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in the nation.

The British Ministry of Defence said the military deployment would help deepen security and political ties, and support the UK’s exports and international trade.

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2021/04/27/2003756441

Chinese Military Companies And U.S. Financial Institutions: A Relationship Biden Must End? By Johnathan Falcone and Patrick McDonnell

Chinese soldier guarding the southern entrance of the Forbbiden City in Beijing, dominated by a giant portrait of Mao Zedong. Seemingly private technology companies lead China’s military modernization efforts. Not surprisingly, the national security community and the American public are suspicious of them, but Wall Street continues to finance them. Sponsored Content Wall Street provides Chinese firms with access to American markets and capital through initial public offerings (IPOs) and listings on major indices. Through an IPO, Chinese companies receive money directly from U.S. financial institutions, which then sell those shares to the public. A major index listing typically increases demand for a company’s security, diversifies the investor pool, and reduces price volatility – all positive indicators when financing business operations and expansion. In either case, this access has earned financiers a role in today’s geopolitical competition.

The previous administration took aim at this access and China’s military modernization with an executive order that sought to limit American investment in “Communist Chinese military companies” (CCMC). The order empowers the Defense Department to identify such firms that contribute to the modern arms race. Many alleged CCMC’s are private firms that develop technologies ranging from artificial intelligence to 5G network infrastructure. Despite the order’s efforts, it faces both implementation headwinds and fails to meaningfully restrict access to capital. President Biden’s team has the opportunity to develop an approach, rather than a one- off measure, to affect the ongoing technology race as an element of strategic competition. Given the dual-use potential and financing of these technologies, the United States must take a multilateral approach. The administration should lay out clear standards for assessing a company’s alleged links to the Chinese military as well as address the globalized nature of financial markets.

Sponsored Content An Arms Race with Tech Characteristics Today’s “arms race” spans multiple industries and produces civilian and military-use technologies. Unlike nuclear weapon development, which drove the arms race with the Soviet Union, the ecosystem for modern technology is financed by governments and both domestic and international investors. As a result, commercial data producers and consumers, hardware and sensor manufacturers, and software developers each have the potential to contribute to military modernization.

Sponsored Content According to U.S. national security analysts, this entanglement is problematic because Chinese technology companies are alleged to be part of the CCP’s military modernization strategy which aims to remove “barriers between China’s civilian research and commercial sectors, and its military and defense industrial sectors.” Given the close ties between these civilian corporations, national security, and financial markets, growing legalization of the problem set has emerged. Courtrooms, not embassies, are becoming the fora for resolution. Xiaomi, a smartphone manufacturer and alleged CCMC, highlights this struggle. Xiaomi brought a suit against the Defense Department, alleging that it exceeded its authority under the order. The U.S. government argued that Xiaomi had been investing in 5G and AI, technologies the Defense Department noted are “essential to modern military operations.” Additionally, Xiaomi’s founder and CEO was awarded the title of “Outstanding Builder of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.” These arguments fell short in U.S. District Court. The Court noted that 5G and AI investments were standard industry practices and the potential for military applications is not enough for a CCMC designation. Furthermore, the title had been awarded to over 500 entrepreneurs, including those in industries that would implausibly be considered part of military-civil fusion. The Court granted a preliminary injunction, preventing Defense from designating Xiaomi as a CCMC, which effectively prohibits the Executive Order from being enforced against the company – at least until the case is settled. Wall Street Sees Green in Red China The rise of robo-advisors, retail investment services, and passive investing has provided individual investors with unparalleled market access. In an effort to remain relevant, financial services companies seek opportunities to “beat the market”. In the past, access to untapped and growing markets drove these sought-after returns. Enter China. Its growing middle class, rise of private-sector companies in the emerging technology space, and national shift to market-financing has made China the new frontier for Wall Street managers. iFlyTek, Hikvision, and Dahua are examples of Chinese companies that accessed U.S. capital to develop technologies with national security implications. iFlyTek is a partially state-owned speech recognition company that is “generating huge amounts of proprietary data—the essential ingredient for improving AI and machine-learning algorithms.” Hikvision is a sensor hardware company specializing in camera manufacturing. And Dahua Technology not only produces surveillance products, but also operates business lines that integrate data, hardware, and algorithms to produce machine learning systems. Previously, each of these companies had been able to access U.S. capital through its listing in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Markets Index. Others are directly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where American investors trade securities in a specific company. Notable examples include China Mobile, China Unicom Hong Kong and China Telecom, all part of the oft-vilified Chinese telecom industry. These telecom companies are building 5G networks, whose speed and reliability, offer the network infrastructure necessary to support the autonomous systems under development. The NYSE ultimately delisted the three aforementioned telecom companies after some initial flip-flopping. However, this decision-making process, combined with the Xiaomi case, has revealed the competing interests and challenge of regulating dual-use technologies. Ban-ding Together The irony is that the Executive Order fails precisely because of the qualities that are fundamental to the U.S.-led rules-based financial order. Solo hardball tactics fail in a globalized marketplace because if one market refuses to play, others will. In other words, China’s technology companies are still able to pursue funding through capital markets – located in London, Hong Kong, and elsewhere – because the United States has sponsored a financial system that values broad access. Companies with public securities can access global investors in two ways. One, they can be listed on multiple stock exchanges, much like China Telecom in Hong Kong (HKEX) and the NYSE before the latter delisted it. Two, they can utilize global depository receipts (GDRs). A GDR is a certificate issued by a financial institution and represents an interest in a foreign company. The bank holds the underlying foreign security, and the GDR may be bought and sold much like a stock. A company may prefer this because GDR’s increase their global visibility and internationalize their investor base without meeting more stringent listing requirements. Xiaomi, the smartphone manufacturer mentioned above, trades its stock in the HKEX, but also has ADRs – a U.S.-only GDR equivalent. It bears repeating that even if these suspected CCMCs are effectively foreclosed from operating in U.S. markets – whether they be dual-listed or utilizing GDRs – foreign markets and traders are outside the Executive Order’s reach and still offer opportunities to acquire capital. For the Biden Administration to limit alleged CCMC’s access to capital, improving the process for designating CCMCs will help avoid challenges in the courtroom and provide a stronger case for allies to cooperate. In the original order, President Trump defined CCMC’s in the context of American national security under broad authority. However, this approach may prove to be too vague and risks failure in U.S. courts. It also likely falls flat with Western and Pacific partners who are still balancing their interests between Washington and Beijing.

A potential path forward is to tie alleged CCMCs to objectionable Chinese conduct. For example, technology developments have been used against the Muslim-minority Uighur population in Xinjian. To date, the U.S., U.K., Canada, and E.U. have imposed sanctions against officials in response to the human rights abuses occurring in the region. In addition to targeting individuals, the United States could spearhead support among Western allies to restrict capital market access to companies whose technologies facilitate these abuses. Sovereignty concerns are another potential point of interest to organize multilateral support. These include companies that expand China’s sphere of influence on the India- China border or in the South China Sea. Publicly traded construction and infrastructure firms, such as those included in the original CCMC list, could be held accountable for violating international agreements, such as the Law of the Sea. These interests may align best with the emerging “Quad” partnership in the Pacific. America’s security interests are uniquely tied to shared values and commitment to a rules- based order. Fundamentally, this requires cooperation and multilateralism. Restricting CCMC access to Wall Street without complementary action from other governments with international market power – and aligned interests – moves the United States to the outside of the system it created.

Biden’s Burden On the surface, limiting Chinese firms with military relationships access to U.S. capital markets makes sense. But action that unilaterally moves to decouple American markets from China’s as the latter “opens up” to international markets risks contributing to rising spheres of financial influence.

Identifying and counteracting CCMC access to American capital markets plays a small part in the technology element of strategic competition between Washington and Beijing. It uniquely highlights, however, both the role of global financial markets and the need to build coalitions as the United States competes with a growing China.

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/chinese-military-companies-and-u-s-financial- institutions-a-relationship-biden-must-end/

‘Mandatory’ Cyber Info Sharing Bill Coming, Says Senate Intel Chair Warner

"My hope is that we can create this structure... to get an early warning system," the Senate Intel Committee chair said. "Voluntary sharing is no longer effective."

By BRAD D. WILLIAMSon April 27, 2021 at 4:07 PM

WASHINGTON: The powerful chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said today a bill that will likely include “mandatory reporting” on cyber incidents and public- private cyber threat intelligence sharing is in the works.

Sen. Mark Warner was clear in his speech to the US Chamber of Commerce that there’s a “recognition that our current system is not working.” For example, if the “bad guys” had wanted the SolarWinds campaign to be something other than cyberespionage, Warner said, then we could have seen a “crushing” result. The SolarWinds campaign was discovered and publicly disclosed by private security company FireEye in December, months after it was launched in March 2020.

Sen. Mark Warner SolarWinds was not a “one-off,” and the Microsoft Exchange server campaign is a “potentially huge incursion.” He added, “Good cyber hygiene alone will not stop Tier-1 adversaries.”

The senator’s remarks were carefully worded because the issue of public-private cyber information sharing — while widely viewed as necessary and even long overdue by many — is still politically and legally sensitive.

“My hope is we can create this structure… to get to an early warning system” on cyber incidents. He said the legislation will create a model in which companies will more quickly report — perhaps “mid-incident” — cyber incursions. He told the audience that it’s his “evolving belief that 2015 legislation for voluntary sharing is no longer effective.” The government wants more cyber intelligence from industry. After all, more than 80 percent of US critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector. Many of these private networks are not visible to government entities charged with monitoring threat actors and enacting cyber defenses. Ideally, from the government’s perspective, industry would share this information voluntarily. But much of industry has been hesitant to share cyber incident information with the government for fear of legal liability, brand reputation damage, loss of customers, revenue loss, and a slew of other reasons.

LAND WARFARE, NAVAL WARFARE, SPONSORED Connected Battlespace: The Power Of JADC2

The new administration faces key decisions in the “great powers” competition with China and Russia. This includes implementation of Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2). In this brief video interview, Northrop Grumman Chief Technology Officer Scott Stapp offers some important thoughts.

From BREAKING DEFENSE On the one hand, while discussing the legislation in front of the heavily pro-business audience, Warner was careful to speak of “incentives” for companies to report, as well as the importance of privacy and even anonymity for the companies that would provide valuable cyber intelligence to the government. He also noted some existing legal safeguards for companies will remain in place. On the other hand, he was clear that the status quo is no longer working, in his view.

The senator’s remarks come on the heels of a winter and spring full of congressional hearings on the recent SolarWinds and Microsoft Exchange server cyberespionage hacks. A prominent, consistent theme throughout these hearings — from government officials and private executives alike — has been the need to strengthen public-private cyber threat intelligence and information sharing. The idea enjoys broad consensus, but the sticking point is always how to make it happen.

Meanwhile, just last week, CISA issued another emergency directive — this one regarding an ongoing campaign targeting vulnerabilities in Pulse Connect Secure virtual private network (VPN) appliances.

People familiar with the matter told Breaking Defense that CISA knows that 24 federal agencies use Pulse Connect Secure devices, but “it’s too early to determine conclusively how many have actually had the vulnerability exploited.” CISA’s emergency directive last week required all federal civilian agencies to identify and report by 5 p.m. last Friday potential vulnerabilities in Pulse Connect Secure products in use.

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/mandatory-cyber-info-sharing-bill-coming-says-senate-intel-chair- warner/ US orders staff to leave Kabul due to threats

Agence France-Presse / 06:53 AM April 28, 2021

(FILE) In this photo taken on June 6, 2019, US troops are seen through a firing position at the Afghan National Army (ANA) checkpoint in Nerkh district of Wardak province west of Kabul. (Photo by THOMAS WATKINS / AFP)

WASHINGTON — The United States on Tuesday ordered non-essential staff to leave its Kabul embassy, citing increased threats as Washington prepares to end its 20-year war in Afghanistan.

The order came two weeks after President Joe Biden announced that US troops, currently around 2,500, would leave the country by September.

Meanwhile, Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington’s special envoy to Afghanistan, warned in a Senate hearing that US aid could be slashed if a Taliban-dominated government did not respect human rights.

The State Department said in a travel advisory that it had “ordered the departure from US embassy Kabul of US government employees whose functions can be performed elsewhere.”

Ross Wilson, the acting US ambassador in Kabul, said that the State Department took the decision “in light of increasing violence and threat reports in Kabul.”

He said the order affected an unspecified “relatively small number” of employees and that the embassy would remain operating.

“Personnel who are urgently needed to address issues related to the drawdown of US forces and the vital work we are doing in support of the Afghan people will be able to remain in place,” Wilson wrote on Twitter. Earlier this month Biden said he would withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the attacks that led the United States to invade and topple the Taliban regime which had welcomed Al-Qaeda.

Biden concluded that US forces had achieved their objectives and could do little more, but US officials have made no secret of their fears that violence will intensify as the Taliban perceives that they achieved victory.

The State Department advisory, which also renewed warnings for Americans not to visit, said that “terrorist and insurgent groups continue planning and executing attacks in Afghanistan.”

The Biden administration will maintain limited forces in Kabul to guard the sprawling embassy.

In a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Khalilzad, who has overseen negotiations with the Taliban rebels over the past several years, said the US could leverage its hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the country to pressure them to respect human rights, especially for women.

“The Talib say they are interested in not being a pariah,” he told the panel.

“We have said that if they do want US assistance, if they want international acceptance, they want to end their pariah status … those things will be all affected by how they treat their own citizens — first and foremost, women of Afghanistan, children and minorities.”

“I have personally made it very clear that the issue of human rights, particularly women’s rights, is second to terrorism in terms of the hierarchy of US policy importance,” he said.

He added that if the Taliban seize power militarily from the government in Kabul, they will have little international support.

“They will face isolation, regional opposition, sanctions, and international opprobrium,” he said.

“There is remarkable consensus within the region and the international community against a military takeover by the Taliban.”

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1424635/us-orders-staff-to-leave-kabul-due-to-threats

US, Tehran had tense encounter in Persian Gulf

AP, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

US and Iranian warships had a tense encounter in the Persian Gulf earlier this month, the first such incident in about a year amid wider turmoil in the region over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal, the US Navy said yesterday.

Footage released by the US Navy showed a ship commanded by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps cut in front of the USCGC Monomoy, causing the US Coast Guard vessel to come to an abrupt stop with its engine smoking on April 2. The Guard also did the same with another US vessel, the USCGC Wrangell, said US Commander Rebecca Rebarich, a spokeswoman for the US Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet.

A photograph released by the US Navy yesterday shows an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessel cutting in front of the US Coast Guard ship USCGC Monomoy on April 2 in the Persian Gulf. Photo: AP Such close passes risk the ships colliding at sea.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge the incident in the southern reaches of the Persian Gulf, which resulted in no injuries or damage.

“The US crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, five short blasts from the ships’ horns, and while the [Iranian] Harth 55 responded to the bridge-to-bridge radio queries, they continued the unsafe maneuvers,” Rebarich said. “After approximately three hours of the US issuing warning and conducting defensive maneuvers, the [Iranian] vessels maneuvered away from the US ships and opened distance between them,” she said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the incident, which involved the Harth support ship and three Iranian fast-attack craft. The US Coast Guard units operate out of Bahrain as part of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, its biggest unit overseas. The interaction marked the first “unsafe and unprofessional” incident involving the Iranians since April 15 last year, Rebarich said.

However, Iran had largely stopped such incidents in 2018 and nearly in the entirety of 2019, she said.

In 2017, the US Navy recorded 14 instances of what it describes as “unsafe and or unprofessional” interactions with Iranians forces.

The US Navy recorded 35 in 2016, and 23 in 2015.

The incidents at sea almost always involve the Revolutionary Guard, which reports only to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Some analysts believe the incidents are meant in part to squeeze Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s administration after the 2015 nuclear deal.

“US naval forces continue to remain vigilant and are trained to act in a professional manner, while our commanding officers retain the inherent right to act in self-defense,” Rebarich said.

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2021/04/28/2003756495

BREAKING|Apr 27, 2021,04:41pm EDT|2,070 views U.S. Navy Ship Fired Warning Shots At Iranian Boats After Close Encounter

Iranian fast-attack boats charged at two U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf on Monday evening, causing one of the U.S. vessels to fire warning shots, the U.S. Navy said Tuesday, a tense moment as the two countries aim to re-enter an international nuclear deal.

A U.S. Navy sailor takes part in multinational training exercises aboard the USS Ponce in the ... [+] AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

KEY FACTS

Three armed speed boats operated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps came within 68 yards of a U.S. Navy coastal patrol boat and a U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat operating in international waters of the Persian Gulf, the Navy said in a statement. U.S. personnel tried to hail the Iranian ships over the radio, but they did not respond, leading the Navy to fire warning shots that caused the ships to speed away. The Navy said the action violated the international maritime rules of the road, and “increased the risk of miscalculation and/or collision.”

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.

CRUCIAL QUOTE

“The U.S. is not an aggressor; our naval forces remain postured in a non-provocative manner,” the Navy said in a statement. “Our forces are trained, however, to conduct effective defensive measures when necessary.”

