Today’s News 02 May 2021 (Saturday)
A. NAVY NEWS/COVID NEWS/PHOTOS Title Writer Newspaper Page DOD not dropping sputnik V despite brazil L Salaverria PDI A2 1 rejection; 15K doses arrive
B. NATIONAL HEADLINES Title Writer Newspaper Page 2 Gov,t eyeing ₱8,000 monthly wages subsidy L Desiderio P Star 1 3 Tourism worker’s turn to receive cash aid M Ramos PDI A1
C. NATIONAL SECURITY Title Writer Newspaper Page 4 Palace blasts Carpio, other critics on WPS C Mendez PDI 1 5 West Philippine Sea ours to exploit – Solon J Manalastas P Journal 7 6 Ping pushes united tack on WPS M Gascon PDI A4 7 Lacson calls for unified stand on WPS issue M Purification P Tonight 6 8 United stand on WPS issue pressed M Purification P Journal 7 9 Gordon reminds Chinese envoy of Filipino L Ducusin P Journal 7 hospitality 10 ‘Di pagkakaisa ng mga Filipino sa isyu ng M Escudero Ngayon 2 WPS pinuna ni Lacson 11 Pacquiao pinapalayas ang China sa WPS M Escudero PM 2
D. INDO-PACIFIC Title Writer Newspaper Page NIL NIL NIL NIL
E. AFP RELATED Title Writer Newspaper Page Salceda bill pushes pension reforms for J Aurelio PDI A2 12 uniformed services Cebu Mactan Airbase official defends Bong P Journal 13 13 Go over fake news Ngayon 2 14 Bong Go biktima ng ‘fake news’, idinepensa ng Cebu Mactan Airbase official Bong Go idinepensa sa fake news ng Cebu P Tonight 1 15 Mactan Airbase official 16 Sotto vows to retain NTF-ELCAC funds Y Terrazola M Bulletin 4
F. CPP-NPA-NDF-LCM Title Writer Newspaper Page Workers sc M Ramos PDI A2 17 ore Gov’t for suppressing labor rights
G. MNLF/MILF/BIFF/ASG Title Writer Newspaper Page NIL NIL NIL NIL
H. EDITORIAL-OPINION-COMMENTARY-SPECIAL Title Writer Newspaper Page 18 Let’s pay off China’s COVID vax donations F Pascual Jr. P Star 6 19 Hands off WPS drills P Journal 4 Should we now slav the elephant in the M Loja PDI A8 20 room ? Walang proteksiyon mga mangingisdang Ngayon 4 21 Pinoy 22 Parlade para me M Times A5 Senators should look at themselves before D Tribune A5 23 getting angry 24 Simple at marangal K Sanchez Ngayon 2 25 Burned out P Star 6
I. ONLINE NEWS Title Link NATIONAL NEWS Duterte honors COVID-19 frontliners, https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/duterte-honors- 26 essential workers on Labor Day covid-19-frontliners-essential-workers-on- labor-day/ https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138741 27 PRRD sees workers as ‘important catalysts’ for economic revival Labor Day rallyists defy MECQ, safety https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138770 28 guidelines Labor Day protesters stage rally in QC https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/labor-day- 29 as police bars entry to Manila protesters-stage-rally-in-qc-as-police-bars- entry-to-manila/ China is a true friend—envoy https://manilastandard.net/news/top- 30 stories/353322/china-is-a-true-friend- envoy.html DITO expands coverage to 15 more https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/01/dit 31 cities o-expands-coverage-to-15-more-cities/ PH to repatriate citizens in India when https://news.abs- commercial flights resume: envoy cbn.com/video/news/05/02/21/ph-to-repatriate- 32 citizens-in-india-when-commercial-flights- resume-envoy NAVY NEWS Palace blasts Carpio, other critics on https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/05/02 33 West Philippine Sea /2095313/palace-blasts-carpio-other-critics- west-philippine-sea Lacson: PH leaders must unite on WPS https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/lacson-ph- 34 issue leaders-must-unite-on-wps-issue/ 'Tayo pa ang nag-aaway': Lacson says https://news.abs- 35 Philippine leaders should be 'united' in cbn.com/news/05/01/21/lacson-philippines- West Philippine Sea issue leaders-united-west-philippine-sea-china PH must ‘take initiative’ with US, allies – https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/05/02/news/ 36 Lacson national/ph-must-take-initiative-with-us-allies- lacson/869268/ Remove vessels in WPS, Pacquiao tells https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/pacquiao- 37 China demands-china-to-withdraw-vessels-in-wps/ Drilon to gov’t: 'Drop appeasement, https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/drilon-to-govt- 38 accommodation policy on China' drop-appeasement-accommodation-policy-on- china/ 'Careful with your words': Sotto wants https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/sotto-wants- 39 Senate's WPS resolution toned down senates-west-philippine-sea-resolution-toned- down/ China continues to fish in West https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/natio Philippine Sea due to 'contested' EEZ - n/785853/china-continues-to-fish-in-west- 40 Esperon philippine-sea-due-to-contested-eez- esperon/story/ Malampaya service contract to expire in https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/01/ma 41 2024 lampaya-service-contract-to-expire-in-2024/ AFP RELATED Esperon vows to review Senate's calls https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/esperon-vows- 42 for Parlade's removal from NTF-ELCAC to-review-senates-calls-for-parlades-removal- from-ntf-elcac/ Esperon says consulting senators amid https://news.abs- calls to censure, remove Parlade cbn.com/news/05/01/21/esperon-says- 43 consulting-senators-amid-calls-to-censure- remove-parlade Esperon dares lawmakers: Defund NTF- https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/esperon-dares- 44 ELCAC, allow insurgency to thrive lawmakers-defund-ntf-elcac-allow-insurgency- to-thrive/ Nagpakilalang opisyal ng NPA sumuko https://news.abs- 45 sa Davao City cbn.com/news/05/01/21/nagpakilalang-opisyal- ng-npa-sumuko-sa-davao-city Ina ng Maginhawa community pantry https://news.abs- organizer, di maiwasang mag-alala sa cbn.com/video/news/05/01/21/ina-ng- 46 anak maginhawa-community-pantry-organizer-di- maiwasang-mag-alala-sa-anak INDO-PACIFIC NEWS U.S.-Japan summit highlights resolve of https://ipdefenseforum.com/2021/04/u-s-japan- summit-highlights-resolve-of-steadfast- 47 ‘steadfast alliances’ in securing Free and Open Indo-Pacific alliances-in-securing-free-and-open-indo- pacific/ Biden to veer from Trump, Obama https://the-japan- 48 policies in taking on North Korea news.com/news/article/0007361866 Biden administration sets new North https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- pacific/biden-administration-has-completed- 49 Korea policy of ‘practical’ diplomacy north-korea-policy-review-white-house-2021- 04-30/ US searches for North Korean reset after https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International- 50 ending policy review relations/Biden-s-Asia-policy/US-searches-for- North-Korean-reset-after-ending-policy-review Biden bans most travel to U.S. from India https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive- 51 to limit COVID-19 spread biden-set-ban-most-travel-us-india-limit-covid- 19-spread-2021-04-30/ US normalizes Taiwan exchanges with https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4192 52 unprecedented meeting in France 062 U.S. State Department calls for Taiwan's https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202105010008 53 inclusion in WHA Taiwan's foreign minister calls Chinese https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4192 54 expansionism threat to democracy 149 Chip shortage to continue into fall https://asiatimes.com/2021/05/chip-shortage- 55 to-continue-into-fall-tsmc-boss/ Taiwan Fights Brain Drain to China https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/as-drought- 56 worsens-chip-shortage-taiwan-fights-brain- drain-to-china/ China condemns Washington's 'coercive https://en.mehrnews.com/news/172854/China- 57 diplomacy' condemns-Washington-s-coercive-diplomacy China's Ruling Party Takes More Direct https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/ccp- 58 Control of Colleges, Universities universities-04302021083055.html China's Xinjiang welcomes unbiased http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021- 59 foreign visitors 05/01/c_139918071.htm Five-point initiative by China http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021- 60 