TANGENT

The incident comes just weeks after several Iranian fast-attack vessels operated in close range of U.S. Coast Guard ships for hours, forcing U.S. ships to maneuver to avoid them. KEY BACKGROUND

Several years ago, Iranian vessels regularly sailed uncomfortably close to American ships patrolling the Persian Gulf, but these encounters — which the Pentagon views as unprofessional and provocative — appeared to become less common after 2017. Still, relations between the two countries have remained acrimonious. Iran has repeatedly vowed to avenge the U.S. killing of Iranian Quds Force leader Qasem Solemaini last year, and the United States has occasionally bombed Iranian-backed Shi’a militia groups operating in Iraq and Syria in recent years, most recently conducting airstrikes in February after a militia was accused of shelling the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Plus, U.S. ally Israel often strikes Iranian-backed militias in Syria, and Israel was linked to an explosion at an Iranian nuclear site earlier this month.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Nuclear talks. Monday’s maritime close call comes as both Iran and the United States participate in delicate indirect negotiations for a U.S. return to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, which former President Donald Trump chose to exit.

SURPRISING FACT

When Iranian vessels charge U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf, they usually belong to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, not the country’s conventional navy. In an audio tape leaked this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif acknowledged the IRGC — which reports directly to the country’s Supreme Leader — steers Iranian foreign policy and has undermined the 2015 nuclear deal.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/04/27/us-navy-ship-fired-warning-shots-at- iranian-boats-after-close-encounter/?sh=2e7f17d144e1

US Navy's mass retirement of vessels to dent Taiwan deterrence Next five to eight years form 'period of greatest peril,' analyst warns

The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) rendezvous with a Marine Corps combat rubber raiding craft for an integration exercise off the coast of Okinawa, Japan on Feb. 2. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps) KEN MORIYASU, Nikkei Asia chief desk editorApril 28, 2021 05:05 JST NEW YORK -- The U.S. Navy will soon enter a brief period of vulnerability when its Cold War-era submarines and cruisers go into mass retirement before a more China-focused new batch of weapons can come into service.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/US-Navy-s-mass- retirement-of-vessels-to-dent-Taiwan-

USN Arleigh Burke-class destroyer tails Liaoning strike group near eastern Taiwan Unsolicited chaperone comes just two weeks after USN releases photo of commander with feet up regarding nearby Chinese carrier By Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer 2021/04/27 18:09

File photo of Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning in waters near Taiwan. (AP photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chinese aircraft carrier the Liaoning was found to have been shadowed by a U.S. Navy destroyer transiting through the Philippine Sea east of Taiwan since Sunday (April 25), and the destroyer is now heading towards the Miyako Strait.

A military watch site revealed a satellite image showing an American Arleigh Burke- class destroyer sailing through the Philippine Sea while appearing to traverse the Liaoning carrier strike group. The destroyer then turned to follow and monitor the People's Liberation Army Navy carrier.

The Liaoning, which had been operating in the South China Sea for two weeks, is accompanied by a Type 054A-class missile frigate, a 052D destroyer, a 055 destroyer, and a 901 replenishment oiler.

The Chinese combat group began its mission on April 10 in the Bashi Channel near Taiwan's Orchid Island, sailed near Hainan Island between April 11 and 14, moved south to the South China Sea for a week, then headed north on April 22 only to be joined by the American destroyer in the Philippine Sea.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4187665

Report: U.S. naval destroyer tracking China's Liaoning aircraft carrier

China’s People’s Liberation Army has increased flight surveillance near Taiwan and deployed an aircraft carrier near the island nation. Beijing and Taipei are in disagreement over China’s one-China policy, which does not recognize the sovereign status of Taiwan. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo April 27 (UPI) -- A U.S. navy destroyer has been following the Chinese aircraft carrier the Liaoning since Sunday, as Beijing's military aircraft continue incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone.

The U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyer navigated the Philippine Sea and crossed paths with the Chinese carrier battle group, before trailing the Liaoning, a Type 054A- class missile frigate, a 052D destroyer, a 055 destroyer and a 901 replenishment oiler, Taiwan News reported Tuesday.

The Liaoning earlier this month was seen conducting naval exercises near Taiwan, where the government is on alert after a low-altitude flight of a Chinese spy plane in Taiwan's ADIZ.

The People's Liberation Army's Y-9 tactical reconnaissance plane entered Taiwan's zone on Monday morning, flying at a low altitude of 30 meters or 100 feet, the South China Morning Post reported, citing SouthwestAirspaceofTW, a Facebook page tracking activities near Taiwan.

The Facebook page also stated Taiwan's military scrambled aircraft and issued radio warnings.

Taiwanese analyst Lin Yin-yu at the Institute of Strategic and International Affairs at National Chung Cheng University in southern Taiwan, said the flight was testing Taiwanese radar capabilities. "Usually, radar signals will be obstructed by certain topography such as a mountain. By flying at an altitude of 30 meters, the PLA plane was testing if it could fly beneath the radio wave coverage area," Lin said, according to the Post.

Chinese aircraft have entered Taiwan's ADIZ more than 200 times this year, according to Taipei.

China also delivered to its military three new warships, a Type 075 landing helicopter dock, Type 055 destroyer and Type 094 submarine during a ceremony on Hainan Island on Friday.

Taiwan's director of intelligence Cheng Ming-tung said Monday Taipei has information about the new warships in Hainan. Chen also raised concerns about tensions in the South China Sea, according to Taiwan News.

Beijing and Taipei are in disagreement over China's one-China policy, which does not recognize the sovereign status of Taiwan.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/04/27/China-Liaoning-carrier-track- US-destroyer/4991619527310/

Fleet Exercise Includes Live Missile Shoot as Navy Pairs Crews With Unmanned Systems

By: Gidget Fuentes April 20, 2021 8:49 PM • Updated: April 20, 2021 10:02 PM

Medium displacement unmanned surface vessels Seahawk, front, and Sea Hunter launch for the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem 21 (UxS IBP 21), April 20, 2021. US Navy Photo

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Off the southern California coast this week, the Navy has amassed a small fleet to help figure how its operational forces can use aerial drones, autonomous surface and subsurface vehicles in an integrated fight at sea and in the air to support the manned fleet.

That’s the overarching goal of “Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21,” a U.S. Pacific Fleet-led exercise to “exercise unmanned command and control, wring out tactics, techniques and procedures, and give our operators experience with unmanned systems at sea in a combat environment,” according to 3rd Fleet, which is overseeing the exercise that runs April 19 to 26.

“Our goal for this exercise is to evaluate these unmanned systems and how they can actually team with manned systems,” Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, technical manager for the exercise and Carrier Strike Group 3 commander, said during a Tuesday media call. “We’ll be able to evaluate what we can do and what we can’t do in trying to create an advantage – a warfighting advantage. Sometimes, that would be in reconnaissance, sometimes that would be surveillance, sometimes that will be we’ll be able to move data faster, command and control.”

Chief of Naval Research, Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, observes a Vanilla Ultra Endurance unmanned aerial vehicle on Pier 12 during Integrated Battle Problem 21 (UxS IBP 21) Distinguished Visitors Day at Naval Base San Diego, April 16. U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate war fighting advantages. US Navy photo.

Then “we’re going to make sure it gets into the hands of the sailors,” Aiken said, adding: “We need to move things from the technical community to the tactical community.”

“We need to move things into the hands of sailors and then let sailors use their ingenuity,” he said. Junior sailors and junior officers “just don’t sit quietly. They’re able to contribute, they’re able to apply these types of systems into capabilities in order to make warfighting” TTPs.

Several unmanned or autonomous systems are participating in the exercise, according to 3rd Fleet: The medium displacement unmanned surface vessels Sea Hunter (SH1) and Seahawk (SH2); the ultra-long flight endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle called Vanilla; MQ-8B Fire Scout and MQ-9 Sea Guardian UAVs; Ocean Aero Triton-Class dual- modality underwater and surface autonomous vehicle; and an Office of Naval Research “super swarm project.”

Providing that “manned” component for UxS IBP21 is a snapshot of fleet surface, subsurface and air assets: Littoral combat ships USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) and USS Coronado (LCS-4); amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD-23); guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59); guided missile destroyers USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), USS Spruance (DDG-111), USS John Finn (DDG-113), USS Stockdale (DDG-106) and USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62); attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN-767); and several aircraft including P-8A Poseidon patrol, E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and command and control, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft and the MH-60R Seahawk and MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters.

For well over a decade, the Navy has looked at unmanned systems – such as aerial drones that can strike targets or do surveillance to autonomous watercraft that could search for enemy boats – that would augment, if not replace, manned crews while maintaining or boosting warfighting capabilities. In recent years, it has looked closely at scores of existing and emerging technologies during various demonstration events and experimentation. Last month, the Department of the Navy released its 2021 Unmanned Campaign Plan.

The exercise’s events are focusing on evaluating capabilities of manned/unmanned teaming in three main areas: Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; targeting and missile shoot; and manned/unmanned teaming of surface, air and subsurface systems and platforms.

So sometime this week at the Navy’s offshore ranges, “ we’re going to put a missile on a target,” said Aiken, a veteran surface warfare officer.

Sensors on both the unmanned and unmanned systems in play will collect data and information – quickly in real-time and shared among them – and develop targeting information for the missile strike, “which is something that we don’t typically do,” Aiken noted. “When we shoot a missile or shoot a gun at something, we usually have organic sensors that we use from within. We are going to use sensors. We’re going to combine sensors and fuse sensors that we typically don’t do.”

Maintainers from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VX-1) analyze diagnostics from the MQ-8C Fire Scout on the flight deck of the Independence variant littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) on June 21, 2018. US Navy photo

“We are going to do a live-fire offensive exercise,” he added. “We are going to use the unmanned surface, unmanned air and manned air and surface to provide a targeting solution…. It will be an offensive missile, and we’re going to strike a target well beyond line-of-sight.” He declined to specify the type of missile and platforms involved in the live- fire event, part of what he described as “operationally challenging scenarios and vignettes.”

“We want to move from just systems to capabilities,” Aiken added. Once “we operationalize it and we move to enhanced warfighting… (that would) give us an advantage where we now are able to take that information and we’re able to move it at speed.” Some of the technology and systems that are participating in the exercise this week – Fire Scout, for example – have been operational for some time and has integrated at sea with manned crews and ships. Others, like Vanilla, operated by Maryland-based Platform Aerospace, are newer systems or innovative technologies or prototypes that joined in experimentation events and demonstrations in recent years.

The Navy has been ramping up its testing, demonstrating and prototyping of unmanned systems and autonomous technologies with the eye on getting these systems into the fleet. “We want to move to a capability. We want to start applying our operational concepts,” Aiken said. “Foundationally, as we started planning this exercise, sailors were part of the planning. Sailors talk about how we could better utilize this. And as we move forward… we’ll take those inputs…and we’ll develop the plans and procedures, the tactics to apply to operational scenarios.”

Sea Hunter medium displacement unmanned surface vessel launches from Naval Base Point Loma for the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem 21 (UxS IBP 21), on April 20, 2021. US Navy Photo

Aiken said it’s too early to know which new systems, if any, would be fielded.

“I think we want to keep our options open. He said. “We want to be able to look at different ways to produce results, as we pursue that warfighting advantage… the number of unmanned systems and manned systems that we have give the warfighters the options to get after whatever challenges that we have.”

Among the UAVs participating this week is Vanilla, a Group 3 UAS. Capability-wise, Aiken said, “it gives us a warfighting advantage. Its on-station time is such that we want to evaluate and look at its capability to contribute to the high-end fight.” That could include providing ISR or airborne communications relay.

Also joining in are ONR’s unspecific swarming technologies. “We are doing exercises to sort of evaluate,” Aiken said. “We can’t get into the specifics of how we are going to actually employ all of the manned and unmanned surface vehicles… We’ll evaluate and we’ll assess and then probably integrate into the way we do things.”

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/20/fleet-exercise-includes-live-missile-shoot-as-navy- pairs-crews-with-unmanned-systems Unmanned Battle Problem Missile Launch Integrates Manned and Unmanned Systems 27 April 2021

From Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO The U.S. Navy launched a missile at a long-range target successfully as a part of Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21 off the coast of San Diego, April 25. – Previous

The destroyer USS John Finn (DDG-113) launched the Extended Range Active Missile (SM-6), striking a target well beyond the line of sight.

Integrated manned and unmanned systems established a track for the launch.

“The missile shoot was definitely challenging but ultimately incredibly rewarding. We were able to see our team’s planning efforts culminate in yesterday’s successful shoot,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Doyle, UxS IBP 21 lead live-fire planner. “This entire exercise was a great opportunity to get staff exercise planners, program designers and most importantly Sailors to work together and integrate multiple unmanned capabilities that are tactically relevant in many areas of the world today.”

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2586065/unmanned-battle- problem-missile-launch-integrates-manned-and-unmanned-systems/

Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyers: The Navy’s Ultimate Weapon? By Peter Suciu

Image: U.S. Navy. This past weekend, the U.S. Navy christened its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided- missile destroyers (DDGs), the future USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123). The warship is being manufactured by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division. Sponsored Content A New Arleigh Burke-class Hits the Waves Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, HII conducted the event with limited numbers. The commissioning of this Flight IIA version of the DDG had originally been scheduled for christening last year but was delayed due to Covid-19 related restrictions. “The christening of Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee is a significant milestone that brings our 34th destroyer one step closer to being introduced into the fleet,” said Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. “In these ever-changing times, the significance of what we do has never been more important.” Sponsored Content The destroyer was named in honor of Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, who was the first woman to receive the Navy Cross. She also served as the second Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps in 1911. When she entered the naval service in 1908, she was one of the first twenty women – who have become known as the “Sacred Twenty” – to join the newly established Navy Nurse Corps. She contributed her nursing skills to the Navy during the First World War.

This is the second ship to be named for Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, the first was the USS Higbee (DD-806), the first combat warship named after a female member of the U.S. Navy. The Gearing-class destroyer saw service during the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War and was retired in the 1980s. One of her anchors is on display outside of Naval Station Mayport’s medical building. Sponsored Content “The future USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee will serve for decades as a reminder of Ms. Higbee’s service to our nation and her unwavering support of a strong and healthy Navy and Marine Corps team,” said Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker. “This ship honors not only her service but that of all of our Navy nurses who support the strength and wellbeing of our service members and their families.” Arleigh Burke-class: A Primer The warship will be the seventy-third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and is one of twenty ships currently under contract for the DDG 51 program. She is configured as a Flight IIA destroyer, which enables power projection and delivers quick reaction time, high firepower and increased electronic countermeasures capability for anti-air warfare. She is 509.5 feet long, 59 feet wide and has a displacement capacity of 9,496 tons. USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee will be homeported in San Diego. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are multi-mission ships that can conduct diverse operations, including peacetime missions, crisis management, sea control, and power projection. The first of the Arleigh Burke-class DDGs was commissioned on July 4, 1991, and for nearly thirty years it has been a true workhorse for the U.S. Navy, and it has the longest production run for any post-World War II U.S. Navy surface combatant. With the decommissioning of the last Spruance-class destroyer in 2005, the Arleigh Burke-class became the Navy’s only active destroyer until the USS Zumwalt joined the fleet in 2016.

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/arleigh-burke-class-guided-missile-destroyers-the- navys-ultimate-weapon/

The Marine Corps Is Experimenting with a Concept that Could Reshape the Infantry

U.S. Marines with Delta Company, Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), School of Infantry- East, fire at targets during a live fire exercise at a range near Camp Devil Dog, N.C., Feb. 3, 2021. (James A. Guillory/U.S. Marine Corps) 26 Apr 2021 Military.com | By Gina Harkins Infantry Marines get specialized training to operate specific weapons, but that could change as the service experiments with a model to create generalists who can use several different systems in combat.

Three infantry battalions are spending two years testing new models that could revolutionize the Marine Corps' ground combat element. The effort is part of a 10-year plan to reshape the service as it prepares for possible conflict with near-peer threats -- mainly China.

The model that could perhaps lead to the most dramatic changes to the Marine infantry battalion is called the "arms room concept," which Brig. Gen. Benjamin Watson, head of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, describes as "an armory of many different systems."

Read Next: The Marines Need Volunteers to Help Them Reassess Body Standards

"Your Marines would be trained in all of them, and then you pick the weapons suited to the mission," Watson said. "... It's producing a more mature, sort of multidimensional utility infielder as an infantryman."

Commandant Gen. David Berger released his annual update on Force Design 2030, a directive for sweeping servicewide changes he says are necessary to prep the force for its next fight. Those plans call for a redesigned infantry battalion.

"I am not confident that we have adequately assessed all of the implications of the future operating environment on the proposed structure of our future infantry battalion," Berger wrote in March 2020. Now, he has directed a battalion in each of the three Marine Corps divisions to begin experimentation.

The "arms room" concept was the model originally proposed to redesign the infantry battalion, Watson said. One of the battalions is experimenting with that model, while the others are testing out a modified version and an alternative.

The concept, officials said, could eventually eliminate infantry battalions' weapons companies, shifting those weapons -- 81mm mortars and the Javelin portable anti-tank missile, for example -- into headquarters or rifle companies.

But infantry Marines need different training to employ those weapons. Grunts traditionally attend basic infantry training before they're given specialized instruction on a specific weapon system. Now, as part of the experimentation, the Schools of Infantry that train enlisted grunts on both coasts are running 14-week test courses -- 50% longer than the current nine-week course.

During the longer course, Watson said, Marines are learning how to operate a host of weapons rather than specializing in one.

"What this would do is increase the duration of the entry-level infantry training pipeline [and] train the infantry Marine in a variety of crew-served weapon systems, such that they are capable of operating more than just one," he said. "Then, the unit would make the decision -- based on the mission they're assigned, based on the threat, etc. -- what weapons systems they'd want to assign to their Marines."

Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, deputy commandant of Combat Development and Integration, said they recognize there are critics of the "arms room" concept. He said he points those who say it won't work to the infantry automatic rifle with improved optic.

"You have basically trained Marines hitting targets all day long at 500, 700, 800 meters that used to be the range of school-trained snipers," Smith said. "[They're] hitting them all day long because the weapon system and its heavier barrel and the optic that goes with it means basically trained Marines can pick it up and pop individual targets out at ranges that used to be the sole domain of a sniper."

Similarly, with the new Organic Precision Fires-Infantry loitering munitions, or OPR-I, Smith said Marines can strike targets "well beyond what a 60mm or 81mm mortar can do."

"You may not need that mortarman to do that," he said. "... So I would tell the ['arms room'] naysayers, 'Hey, give it a minute.'"

The change could ultimately lead to a single military occupational specialty for all infantry personnel. Military.com reported in December that the Marine Corps was considering merging its infantry specialties -- which include riflemen, reconnaissance Marines, machine gunners, mortarmen, snipers, anti- tank missile gunners and light-armor vehicle Marines -- into a single MOS.

Leaders stressed this week that no decision has been finalized about how the infantry battalion will be organized.

"We'll come out of this [experimentation] with a recommendation to the commandant on what the future will look like," Watson said.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/04/26/why-some-marines-are-training- operate-every-infantry-weapon.html

Japan tightens rules on tech theft to safeguard research with US Government to require funding disclosures to spot security risks in academia Protecting cutting-edge developments in fields like biotechnology, artificial intelligence and quantum technology can be a matter of national security, since they can often be used for military applications.

AKIRA OIKAWA, Nikkei staff writerApril 28, 2021 04:52 JST TOKYO -- Seeking to promote joint research with the U.S. in quantum technology, artificial intelligence and other top fields, Japan will impose tougher disclosure rules on universities to keep information that could be used for military purposes out of foreign hands.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Japan-tightens-rules-on-tech-theft-to- safeguard-research-with-US

Japan’s Diplomacy Bluebook backs Taiwan’s WHA campaign Foreign policy paper focuses on threats from China By Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer 2021/04/27 14:16

Archived photo of Japanese destroyers (AP photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Japan describes Taiwan as an important “partner and friend” in the latest edition of its annual Diplomatic Bluebook while also backing the nation's campaign to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), reports said Tuesday (April 27).

The foreign policy paper, presented to Japan’s Cabinet by Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, focuses on China’s military modernization and its unilateral actions deemed to be threatening the status quo in East Asia, CNA reported.

Japan said it would cooperate with more countries to promote freedom of navigation and rule of law in the region. Tokyo already works closely with the United States, Australia, and India under a framework known as the Quad.

The Bluebook also noted Taiwan’s relatively successful fight against the pandemic, saying that when it comes to dangerous epidemics, there should be no blank spaces on the world map. All areas should be able to share vital information in a free, transparent, and rapid manner, Japan said, emphasizing its support for Taiwan’s campaign to attend the WHA as an observer.

Regarding China's increasing aggression, the report also mentioned the communist country’s new coast guard law, human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, and the crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, The Mainichi reported.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4187742 Japan highlights ‘strong concerns’ over China’s military expansion in annual foreign policy report

• The 2021 edition of the Diplomatic Bluebook also cited China’s alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and the crackdown on Hong Kong as issues of concern • The report comes as China steps up activities in the waters around the Diaoyus, which Japan refers to as the Senkakus, issuing a landform survey report on Monday

A China Coast Guard vessel is seen near the Diaoyu Islands, known as Senkaku Islands in Japan. Tokyo has released a report expressed concerns about Beijing’s military expansion. Photo: EPA The Japanese government emphasised concerns over China’s military expansion and growing activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea in an annual foreign policy report released on Tuesday.

The 2021 edition of the Diplomatic Bluebook said China’s expansion of military capabilities that lack transparency, as well as growing unilateral actions to change the status quo in Asian waters, pose “strong concerns” in the region and to the international community.

Last year’s report described such Chinese military activities as “common concerns”, while highlighting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Japan for the Group of 20 summit in Osaka and a thaw in Japan-China relations

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3131217/japan-highlights-strong-concerns-over-chinas- military-expansion

Beijing makes protest over Japan's diplomacy report on Chinese military By Reuters Staff FILE PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin listens to a question from a journalist during a news conference in Beijing, China July 27, 2020. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said it had lodged solemn representations to Japan over its annual diplomacy report which expressed grave concerns on China’s military capabilities and maritime activities.

China urged Japan to redress its mistake, and build stable relations between the two countries with concrete actions, ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular news briefing.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-japan-military-idUSKBN2CE0R5

Analysis: China’s Naval Modernization Effort Naval Technology POSTED ON TUESDAY, 27 APRIL 2021 12:24 According to information published by Congressional Research Service on March 9, 2021, China’s navy, which China has been steadily modernizing has become a formidable military force within China’s near-seas region, and it is conducting a growing number of operations in more-distant waters, including the broader waters of the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

President Xi Jinping during the ceremony of commission for the Jin-class (Type 094A) ballistic-missile submarine Changzheng- 18, Renhai-class (Type 055) destroyer Dalian, and Yushen-class (Type 075) amphibious assault ship Hainan, April 23, 2021. (Picture source: Business Insider)

A modernization since 25 years

China’s naval modernization effort, which forms part of a broader Chinese military modernization effort that includes several additional areas of emphasis, has been underway for more than 25 years, since the early to mid-1990s, and has transformed China’s navy into a much more modern and capable force. China’s navy is conducting a growing number of operations in more-distant waters, including the broader waters of the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean.

The largest Navy in the world

China’s navy is, by far, the largest of any country in East Asia, and within the past few years it has surpassed the U.S. Navy in numbers of battle force ships (meaning the types of ships that count toward the quoted size of the U.S. Navy), making China’s navy the numerically largest in the world. Some U.S. observers are expressing concern or alarm regarding the pace of China’s naval shipbuilding effort, particularly for building larger surface ships, and resulting trend lines regarding the relative sizes China’s navy and the U.S. Navy. At the end of 2020, China’s will have 360 battle force ships, compared with a projected total of 297 for the U.S. Navy at the end of FY2020. China will have 400 battle force ships by 2025, and 425 by 2030. A wide naval modernization effort

A wide array of platform and weapon acquisition programs, including anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), submarines, surface ships, aircraft, unmanned vehicles (UVs), and supporting C4ISR (command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) systems. China’s naval modernization effort also includes improvements in maintenance and logistics, doctrine, personnel quality, education and training, and exercises.

Domination over South China Sea and targeting Taiwan

China’s military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, is assessed as being aimed at developing capabilities for addressing the situation with Taiwan militarily if need be; for achieving a greater degree of control or domination over China’s near-seas region, particularly the South China Sea.

Weaknesses of the Navy

China’s navy currently is assessed as having limitations in certain areas, including joint operations with other parts of China’s military, antisubmarine warfare (ASW), long-range targeting, a limited capacity for carrying out at-sea resupply of combatant ships operating far from home waters, a need to train large numbers of personnel to crew its new ships, and a lack of recent combat experience

Increased the size of China's Coast Guard

China’s coast guard is, by far, the largest of any country in East Asia. China also operates a sizeable maritime militia that includes a large number of fishing vessels. China relies primarily on its maritime militia and coast guard to assert and defend its maritime claims in its near-seas region, with the navy operating over the horizon as a potential backup force.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/focus-analysis/naval-technology/10058- analysis-china-s-naval-modernization-effort.html

PLA sets up army, air force joint defence system in western theatre command The new joint system is part of the western theatre command’s focus on war preparation and exploration of the establishment of a joint air defence system By Sutirtho Patranobis UPDATED ON APR 27, 2021 02:40 PM IST The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has for the first time inducted the army’s air defence units in its air force command chain in a region that borders India to form a combined air defence system. The new joint system is part of the western theatre command’s (WTC) focus on war preparation and exploration of the establishment of a joint air defence system, the PLA’s mouthpiece PLA Daily reported on Tuesday. The WTC is responsible for the border with India and continues large-scale deployment in the region - despite partial disengagement - amid the year-long border friction with India in eastern Ladakh. The mouthpiece called the new formation “a solid step… taken in the joint combat and joint training”. The new system was tried out at a drill in the western theatre, the report said without sharing details of the location. The high-level exercise was a drill for checking combat readiness of the army’s air defence forces, but the orders, during the drill, were given by the PLA air force command stationed in the area - a likely first for the PLA. According to a senior officer of the Air Force dtaff headquarters of the WTC, more than 10 army air defence force units have entered the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) command chain in WTC to share early warning information, to test combat readiness, to participate in major exercises, and to form a “preliminary alliance”. “The integration of air defence across services and arms is a solid step to deepen joint operations,” the PLA Daily article said. The WTC’s air force took the initiative to implement joint operations and organised troops from ground defence, radar and communications to “work together with army commanders to tackle key problems, unify information interfaces, and formulate relevant standards and specifications”. The formation of the joint command is in line with a military training order issued by President Xi Jinping, who also heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), in January. The order said that military training this year will focus on actual combat training to raise combat readiness, joint command and joint specialised training, new equipment and force training, and operational system of systems integration training. Xi had then said the PLA must be ready to “act at any second” as the armed forces had kicked off the year’s military training and drills in January. “(The PLA must) increase the integration of new equipment, new forces and new combat realms into training and combat systems,” Xi was quoted in reports as saying. Following the formation of the new system, the changes in training modules have enabled the joint combat and joint training at all levels to be launched and improved simultaneously, Tuesday’s PLA Daily article said. In the final analysis, whether an army can win modern wars is determined by the level and effectiveness of joint training, it added. Last week, state media reported the PLA had deployed advanced rocket launchers with an artillery brigade stationed above 17,000 feet in the WTC. The front-page article published in PLA Daily said the brigade is located 5,200m above sea level in the Xinjiang region, but did not share the exact location. India and China have held several rounds of diplomatic and military talks to resolve the nearly year-long friction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The 10th meeting of senior military commanders was held on February 20 after the two sides completed the withdrawal of frontline troops with armoured formations and artillery from the banks of Pangong Lake. But the two sides were unable to make progress on efforts to disengage from other friction points such as Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang Plains. The 11th round of military talks held on April 9 failed to resolve the differences. At the end of the talks, Beijing said the Chinese military will maintain diplomatic communication with its Indian counterpart to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the border region.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pla-sets-up-army-and-air-force-joint-defence- system-in-western-theatre-101619510485306.html

China opens new front in national fight against spy threats

• Ministry of State Security is identifying key entities – firms, groups, government departments – to help protect state secrets • New regulation allows national security apparatus to install devices where needed or dismantle devices and hardware where necessary

Government bodies, defence contractors and social groups are expected to be listed by China’s Ministry of State Security as having to adhere to new counter-espionage regulations to prevent infiltration. Photo: Getty Images China’s state security apparatus will compile lists identifying key Chinese entities for counter-espionage work, according to a new regulation rolled out on Monday by the Ministry of State Security (MSS).

Once included on a list, the entity must conduct counter-espionage vetting and training for all personnel with access to secrets, the regulation said. Those personnel must sign non-disclosure agreements before taking on their jobs.

In these organisations, counter-espionage training is required before any worker leaves on an overseas trip. Personnel returning from abroad must be interviewed on national security grounds, according to the new rules.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3131158/china-opens-new-front- national-fight-against-spy-threats

China commissions three major naval vessels on PLAN's 72nd anniversary by Andrew Tate

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its first Type 075 (Yushen)- class landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ship, its third Type 055 (Renhai)-class guided-missile destroyer, and another Type 094 (Jin)-class nuclear- powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) in a ceremony held on 23 April.

A screengrab from footage released by CCTV on 24 April shows the three vessels the PLAN commissioned the previous day in a ceremony held at the Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island – Type 094 SSBN Changzheng 18 , Type 055 destroyer Dalian , and Type 075 LHD Hainan . (CCTV 13)

The ceremony was held at the Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island on the 72nd anniversary of the PLAN’s founding, and was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, resulting in extensive coverage by the state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV). This contrasts with other commissioning events such as the entry into service of the PLAN’s second Type 055 destroyer and the previous Type 094 SSBNs, which were not officially announced.

The Type 075 LHD, named Hainan (with pennant number 31), is an indigenous design that marks a significant achievement in terms of shipbuilding and in the potential enhancement of China’s amphibious assault capabilities. Hainan was built at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai and launched on 25 September 2019. Designed to support amphibious landings using helicopters and surface craft, its flight deck has landing spots to enable the concurrent operation of seven helicopters. For the commissioning ceremony, eight Z-8CJ helicopters were arranged on deck, indicating that the number of these aircraft in service is steadily growing, which will increase the capabilities of the PLAN Marine Corps.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/china-commissions-three-major- naval-vessels-on-plans-72nd-anniversary

China launches 9 commercial satellites, as well as a 'panda' Updated 10:26, 28-Apr-2021 CGTN Share

China launched a Long March-6 carrier rocket on Tuesday, sending nine commercial satellites into space.

The rocket blasted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province at 11:20 a.m.

This was the 366th flight mission of the Long March rocket series.

The satellites, including Qilu-1 and Qilu-4, have entered their planned orbits and will provide east China's Shandong Province with remote sensing services for land survey, urban construction, agriculture, forestry, energy and disaster prevention and reduction.

Other satellites onboard the rocket will be used to test technologies in satellite platform design, real-time imaging and observation, data acquisition and transmission, or to offer observations of small celestial bodies and remote sensing services.

A 3D-printed giant panda model

The 3D-printed giant panda model on board the Long March-6 carrier rocket. /CMG

Along with the nine commercial satellites was a 3D-printed giant panda model – the world's first public-welfare image of a panda in space. The model, measuring just over 9 centimeters tall, wears a spacesuit and holds a Chinese national flag. The image was jointly created by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Beijing-based tech company SpaceD.

The panda model was installed on a satellite camera. As the satellite orbits Earth, the camera will take pictures of the model with the planet from different locations.

"Researchers and wildlife conservation agencies alone are not enough to save endangered species," said Wu Yongsheng, director of the research base. "We hope the giant panda model, as a messenger of wildlife protection and popularization of aerospace knowledge, will encourage more young people to join the protection of biodiversity."

The 3D panda model will spread knowledge about space and promote space culture in a brand new way, as well as inspire the public to explore the beauty of space, said Bai Ruixue, board chairman of SpaceD.

In the future, the panda image will be used in aerospace science education and artworks on giant panda protection, Bai added.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-27/China-launches-nine-commercial-satellites- ZNDcp2WGoo/index.html

Why two heads would be better than one for China’s ‘Mighty Dragon’ fighter jet

• A twin-seater version of the J-20 fighter would be able to disrupt electronic systems and deploy fleets of drones, according to a Chinese military magazine • The jet is the country’s most advanced stealth-fighter but has been beset by engine problems

A twin-seater version of China’s most advanced fighter jet the J-20 would be able to target enemy electronic equipment and operate in tandem with swarms of drones, according to a defence industry magazine.

The article, published by Chinese military magazine Ordnance Industry Science Technology, said the fifth-generation fighter would be expected to carry out more tasks as the technology evolved, and a second crew member would be needed to carry out some of those functions.

“The emergence of a twin-seat version of the J-20 is because the J-20’s mission has diversified and China needs a more capable fighter jet,” the article said.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3131295/why-two-heads-would-be- better-one-chinas-mighty-dragon

How Many Nuclear Weapons Does China Really Have?

By Mark Schneider Published 3 hours ago Early in the Biden administration, there may have been a significant change in the assessment of the scope of the Chinese nuclear threat. In April 2021, STRATCOM Commander Admiral Charles Richard characterized the buildup of Chinese nuclear capability as “a breathtaking expansion.” The Defense Department may be in the process of changing the ridiculous assessment contained in its 2020 annual report on Chinese military power that the Chinese nuclear warheads numbered only in the “low 200s” and that it would at least double this figure in the next 10 years. In his sobering February 2021 U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings article, Admiral Richard wrote, “China’s nuclear weapons stockpile is expected to double (if not triple or quadruple) over the next decade.” This essentially doubles the 2020 Pentagon report’s estimate, increasing the number to about 1,000 warheads by 2030. This is quite credible. China expert Richard Fisher has written, “…the breadth of the PLA’s missile building indicates that it could increase this number [300-400] rapidly, perhaps exceeding the 1,000 warheads called for by the editor of China’s hardline Global Times.” Sponsored Content In an article, I wrote in October 2020 entitled “The Chinese Nuclear Threat,” I pointed out that the “low 200s” estimate was one of the lowest in the world, lower than previous Pentagon estimates and the evidence outlined in the report did not support such a low number. Specifically, I noted: After repeating every year that China was increasing the number of its nuclear weapons, the 2020 Pentagon China report says the Chinese nuclear stockpile is “currently estimated to be in the low-200s…” This clearly creates the impression that the number of Chinese nuclear weapons has declined since 2011, which is nonsense. Since 2011, there has been a substantial expansion of Chinese strategic nuclear capability. The Pentagon’s 2011 China report said China had 50-75 nuclear ICBMs, 5-20 nuclear IRBMs and no SLBMs. The 2020 Pentagon report indicates that China has 100 nuclear ICBMs, four ballistic missile submarines, each carrying 12 nuclear missiles, two additional missile submarines fitting out, 200+ nuclear-capable DF-26 IRBMs, and that some of China’s current ICBMs could carry up to five nuclear warheads each. If the 1984 declassified DIA report is used as a baseline [150-160 nuclear warheads], the addition of all these forces (not to mention Chinese non-strategic nuclear weapons modernization) has increased the Chinese nuclear forces by only 70-80 warheads. This is not credible. I also stated that other estimates of the number of Chinese nuclear weapons go as high as 3,000 nuclear weapons. Sponsored Content China has traditionally been extremely secretive about its nuclear forces. In 1982, Mao’s successor, Deng Xiaoping, said that China should “…hide our capabilities and bide our time.”[1] Yet, in 2020, in an unprecedented move, China attacked the accuracy of the Pentagon estimate in its main English language mouthpiece Global Times in an article signed by its Editor-in-Chief. He wrote, “…the [Pentagon’s] estimation of ‘low 200s’ underestimates the number of nuclear warheads in China”, adding “…that international estimation put the number of China’s nuclear warheads at over 200 in the 1980s.” Indeed, in April 2020, he stated, “China needs to expand the number of its nuclear warheads to 1,000 in a relatively short time. It needs to have at least 100 Dongfeng-41 strategic missiles.” A month later, he backed away from this somewhat, saying 1.000 nuclear warheads and 100 DF-41 ICBMs were “not [the] exact number, but the concept of magnitude.” He did state that it was his “…gut feeling is that China will increase its nuclear warheads, and I believe this is also the gut feeling of many people.” The most amazing development was yet to come. The South China Morning Post reported that “…a source close to the Chinese military said that its stockpile of nuclear warheads had risen to 1,000 in recent years, but less than 100 of them are active.” It seems unlikely “a source close to the Chinese military” would make such a statement without at least informal official sanction. Sponsored Content By “active”, he probably means warheads mounted on delivery vehicles. The one hundred number appears much too low. However, non-alert bomber and non-strategic nuclear warheads are usually not mated to delivery vehicles for safety reasons. According to Danny Stillman, former head of intelligence at the Los Almost National Laboratory, Chinese warheads are not one-point safe (i.e., an accidental detonation will not produce any significant nuclear yield). Noted U.S. China expert Colonel [ret.] Larry Wortzel points out that China puts “nuclear and conventional warheads on the same classes of ballistic missiles and collocate[s] them near each other in firing units of the Second Artillery Corps…” (The Second Artillery has now been renamed the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force [PLARF].) The 2020 Pentagon report also likely dramatically underestimates the number of Chinese non-strategic nuclear weapons. Credible sources, including Russian experts, believe the number is much higher, mainly reflecting their belief that China has a very large arsenal of tactical non-strategic nuclear weapons.[2] As China continues to build up its strategic nuclear forces, the ratio between non-strategic and strategic nuclear weapons will likely decline. According to Richard Fischer, “Determining true numbers, however, is complicated by the PLARF’s adding some number of reloads to intermediate-, medium-, and short-range ballistic missile units and cruise missile units.” In February 2021, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General John Hyten stated China was building nuclear weapons “faster than anybody on the planet,” including new ICBMs, cruise missiles, and nuclear-tipped hypersonic missiles “that we have no defenses for.” The reference to Chinese nuclear cruise missiles is both old and new at the same time. It is old because there are previous statements by senior U.S. generals and other DoD reports that China had nuclear cruise missiles. It is new because it does not appear in the 2020 edition of the Pentagon’s report on China’s military power. In fact, in October 2020, Russian state media reported that the Chinese CJ-20 cruise missile was nuclear-capable. There are other reports that the CJ-20 is nuclear-capable. The Pentagon 2020 report does not credit the Chinese with any nuclear-capable cruise missiles, despite the fact that declassified CIA documents indicate that one of the last few Chinese high-yield nuclear tests in the 1990s involved a cruise missile warhead. Regrettably, there appears to be hesitancy on the part of the drafters of the Pentagon report to credit the Chinese with more nuclear capability than they have publicly acknowledged. The Chinese are increasingly willing to credit their forces with nuclear capability, but sometimes even this is ignored in unclassified intelligence assessments. In April 2021, Admiral Richard revealed new and important information concerning the scope of the Chinese nuclear weapons buildup in his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He stated that “The CSS-20 (DF-41) became operational last year, and China has stood up at least two brigades.” This is very important because operation capability for the DF-41 alone about doubles the number of operational Chinese strategic nuclear warheads because the DF-41 is a large missile that is generally reported (including by Global Times) as being capable of carrying ten warheads. Noted military expert James R. Howe says that the DF-41 has “6-10 MIRV w/yields of 20, 90, 150 or 250 kt.” The Pentagon’s 2020 report stated that China had paraded at least 16 mobile DF-41 launchers through Beijing in 2019. Admiral Richard’s formulation of “at least two brigades” opens the possibility that there are now more than two brigades. Richard Fischer writes. “There are also reports of a rail-mobile version of the DF-41, a larger solid-fuel and silo- based ‘DF-45,’ and an HGV[hypersonic glide vehicle]-armed ICBM.” Admiral Richard also noted that behind a complete lack of transparency, “…China is rapidly improving its strategic nuclear capability and capacity, with rapid growth in road- mobile production, doubling the numbers of launchers in some ICBM brigades, deployment of solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos on a potentially large-scale, an added air leg, and are well ahead of the pace necessary to double their nuclear stockpile by the end of the decade.” These are potentially very telling threat developments. Doubling the number of launchers in some brigades will increase the number of warheads they can deliver, and the number can be higher if these are MIRVed ICBMs. For example, there are press reports that the new Chinese DF-31AG/DF-31B ICBM is MIRVed. Certainly, large-scale deployment of single warhead or MIRVed silo-based ICBMs would significantly increase the threat. China has made public a photograph of a covered version of its new B-2/B-21-like the stealth H-20 heavy bomber. This bomber will be nuclear-capable. Indeed, China has said so. The 2020 Pentagon report stated that the H-20, “…could debut sometime in the next decade with the following features: a stealthy design, employing many fifth- generation technologies; a likely range of at least 8,500 km; a payload of at least 10 metric tons; and a capability to employ both conventional and nuclear weaponry.” China’s new air-launched nuclear-capable ballistic missile carried by a modified H-6N bomber, which China has said is nuclear–capable, constitutes a major threat development. In effect, it is a new leg of China’s strategic nuclear deterrent with implications for both strategic and theater targeting. There is also a photograph of an H-6N carrying what appears to be an air-launched hypersonic missile. Indeed, Global Times said it is a hypersonic missile. Chinese hypersonic missiles are reportedly nuclear–capable. Candor about the growing Chinese nuclear threat is hardly universal in the U.S. Government. For example, the recently published report of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), according to Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists, appears to be “Watered Down and Out of Date.” (Emphasis in the original), Kristensen points to the revelation that the new Chinese JL-3 SLBM with have MIRVed warheads as being very important. Richard Fisher has concluded that this program could increase the number of Chinese nuclear SLBM warheads to 700. A MIRVed JL-3 would mean a very large further increase in Chinese strategic nuclear capability. However, this is actually old news. While the JL-3 formulation in the NASIC report is stronger than previous statements (it appears in a slightly less explicit form in the 2020 edition of the Pentagon’s China report), Asian press reports that the Chinese plans to MIRV its SLBMs go back over a decade. The 2020 Pentagon report does not credit China with any short-range nuclear missiles, despite the fact that the 2006 Chinese Defense White Paper said China had nuclear “tactical operational missiles of various types.” The Chinese formulation indicates more than one type of missile. “Tactical operational missiles” are what we call short-range missiles. In 2012, Russian expert Aleksey Arbatov said China had 150 nuclear operational tactical ballistic missiles.” An official at Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has said that the Chinese M-11 (DF-11/CSS-7) short-range missile “can fire a variety of warheads ranging from nuclear and chemical warheads to electromagnetic pulse warheads.”[3] The Chinese DF-15 short-range missile is also reportedly nuclear-capable. The Pentagon’s 2020 report does not credit China with nuclear artillery, despite the fact that two declassified CIA reports reveal that one of China’s last announced high-yield nuclear tests may have been a nuclear artillery round. Russian sources also report that China has nuclear artillery rounds. Conclusion A major reassessment of China’s nuclear capabilities is long overdue. If China has about 1,000 nuclear warheads in 2030, this would represent a very serious threat. If it already has about 1,000 nuclear warheads today and is increasing that number, this would be even more alarming. Chinese provocations against most of its neighbors and the legacy of Maoist insanity concerning nuclear warfare (i.e., China can survive the loss of hundreds of millions of people) make China even more dangerous. Maoism still has an impact on Chinese thinking about nuclear war. The growing Chinese tendency to advertise the scope of its nuclear capability may very well relate to its intention regarding near-term military aggression against its neighbors and its long-term goal of devising a new world order.

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/how-many-nuclear-weapons-does-china-really- have/

The Number of Chinese Nuclear Warheads By Mark B. Schneider April 27, 2021 Early in the Biden administration, there may have been a significant change in the assessment of the scope of the Chinese nuclear threat. In April 2021, STRATCOM Commander Admiral Charles Richard characterized the buildup of Chinese nuclear capability as “a breathtaking expansion.” The Defense Department may be in the process of changing the ridiculous assessment contained in its 2020 annual report on Chinese military power that the Chinese nuclear warheads numbered only in the “low 200s” and that it would at least double this figure in the next 10 years. In his sobering February 2021 U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings article, Admiral Richard wrote, “China’s nuclear weapons stockpile is expected to double (if not triple or quadruple) over the next decade.” This essentially doubles the 2020 Pentagon report's estimate, increasing the number to about 1,000 warheads by 2030. This is quite credible. China expert Richard Fisher has written, “…the breadth of the PLA’s missile building indicates that it could increase this number [300-400] rapidly, perhaps exceeding the 1,000 warheads called for by the editor of China’s hardline Global Times.”

In an article, I wrote in October 2020 entitled “The Chinese Nuclear Threat,” I pointed out that the “low 200s” estimate was one of the lowest in the world, lower than previous Pentagon estimates and the evidence outlined in the report did not support such a low number. Specifically, I noted:

After repeating every year that China was increasing the number of its nuclear weapons, the 2020 Pentagon China report says the Chinese nuclear stockpile is “currently estimated to be in the low-200s…” This clearly creates the impression that the number of Chinese nuclear weapons has declined since 2011, which is nonsense. Since 2011, there has been a substantial expansion of Chinese strategic nuclear capability. The Pentagon’s 2011 China report said China had 50-75 nuclear ICBMs, 5-20 nuclear IRBMs and no SLBMs. The 2020 Pentagon report indicates that China has 100 nuclear ICBMs, four ballistic missile submarines, each carrying 12 nuclear missiles, two additional missile submarines fitting out, 200+ nuclear-capable DF-26 IRBMs, and that some of China’s current ICBMs could carry up to five nuclear warheads each. If the 1984 declassified DIA report is used as a baseline [150- 160 nuclear warheads], the addition of all these forces (not to mention Chinese non-strategic nuclear weapons modernization) has increased the Chinese nuclear forces by only 70-80 warheads. This is not credible.

I also stated that other estimates of the number of Chinese nuclear weapons go as high as 3,000 nuclear weapons. China has traditionally been extremely secretive about its nuclear forces. In 1982, Mao’s successor, Deng Xiaoping, said that China should “…hide our capabilities and bide our time.”[1] Yet, in 2020, in an unprecedented move, China attacked the accuracy of the Pentagon estimate in its main English language mouthpiece Global Times in an article signed by its Editor-in-Chief. He wrote, “…the [Pentagon’s] estimation of ‘low 200s’ underestimates the number of nuclear warheads in China”, adding “…that international estimation put the number of China's nuclear warheads at over 200 in the 1980s.” Indeed, in April 2020, he stated, “China needs to expand the number of its nuclear warheads to 1,000 in a relatively short time. It needs to have at least 100 Dongfeng-41 strategic missiles.” A month later, he backed away from this somewhat, saying 1.000 nuclear warheads and 100 DF-41 ICBMs were “not [the] exact number, but the concept of magnitude.” He did state that it was his “…gut feeling is that China will increase its nuclear warheads, and I believe this is also the gut feeling of many people.”

The most amazing development was yet to come. The South China Morning Post reported that "…a source close to the Chinese military said that its stockpile of nuclear warheads had risen to 1,000 in recent years, but less than 100 of them are active.” It seems unlikely “a source close to the Chinese military” would make such a statement without at least informal official sanction.

By “active”, he probably means warheads mounted on delivery vehicles. The one hundred number appears much too low. However, non-alert bomber and non-strategic nuclear warheads are usually not mated to delivery vehicles for safety reasons. According to Danny Stillman, former head of intelligence at the Los Almost National Laboratory, Chinese warheads are not one-point safe (i.e., an accidental detonation will not produce any significant nuclear yield). Noted U.S. China expert Colonel [ret.] Larry Wortzel points out that China puts “nuclear and conventional warheads on the same classes of ballistic missiles and collocate[s] them near each other in firing units of the Second Artillery Corps…” (The Second Artillery has now been renamed the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force [PLARF].)

The 2020 Pentagon report also likely dramatically underestimates the number of Chinese non-strategic nuclear weapons. Credible sources, including Russian experts, believe the number is much higher, mainly reflecting their belief that China has a very large arsenal of tactical non-strategic nuclear weapons.[2] As China continues to build up its strategic nuclear forces, the ratio between non-strategic and strategic nuclear weapons will likely decline. According to Richard Fischer, “Determining true numbers, however, is complicated by the PLARF’s adding some number of reloads to intermediate-, medium-, and short-range ballistic missile units and cruise missile units.”

In February 2021, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General John Hyten stated China was building nuclear weapons “faster than anybody on the planet,” including new ICBMs, cruise missiles, and nuclear-tipped hypersonic missiles “that we have no defenses for.” The reference to Chinese nuclear cruise missiles is both old and new at the same time. It is old because there are previous statements by senior U.S. generals and other DoD reports that China had nuclear cruise missiles. It is new because it does not appear in the 2020 edition of the Pentagon’s report on China’s military power. In fact, in October 2020, Russian state media reported that the Chinese CJ-20 cruise missile was nuclear-capable. There are other reports that the CJ-20 is nuclear-capable.

The Pentagon 2020 report does not credit the Chinese with any nuclear-capable cruise missiles, despite the fact that declassified CIA documents indicate that one of the last few Chinese high-yield nuclear tests in the 1990s involved a cruise missile warhead. Regrettably, there appears to be hesitancy on the part of the drafters of the Pentagon report to credit the Chinese with more nuclear capability than they have publicly acknowledged. The Chinese are increasingly willing to credit their forces with nuclear capability, but sometimes even this is ignored in unclassified intelligence assessments.

In April 2021, Admiral Richard revealed new and important information concerning the scope of the Chinese nuclear weapons buildup in his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He stated that "The CSS-20 (DF-41) became operational last year, and China has stood up at least two brigades.” This is very important because operation capability for the DF-41 alone about doubles the number of operational Chinese strategic nuclear warheads because the DF-41 is a large missile that is generally reported (including by Global Times) as being capable of carrying ten warheads. Noted military expert James R. Howe says that the DF-41 has “6-10 MIRV w/yields of 20, 90, 150 or 250 kt.” The Pentagon’s 2020 report stated that China had paraded at least 16 mobile DF-41 launchers through Beijing in 2019. Admiral Richard’s formulation of “at least two brigades” opens the possibility that there are now more than two brigades. Richard Fischer writes. “There are also reports of a rail-mobile version of the DF-41, a larger solid-fuel and silo-based ‘DF-45,’ and an HGV[hypersonic glide vehicle]-armed ICBM.”

Admiral Richard also noted that behind a complete lack of transparency, “…China is rapidly improving its strategic nuclear capability and capacity, with rapid growth in road-mobile production, doubling the numbers of launchers in some ICBM brigades, deployment of solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos on a potentially large-scale, an added air leg, and are well ahead of the pace necessary to double their nuclear stockpile by the end of the decade.”

These are potentially very telling threat developments. Doubling the number of launchers in some brigades will increase the number of warheads they can deliver, and the number can be higher if these are MIRVed ICBMs. For example, there are press reports that the new Chinese DF-31AG/DF-31B ICBM is MIRVed. Certainly, large-scale deployment of single warhead or MIRVed silo-based ICBMs would significantly increase the threat. China has made public a photograph of a covered version of its new B-2/B-21-like the stealth H-20 heavy bomber. This bomber will be nuclear-capable. Indeed, China has said so. The 2020 Pentagon report stated that the H-20, “…could debut sometime in the next decade with the following features: a stealthy design, employing many fifth-generation technologies; a likely range of at least 8,500 km; a payload of at least 10 metric tons; and a capability to employ both conventional and nuclear weaponry.” China’s new air-launched nuclear-capable ballistic missile carried by a modified H-6N bomber, which China has said is nuclear-capable, constitutes a major threat development. In effect, it is a new leg of China’s strategic nuclear deterrent with implications for both strategic and theater targeting. There is also a photograph of an H-6N carrying what appears to be an air-launched hypersonic missile. Indeed, Global Times said it is a hypersonic missile. Chinese hypersonic missiles are reportedly nuclear- capable.

Candor about the growing Chinese nuclear threat is hardly universal in the U.S. Government. For example, the recently published report of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), according to Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists, appears to be “Watered Down and Out of Date.” (Emphasis in the original), Kristensen points to the revelation that the new Chinese JL-3 SLBM with have MIRVed warheads as being very important. Richard Fisher has concluded that this program could increase the number of Chinese nuclear SLBM warheads to 700.