demonstrates sincerity, sense of 04/30/c_139917989.htm responsibility China deplores Japan's diplomatic blue http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021- 61 book 05/01/c_139918041.htm Chinese FM addresses 10th anniversary http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021- 62 commemoration of Pacific Alliance 05/01/c_139919251.htm https://www.nationthailand.com/international/4 63 Vietnam resolutely rejects China’s unilateral fishing ban 0000426 Japan jolted by magnitude 6.8 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- earthquake; no serious injuries reported, pacific/magnitude-66-earthquake-strikes-off- 64 no tsunami alert coast-japan-no-tsunami-warning-issued-2021- 05-01/ Opposition lawmakers in Japan https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01 65 speaking out against holding Tokyo /national/japan-opposition-olympics-election/ Games 80% of Japanese support a reigning https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01 66 empress as pool of heirs shrinks /national/females-imperial-family-survey/ UN fails to agree on Myanmar statement, https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2108747/ 67 diplomats blame China, Russia un-fails-to-agree-on-myanmar-statement- diplomats-blame-china-russia U.N. Security Council calls for ASEAN https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01 68 Myanmar plan to be enacted /asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia- pacific/myanmar-un-asean/ Myanmar protesters march three months https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- 69 after coup; U.N. warns of ‘standstill’ pacific/myanmar-protesters-march-three- months-after-coup-un-warns-standstill-2021- 05-01/ Myanmar's Suu Kyi marks third month https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01 70 under house arrest /asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia- pacific/suu-kyi-myanmar-detain-three-months/ Bomb blasts and flash protests as https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2021/05/6 71 Myanmar enters fourth month under 87001/bomb-blasts-and-flash-protests- junta myanmar-enters-fourth-month-under-junta NoKor says Biden policy shows hostile https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/worl 72 intent, vows response d/785896/nokor-says-biden-policy-shows- hostile-intent-vows-response/story/ South Korea vows to coordinate with US https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021 73 for early resumption of nuke talks with /05/356_308126.html North Korea S. Korea mulls raising travel alert for https://www.nationthailand.com/international/4 74 India amid virus surges 0000425 Nepal govt decides to close 22 entry https://www.hindustantimes.com/world- points with India amid Covid-19 surge news/nepal-govt-decides-to-close-22-entry- 75 points-with-india-amid-covid-19-surge- 101619858634206.html Australia bans arrivals from India, says https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- 76 offenders face jail, fines pacific/australia-bans-arrivals-india-says- offenders-face-jail-fines-2021-05-01/ Biden’s first 100 days, Taiwan and https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/policy-guns- 77 biosecurity in northern Australia and-money-bidens-first-100-days-taiwan-and- biosecurity-in-northern-australia/ DEFENSE NEWS No island lost under Duterte gov't, only https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/no-island-lost- 78 in Aquino administration, says Esperon under-duterte-govt-only-in-aquino- administration-says-esperon/ PN interested in acquiring another http://maxdefense.blogspot.com/2021/04/philip 79 Hamilton-class cutter as stop gap pine-navy-interested-in-acquiring.html measure US probes Havana syndrome cases https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archiv 80 es/2021/05/02/2003756707 Defense Secretary Says 'Integrated http://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/ Deterrence' Is Cornerstone of U.S. Article/2592149/defense-secretary-says- 81 Defense integrated-deterrence-is-cornerstone-of-us- defense/ Pentagon chief seeks ‘new vision’ for US https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united- 82 defence in face of emerging cyber and states-canada/article/3131868/pentagon-chief- space threats seeks-new-vision-us-defence-face U.S. defense secretary says next major https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01 83 war will be 'very different,' /world/politics-diplomacy-world/next-major- war-will-different-u-s-defense-secretary-says/ Hicks Says FY ‘22 Budget Will https://www.defensedaily.com/hicks-says-fy- Emphasize New Tech Development, 22-budget-will-emphasize-new-tech- 84 ‘Sustainable Approach’ To Divestitures development-sustainable-approach- divestitures/budget/ Hack-to-Patch by Law Enforcement Is a https://www.justsecurity.org/75955/hack-to- 85 Dangerous Practice patch-by-law-enforcement-is-a-dangerous- practice/ US Indo-Pacific commander: China https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International- 86 seeks to supplant liberal order relations/Indo-Pacific/China-seeks-to-supplant- liberal-order-US-Indo-Pacific-commander New U.S. Indo-Pacific commander vows https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01 87 to avoid great power conflict /asia-pacific/aquilino-indopacific-command- china/ New US Indo-Pacific Command chief https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4192 88 thanks Taiwan Navy commander 418 Davidson, handing INDOPACOM’s reins https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/davidson 89 to Aquilino, takes one last jab at China -handing-indopacom-s-reins-to-aquilino-takes- one-last-jab-at-china-1.671850 Is The U.S. Navy Watching China’s https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/05/is-the-u- 90 Aircraft Carrier Too Closely? s-navy-watching-chinas-aircraft-carrier-too- closely/ US Navy Could Accelerate Shipyard https://www.defensedaily.com/harker-navy- 91 Infrastructure Plan If Given More Funds accelerated-shipyard-infrastructure-plan-given- funds/navy-usmc/ US Navy swarm of sea and air drones https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/04/pics 92 track down, destroy target -video-us-navy-swarm-of-sea-and-air-drones- track-down-destroy-target/ Osama bin Laden shot dead by Navy https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/05/osa 93 SEALs 10 years ago today ma-bin-laden-shot-dead-by-navy-seals-10- years-ago-today/ US Marine Corps And Raytheon Test https://www.defensedaily.com/marine-corps- 94 Naval Strike Missile Off Ground Vehicle raytheon-test-naval-strike-missile-off-ground- vehicle/navy-usmc/ America’s F-35 Fighter Kicked Asia’s https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/america Stealth Race Into High Gear %E2%80%99s-f-35-fighter-kicked- 95 asia%E2%80%99s-stealth-race-high-gear- 184034 As counterterror missions fade, special https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your- operations finds time to fix its own military/2021/04/30/as-counterterror-missions- 96 problems fade-special-operations-finds-time-to-fix-its- own-problems/ Analysts Question Uniqueness of https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/artic 97 Hypersonic Weapons Capabilities les/2021/5/3/analysts-question-uniqueness-of- hypersonic-weapons-capabilities US leaves China a Xinjiang terrorism https://www.scmp.com/week- 98 problem with its Afghanistan exit asia/politics/article/3131837/biden-leaves- china-xinjiang-terrorism-problem-us-exit China Expands Disinformation https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/disinfor 99 Campaign to Undermine International mation-04292021122736.html Xinjiang Outcry China’s Growing Military Confidence https://www.economist.com/briefing/2021/05/0 100 Puts Taiwan at Risk 1/chinas-growing-military-confidence-puts- taiwan-at-risk Is China Done With Salami Slicing? https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/is-china- 101 done-with-salami-slicing/ A huge rocket from China's space- https://www.businessinsider.com/huge- 102 station launch could fall back to Earth chinese-rocket-stage-to-fall-to-earth- totally