A MIRVed JL-3 would mean a very large further increase in Chinese strategic nuclear capability. However, this is actually old news. While the JL-3 formulation in the NASIC report is stronger than previous statements (it appears in a slightly less explicit form in the 2020 edition of the Pentagon’s China report), Asian press reports that the Chinese plans to MIRV its SLBMs go back over a decade.

The 2020 Pentagon report does not credit China with any short-range nuclear missiles, despite the fact that the 2006 Chinese Defense White Paper said China had nuclear “tactical operational missiles of various types.” The Chinese formulation indicates more than one type of missile. “Tactical operational missiles” are what we call short-range missiles. In 2012, Russian expert Aleksey Arbatov said China had 150 nuclear operational tactical ballistic missiles.” An official at Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has said that the Chinese M-11 (DF- 11/CSS-7) short-range missile “can fire a variety of warheads ranging from nuclear and chemical warheads to electromagnetic pulse warheads.”[3] The Chinese DF-15 short-range missile is also reportedly nuclear-capable. The Pentagon’s 2020 report does not credit China with nuclear artillery, despite the fact that two declassified CIA reports reveal that one of China’s last announced high-yield nuclear tests may have been a nuclear artillery round. Russian sources also report that China has nuclear artillery rounds. Conclusion

A major reassessment of China’s nuclear capabilities is long overdue. If China has about 1,000 nuclear warheads in 2030, this would represent a very serious threat. If it already has about 1,000 nuclear warheads today and is increasing that number, this would be even more alarming. Chinese provocations against most of its neighbors and the legacy of Maoist insanity concerning nuclear warfare (i.e., China can survive the loss of hundreds of millions of people) make China even more dangerous. Maoism still has an impact on Chinese thinking about nuclear war. The growing Chinese tendency to advertise the scope of its nuclear capability may very well relate to its intention regarding near-term military aggression against its neighbors and its long-term goal of devising a new world order.

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/04/27/the_number_of_chinese_nuclear _warheads_774594.html

Chinese spy planes try to fly under Taiwan’s radar Didi Tang, Beijing Tuesday April 27 2021, 12.00pm BST, The Times

Chinese aircraft have made almost daily incursions into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone since September TAIWAN MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENCE/REX FEATURES A Chinese spy plane attempted to fly underneath Taiwan’s radar detection as it gathered intelligence and tested the island’s air defences.

The Y-8 tactical reconnaissance aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) flew 30 metres above sea level off Taiwan yesterday as part of China’s growing military manoeuvres around the self-governing island. Chinese aircraft have made almost daily incursions into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone since September. This was the lowest flight so far in an area that acts as a buffer between international airspace and a nation’s territorial airspace.

Lin Yin-yu, a professor at the Institute of Strategic and International Affairs at National Chung Cheng University in southern Taiwan, told the South China Morning Post that the low-altitude flight served to test the Taiwanese

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-try-to-spy-under-taiwans-radar-xr68n53bp

Taiwan catches PLA plane trying to sneak below radar at only 30 meters Taiwan drives away Chinese plane intruding into Taiwan's ADIZ at height of only 30 meters By Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer 2021/04/27 19:59

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's military on Monday (April 26) intercepted a Chinese spy plane apparently trying to test the country's radar capabilities by flying at an extremely low altitude of only 30 meters.

On Monday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced that a Y-8 electronic warfare plane (Y-8 EW) and a Y-8 tactical reconnaissance aircraft (Y-8 RECCE) intruded into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) that morning. According to the MND, it dispatched aircraft, issued radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the activity. Local military aircraft tracker SouthwestAirspaceofTW tracked the aircraft's flight paths as well as radio broadcasts by the MND. It stated that a Y-8 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) plane was detected that day as well.

At 8:30 a.m., the Y-8 ASW was detected at an altitude of 3,000 meters. At 8:55 a.m., the Y-8 EW was spotted at an altitude of 7,000 meters.

At 9:47 a.m., the Y-8 RECCE was detected flying at a mere 30 meters above the water. According to the aircraft tracker, the MND issued a radio warning to the low-flying plane:

"Republic of China Air Force broadcast. Attention CCP military aircraft at an altitude of 30 meters in Taiwan's southwest. You have entered our ADIZ, which affects our flight safety. Turn around and leave, immediately!"

Not only did the incident mark the lowest altitude incursion by a Chinese military plane in Taiwan's ADIZ this year, but it also was the lowest altitude that Taiwan's military had directed a radio warning broadcast in 2021.

On the tracker's Facebook page that day, the administrator jokingly wrote, "You're at 30 meters to practice your diving?"

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4188046

Indonesian General Is Killed in Rebel Ambush, Sparking Fears of Retaliation

President Joko Widodo announced the death of the high ranking intelligence chief and called for the arrest of rebel gunmen. Activists said they feared reprisals against Indigenous Papuans.

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia on Monday expressed his condolences and vowed revenge after Papuan separatists killed the top intelligence official in the province. Credit...Indonesian Presidential Palace, via Associated Press By Richard C. Paddock and Muktita Suhartono April 27, 2021

Indonesia’s top intelligence official in Papua Province was a one-star general who did not believe in leading from his office. A Bali native, Brig. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha rose through the ranks of Indonesia’s feared special forces and often went on patrol with troops in areas where separatist rebels were known to stage attacks.

“Ambushes and gunfights are common,” said Wawan Hari Purwanto, a spokesman for the State Intelligence Agency. “But he always chose to be at the front in every patrol and observation, including in gunfights. He didn’t want to be just behind a desk.”

On Sunday, General Danny, 51, walked into his final ambush. He was shot and killed near a church in remote Dambet Village in Papua’s central highlands. Now, human rights activists fear that President Joko Widodo’s call for a strong response to the general’s death may prompt harsh reprisals against the Indigenous population in Indonesia’s easternmost province.

In announcing the killing on Monday, Mr. Joko called on the army and the police to hunt down and arrest every member of the group responsible for the general’s death. General Danny was the first general to die in action in Indonesia’s history, an army spokesman said.

“I emphasize that there is no place for armed criminal groups in Papua or any other part of the country,” Mr. Joko said during a brief appearance, flanked by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and the heads of the army, the police and the State Intelligence Agency.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/world/asia/indonesia-general-papua.html

Fighting erupts in Myanmar near Thai border Karen National Union ethnic army says its forces have captured outpost

Militia members led by the Karen National Union undergo training in Karen State, Myanmar on April 9. © Reuters April 27, 2021 12:11 JST Heavy fighting erupted at a Myanmar army outpost near the eastern border with Thailand early on Tuesday in an area largely controlled by forces of a Karen ethnic army.

The Karen National Union said it had captured the army position, in some of the most intense clashes since a Feb. 1 coup plunged Myanmar into crisis. The fighting also came days after Southeast Asian leaders said they had reached consensus with the junta on ending violence.

Villagers across the Salween river in Thailand said heavy gunfire started before sunrise. Video posted on social media showed flames and smoke on the forested hillside.

Forces of the Karen National Union had taken the outpost at around 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., the group's head of foreign affairs, Padoh Saw Taw Nee, told Reuters.

He said the camp had been occupied and burned down and that the group was still checking on deaths and casualties. The spokesman said there had been fighting in other locations too, but did not give details.

The Karen Information Center, a local media group, said the army base had been overrun. It said villagers had seen seven soldiers running away.

Myanmar's army made no immediate comment. It historically proclaimed itself the one institution that can keep the multi-ethnic country of over 53 million people together, though much of Myanmar has rallied in opposition to its coup.

The army base at the Thai border had been largely surrounded by KNU forces and food had run short there in recent weeks, according to Thai villagers who had had contact with the soldiers.

A Thai official from the Mae Hong Son province said one person had been wounded in Thailand during the fighting, but did not have further details. KNU forces had clashed elsewhere with the army since it seized power and cut short a decade of democratic reforms that had also brought relative peace in Myanmar's volatile borderlands.

Karen groups say 24,000 people have been displaced in recent weeks by the violence, including air strikes by Myanmar's air force, and are sheltering in the jungle.

Some of Myanmar's two dozen armed groups have supported opponents of the junta, whose forces have killed more than 750 civilians to try to suppress protests against the coup, according to an activist group.

Elsewhere in Myanmar, there have been relatively few reports of bloodshed since the weekend meeting between junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and Southeast Asian leaders to try to find a way out of the crisis.

But Myanmar media reported at least one man was shot dead in the city of Mandalay on Monday. The circumstances were unclear.

Protesters have vowed to step up action against the junta.

On Monday, they called on people to stop paying electricity bills and agricultural loans and to keep their children away from school.

"Education staff and students are strongly encouraged to join the boycott and stand together by not attending school," protest leader Ei Thin Zar Maung posted on social media.

Activists have criticised the so-called five-point consensus that came out of the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the weekend, saying that it helped to legitimise the junta and fell far short of their demands.

In particular it did not specifically call for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 75, and other political prisoners. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group says more than 3,400 people have been detained for opposing the coup.

Suu Kyi's party won a second term in November. The election commission said the vote was fair but the military said fraud at the polls had forced it to seize power.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Coup/Fighting-erupts-in-Myanmar-near-Thai- border

Guerrillas seize military outpost from Myanmar army Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor Wednesday April 28 2021, 1.01am BST, The Times Play Video Anti-government guerillas in eastern Myanmar have seized a military outpost from the army in some of the most intense fighting since the military coup three months ago.

Fighters from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) overran and burnt the Le Htat outpost on the Salween river, which forms the border between Myanmar and Thailand, according to local reports. Video footage from Mae Sam Laep, a village on the Thai side of the river, showed camp buildings burning and what appeared to be soldiers fleeing along the shore of the river.

A local news organisation, the Karen Information Centre, quoted an unnamed Thai witness saying that fighting had started at 5am this morning and that the camp was captured after six hours of noisy fighting. The

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/guerrillas-seize-military-outpost-from-myanmar-army- tj0dqp5f6

Military under fire for allegedly violating human rights in COVID-19 measures Posted : 2021-04-27 16:16 Updated : 2021-04-28 10:21

By Jung Da-min

A controversy is arising over the military's alleged excessive COVID-19 quarantine measures, which critics say violate the basic human rights of service members.

According to the Center for Military Human Rights Korea, a human rights civic group, conscripts at the Republic of Korea Army Training Center are being treated poorly under the center's measures.

They are allegedly banned from brushing their teeth and washing their face for three days after arriving at the center and are not allowed to take a shower for eight to 10 days under the name of "anti-virus measures," according to a report by the group released Monday.

"We have confirmed that trainees enter the training center every Monday, and all of the admitted trainees undergo preventive quarantine. … They receive a first PCR test on Tuesday and they are not allowed to brush their teeth nor wash their face until the results come out Wednesday," the report said, adding trainees were only allowed to go to the toilet at specific times and taking a shower was impossible.

"In addition, the training center conducts a second PCR test before releasing trainees from preventive quarantine. Once the second test results come out, trainees are then allowed to take a shower, brush their teeth, wash their face and use the toilet without restrictions. But it takes about eight to 10 days."

The Army said such measures were inevitable in order to prevent COIVD-19 from spreading at the Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, the largest training institution for the entire military with over 120,000 conscripts entering annually.

"Bottled water is provided and gargling is allowed for trainees to rinse out their mouth for three days, while those with dental-related diseases are allowed to brush their teeth. Taking a shower is allowed from the third day if the first PCR test is negative," the Army said in a statement. "If a trainee urgently needs to use the toilet, he is allowed to go to the toilet in another building after we disinfect it."

The Army said its strict preventive measures have been effective so far, with only 27 coronavirus infections confirmed at the center since last year, as of April 21.

But some people say such measures are too harsh considering other conditions at the training center where many trainees have to share space.

"It's been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic situation started but the military is still using the old accommodations for soldiers and trainees. I don't see it as a rational decision," said Lee, 26, from Seoul. "Even if the military could prevent COVID-19 from spreading with such excessive measures, I'm concerned that trainees could get sick in such a poor state of hygiene."

But Koo, 25, also a Seoul resident, said there appeared to be no other choice for the Army center with its current facilities where conscripts inevitably come into contact with each other while showering or using the toilets.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/04/119_307884.html

South Korea to develop indigenous attack helicopter for RoKMC by Gabriel Dominguez & Dae Young Kim

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 26 April that the country is planning to develop an indigenous attack helicopter to meet a Republic of Korea Marine Corps (RoKMC) requirement for 20–24 such rotorcraft.

The country’s Defense Project Promotion Committee decided that the development and acquisition project, which has been provisionally budgeted at KRW1.6 trillion (USD1.44 billion), is expected to begin in 2022 and be completed by 2031, according to DAPA.

A concept image of the Korean Aerospace Industries’ Surion Marine Attack Helicopter. South Korea’s DAPA announced on 26 April that the country will develop its own attack helicopter to meet a RoKMC requirement for at least 20 such rotorcraft. (KAI)

The aircraft is aimed at enhancing the service’s amphibious assault capabilities, particularly in the north-western islands near the inter-Korean border, by providing aerial fire support, among other things. The helicopter must be compatible for operations alongside the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) MUH-1 Marineon helicopter, which is already in RoKMC service.

No further details were provided. However, the announcement comes after a year-long study by DAPA’s Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) concluded that procuring a locally developed platform capable of operating from the RoK Navy’s (RoKN’s) amphibious assault ships would be more cost-effective than acquiring a foreign- made one.

Bidding for the programme began in January 2019 with five companies participating: Bell Textron (proposing its AH-1Z Viper), Boeing (AH-64E Apache Guardian), Turkish Aerospace (T-129 ATAK), Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky (S-70i), and KAI Surion Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH). KAI was the only South Korean company in the bidding process.

A scale model of KAI’s Surion MAH was displayed for the first time at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX) in October 2019.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korea-to-develop-indigenous- attack-helicopter-for-rokmc Australia warns of 'drums of war' after China slams country for Taiwan comments Australian Home Affairs secretary warns country should brace for 'the curse of war' By Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer 2021/04/27 12:58

(Facebook.com/RoyalAustralianNavy photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tensions are continuing to ratchet up as Beijing criticizes Canberra for stating that conflict over Taiwan is possible and as Australia warns the "drums of war" are beating louder.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) on Sunday (April 25), Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said a conflict with China over Taiwan "should not be discounted." He added that Beijing has been increasingly clear about its "reunification" ambitions toward Taiwan.

In response, Chinese foreign ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin (汪文斌) demanded that Australia recognized the "sensitivity of the Taiwan issue" and "abide by 'one-China' principle." He also called on Canberra to not send any "false signals of 'Taiwan independence'" and to do more to boost peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Sino-Australian relations."

The war of words continued on Tuesday (April 27), when The Australian released a commentary by Department of Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo in which he wrote, "In a world of perpetual tension and dread, the drums of war beat — sometimes faintly and distantly, and at other times more loudly and ever closer." Ominously, he added that although the nation should continue to search for peace amid heightened militarization in the region, it should brace for "the curse of war."

Pezzullo noted that the 70th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty defense treaty with the U.S. is nearing and cited American Generals Douglas MacArthur and President Dwight Eisenhower in the following statement:

"Let us remember the warnings of two American generals who had known war waged totally and brutally: we must search always for the chance for peace amidst the curse of war, until we are faced with the only prudent, if sorrowful, course — to send off, yet again, our warriors to fight the nation’s wars."

He closed by calling on the government to attempt to reduce the possibility of war. However, he insisted that any steps taken towards peace should not come "at the cost of our precious liberty."

Pezzullo's commentary drew praise from Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, who said she approved of his wording and the idea that "The overarching message from government is that we need to be alert but not alarmed." However, Senior opposition Labor Party lawmaker Bill Shorten criticized Pezzullo's use of "drums of war" for being “pretty hyperexcited language," reported the Associated Press.

On Tuesday morning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Joanne Ou (歐江安 ) said Australia is an important friend of Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific region and a partner with a similar philosophy regarding freedom and democracy. She said Taiwan welcomes the greater attention many international leaders have paid to the situation and their "serious concerns about any provocative actions that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

In addition to improving its self-defense capabilities, Ou said that Taiwan calls on like-minded democratic partners to continue to monitor the security situation in the strait and "jointly work to stop provocative actions by any country that would attempt to change the status quo by non-peaceful means."

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4187681

10 years after death, Bin Laden still mobilizes jihadists Posted : 2021-04-27 11:40 Updated : 2021-04-27 11:40

•

In this file photo taken on May 2, 2011, supporters of hardline pro-Taliban party Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Nazaryati shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest in Quetta after the killing of Osama Bin Laden by U.S. Special Forces in Pakistan's hill station of Abbottabad. A decade after his death, the Al-Qaeda founder still retains the capacity to mobilize extremists. AFP-Yonhap

A decade after he was hunted down and killed in Pakistan by US special forces, Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden retains the capacity to mobilise extremists even in a polarised jihadist scene that has radically changed in the last years.

Even though Bin Laden's body was buried in the Arabian Sea from the deck of a US aircraft carrier hours after his death, to avoid the creation of any pilgrimage site on land, he remains an example and symbol for many radical Islamists.

The Saudi national shrewdly understood the importance of propaganda that has helped project his charismatic image long after his death. In videos he took to appearing with an assault rifle at his side, despite rarely seeing direct combat himself.

"Osama bin Laden carefully curated his public persona to cultivate a dedicated following," said Katherine Zimmerman, an advisor for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute's.