uncontrolled uncontrolled-2021-5 China’s military commanders come https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/arti 103 under attack for outdated training cle/3131870/chinas-military-commanders- come-under-attack-outdated-training China’s new nuclear submarines have https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/arti 104 missiles that can hit more of US cle/3131873/chinas-new-nuclear-submarine- missiles-expand-range-us-analysts China sends rescue ships to help https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/arti 105 recover lost Indonesian submarine cle/3131897/china-sends-rescue-ships-help- recover-lost-indonesian-submarine Submarine’s sinking exposes https://www.scmp.com/week- Indonesia asia/politics/article/3131842/sinking- 106 ’s ageing, underfunded navy submarine-kri-nanggala-exposes-indonesias- ageing Tokyo watching Strait closely https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archi 107 ves/2021/05/02/2003756698 Australia-China sparring heats up under https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International- 108 new Canberra defense head relations/Australia-China-sparring-heats-up- under-new-Canberra-defense-head India pursued assertive foreign policy in https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/de 2020 fence/india-pursued-assertive-foreign-policy- 109 in-2020-says-us-defence-intelligence- agency/articleshow/82340156.cms Myanmar launches fresh aerial strikes https://www.nationthailand.com/in- 110 on KNU soldiers on Thai border focus/40000435 Inside Russia’s Robot Army: Rhetoric vs. https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/inside- Reality russias-robot-army-rhetoric-vs- 111 reality/?_ga=2.261282510.215360882.161974 5917-1889943733.1611096689 Sudan Reportedly Suspends Planned https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/04/30/s 112 Russian Naval Base in Red Sea udan-reportedly-suspends-russia-naval-base/ Kabul on high alert amid 'deadline' for https://www.reuters.com/world/middle- 113 U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan east/kabul-high-alert-amid-deadline-us-troop- withdrawal-afghanistan-2021-05-01/ Taliban set for final onslaught as Biden’s https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/taliban-set- 114 slow retreat begins for-final-onslaught-as-bidens-slow-retreat- begins-lj5863hj3 Taliban warns of counterattacks as https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/0 115 original May 1 deadline for U.S. troop 5/01/afghanistan-taliban-attacks/ withdrawal passes Ten Years After Bin Laden, We Still https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/05/te 116 Need Better Intelligence Sharing n-years-after-bin-laden-we-still-need-better- intelligence-sharing/173748/ British Carrier Strike Group to sail today https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-carrier- 117 strike-group-to-sail-today/ Britain’s Royal Navy Is Sending a https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/20 118 Warning to China 21-04-30/u-k-s-royal-navy-is-sending-a- warning-to-china-in-the-indo-pacific Czechia: A Case Study of China’s https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/czechia-a- 119 Changing Overseas Propaganda Efforts case-study-of-chinas-changing-overseas- propaganda-efforts/ When It Comes to Political Warfare, https://www.oodaloop.com/archive/2021/04/23/ 120 China is at the Head of the Class when-it-comes-to-political-warfare-china-is-at- the-head-of-the-class/ The French Strategic Review Update https://defense.info/featured-story/2021/04/the- 121 2021: A Call for Cohesion Among Allies french-strategic-review-update-2021-a-call-for- cohesion-among-allies/ How a brutal assault led a woman to one https://www.pehalnews.in/how-a-brutal- 122 of the CIA's most valuable Russian spies assault-led-a-woman-to-one-of-the-cias-most- valuable-russian-spies/742477/ COVID NEWS PMA cautions doctors vs prescribing https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/pma-cautions- 123 Ivermectin doctors-vs-prescribing-ivermectin/ Sputnik V mini-rollout preparation for https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138774 124 more doses in May PH welcomes Moderna COVID-19 jab's https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/ph-welcomes- 125 inclusion in WHO’s emergency use list moderna-covid-19-jabs-inclusion-in-whos- emergency-use-list/ Mass COVID-19 vaccination eyed in https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/mass-covid-19- 126 NCR in June vaccination-eyed-in-ncr-in-june/ Risk from virus variants remains after https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01 127 first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, U.K. /world/science-health-world/pfizer-vaccine- study finds study/ Scientists say India government ignored https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- warnings amid coronavirus surge pacific/exclusive-scientists-say-india- 128 government-ignored-warnings-amid- coronavirus-2021-05-01/ Coronavirus: India reports record https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south- 129 400,000 cases in a single day asia/article/3131874/india-reports-over- 400000-coronavirus-infections-single-day Cambodia drafts in army to speed up https://www.reuters.com/world/asia- 130 COVID-19 vaccinations pacific/cambodia-drafts-army-speed-up-covid- 19-vaccinations-2021-05-01/ What you need to know about the https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health- coronavirus right now coronavirus-snapshot/what-you-need-to-know- 131 about-the-coronavirus-right-now- idUSKBN2CE0EW Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020- 132 Across the World coronavirus-cases-world- map/?srnd=coronavirus Covid map: Where are cases the https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51235105 133 highest?
J. OPINION/EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY Title Link 134 WW III in 2034 https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/05/02/2 095213/ww-iii-2034 135 Should we now slay the elephant in the https://opinion.inquirer.net/139823/should-we- room? now-slay-the-elephant-in-the-room 136 Let’s pay off China’s COVID vax https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/05/02/2 donations 095219/lets-pay-chinas-covid-vax-donations 137 Parlade para me https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/05/02/opinio n/columnists/parlade-para-me/869284/ 138 Senators should look at themselves https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/02/se before getting angry nators-should-look-at-themselves-before- getting-angry/ 139 Satanic communists https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/02/sat anic-communists/ 140 Can the US drive an alternative to https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/ China’s belt and road plan? article/3131881/chinas-belt-and-road-plan-can- us-find-alternative-route 141 China, US have chance to find common https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/arti ground in protection of oceans cle/3131833/china-us-have-chance-find- common-ground-protection-oceans 142 Biden should consider downsides of https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Biden-should- stressing national values in Indo-Pacific consider-downsides-of-stressing-national- values-in-Indo-Pacific 143 Capabilities to strike China needed https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/ar chives/2021/05/02/2003756672 144 Will ASEAN's actions match its tough talk https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/05/ on Myanmar? 01/editorials/myanmar-asean-human-rights- democracy/ 145 Breaking the deadlock: The Japan-South https://www.9dashline.com/article/breaking- Korea ‘comfort women’ dispute the-deadlock-the-japan-south-korea-comfort- women-dispute
Duterte honors COVID-19 frontliners, essential workers on Labor Day
Published May 1, 2021, 9:51 AM by Argyll Cyrus Geducos President Duterte honored the country’s essential workers on Labor Day for their tireless sacrifice in leading the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic over the past 14 months.