"His image ― that of a devout Muslim in more traditional dress, but always with his AK- 74 at arm's reach and often in his camouflage jacket ― was tailored to portray himself as a leader in the jihad, both spiritually and militarily," she said. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/world/2021/04/683_307861.html Macron warned of ‘civil war’ by former French generals: How likely is that? Posted on April 27, 2021 by weehingthong Generals call for military rule to halt France ‘disintegrating with Islamists’ Twenty retired generals have created a political storm in France with a call for a military takeover if President Macron fails to halt the “disintegration” of the country at the hands of Islamists.

The open letter, published in Valeurs Actuelles, a right-wing news magazine, has gained resonance after a Tunisian Islamist stabbed to death a 49-year-old woman who worked at a police station in Rambouillet, in the western Paris commuter belt, on Friday. Macron’s government condemned the appeal, whose first signature was Christian Piquemal, a former head of the Foreign Legion, comparing it to the failed coup by generals against President de Gaulle 60 years ago this month.

https://weehingthong.org/2021/04/27/macron-warned-of-civil-war-by-former-french- generals-how-likely-is-that/

Since Napoleon’s day France’s armed forces have played politics Charles Bremner Tuesday April 27 2021, 12.01am BST, The Times

In a country where the armed forces have stepped in periodically to overthrow civilian power since Napoleon Bonaparte’s coup d’état of 1799, nostalgia for the smack of military leadership is never far away. Calls from generals for the army to seize power may sound far-fetched to the young of France today but there is a generation that still remembers two attempted military takeovers in their lifetimes.

In 1958 an army revolt against the chaotic Fourth Republic, including the takeover of Corsica, opened the way for Charles de Gaulle to be recalled from retirement and given special presidential powers to govern France. Then in 1961 a coup led by generals to keep Algeria a French colony failed to topple de Gaulle, but former soldiers came

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/since-napoleons-day-frances-armed-forces-have- played-politics-qbhgh9qsq

PH vaccination program vs. COVID-19 is 'on track' — Galvez

Published April 27, 2021, 3:58 PM by Martin Sadongdong Despite delays in the delivery of vaccines, the country is expected to hit its target of inoculating around 70 million Filipinos to achieve herd immunity by the end of 2021.

This was declared by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., vaccine czar and chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, at the virtual pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum of the economic development and infrastructure clusters on Monday, April 27.

“We are still on track. This (target completion) is still depending on the arrival of the vaccines. Your government is working hard to ensure that the country will have a fair share of the vaccines,” he said.

The first batch of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia was supposed to arrive last Sunday but it was delayed due to a shortage in the global supply, Galvez said.

The initial delivery of the 15,000 doses of Sputnik V jabs was moved to Wednesday, April 28.

By the end of the month, the country is expected to receive 480,000 doses more of Sputnik V vaccines from the Gamaleya Research Institute of Russia and 500,000 doses of CoronaVac vaccines from Sinovac Biotech manufacturing company of China.

“We are eyeing to achieve herd immunity of targeted areas where surge in cases are evident such as in Metro Manila and nearby provinces by October or November,” he said.

The national government is eyeing to procure a total of 140 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and acquire another 44 million doses from the Covax facility, a World Health Organization (WHO)-led initiative which aims to give all countries an equal access to the vaccines.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/ph-vaccination-program-vs-covid-19-is-on-track-galvez/

Two House Members Set Launch Of ‘Ivermectin Pan-Three’ In QC BYJOVEE MARIE DE LA CRUZ APRIL 28, 2021 3 MINUTE READ

Ivermectin photo from The Conversation Two legislators on Tuesday vowed to push through with a plan to distribute Ivermectin drug through an “Ivermectin Pan-Three” for those who are in dire need of the controversial drug.

To equate both the “sense of urgency and inherent trait of community sharing,” Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor said each beneficiary would get a minimum of three capsules/tablet free of charge.

The Ivermectin Pan-Three will be formally launched on Thursday at the Matandang Balara Hall Park.

“From the experts’ collective testimony, Ivermectin had been widely used to treat a variety of human parasites since its introduction in 1981 and since then, is being taken along with Vitamins C and D, melatonin, zinc, among others, including steroids for the elderly and asthmatic patients,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the registered Ivermectin products in the country for human use are in topical formulations under prescription use only that is mainly used for the treatment of external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea.

The FDA said the registered oral and intravenous preparations of Ivermectin are veterinary products that are approved for use in animals for the prevention of heartworm disease and treatment of internal and external parasites in certain animal species. chttps://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/04/28/two-house-members-set-launch-of-ivermectin-pan-three- in-qc/

Coronavirus: Philippines could face India-like surge, doctor warns, as infections pass 1 million

• Dr Rodrigo Ong of independent OCTA Research Group think tank said the country was at the ‘same crosspoint’ as India in its fight against virus • Warning comes as Philippines considers cutting quarantine times for returning travellers and easing other restrictions

A health worker tends to a Covid-19 patient supported by a mechanical ventilator and undergoing dialysis at a government hospital in Quezon City, the Philippines. Photo: Reuters

Medical experts have warned that the Philippines could face a surge in coronavirus infections similar to that which engulfed India this month, amid reports of Covid-19 patients spilling out into hospital corridors in parts of Metropolitan Manila as the nationwide tally of cases crossed the one million mark.Dr Rodrigo Ong of the independent OCTA Research Group think tank, which produces forecasts on the virus’ spread, said the Philippines was now at the “same crosspoint” of about 10,000 cases per day that India had reached when authorities there decided to lift restrictions on large gatherings as they thought the virus was under control.

He said the epidemic in the Philippines was in a “delicate balance” as of Tuesday, with more than 80 per cent of the country’s hospital beds occupied. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3131313/coronavirus-philippines-could- face-india-surge-doctor

PH warns rich nations vs.hoarding vaccines; calls for more equitable distribution

Published April 27, 2021, 3:44 PM by Genalyn Kabiling The Philippine government has appealed to rich nations to avoid hoarding the coronavirus vaccines, saying these former colonial masters do not have the sole right to survive the pandemic.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made a pitch for equitable distribution of the life- saving vaccines amid concerns that the wealthiest nations have bought the vast majority of the world’s vaccine supply.

Over a billion coronavirus vaccines have reportedly been administered across the world but more than half reportedly went to a handful of rich countries. Poor nations have reportedly been scrambling for the remaining supply of the limited vaccines.

“Itong pandemic is governed by laws of humanity kaya ang ating pakiusap lalong-lalo na sa mayayamang bansa na nag-ho-hoard ng bakuna, hindi naman puwede na kayong dating mga colonial na bansa ang siya lang mabubuhay dahil binili ninyo lahat ng (bakuna) (The pandemic is governed by laws of humanity so we appeal especially to the rich countries hoarding vaccines, it is not right the you, the former colonial nations, are the only ones who can live because you bought all the vaccines),” Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, April 27.

“In situations of pandemic, we’re all governed by the laws of public international law, the dictates of public conscience, and laws of humanity,” he added.

Roque admitted that the country could only attain “victory” when it has completed the vaccination of adult Filipinos and attained herd immunity.

More than a million people have so far received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine under the government’s free inoculation drive. Additional vaccine supplies from Russia and China are expected to arrive this month. The government aims to inoculate 70 million Filipinos this year to achieve herd immunity.

In a special forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council last week, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. relayed the country’s appeal against the hoarding of vaccines, saying it only “hurts everyone and the global response.” He also appealed for closer international cooperation in addressing the pandemic, especially in ensuring fair access to the vaccines. “The Philippines remains resolute in championing a policy of ensuring universal, fair, equitable, and timely access to COVID-19 vaccines as long-term solutions to building back better, amid the emergence of new variants and the global scarcity that has been challenging vaccine rollouts in some countries,” he said.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/ph-warns-rich-nations-vs-hoarding-vaccines-calls-for-more-equitable- distribution/

COVID-19 Shows the Philippines’ Need for a More Open Government A new wave of COVID-19 infections has once again laid bare the shortcomings of the state’s response. By Rej Cortez Torrecampo

April 27, 2021

This article is free

The Diplomat has removed paywall restrictions on our coverage of the COVID– 19 crisis.

People going to the public market wear masks and maintain physical distance to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Muntinlupa City, Philippines, May 2020. Credit: Flickr/ILO Asia-PacificADVERTISEMENT

The unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines in recent weeks has led many to question once again the competency of the government in addressing the pandemic. Following the approval to bring Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal back under the Enhanced Community Quarantine, netizens have vented their frustrations online, causing President Rodrigo Duterte to trend on Twitter with under the hashtags #DuterteResign and #DutertePalpak.

At this point, holding the government accountable for certain lapses is valid. But with the growing number of people that need immediate help, citizens are already finding ways to help themselves and their neighbors to survive this crisis. The increase in COVID-19 infections has led to more people incurring huge debt from their hospital bills. In my circle, for instance, I have seen and shared posts from friends and friends of friends who are soliciting financial support from those with money to spare. So far, people are responding to the call.

Stricter movement of people also means that jobs are again limited. This endangers those who are dependent on daily wages and income. As a response to the growing need for support, the Maginhawa Community Pantry was set up in mid-April this year, and has since been replicated by a number of different communities.

This kind of citizen action and mobilization is not new, but is amplified during times of crisis. Similar groups were quickly set up to mobilize donations and resources for communities affected by the eruption of the Taal volcano in January 2020, Super Typhoon Rolly, which devastated the Bicol Region in November 2020, and Typhoon Ulysses, which hit Luzon the same month. And many similar stories have taken place since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, both those that went viral and those that went under the radar.

We are seeing that because the government is failing to effectively and efficiently provide, respond, and protect its citizens from this crisis, people are taking matters into their own hands. It is tempting to conclude that if the public can do it, and the government cannot, then why not go with it? The idea of self-governance is attractive to prove the point that government is ineffective and more could be done without it, but the populace is not quite ready to govern itself. There are many critical functions that only the government has the capacity for.

https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/covid-19-shows-the-philippines-need-for-a-more-open-government/

COVID-19 Third Wave Menaces Southeast Asian Nations As the disease ravages India, several Southeast Asian nations are also weathering record outbreaks. By Sebastian Strangio

April 27, 2021

This article is free

The Diplomat has removed paywall restrictions on our coverage of the COVID– 19 crisis.

A street vendor selling face masks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Credit: Flickr/Asian Development BankADVERTISEMENT

Southeast Asia is in the midst of a resurgence of COVID-19, with alarming outbreaks now consuming the attention of several governments in the region. With much international attention absorbed by the harrowing situation in India, the past week has also marked a sorry milestone for several Southeast Asian nations, including several that successfully evaded the virus for most of 2020.

On Monday, the Philippines surpassed the grisly threshold of 1 million cases, becoming the 26th nation in the world to do so.

Infections spiked in the country last month, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration to impose a second lockdown in the Manila capital region. Despite the lockdown, the outbreak is showing little sign of tapering off. The Department of Health reported 8,929 new infections on Monday, bringing the country’s total to 1,006,428, including 16,853 deaths. Both totals are the second highest in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, which continues to record an average of around 5,000 cases per day. Meanwhile, cases are once again on the rise in Malaysia, which recorded 2,776 new cases on Monday, bringing the nation’s cumulative total to 395,718, the third-highest in the region.

Most worryingly, the surge has also extended to countries in mainland Southeast Asia that had previously seemed curiously immune to the virus. On Monday, health authorities in Thailand announced 2,048 new infections and eight deaths, the fourth day in a row that the nations has seen more than 2,000 new cases. That brought the country’s totals to 57,508 cases and 148 fatalities.

The surge has pushed authorities to introduce fines of up to 20,000 baht ($640) for people who fail to wear face masks in public in 48 provinces, which took effect the same day.

Among the first to be fined was Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who was pictured on his official Facebook page chairing a meeting about COVID-19 vaccinations campaign without wearing a mask, attracting a wave of criticism online. He was later fined 6,000 baht ($190) fine for the misdemeanor.

https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/covid-19-third-wave-menaces-southeast-asian-nations/

Protein in lungs might stop coronavirus: study

POTENTIAL TREATMENT: A protein found in the lungs bound to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and inhibited interaction with host cells, researchers at NCKU found

• Staff writer, with CNA

A protein that protects the lungs against pathogens has the potential to thwart SARS- CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) researchers have said.

The discovery, made by a team led by university professor Wang Jiu-yao (王志堯), was published by Frontier in Immunology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, on Tuesday last week. The human surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a molecule whose presence on the mucosal surfaces of the lungs plays “an immune surveillance role against pulmonary pathogens,” the university said in a statement, citing the team.

People with SARS have been reported to have higher levels of serum SP-D, which is a known a biomarker of pneumonia and tuberculosis, the team said.

Studies have suggested that serum SP-D can recognize the spike proteins — the protrusions on viruses that give them access to host cells — on SARS-CoV, which causes SARS, and interact with the human coronavirus 229E strain to inhibit viral infection in humans.

Previous studies have also found that a recombinant fragment of human SP-D (rfhSP- D) can act against a range of viral pathogens, including the influenza A virus, the statement said.

Based on the findings, the research team examined whether rfhSP-D could also protect against SARS-CoV-2, and the results were positive, it said.

The team found that the rfhSP-D protein bound to the S1 spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and inhibited interaction with test cells with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, through which SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells.

The rfhSP-D protein had the same protective effect on cultured cells expressing ACE2 that were infected by laboratory-created pseudoviruses, called pseudo typed lentivrial particles, the statement said.

The results highlight the therapeutic potential of rfhSP-D in SARS-CoV-2 infection and merit further study, it said.

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/04/28/2003756485 China offers S.Asian countries help with accessing COVID-19 shots

Reuters 2 minutes read

1/2 An employee works on the production line of CanSino Biologics Inc's single-dose vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Tianjin, China April 25, 2021. Picture taken April 25, 2021. China Daily via REUTERS China said on Tuesday it had offered help to South Asian countries in accessing COVID-19 vaccines but India did not attend a regional video- conference on the matter, although it is currently suffering the world's worst wave of the pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-it-will-help-south-asian-countries-get-covid-19-shots- 2021-04-27/

Vital medical supplies reach India as COVID deaths near 200,000

ReutersRupam JainShilpa JamkhandikarSanjeev Miglani

5 minutes read Vital medical supplies began to reach India on Tuesday as hospitals starved of life-saving oxygen and beds turned away coronavirus patients, and a surge in infections pushed the death toll close to 200,000.

https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-posts-323144-new-covid-19-cases-2021-04-27/

India expects biggest share of U.S. doses of AstraZeneca vaccine -govt sources

Rupam Jain 3 minutes read

1/2 A health official draws a dose of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, at Infectious Diseases Hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka January 29, 2021. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/File Photo

India expects to secure the biggest chunk of the 60 million AstraZeneca (AZN.L) COVID-19 vaccine doses that the United States will share globally, two Indian government sources told Reuters, as New Delhi battles a devastating surge in infections. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-expects-biggest-share-us-doses-astrazeneca-vaccine-govt- sources-2021-04-27/

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now

Reuters 3 minutes read

1/51 People wait in line in Olympic Stadium for their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine as Quebec begins vaccinations for seniors in Montreal, Canada March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/what-you-need-know-about- coronavirus-right-now-2021-03-02/

Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak Across the World Updated: April 28, 2021, 2:20 PM GMT+8

U.K. 1,952 67,626 2,262.9 2.5

Brazil 1,878 68,671 N/A N/A

U.S. 1,736 97,424 1,239.6 2.8

France 1,535 82,759 N/A 6.0

Germany 1,025 41,569 672.3 8.0

Russia 755 33,289 879.0 8.1

India 153 13,722 214.2 0.5

Japan 80 4,590 86.7 13.1

Mainland China 3 65 N/A 4.3

Testing data as of April 27, 2021, 8:50 PM GMT+8 Sources: OECD for number of hospital beds (2016 for the U.S., 2017 for other countries), government agencies and the COVID Tracking Project via Our World in Data for testing data (various recent dates) (reported in the past 45 days) and the U.S. Census Bureau for population figures (2019).

The world is bracing for a new wave of Covid-19 infections, as the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 145 million people and killed more than 3.1 million globally since late January 2020. Efforts many countries took to stamp out the pneumonia-like illness led to entire nations enforcing lockdowns, widespread halts of international travel, mass layoffs and battered financial markets. Recent attempts to revive social life and financial activities have resulted in another surge in cases and hospitalizations, though new drugs and improved care may help more people who get seriously ill survive.

01002003004001 yrDays since 100 confirmed cases1001,00010,000100,0001,000,00010,000,00030,000,000CasesMainland ChinaSouth KoreaJapanFranceSingaporeSpainU.K.Hong KongU.S.AustraliaBrazilIndiaRussiaTaiwanNew Zealand Note: JHU CSSE reporting began on January 22, 2020, when mainland China had already surpassed 500 cases. Source: Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering 148,732,604 Confirmed cases worldwide 3,135,492 Deaths worldwide Jurisdictions with cases confirmed as of April 28, 2021, 2:20 PM GMT+8

1–99

100–999

1,000–9,999

10,000–99,999

100,000–999,999

1,000,000–9,999,999 10 million or more Where deaths have occurred Deaths Cases U.S. 573,381 32,176,051 Brazil 395,022 14,441,563 Mexico 215,547 2,333,126 India 201,187 17,997,113 U.K. 127,705 4,425,259 Italy 119,912 3,981,512 Russia 107,167 4,725,252 France 103,762 5,595,403 Germany 82,325 3,338,564 Where deaths have occurred Deaths Cases Spain 77,855 3,496,134 Colombia 72,235 2,804,881 Iran 70,532 2,438,193 Poland 65,897 2,768,034 Argentina 62,599 2,905,172 Peru 60,013 1,768,186 Show more Note: Totals for Denmark, France, the Netherlands, the U.K., and the U.S. include overseas territories and other dependencies. Cases and deaths for cruise ships have been separated in accordance with JHU CSSE data.