President Duterte (Malacañang photo) In his message, Duterte said the country has found new meaning in the annual commemoration of Labor Day.
“This year, we honor our Filipino workers who–fueled not just by the desire to support their families and advance their careers–have tirelessly toiled these past several months to ensure that our society will continue to function in the face of an unprecedented health crisis that crippled industries across the world,” he said.
The President, in particular, turned the spotlight on essential frontliners and thanked them for their commitment to keeping the country afloat amid the pandemic.
“On behalf of a grateful nation, I express my deepest gratitude to our hardworking healthcare workers and essential frontliners for their unwavering commitment in ensuring the unhampered delivery of goods and services that continue to sustain our communities and industries during these difficult times,” he said.
Duterte, meanwhile, assured Filipinos all over the world that his administration is working hard to promote the welfare of workers. “To all Filipino workers here and abroad, let me assure you that this administration will endeavor to work as vigorously as you have in creating an environment where security of tenure, statutory labor standards, and workers rights are not only upheld and protected, but also cherished as the foundations of a strong and thriving workforce,” he said.
“Together, let us rebuild a stronger and more resilient society that we can probably leave behind the succeeding generations of Filipinos,” he added.
The country entered its 14th month of quarantine on May 1 with the National Capital Region (NCR) under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 14.
The government rolled out its vaccination program on March 1 and prioritized the inoculation of medical frontliners. Senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, and essential workers are next in line. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/duterte-honors-covid-19-frontliners-essential-workers-on-labor-day/
PRRD sees workers as ‘important catalysts’ for economic revival
By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos May 1, 2021, 4:57 pm
(PNA file photo)
MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Saturday expressed confidence that Filipino workers would serve as “important catalysts” for the revival of the Philippine economy amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Duterte made the remarks as he lauded the holding of the job summit on Labor Day despite the threat posed by Covid-19.
“I also hope that this event will inspire stronger cooperation among stakeholders so that we may provide our labor force of all opportunities for their improved welfare and development,” he said in his video message during this year’s job summit.
In observance of Labor Day, the trade and labor departments, along with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, conducted the Task Group on Economic Recovery – National Employment Recovery Strategy Job Summit.
The job summit serves as a venue for high-level consultation and discussion with employer groups, the labor sector, government representatives, and other key stakeholders to address the challenges on employment amid the pandemic.
The President expressed hope that the summit would inspire the workforce to strive harder in a bid to reboot the country’s economy.
“May this summit be instrumental in making our workers as important catalysts for the revival of our economy,” he said.
Promoting full employment
In his welcome remarks, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the government’s goal is to provide full protection to labor and promote full employment for all Filipino workers.
Nograles issued the statement as he acknowledged the labor force’s significant contributions to the country’s improving economy despite the challenges faced amid the Covid-19 outbreak. “As we continue to battle against Covid-19, our strongest weapon is teamwork and cooperation. As long as we continue to help each other and cooperate with our government, we will be able to get back up again and regain more on what we have lost,” he said during this year’s virtual job summit.
Nograles said the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) 2021-2022 would accelerate the implementation of labor programs aimed at mitigating the impact of Covid-19 and rebooting the Philippine economy.
“Kung wala ang labor sector (Without the labor sector), our economy will not be able to rebound and recover as fast. The country’s workforce is the backbone of our economy,” he said.
The NERS 2021-2022 is a medium-term plan that aims to help create a policy environment that encourages the generation of more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Nograles assured that the government is exhausting all efforts to bring back jobs in the labor market.
“Hindi kailanman tumitigil ang inyong gobyerno sa paghahanap ng solusyon at paglapat ng tugon. Aming ginagawa ang lahat ng kailangan upang ang bawat isa ay makabangon (The government has never stopped looking for a solution. We are doing everything to help everyone recover),” he said. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138741
Labor Day rallyists defy MECQ, safety guidelines
By Marita Moaje May 1, 2021, 9:23 pm
LABOR DAY RALLY. Amid the afternoon heat and an estimated crowd of 2,000 at Mabuhay Rotonda in Quezon City on Saturday (May 1, 2021), this 65-year-old man fainted but later regained consciousness. Militant groups held the demonstration at the famous landmark in celebration of Labor Day, after they were dispersed by the Manila police from Liwasang Bonifacio. (Photo courtesy of Radyo Pilipinas)
MANILA – In scenes reminiscent of a recent community pantry organized by a celebrity, Quezon City was the venue anew of a mass gathering that did not just violate modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) guidelines, but also put the safety of rallyists at risk.
On Saturday, the Quezon City Police District, in a statement, estimated there were about 2,000 individuals who attended a Labor Day rally by different militant labor groups that converged at the Mabuhay Rotonda monument, the boundary of Manila and Quezon City.
The demonstrators were part of the group that was dispersed from Liwasang Bonifacio by the Manila Police District.
Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr., Director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said 10,366 peace-keeping personnel were deployed to monitor mass actions.
Mass gatherings are not allowed under MECQ, the status of NCR at least until May 14.
A report by Mike Rogas of Radyo Pilipinas added that a 58-year-old man collapsed as the program was ongoing under the intense afternoon heat.
The man was later identified by a QC official, who refused to be identified as he was not yet allowed to speak on the matter, as Wilfredo Abaluna, 65.
He was attended to by first-aid responders of a standby ambulance but refused to be taken to a hospital, the official. said
Rogas reported that the rallyists used a 12-wheeler truck as makeshift stage for their program.
President Rodrigo Duterte himself warned on Wednesday that local officials, including village captains, may be slapped with administrative and criminal charges if they don’t enforce quarantine rules in their areas of jurisdiction. Officials of the Manila and Quezon City local government units, as well as the police, could not be reached for comment.
Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire of the Department of Health said Covid-19 infection is possible where there is no distancing, even in open spaces.
“’Yung pagkukumpol kumpol ng mga tao kahit kayo ay nasa maaliwalas na lugar o nasa open space kayo ay maaari pa ring makapag-cause ng pagkakahawa-hawaan (Mass gatherings even in an open space may still be a cause of Covid-19 infections),” she warned in previous interviews.
On April 23, actress Angel Locsin organized a community pantry in Barangay Holy Spirit, where thousands waited for free items.
A 67-year-old male vendor, who was in the queue for hours, fainted and later died in a hospital.
As of Thursday, 64 have availed of free swab tests offered by the QC government.
So far, two have tested positive while other results are pending.
Quezon City has 7,174 active Covid-19 cases as of Saturday. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138770
Labor Day protesters stage rally in QC as police bars entry to Manila
Published May 1, 2021, 10:12 PM by Allysa Nievera Different labor groups opted to protest along Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City on Labor day after they were blocked by policemen from marching to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
(MANNY LLANES/ MANILA BULLETIN) The groups called for a P100 daily wage subsidy, P10,000 cash assistance for workers who lost their jobs and for the poor.
“Ngunit sa araw na ito pinaglalaban natin bilang pambansang pagkilos ang pagkakamit ng sampung libong ayuda sapagkat ang isang libo, apat na libo ay di sapat ((But today we are fighting as a national movement to get ten thousand aid because one thousand, four thousand is not enough),” Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chairperson Elmer Labog said.