The epicenter of the pandemic has continued to shift throughout the year, from China, then Europe, then the U.S., and now to developing countries like Brazil. Cases globally surpassed 10 million in late June, but ever since infections have been multiplying faster. The U.S. and India have the most infections, accounting for more than a third of all cases combined.

Global Cases Added Per Day New cases: 482,988 Jan 21, 2020 Apr 27, 2021 Brazil New cases: 72,140 Jan 21, 2020 Apr 27, 2021 U.S. 50,180 France 30,323 Germany 25,911 Iran 20,963 Russia 7,931 U.K. 2,697 India 121 Mainland China 12 Note: On February 14, 2020, Hubei officials changed their diagnostic criteria, resulting in a spike in reported cases. Countries took drastic measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 on their homefront— with varying degrees of success. More than 140 governments placed blanket bans on incoming travelers, closed schools and restricted gatherings and public events, according to data compiled by Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government and Bloomberg reporting.

As countries loosen lockdowns in an effort to reboot their economies, many have seen a resurgence of infections. The number of new daily cases in the U.S. rose to record highs after some states relaxed social distancing requirements. Even places that successfully contained infections earlier in the year, like China and South Korea, have seen cases bubble back up. Theories that warmer weather in the Northern Hemisphere would bring relief appear to be unfounded.

Mar 2020Jan 2021Apr 2700.5K1.0K1.5K2.0K2.5K3.0K3.5KNew deaths by dayU.S.IndiaRussiaU.K. Note: Shown are the 15 places with the highest totals of confirmed cases, as of April 27. Negative values resulting from governments revising their totals have been excluded from rolling average calculations.

The “worst is yet to come” given a lack of global solidarity, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, said at a briefing in Geneva on June 29.

In May, the WHO emphasized the need for a plan that includes testing for the virus and its antibodies, effective contact tracing and isolation, and community education. Antibody tests on the market that could potentially indicate a person’s immunity have been unreliable so far. Researchers and drugmakers are racing to develop treatments that could hold the key to recovery.

Gilead Sciences Inc.’s antiviral remdesivir is one of the first widely used drugs for Covid- 19. It received an emergency use authorization from U.S. regulators in May, after a trial found it sped recovery by about four days in hospitalized patients. It was also part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s treatment after he tested positive for the coronavirus in early October, along with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s antibody cocktail and the generic drug dexamethasone.

Vaccines are also in development, though the study of one leading candidate from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc is on hold in the U.S. while regulators investigate a potential safety issue.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-coronavirus-cases-world-map/?srnd=coronavirus

Covid map: Coronavirus cases, deaths, vaccinations by country

By The Visual and Data Journalism Team BBC News

Published

Covid-19 is continuing to spread around the world, with more than 145 million confirmed cases and 3 million deaths across nearly 200 countries.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51235105

From bogeyman to coup plot posted April 28, 2021 at 12:10 am by Herman Tiu Laurel

The nation’s chattering classes have just viewed, like a Netflix TV show, half a dozen episodes of a thriller series played out on Philippine mainstream media with the support of Western news networks and a cast of Filipino officials and political performers. The thriller, which could have been entitled “From Fishing boats to Coup Plot” started on March 20, 2021 and ended on April 18, 2021.

The bogeyman are the 220 Chinese fishing boats that the Philippines’ Task Force-West Philippines Sea (TF-WPS) reported as “... believed to be manned by Chinese militia” that were anchored at the lagoon of the Union Banks’ Whitsun (Julian Felipe) Reef’s lagoon. From “believed to be” to “Chinese Maritime Militia” is quite a leap of the imagination, but the Philippine mainstream media did it anyway.

There were several stages of the news spin: it started with the original fake news that tagged the Chinese fishing boats as “CMM” (Chinese Maritime Militia) and continued until the wind- down of the entire agit-prop (agitation and propaganda) operation on April 18, 2021 when defense officials Lorenzana and Sobejana tamped down the social media spin of some “AFP officials’ withdrawal of support.”

From merely being ships moored at the Whitsun Reef, the 220 Chinese fishing boats became a “swarm.” However, anyone familiar with deep sea fishing operations knows that fishing fleets of hundreds of boats are not unusual. According to SEAFDEC, the Philippines’ total fishing fleet numbers up to 250,000 small and medium sized boats, while the registered commercial fishing fleet number 4,000 ships.

For China, whose fishing vessels are running up to about 700,000 boats that are scattered all over its inland and coastal waters and all across the globe, 220 boats cannot be considered a “swarm.” Yet, that is how media characterized the Whitsun Reef group of boats.

The Chinese embassy had earlier explained that the 220 fishing boats were at Whitsun Reef’s lagoon to take shelter from inclement weather. My own research led me to several weather reports, including satellite photos of the American NOAA (National Oceanography and Atmospheric Administration) that showed red lines whipping the area on March 24, 2021 (NOAA Operational Model Archive and Distribution System). Despite the Chinese Embassy’s assurance that the 220 fishing boats would depart, as soon as the weather cleared, to proceed with their fishing activities, the spin of Philippine mainstream media continued to escalate from: (1) the “militia ships” getting set to “occupy” the reef to (2) an “invasion” of the reef, and (3) to “setting up structures” on the reef. None of these have happened after the 30 days since March 20, 2021.

What did happen? When Chinese ambassador, H.E. Huang Xilian, mentioned the inclement weather, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana – inexplicably – took it as an affront and lashed out at the diplomat. The defense secretary had no business referring directly to the Chinese ambassador and should have deferred his reaction to the DFA. His reaction was also based on a total misunderstanding of how fishing boats operate.

The 220 Chinese fishing boats eventually sailed off to different parts of the SCS to resume their fishing. The numbers at Whitsun Reef went down to 40, and then 9; and we have no further recent reports. But as the fishing boats went out to fish, mainstream media started spinning the story that “China robs Philippines of billions worth of fish”, without considering the other littoral countries who likewise fish in the SCS.

https://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/everyman/352959/from-bogeyman-to-coup-plot.html

Hold NTF-Elcac to account

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:08 AM April 28, 2021 So National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has gone and done what he should have done early on in the display of manic behavior by the two officials speaking for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac). Esperon said he had told Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. and

us Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy to “desist from issuing further spectacle of high officials, and even the Palace, expressing support for the food aid statements on the community pantries,” in the hope of ending the ridiculo project while the Parlade-Badoy combine rants about the alleged red-ness of it.

But both officials nonchalantly deny being silenced, and say that, well, they have delivered t official stand of the NTF-Elcac is to support and encourage bayanihan/community heir message. At any rate, it seemed too late for Esperon to say, “The -billion budget and threatening to reallocate the money to better use, such as to augment pantries.” Already, Congress is making noises about the task force’s P19.2 the government response to the raging COVID-19 pandemic. lawmakers to call out Parlade-Badoy in unison with the flood of voices upholding The public should hold Congress to its declared plans of action. It’s one thing for the community pantries sprouting nationwide, like mushrooms after rain, as a valiant respon the verbal censure to the actual removal of the two officials who are willfully se of the people to government neglect; it’s quite another to push tarring private citizens engaged in an altruistic effort thus endangering their lives on to the deconstruction of the task force, and to the realignment of its fat — budget to urgent concerns. — The Senate has been waiting for the Department of National Defense (DND) to act on its early recommendations on the NTF- committee Elcac, prepared by Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s spokesperson. Lacson has raised the point that a military officer like Parlade, who on national defense and security, and that include Parlade’s removal as far ignored by the DND, suggesting that the general enjoys favored status despite, heads the Southern Luzon Command, cannot hold that civilian post; it’s a point so e does as Lacson put it, Parlade’s insistence “on making commentaries on things h not understand.” realigning a budget they themselves had approved, it would be useful for the And despite Parlade’s contention that the senators would be “stupid” to think of Senate committee on finance to investigate how the NTF-Elcac had been disbursing its budget, as Lacson suggested. The details would surely be of interest to taxpayers, who rarely if ever are rewarded of seeing the fruits of their labor improving the quality of their lives.

The same taxpayers would also want to see something concrete result from 1- want Parlade- s are being used, Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero’s statement that he and other members of the House and how their vilification tactics translate to having more communist rebels Badoy “to give details as to where and how the fund tu

rning their backs on insurgency.” More than censure, the Makabayan bloc wants Badoy,the duo who dismissed recently for being a “serious threat to the public.” insinuating that the called on “those good hearts who have donated their dollars” organizer of the phenomenal Maginhawa Community Pantry is up to no good to Ana Patricia Non “to please ask for a clear accounting” — figures ready. Non has risen to the challenge — and agreed to present a full accounting of donated funds. And Heidi Mendoza, a should, in turn, have the task force’s former officer in charge of the Commission on Audit and now undersecretary of s posted that she wants an accounting of the NTF- a not unreasonable demand the United Nations’ Office of Internal Oversight, ha concerning public funds. Elcac’s insurgency funds — engaged in an orgy of red-tagging that involved unions allied with Courage, the Let it all hang out. Parlade’s sidekick also has much to answer for, having merrily federation of government workers. Early this month, Badoy and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director general Alex Monteagudo said the e

Senate employees’ union Senado, the Judiciary Employees Association, and th Supreme Court Employees Association are “communist fronts” that “serve as the political wings. eyes and ears” of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed and The Senate should make haste to protect its people and those of the judiciary from t hese wild accusations that, Badoy claimed, “are not opinions … [or] our personal destroy they first make mad. views [but] the official stand of the government.” It’s true: Whom the gods wish to

https://opinion.inquirer.net/139718/hold-ntf-elcac-to-account

Confusion over Duterte-

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:01 AM April 28, 2021 Xi ‘verbal agreement’ lippine Sea issue

The news item “Palace ‘like a headless chicken’ on West Phi — painfully tragic, about how the Duterte administration is dealing with issues Carpio” (4/25/21) gave the Filipino people a laughable scenario, were it not so s relating to the West Philippine Sea. President Duterte’s sheer incompetence ha created so much confusion even among the “bright boys” around him. opened Philippine seas to Chinese fisher- Regarding Mr. Duterte’s “verbal agreement” with Chinese President Xi Jinping that men, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the resident Pinocchio in the Palace, did what he does best and tried to cover it up: No such agreement. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. intimated there might have been such an agreement, but it would be une Salvador Panelo, not one to be out- nforceable if only verbal. Mr. Duterte’s chief legal counsel, binding. talked, said the agreement, even if “verbal,” is As usual, the President himself seemed totally unmindful of what the fuss is all about. Either he doe the problem is. From all appearances, all he cares about is how not to displease sn’t care what anybody thinks, or he doesn’t understand what refusing to leave despite Locs President Xi. Given the hundreds of Chinese “fishing vessels” entering our seas and

in’s numerous protests, is there really any doubt about Mr.https://opinion.inquirer.net/139704/confusion-over-duterte- Duterte’s disloyalty to our country? xi-verbal-agreement

Provocateurs’ folly

Close cooperation and enhanced bilateral relations with China, chosen by the current administration, is the right path. Published 13 hours ago on April 28, 2021 03:20 AM By TEB

A 1986 agreement between then Vice President Salvador Laurel and Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping established a status quo on the dispute over the West Philippine Sea. This was only broken when, on 10 April 2012, the Philippines’ naval vessel BRP Gregorio del Pilar was sent to Scarborough Shoal to apprehend alleged Chinese poachers.

Since then, the situation has gone downhill as China aggressively put into effect its claim over the territory through the setting up of structures as a demarcation of its claimed boundaries.

The Baselines Law, or Republic Act (RA) 9522, enacted in 2009 was cited as basis for seeking intervention from the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague. It issued a ruling in July 2016, which was almost exactly when the six-year term of President Rodrigo Duterte started, largely favoring the Philippines.

In turn, the ruling is now being employed to pressure Mr. Duterte to use the award as a leverage to seek wider internationalization of the issue. This will predictably result in China, which does not recognize third-party mediation, to further move in asserting its position delineated in the nine-dash line claim.

One of the authors of the law, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, however, said the intent of the enactment of the law is to encourage further dialogues with China while asserting the country’s stake. Peaceful negotiation would be the only way for the Philippines to settle the West Philippine Sea issue with China under the landmark measure, particularly claims over the Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough Shoal.

Enrile, one of the authors of RA 9522, indicated the regime of islands that the Baselines Law seeks to protect was demarcated based on the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas.

China protested the enactment of the law, but Enrile said talks can iron out the kinks between both nations.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/04/28/provocateurs-folly/

Parlade ignorant to parley

COMMONSENSE - Marichu A. Villanueva (The Philippine Star ) - April 28, 2021 - 12:00am For all intents and purposes, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has objective-specific mission. Created under Executive Order (EO) 74 signed on Dec. 4, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte instituted his administration’s “Whole-Nation-Approach” that set an ambitious goal to write finis to our several decades-old communist insurgency menace.

But the vociferous spokespersons for this inter-agency NTF-ELCAC have unnecessarily been stirring it to more conflicts than eliciting support and cooperation of the entire Filipino nation. Thanks to the tandem of designated spokespersons of the NTF-ELCAC, namely, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) undersecretary Lorraine Badoy and Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

At one time, it was all about Badoy. But for most of the time, the NTF-ELCAC has become all about Parlade.

The NTF-ELCAC is chaired no less by President Duterte as the country’s Commander-in-chief. As the National Security Adviser (NSA), Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. is the vice chairman. Concurrently, Esperon is also the vice chairman of the newly created Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as its designated chairman. This is not to mention, Esperon is also the vice chairman of President Duterte in the National Task Force on West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).

All three hats of Esperon have always brought him to national limelight, in good news and in bad as well. But to his credit, Esperon has gingerly stirred himself from needless conflict with opposing views. This he does well even while multi-tasking in the three NTFs under his supervision.

During our Kapihan sa Manila Bay last week, Esperon forthrightly explained the NTF-ELCAC’s interest to check into the frenzied “red-tagging” claims that followed organizers of community pantries in their neighborhoods.

“We’ll also look into the organizers, especially if they advertise their organizations that would be traced to be front organizations of the CPP-NPA,” Esperon pointed out. As vice chairman of the ATC, Esperon referred to the terror-tagged Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“We would also like to look into the possible participation of personalities that may have other agenda, that may turn these projects into some for political and agitation purposes,” Esperon cited as most probably taking place with the advent of the forthcoming May, 2022 presidential elections.

With his candid demeanor and intelligent discussions of the issues thrown at him, Esperon should just assume the role of NTF-ELCAC spokesperson.

Without any government assistance or funding, the community pantry is an all-private sector effort that Anna Patricia Non started and others followed suit to assist pandemic-impacted Filipinos. In fact, presidential spokesman Harry Roque welcomed this private sector-led assistance to the needy Filipinos. Speaking for the President, Roque encouraged other well-meaning groups to do the same. In an attempt to clean up Parlade’s “red-tagging” mess, Roque even paraphrased the late communist leader Mao Tse-tung: “Let a thousand community pantries bloom.”

Without specifying names, Parlade again messed up when he practically called out all the Senators as “stupid” during a radio interview last week.

It was a knee-jerk reaction to Senator Joel Villanueva’s initiative “to defund” the NTF-ELCAC. In his @senatorjoelv Twitter post last week, he started the calls “to defund” the NTF-ELCAC. It was to punish Parlade’s biblical commentary on the community pantry that was started last week by Non in her neighborhood at Maginhawa St. in Quezon City.

Parlade obviously got Villanueva all riled up when the NTF-ELCAC spokesman likened Non’s community pantry to biblical narrative of the Genesis when Satan tempted Eve with an apple. Likened to an apple – as the forbidden fruit in Genesis – Parlade amateurishly heckled Non for crying out loud when she was allegedly “red-tagged” by a Quezon City cop.

This naturally irked the Senator who – like his father, CIBAC party list Congressman and one of the 32 House deputy speakers Bro. Eddie Villanueva – preaches bible teachings before their congregation at the Jesus is Lord Movement. Fellow Senators Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Grace Poe and Ralph Recto co-signed Villanueva’s Senate Resolution No. 07 seeking to “conduct a review, in aid of legislation” on the performance of the NTF-ELCAC, purportedly to determine “whether NTF-ELCAC is effective in fulfilling its mandate and efficient in its budget utilization.”

The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives followed suit and filed Resolution 1728 directing the Committee on Public Accounts to conduct a public hearing to scrutinize the P19-billion budget this year of the NTF- ELCAC’s barangay development program (BDF). The Makabayan lawmakers earlier decried their being also “red-tagged” by the NTF-ELCAC.

Esperon clarified the NTF-ELCAC does not administer the BDF under the Congress-approved 2021 budget. He cited the BDF comes from specific allocations of national agencies downloaded directly to provincial governments.

But the “stupid” remark of Parlade against the Senators was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Last Monday, more than 14 Senators led by Senate president Vicente Sotto III signed another Resolution calling for the unequivocal removal of Parlade as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson. The same Senators, who voted the three-star promotion of Parlade last year when he was already the NTF-ELCAC spokesman, reiterated their objection to his assuming a civilian position at the same time.

Sotto has been supportive of the NTF-ELCAC and has, in fact, objected “to defund” it just because of Parlade’s overbearing attitude. By signing this newest Resolution, the Senate president clearly shows he won’t allow Parlade to get away with his latest “stupid” antics.