“Sampung libo dapat labing limang libo sa mga kasamahan natin sa sektor at agrikultura (should be fifteen thousand to our colleagues in the sector and agriculture),” he added.
The protest led by KMU was originally planned to be conducted at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila but policemen were deployed early and prevented them from going further.
“Labor Day should honor workers but the PNP is insulting us by depriving us of our right to air out legimitate grievances. Liwasang Bonifacio is a freedom park and the police should back off. The protests will push through despite this harassment,” said Labog.
Policemen also barred the Pagkakaisa ng Uring Mangagawa from organizing a mass protest in Mendiola in Manila. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/labor-day-protesters-stage-rally-in-qc-as-police-bars-entry-to-manila/
China is a true friend—envoy Ambassador: Other nations trying to ‘sow discord’ using sea dispute posted May 02, 2021 at 01:20 am by Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian has cautioned against countries trying to drive a wedge between Manila and Beijing using the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Huang said China is a true friend of the Philippines as shown by its readiness to help the Duterte administration secure vaccines while other countries were busy fanning maritime tensions in the region.
“Certain countries, while looking at Philippines’ anxiety of vaccine need with indifference, tried to sow discord by taking advantage of the differences between China and the Philippines,” the ambassador said during an online vaccine summit over the weekend.
“We should stay alert. The tougher the time is, the wider our eyes should be open. We would eventually know who the real friends and reliable partners are,” Huang added.
The Chinese ambassador made the statement days after President Rodrigo Duterte raised doubts on the commitment of the United States to come to the Philippines’ defense if maritime tensions come to a head.
The President also directed Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea not to leave the waterway despite the risk of damaging the country’s present relationship with China.
“This will really be a test: I read China said we (Philippine ships) should leave. I now say (to PH vessels): Do not leave. Period. Regardless of whether America will help us or not. Let us stop pinning our hopes on America. They will not help us. A nuclear war – you think America will intervene?” Duterte said Wednesday.
The President said he did not want to contend with China over the WPS, but reiterated the Philippines maintains its claim of sovereignty over the islands and the waters within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“I am stating it for the record: We do not want war with China. China is a good friend. We owe China a debt of gratitude – including our vaccines. Let it be known that China is a good friend and we do not want trouble with China. But there are things which are not really subject to a compromise,” the President said.
Huang expressed confidence that China-Philippines friendship and cooperation “will withstand the test of time.”
“What matters is that we handle them (differences) in a mature and constructive manner. This serves the mutual benefits of our countries and meets the common aspiration of our people,” the envoy said.
For his part, National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said China has continued fishing in the West Philippine Sea because the country’s exclusive economic zone remains contested by China and other neighboring countries.
But Esperon assured the public the government has already deployed vessels from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard to enforce fisheries laws within the EEZ.
Meanwhile, a legislator on Saturday expressed outrage over the continued incursions of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, calling it a breach of sovereignty and economic sabotage by a foreign intruder.
“Why would hundreds of ships converge in one spot for months if there is no economic gain for them? I am sure that there is something of high value underneath that they are very much interested in. Something that is very valuable to them and to us,” Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.
“Their continued presence there indicates that they are stealing from us these valuable resources,” he added. https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/353322/china-is-a-true-friend-envoy.html
DITO expands coverage to 15 more cities Published 15 hours ago on May 1, 2021 06:43 PM By Maria Romero @tribunephl_mbr DITO Telecommunity Corp. has expanded its mobile network service coverage to 15 more cities in the country — more than a month since it debuted in the Visayas and Mindanao.
In an advisory on Saturday, the Chinese-backed telco firm said it is now available in five areas in Central Luzon, five in South Luzon, three in the Visayas, and two in Mindanao.
On 8 March, DITO officially launched its services in 15 pilot areas, 10 in Metro Cebu and five in Metro Davao.
Last month, the third telco brought its services to 21 more cities and entered Luzon island.
“Subscribers from Central Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao can avail of DITO’s 25GB High-Speed Data for P199 promo, which is valid for 30-days,” DITO said.
“Aside from fast and reliable data services, they can also enjoy unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls and texts plus unlimited texts and 300 minutes of voice calls to other mobile networks. Features such as call waiting, call forwarding, and video over LTE is also now available for DITO subscribers,” it added.
DITO, formerly Mislatel Consortium, was awarded a permit to operate as the third telco in July 2019.
The consortium is composed of Davao businessman Uy’s Udenna Corporation, Udenna’s subsidiary Chelsea Logistics Holdings Inc., and Chinese state-owned China Telecommunications Corporation.
https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/01/dito-expands-coverage-to-15-more-cities/
PH to repatriate citizens in India when commercial flights resume: envoy ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 02 2021 08:08 AM MANILA - The Philippines will repatriate its citizens in India who want to return home when commercial flights resume or when there are enough passengers for a flight, its envoy in New Delhi said Sunday.
Manila had earlier prohibited travelers from the South Asian nation to enter the country following a
It is "logistically difficult" to mount a repatriation flight as many nations have issued a travel ban against India and the Philippines does not have a direct flight there, said Ambassador Ramon Bagatsing Jr.
Not many Filipinos have expressed willingness to go home, he added.
"Hindi pa naman ganun karami. Although, isang Pilipinong gusto umuwi, kailangan tulungan natin. On the logistic side, we need at least 150 passenger to make it viable," he told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.
(There's not that many. Although, if there's one Filipino who wants to go home, we need to help them.)
"Sabi ni (Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teodoro) Locsin, habang 'di pa pwede 'yan, siguro 'pag June or middle of the month, 'pag medyo okay na. Otherwise, we wait for the commercial flights to resume and then we can do that."
(Secretary Locsin said maybe we could mount a flight in June or the middle of the month when things have improved.)
At least 73 Filipinos in India have contracted the respiratory illness and 2 have died, Bagatsing said.
New Delhi has been placed on lockdown because of the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
India reported more than 400,000 new cases on Saturday in the past 24 hours, the first country to do so, taking the total to 19.1 million.
There were also 3,523 additional deaths, bringing the toll to 211,853.
As of Saturday, a total of 18,380 Filipinos abroad have been infected with COVID-19, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/02/21/ph-to-repatriate-citizens-in-india-when-commercial- flights-resume-envoy
Palace blasts Carpio, other critics on West Philippine Sea
Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star ) - May 2, 2021 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea criticized yesterday former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario and former senior associate justice Antonio Carpio Jr. for putting the blame for China’s aggressive stance in the disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on President Duterte.
“For the stupid actions they’ve done during their regime they want PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) to solve the problems they have created in the WPS. And still, they have the temerity and nerve to lecture PRRD that it is his avowed duty to defend the Philippines’ sovereign rights at all costs,” he said.
Medialdea, concurrent chairman of the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC), noted how the officials of the previous administration have orchestrated the filing of the arbitral ruling upon the advise of the United States.
The NCWC sits in the National Task Force on West Philippine Sea (WPS).
A few days after Duterte publicly questioned the motives of Carpio and del Rosario, the Executive Secretary also echoed the President’s stance that the “broker” of the filing of the case has not even helped the country in the enforcement of the arbitral ruling.
Medialdea stopped short of saying the US has placed the Philippines in an awkward situation as regards dealing with China following the arbitral ruling.
“Del Rosario has admitted that the filing of the case was a brokered deal by the US. Del Rosario and Carpio were aware of the fact that it was impractical to enforce the decision but were assured by the broker of a ‘strong global voice’ which will shake the world when a favorable ruling comes out,” he claimed. “Where was the strong global voice when the ruling came out in July 2016, barely a month after PRRD assumed office?” He added that “it was only del Rosario and Carpio who were savoring the victory.” ?“To cover their dastardly acts, Carpio and del Rosario have not stopped criticizing PRRD on his post-decision actions on the issue. What a way to hide!” Medialdea said in a post on his FB account, which was seen by his contacts in the social media platform.
The Palace official’s statement also came in the wake of the President’s public rants against Carpio and del Rosario over the issue.
Last Friday, Carpio called out Duterte for “setting aside” the arbitral ruling almost five years since it was handed down by an arbitral tribunal in The Hague.
Sen. Bong Go also lambasted Carpio and del Rosario for their “arrogance, claiming to be brave,” in saying the West Philippine Sea must be reclaimed from China.
“You are all cowards anyway,” he said in Filipino as he insisted that Duterte has been fighting for the West Philippine Sea.
He added that the Aquino administration, while busy with the case at the arbitral tribunal, left China to continue building up structures in the questioned area.
“Now, these (structures) could not just be easily removed anymore because you let them there in your time,” Go said as he challenged Carpio and del Rosario to, “if you are truly brave,” go fight with China and do every possible move they could against the country.
“No one else deserved the blame but Carpio and del Rosario. It was their fault when they allowed it. And now they appear to be courageous in fighting China, but it’s all talks. What will your talks do? You are cowards,” Go added.
Speaking during a chance interview after the distribution of aid to flood victims in Palo town in Leyte, Go claimed that the Duterte administration has been contesting and will continue to push for Philippine sovereignty over the disputed waters.
He cited Duterte’s earlier declaration not to withdraw the Navy and Coast Guard patrols in the West Philippine Sea, insisting that the country’s sovereignty over the waters is non-negotiable. “I know the President personally for a long time, and I know that he is always after the interest of Filipinos,” he insisted.
While saying that Duterte wants to maintain friendly ties with China, the President will also “fight for us and for what is ours, the one that we won over China at the arbitration court.” – Miriam Desacada https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/05/02/2095313/palace-blasts-carpio-other-critics-west- philippine-sea
Lacson: PH leaders must unite on WPS issue
Published May 1, 2021, 10:09 AM by Vanne Elaine Terrazola Philippine leaders must have a united stand against China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Saturday, May 1.
Senator Panfilo Lacson (Senate of the Philippines/MANILA BULLETIN File photo)
“Ang irony nito at nakakalungkot, sa halip na magtulong-tulong tayong mga Pilipino, especially mga leaders, tayo pa nag-aaway-away sa usaping West Philippine Sea (The sad irony is that instead of coming up with a united front on the WPS issue, Filipinos — especially our leaders — are bickering on the issue),” Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense, said in an interview over DZXL radio
“Dapat iisa ang position natin. ‘Yan ang nagpapakita ng weakness natin sa China (What we need is a united position. Otherwise, we are just showing our weakness, one that China could exploit),” he pointed out.
Before this, the senator lamented on Twitter the word war between President Duterte and former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio over the WPS issue. Carpio has been vocal against Duterte’s “defeatist attitude” toward China’s agression.
Lacson said “the WPS has degenerated into into a finger pointing argument” between Carpio and Duterte, “and not Philippines and China”.
He also told a netizen that he has been calling out the President about his stand “many times already”.
“Hindi ka ba naiiyak, Pilipinas (Doesn’t this make you cry, Philippines)?” he tweeted on Friday, April 30. In his latest statement, Lacson said the country’s leaders should start “with upholding our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
He also stressed that China’s donation of COVID-19 vaccines should not be linked to the WPS issue, as doing so may cause division and “petty bickering” among Filipinos.
“Dapat walang kinalaman ang dalawa (Both issues should not be connected),” he said.
In the meantime, Lacson reiterated that the Philippines should continue to enhance its ties with its allies including the United States, Japan, Australia and Europe, to maintain a balance of power in the region.
This is despite the country’s foreign policy being independent but “seemingly inclined toward China”, he said.
The US, he cited, already said that it is prepared to support the Philippines as both countries have a Mutual Defense Treaty. But the Philippines should take the initiative, he maintained.
“The US has indicated it is bound by our Mutual Defense Treaty but it is the Philippines that must make the initiative. The US cannot be more aggressive than we are in the disputed area,” Lacson said. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/lacson-ph-leaders-must-unite-on-wps-issue/
'Tayo pa ang nag-aaway': Lacson says Philippine leaders should be 'united' in West Philippine Sea issue ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 01 2021 07:56 PM
Filipino youth activists brave the waves as they hoist a Philippine flag on the shores of Zambales on Monday facing the West Philippine Sea as a symbol of the country’s claim of the disputed territory. The group embarked on the flag-raising in time with the celebration of Philippine Independence in 2017. Jun Dumaguing, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — The country's top leaders should be united in the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea, as "bickering" among themselves is a "weakness China could exploit," Senator Panfilo Lacson said Saturday.
The senator's statement came as President Rodrigo Duterte and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio clashed this week over the reason China was able to seize some features in the disputed waters despite the arbitral win in 2016 in The Hague.
Beijing disregards a 2016 ruling of the award that junked its "historical" claims to almost the entire South China Sea, within which is the smaller West Philippine Sea, the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
"The Philippines’ top leaders must come up with a united stand on the West Philippine Sea issue instead of bickering, lest it exposes a weakness that China can exploit," the statement from his office read.
“Ang irony nito at nakakalungkot, sa halip na magtulong-tulong tayong mga Pilipino, especially mga leaders, tayo pa nag-aaway-away sa usaping West Philippine Sea. Dapat iisa ang position natin. Yan ang nagpapakita ng weakness natin sa China," Lacson was quoted as saying in a radio interview.
(The sad irony is that instead of coming up with a united front, we – especially our leaders – are bickering on the issue. What we need is a united position. Otherwise, we are just showing our weakness, one that China could exploit.) https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/01/21/lacson-philippines-leaders-united-west-philippine-sea-china
PH must ‘take initiative’ with US, allies – Lacson
ByJavier Joe Ismael May 2, 2021
SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Saturday maintained that the Philippines must “take the initiative” in enhancing its ties with the United States and its other allies like Japan, Australia and Europe to keep the balance of power in the Southeast Asian region. SEN. Panfilo Lacson
The Duterte administration has repeatedly said it has an “independent” foreign policy but has shown an inclination toward China, said Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense, in an interview on radio DZXL.
Lacson said while the US indicated that it was prepared to back the Philippines in case it is attacked by another state as provided under a Mutual Defense Treaty signed by both countries, “it is the Philippines that must take the initiative.”
“The US cannot be more aggressive than we are in the disputed area,” said Lacson, referring to the dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) between Manila and Beijing.