Parlade is without a doubt ignorant how to parley with enemies of the state, much more with lawmakers.

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/04/28/2094207/parlade-ignorant-parley

Preponderance of doubt

ByIngming Aberia April 28, 2021

PRESIDENTIAL Communications Undersecretary and National Task Force to End Local

Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy wonders how gullible community pantry donors can be. Despite having warned them against being duped by communist fronts that include one in which Ann Patricia Non (whose Maginhawa Community

Pantry in Quezon City has inspired the rise of hundreds of other community pantries throughout the country) is suspected to be a member, she lamented that “white dudes” continue to fall prey to local predators.

In a Facebook post, Badoy wrote:

“AP Non has raised half a million pesos in just a few days, and she has 26 more days to ask you to part with your dollars. Why dollars, I wonder? Dollars for international donors, of course. You know those poor innocent white dudes who have no idea they’re being taken for a ride. (Dami naming nakaharap na ganyan when we went to Europe to break the news to international NGOs that they had been duped by the CPP/ NPA/NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New

People’s Army- National Democractic Front) fronts [such as] IBON, Gabriela, Rural

Missionaries of the Philippines, Salugpungan, Save Our Schools Network etc. Poor bastards couldn’t believe it.)” That post included a link to a Paypal webpage where Non’s fund-raising drive for her community pantry was shown to have raised $10,000 in less than three days. I clicked that link myself a day later and the amount had jumped to $20,000.

It is clear that Badoy does not know how fintech platforms like Paypal works. She even helped the predators ensnare more prey by sharing Non’s link. Here are some of the comments of Non’s donors:

– Salamat sa kups na si badoy nakita ko ang link. pabulain pa natin lalo ang bibig nila! Haha mabuhay po kayo at lahat ng sumusuporta sa community pantry.

– God bless you, Patreng, your wonderful Mom (hi Zena!), the rest of the family and Filipinos everywhere, including the nice lady who posted the link and ended up with us all giving pa

MORE.”

– Thank you kay Lorraine Badoy for promoting this sa page nya.

(That Paypal enjoys the confidence of more than 200 million users worldwide is an indication that it has earned its reputation for reliability and transparency. Tesla owner Elon Musk used to be a major part-owner of Paypal before Ebay bought it for $1.5 billion in 2002. I myself prefer to buy anything online via Paypal rather than directly use a credit or debit card, because when something goes wrong with the purchase, it is easier to process a Paypal refund than ask the card issuer for a charge-back. Paypal, of course, charges fees for its services at rates that correspond to the amount of each transaction.)

Paypal has a facility — called Money Pools — for those who wish to raise funds “when,” according to the page’s tagline, “splitting a bill or collecting for a good cause.” Anyone with a

Paypal account can create a money pool. Non had created one for her community pantry.

A Paypal account holder can choose preferences or settings to control activities involving that account. Settings include what currency the account holder prefers, which for all intents and purposes is immaterial for as long as that currency is recognized internationally. My account sets its currency preference to Philippine peso. When I sell, for example, a re-branded Goebbels training video on “Lying Made Easy” for P1,000, somebody in Japan can buy it with yen. Paypal simply converts P1,000 to x amount of yen, and when the buyer sees that everything is in order, he or she may proceed to check out. My account will then reflect a receipt of P1,000 from this sale.

I speculate that Non’s preferred currency is the international dollar, which is Paypal’s default currency. Anyone who chips any amount into her money pool will have his or her donation expressed in dollars.

Let me simulate that. On the money pool page, I click on the “Chip in” button. Next a dialogue box pops up where I will need to type the amount I wish to donate, and below there’s an option that I can tick if I wish to donate anonymously. I type $1 and tick the box for “anonymously.” Another pop-up follows after clicking the “Next” button. A text box appears, asking me to drop a comment to go with my contribution, but this is optional. The Done button follows and upon clicking it Paypal asks me to log in to my account (the next process is the same for those who have no Paypal account) where I will need to decide from which credit or debit card I wish to draw funds for the donation. Also shown here is the amount of P50.44, which is the Paypal- converted peso equivalent for $1, plus the corresponding service charge. The total amount, say

P100, will be charged to my card.

The money pool portal is transparent enough to provide the public with information on the running amount of funds being generated and the number as well as the identity (for those who prefer to be identified) of donors. In the case of Non’s, a total of 251 donors have contributed

$20,030.91, an average of $80 from each donor.

A casual scan of the list of contributors will show mostly Spanish-sounding surnames, dropping comments in the dialect, which made me wonder how Badoy got the impression that these donors were “duped white dudes.”

Somebody donated a relatively big amount of $1,000, prompting me to google the donor’s name.

The search result yielded several individuals having the name I was looking for, but the one who was most likely to be a community pantry donor lives in Bicol.

Badoy’s ignorance has not prevented her from throwing rubbles of disrepute to those who constitute the object of her contempt. From this wreckage where she assembles her version of truth, there arises the preponderance of doubt. I am tempted to put an asterisk on every word she utters just to remind me of the reckless manner by which she drags people to her level of rigor in the appreciation of facts. When she parades her views in social media for the world to see, she trolls everyone, including herself. This approach is not new. Joseph Goebbels’ old yet effective propaganda ploy comes to mind: “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.”

The same thing can be said of Badoy’s fellow NTF-Elcac spokesman Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, whose portrayal of Non brought him to where it all began, where Satan trolled Eve, who then trolled Adam, and imagining how likely the rebirth of the biblical troll might be, this time on

Maginhawa Street.

Even if we assume that Badoy is right and Non’s funders are foreigners, how sure is she that they are white? Can’t the colored races be as philanthropic, or as easy to hoodwink, as the whites?

She red-tags at will, that’s the suspicion, and now she is also close to becoming a racist.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/28/opinion/columnists/preponderance-of-doubt/868206/

Tagged to hack

“Facebook acted on the pages that were activated for hacking and were deleted upon the request of the DoJ.

Published 16 hours ago on April 28, 2021 12:20 AM By Paolo Capino Malicious codes and phishers are back and launched a massive campaign to hack Facebook accounts. Just last week, Filipino Facebook users were massively tagged in photos that were inappropriate and asked to click the link, which would lead them to install an app or a software that would grant access not only to the users’ account, but also most probably, the device where the link was clicked.

Pornography was the main product that was used as posts, and the hackers would have probably targeted males, but because the code was already passed around, even females were actively being tagged.

Facebook’s APAC Legal Law Enforcement acted on the pages that were activated for hacking and were deleted upon the request of the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) Office of Cybercrime.

“The user will be asked to install an apparent update to a player in order to watch the video in full. When clicked, it will result in the automatic and random tagging in the same post of other Facebook account users,” the DoJ said in a statement last week.

“If you happen to get a notification tagging you in a post that contains a link to an apparent adult content, DO NOT CLICK ANY FURTHER AND REPORT THE POST.

Introduction or transmission of viruses, such as malwares, to and interference in the functioning of computer systems are prohibited acts under Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Let’s all be good netizens and practice the responsible use of social media,” it added.

TechTarget Search Security defines malware as “any program or file that is harmful to a computer user. Types of malware can include computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses and spyware.” “These malicious programs can perform a variety of functions such as stealing, encrypting or deleting sensitive data, altering or hijacking core computing functions and monitoring users’ computer activity.” “It can infect networks and devices and is designed to harm those devices, networks and/or their users in some way. Depending on the type of malware, this harm can take many forms and may present itself differently to the user,” the group said.

To summarize the event last week, hackers are actively seeking fresh real accounts to use that may be criminal in nature. There are solutions like going to your security settings on Facebook and selecting options on the tags where only friends can tag you instead of everyone.

As a repeated reminder, please also turn on your two-factor authentication system where Facebook will prompt your email or personal mobile number once a suspicious login is made. These steps are necessary now to protect not just your account, but your whole identity.

Remember, your computer stores passwords and financial information and records. You must not allow criminals to act on it and there are methods to prevent intrusion. A virus is not only present in our real world. We must also be conscious of the virus when we are on our gadgets, too.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/04/28/tagged-to-hack/

How Joe Biden has made a common enemy of China to rally domestic and foreign allies

• the Biden administration is in search of common concerns • WithAfter itshis open predecessor’s assertiveness controversial around the turn globe away and from genuine allies capability and divisiv toe challengdomestice policies,the US, China is the most obvious option

Illustration: Craig Stephens

US President Joe Biden’s foreign policy priorities have taken a new turn recently, with Washington’s reassurances to Taiwan of its commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act concerning the island’s ability to defend itself.Beijing, meanwhile, has upped the ante in regional security by unveiling plans to increase defence spending by 7 per cent in 2021. In January, China adopted more aggressive coastguard regulations and has increased its military presence in the South China Sea. It also warned Japan against joining Washington in applying sanctions against China.

Biden has been busy promoting a march of democracies against China by reinvigorating the Quad security grouping, sending his top officials on a tour of Japan, South Korea and India that culminated with Nato and EU summits. To highlight China as a top priority for his administration’s foreign policy planning, Biden has created a China-dedicated task force within the Department of Defence and devoted the largest part of his national security team to the Indo-Pacific directorate.

https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3131072/how-biden-has-made-common-enemy- china-rally-domestic-and-foreign

To prevent war in Taiwan Strait, Japan needs to unite with US Restoring military balance is essential to deter China

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, watched the summit between Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and U.S. President Joe Biden on April 16 with great interest, as the two allies mentioned Taiwan in a joint statement for the first time in 52 years. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/Kyodo)

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/To-prevent-war-in-Taiwan-Strait-Japan-needs-to-unite- with-US

Analysis: On Myanmar, ASEAN pushes boundaries of "non-interference"

Panu Wongcha-umKay Johnson 4 minutes read

A woman prepares a placard out of crossed out portraits of Myanmar's junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during protest against the military coup in Myanmar, in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 24, 2021 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Dhemas Reviyanto/ via REUTERS

Few had high hopes that a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which counts Myanmar among its members, would produce any serious initiative to end the bloodshed after Myanmar's coup, with the junta leader himself in attendance.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-asean-pushes-boundaries-non-interference- 2021-04-26/

Think tanks can link Taiwan, India

• By Sana Hashmi

India’s top think tank the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) just concluded India’s flagship foreign policy dialogue — the 2021 Raisina Dialogue. Over the past six years, the Raisina Dialogue, funded by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, has attracted several heads of states, ministers, policymakers and top academics from around the world.

The impact of the Raisina Dialogue and the discussion revolving around it have proved beyond doubt that think tanks are one of the most important actors in a country’s foreign policy projection and decisionmaking process.

The ORF, with its international outreach, has been able to further establish a coherent strategic identity of India worldwide.

India, which has a rich strategic culture, can articulately convey its interests through its vast number of foreign policy think tanks.

The contributions of the late K. Subrahmanyam, India’s leading strategic thinker, could not be overemphasized in bolstering the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (now renamed as the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses), a foremost think tank in India with a global voice, and shaping India’s strategic culture.

The ministry also funds several other dialogues, such as the Delhi Dialogue and the Indian Ocean Dialogue, the focus of which is fostering a dialogue with the strategic community in the Indo-Pacific region.

Indian think tanks are playing a huge role in conveying India’s geostrategic interests.

To further gather ideas on how to strengthen the security partnership and advance their foreign policy interests, groupings such as the ASEAN-India networks of think tanks and the EU-India Think Tanks Twinning Initiative have been launched.

Over the past few years, Taiwan’s strategic culture has been shaped by its desire to engage countries in the Indo-Pacific region. High-level conferences, such as the Ketagalan Forum, the Yushan Forum and the Taiwan-US-Japan Trilateral Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue, are helping Taiwan to increase its outreach, and engage policymakers and academics around the world.

One of the prominent think tanks in Taiwan, the Prospect Foundation, established in 1997, has played a huge role in facilitating Track 1.5 and Track 2 dialogues between Taiwan and its Western counterparts. National Chengchi University’s Institute of International Relations houses the Taiwan chapter of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific.

Somewhat like India’s Delhi Dialogue, Taiwan holds the Yushan Forum focusing on Taiwan’s relations with South and Southeast Asia.

It is being curated by the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF), which focuses on Taiwan’s relations with New Southbound Policy countries, specifically those in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

TAEF is not only Taiwan’s only think tank that is holistically studying the New Southbound Policy, but in the past four years, it has attempted to build bridges between Taiwan and the policy countries.

The New Southbound Policy, Taiwan’s flagship foreign policy, is people-centric. Five years after its initiation, there are visible results.

However, more steps could be taken to bolster the policy. One of the important steps in this direction would be to increase think tank interactions between Taiwan and New Southbound Policy countries.

India is a key focus country in the policy, and an emphasis on elevating ties has been evident since the first term of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

It is important to have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Indian and Taiwanese think tanks. TAEF signed one with the New Delhi-based National Maritime Foundation last year.

More such arrangements are needed, but MOUs also need to be accompanied with regular conferences, visits and writing collaborations.

Last year saw a number of Webinars on Taiwan, as well as on Taiwan-India relations, by Indian think tanks.

A few Webinars were jointly organized by Indian and Taiwanese think tanks: two by the ORF and Taiwan’s Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research region; a Webinar on the prospects of a deeper India-Taiwan cooperation in the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region; and one by India’s Research and Information System and the Prospect Foundation on cooperation in the fields of science, technology and innovation.

Some Western think tanks are considering opening Taipei chapters.

The European Values Center for Security Policy’s announcement of a potential opening in the second half of this year is one example. Some Indian think tanks are making strides in the global think tank space. While the ORF opened its US chapter in 2019, India’s Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) established its Washington office in 2018. CUTS International also has offices in Geneva, Hanoi, Accra, Nairobi and Lusaka.

With growing interest in Asia, especially India, Taiwan’s strategic culture is expanding its horizons. More collaboration between Indian and Taiwanese think tanks is needed.

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2021/04/28/2003756464

Defending the Free World Again

Apr 27, 2021CHRIS PATTEN The overwhelming consensus within liberal democracies was that the fall of the Berlin Wall, and with it Soviet communism, was a victory for the free world. But today, open societies again face huge challenges in defending their values and rebuilding a global order that Russia and China will accept.

LONDON

– We have not heard the expression “the free world” for some time, and we 1960s,certainly these didn’t terms hear were the presidentcommonplace of the in United discussions States of refe internatrred toional as “the politics. leader Despite of the free havingworld” fallenwhen intoDonald disuse, Trump they was are in no office. less relevant But when today. I was growing up in the 1950s and

At the end of World War II, European, North American, and other democracies recognized

iplomat George F. Kennanthat they used were this confronted word in his by famousthe military 1946 and Long political Telegram threat of their erstwhile ally, Stalin’s outlinedSoviet Union. the fundamental They described challenge themselves to our in freedom short as and “the way West. of ”life The p osedUS d by a system whose view of reality was incompatible with“ that of open capita” fromlist Moscow, societies. in which he anything but free such as some around the Mediterranean that were run by unelected “Freegenerals world” and was it occasionally an overused performed term. It sometimes a propaganda incorporated function: coun Howtries could that anyone were be opposed to freedom?– But the concept was a useful way of defining the cooperation of countries– that were by and large liberal democracies with social-market economies.

These countries had governments that their citizens could replace in peaceful and fair elections. Political majorities were constrained by respect for minority opinions. Such societies had constitutional checks and balances, the rule of law, and allowed indeed, encouraged freedom of the press and of inquiry, religion, and dissent. Moreover, they were joined in alliances, not subjugated by big and bullying neighbors. – – To be sure, these democracies were far from perfect. They made mistakes, sometimes falling short of their own standards and values (although they usually knew when they were doing so). But under their notion of governance, the law served the people and not vice versa. Citizens did not fear a knock on the door in the dead of night, and prosperity grew and spread if not always as widely as one would desire.

The acknowledged– leader of this alliance of countries with shared principles was the American president. The US had played a crucial part in the victory over fascism, Nazism, and brutal nationalism, and thereafter set about building an international rules-based order to which all would be subject and in which all could thrive in peace. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the overwhelming consensus within liberal democracies was that the collapse of Soviet communism meant victory for them the free world.

Today, however, liberal democracies again face huge challenges– in defending their values and rebuilding a global order that Russia and China (with its surging economy) will accept in good faith and according to which they will conduct their relations with others. How should those of us who live in open societies and want them and their values to survive set about defending the free world today?

put forward for other nations a much We could start by recalling some of the messages in Kennan’s telegram to his political masters in Washington. America “must formulate-confidence and to cling to our own methods and conceptionsmore positive of and human constructive society. picture of [the] sort of world we would like to see,” Kennan argued. “We must have courage and self This is now o ” administration. Trump was a bruising mercantilist nationalist who believed in neither ne of the many challenges confronting US President Joe Biden’s behavior, he disdai andallies failed nor universal to provide human any vision rights. of Whilefreedom he correctlyand democracy highlighted to mobili someze ofsupportive China’s worst international opinion.ned America’s traditional friends, largely ignored Russia’s brutishness,

For Biden, the international agenda starts at home: defeating the coronavirus pandemic, rescuing the US economy, healing racial divisions, and restoring decency, dignity, and responsibility to American public debate. To the world, he has already said that he is prepared to work with China, and even Russia, in trying to tackle global problems like climate change, but not with the US playing the role of supplicant. China, for example, is arguably more challenged by global warming than any other country.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/liberal-democracies-must-defend-free-world-again-by- chris-patten-2021-04