In the meantime, Lacson said the country’s top leaders must come up with a united stand on the WPS instead of bickering, lest a weakness is exposed, which China can “exploit.” https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/05/02/news/national/ph-must-take-initiative-with-us-allies- lacson/869268/
Remove vessels in WPS, Pacquiao tells China
Published May 1, 2021, 9:19 AM by Mario Casayuran Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao on Friday, April 30, said he wrote to China about the presence of Chinese fishing vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao during the Senate’s plenary session on March 3, 2021. (Senate PRIB/Albert Calvelo)
The letter, addressed to Beijing’s Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian, had asked China to immediately withdraw its vessels in the area.
The boxing icon-turned-politician issued a statement to deny claims that he refused to sign the Senate Resolution No. 708 expressing the sentiments of 11 senators “condemning the activities of the People’s Republic of China in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines and other parts of the West Philippine Sea.” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon initiated the measure.
Pacquiao said did not see the need to sign the resolution of his fellow senators since he already wrote to China last April 10.
“Hindi naman na-media yung sulat ko sa Chinese Ambassador dahil personal letter ko ‘yon (The letter to the Chinese ambassador was not disclosed to media because it is my personal letter). Two weeks after, Senator Drilon passed a resolution of the same nature which I did not sign because I already had a letter pending before the Chinese Ambassador here,” he explained.
In his letter, Pacquiao expressed his “deep” concern over recent reports that at least 220 Chinese vessels remain in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef. “The continuing presence of Chinese ships at the said reef, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, only creates tension and harbors divisiveness in our region and evidently destabilizing to the international rule of law,” he said.
“In line with this, we reiterate our call to your government to promptly withdraw these vessels from our territory. We demand nothing less than for your country to respect our sovereignty,” he added.
Pacquiao told the Chinese government in his letter that instead of creating animosity with its neighbors, it should behave as a “unifying figure of regional solidarity.”
“Now is the opportune time for China to be a unifying figure of regional solidarity. Our governments must instead work together towards creating lasting peace and cooperation in the whole Asia-Pacific region, especially during these trying times brought about by the pandemic,” Pacquaio said. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/pacquiao-demands-china-to-withdraw-vessels-in-wps/
Drilon to gov’t: 'Drop appeasement, accommodation policy on China'
Published May 1, 2021, 8:43 AM by Hannah Torregoza Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Sunday, April 25, renewed his call for the government to cancel its appeasement and accommodation policy on China, which, he said, is no longer listening to the pleas of the Philippine government to abide by international law on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon in a hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on March 5, 2020. (Senate of the Philippines/Joseph Vidal) Drilon noted China remains undeterred by the country’s filing of diplomatic protests and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s demand for them to leave the country’s sovereign territories.
He cited the continued incursion of around 160 Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea and the growing COVID-19 cases in the country, which he said could have been prevented had the government immediately banned travelers from Wuhan, China, where the virus originated.
“What we see now are the fruits of the policy of appeasement and accommodation towards China,” Drilon said.
The minority leader urged the government to get the support of the ASEAN, particularly countries that have similar claims in the West Philippine Sea to strengthen the country’s stance on the issue.
“Bilateral talks with China on the maritime dispute does not work in the country’s favor,” he said. “Apart from protests, which I support, we should, as an objective, get the other nations to confront China including our allies—United States, Japan and Australia.” “We must unite against the unlawful Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea,” Drilon stressed.
He said it is President Duterte who should initiate the move to present a united front with other claimants in the disputed maritime area, including Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam to make China realize “that what it is doing is against international laws.”
Drilon added the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in favor of the Philippines is the basis of the government in rightfully and forcefully asserting the country’s claims in the WPS.
He also said any alleged “verbal fishing agreement,” which some sectors claim is the possible reason why Chinese vessels refuse to leave the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), is “invalid” if it indeed exists.
If such agreement exists, the senator said the Filipino people and the Senate must be informed about the parameters of the agreement.
“To me, any verbal agreement is invalid. Any agreement between two nations, whether in the form of an executive agreement or a treaty must be in written form, otherwise, it cannot be enforced,” Drilon stressed.
“We are bound by Article XII, Sec. 2 paragraph 2 of the Constitution which says that ‘The State shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens’,” the former justice secretary explained.
“The Senate, as the President’s partner in foreign policy making, has to know what the agreement is, to determine whether or not it is consistent with the Constitution, or if it can be ratified,” he emphasized. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/drilon-to-govt-drop-appeasement-accommodation-policy-on-china/
'Careful with your words': Sotto wants Senate's WPS resolution toned down
Published May 1, 2021, 10:23 PM by Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III advised his fellow senators against using the word “condemn” in slamming China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), echoing President Duterte that the country is still a “friend” to the Philippines.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III (Office of Sen. Sotto/https://vicentesotto.com) Sotto said on Saturday, May 1, that he supports the resolution filed by 11 of his colleagues, calling on the Senate to “condemn in the strongest possible terms the illegal activities” of China in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and other parts of the WPS.
But he said he would propose amendments to the measure, particularly on the use of “condemn” to denounce China’s activities.
“‘Yong iba sa amin with amendments, like for example kung tayo’y pumapalag at sinasabi natin na gusto natin – ang resolution natin ay sinusuportahan natin ang posisyon ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at saka ng Department of National Defense (DND). Ayan, okay ‘yan (Some of us support the resolution but with amendments, like for example, if we are protesting the activities and we wanted to support the DFA and the DND, it’s fine with us),” he said in an interview over DWIZ radio.
“Pero ‘yong paggamit ng word na condemning, medyo pinag-aaralan naming mabuti kasi kaibigan mo, gagamitan mo ng ‘condemning’ (But the use of the word ‘condemning’, I think we have to study it carefully because you are addressing a friend),” he added.
Sotto pointed out that China remains to be a trading partner to the Philippines. He agreed with Duterte’s statement that China is a “good friend”. “Kung pwedeng huwag munang ganoon kadiin dahil pwede naman – pwede namang ano eh, ika nga, ‘yong posisyon ng DFA, posisyon ng DND, suportahan natin. Ingat lang sa paggamit ng mga salita (Maybe we could tone it down — we can just support the DFA and the DND’s position. We should be careful with our words),” he said.
He said he is confident that China will heed the senators’ call. This, even as China insists that parts of the Philippines’ EEZ are part of its territory.
He said he would personally talk to Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian about it over a game of golf next week.
Last March, over 200 Chinese vessels were spotted at the Julian Felipe Reef, which is part of the Philippines’ EEZ.
Authorities later discovered that the vessels, which they believed were manned by Chinese militia, did not leave and were only dispersed in various areas of the WPS.
The Philippine coast guard and navy have beefed up patrols in the WPS. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/sotto-wants-senates-west-philippine-sea-resolution-toned-down/
China continues to fish in West Philippine Sea due to 'contested' EEZ -Esperon By JAMIL SANTOS, GMA News Published May 1, 2021 2:52pm
National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said China has continued fishing in the West Philippine Sea because the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) remains contested by China and other neighboring countries.
"Kaya lang 'yung sinasabi ko na 'yung EEZ, 'yung ating exclusive economic zone, ay contested 'yan ng China, Vietnam, at Malaysia (What I'm saying is that our exclusive economic zone is contested by China, Vietnam, and Malaysia)," Esperon said at the Laging Handa public briefing.
He cited the example of the Mischief Reef, where artificial islands were constructed by China to assert its territorial claim.
"That's what the President said that if we take it back, all of that happened in 2013 and 2016. We lost Bajo De Masinloc or Panatag or Scarborough when China took it in 2012," Esperon said in Filipino.
But Esperon assured the public that the Philippine government has already deployed Bureau of Fisheries vessels and the Philippine Coast Guard to enforce fisheries laws within the EEZ.
Sandy Cay
Meanwhile, Esperon belied claims by retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio that China has "seized" the Sandy Cay as government forces continued to patrol the area. "Masabi ko rin na 'yung sinasabi ni Justice Carpio na nawala natin ang Sandy Cay, hindi totoo 'yun. 'Yun ay parte ng Pag-asa Island na kung saan ay meron tayong detachment ng civilian at military. At 'yung Pag-asa Island na kung saan ay may airport tayo, ay merong Sandy Cay na apat, at 'yun ay binabantayan natin. Ni minsan magmula noong 2016 ay wala tayong nawawalang isla na kinuha ng China. Mali si Justice Carpio. Fake news 'yung sinasabi niya, false news," he said.
(When Justice Carpio said that we lost the Sandy Cay, that is not true. That is part of Pag-asa Island where we have civilian and military detachments. The Pag-asa Island where we have an airport, there are four Sandy Cays, which we keep an eye on. Since 2016 we have not lost an island to China. Justice Carpio is wrong. What he is saying is fake news, false news.) -MDM, GMA News https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/785853/china-continues-to-fish-in-west-philippine- sea-due-to-contested-eez-esperon/story/
Malampaya service contract to expire in 2024 Published 14 hours ago on May 1, 2021 08:36 PM By Maria Romero @tribunephl_mbr The $4.5-billion Service Contract (SC) 38 of the Malampaya natural gas field will expire in 2024.
The consortium involved in developing the country’s sole natural gas field had signified interest to extend the contract.
However, the Department of Energy (DoE) has yet to issue a final decision on the appeal.
During a virtual forum spearheaded by the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines on Saturday, Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) President and CEO Rozzano D. Briguez disclosed that there is a “continuing discussion” but no significant decision has been made.
“Right now we have continuing discussions. We don’t have a final decision yet of the DOE. We have continuing discussions with the technical working group of DoE and the technical working group of the consortium. So, we don’t have a final (decision) yet, it’s still a continuing discussion,” Briguez said.
Energy chief Alfonso G. Cusi said the DoE is evaluating the request of the Malampaya operators, which was bounded by the joint operating agreement (JOA) of the Malampaya consortium.
The DoE earlier said that the Malampaya consortium needs to comply with “several conditions for the extension of their license.”
The negotiating terms include the development opportunity necessary for the DoE to evaluate the proposals of the consortium members and the split or royalty sharing between the government and the project contractor.
It also requires members to come up with a decommissioning plan, disposal of assets, and finalization of the price of the gas in the event of license extension.
Based on preliminary studies and evaluations done by the DoE and the Malampaya consortium, the depletion of gas from the field may not happen until the next six to seven years.
Despite thinning reserves, the Malampaya natural gas field remains on the radar of the country’s largest energy players as its underwater pipeline and other infrastructure could possibly be used to transport offshore gas from adjoining reservoirs.
Cusi recently affirmed that “it is possible” to utilize the facility’s subsea pipeline to extract and transfer gas from the nearby West Philippine Sea to the onshore power plants in Batangas.
The energy chief, however, noted the government has yet to conduct an extensive assessment on the use of the underwater pipeline as a submerged “toll road” to transport gas.
Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel previously pointed out that a 504-kilometer pipeline some 250 kilometers southwest of Malampaya can deliver gas to landfall in Batangas and the Sampaguita gas discovery in Recto Bank.
The Malampaya gas-to-power project still generates up to 3,400 megawatts of electricity for the Luzon grid. https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/01/malampaya-service-contract-to-expire-in-2024/
Esperon vows to review Senate's calls for Parlade's removal from NTF-ELCAC
Published May 1, 2021, 3:26 PM by Martin Sadongdong National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. made a promise on Saturday, May 1, that he will look into the Senate’s call for the removal of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. as a spokesperson of the government’s anti-insurgency task force.
Senators Panfilo Lacson and Franklin Drilon have insisted that the designation of Parlade, commander of the military’s Southern Luzon Command (SoLCom), as a spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), a civilian position, violates the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
“Mayroon nga silang panukala na i-censure na nga nila si Gen. Parlade, ngayon pinapatanggal nila na spokesperson. Mayroon kaming usapan niyan ni Sen. Lacson na titignan ko (They [senators] have a resolution that censures Gen. Parlade, and now they want him out as a spokesperson. Sen. Lacson and I have already talked about it and I will look into it),” said Esperon, vice chairman of the NTF-ELCAC, at a virtual “Laging Handa” press briefing.
According to Section 5, Paragraph 4 of the Constitution, “no member of the armed forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations or any of their subsidiaries.”
Parlade’s removal from the government’s anti-insurgency task force was raised by the senators after the military official received backlash for persistent red-tagging, the latest of which was against Ana Patricia Non, an organizer of the community pantry initative in Quezon City.
Non’s food bank initiative, which aims to provide free food and other basic necessities to people affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, was likened by Parlade to Satan or the Devil giving an apple to Eve in the Garden of Eden. He claimed that some individuals allegedly connected to the communist insurgency were exploiting the initiative to expose the government’s lack of support to the communities amid the pandemic.
This act of red-tagging prompted several senators and congressmen to call for the defunding of the NTF-ELCAC so that their budget could be realigned to the government’s pandemic response. Senators also made a resolution to censure Parlade for calling them “stupid” over the defunding calls. In response, Esperon said he was preparing a letter that he will personally bring to the senators, particularly to Senate President Vicente Sotto III to answer Drilon and Lacson’s calls for Parlade’s removal.
“Mayroon akong sagot sa kanila kaya nga lang hindi ko sasabihin dito dahil mayroon akong ginagawang sulat (I have an answer to them but I will not reveal it now because I am making a letter),” Esperon said,
“Dadalhin ko ‘yung sulat sa Senate President kasi si Senate President napaka-supportive sa programs ng national security. Dadalhin ko din ‘yon kay Senator [Ronald] Bato [dela Rosa] dahil hindi siya pumipirma sa pag-call ng resignation or pag-alis kay Gen. Parlade. May mga kakausapin din akong senador dyan sa sulat tungkol dyan (I will bring the letter to Senate President because the Senate President is supportive of our programs in the national security. I will also bring it to Senator Bato because he did not sign the [petition] calling for the resignation or removal of Gen. Parlade. I will also talk to some senators in my letter to discuss the issue),” he added.
Asked how long will it take for him to review the calls for Parlade’s removal at the NTF-ELCAC, Esperon said they did not impose a deadline on themselves.
“Pabayaan niyo kami, dahil wala kaming deadline na ibinigay sa sarili namin. Ang objective namin paano mabigyan ng karampatang tugon ang sentiments ng Senado at sasabihin din namin ang aming tugon dahil nadadamay ‘yung pondo ng NTF-ELCAC (Let us be because we did not give a deadline to ourselves. Our objective is to give a prompt response to the sentiments of the Senate and we will also air our side because the budget of the NTF-ELCAC is being affected),” he said.
He also reiterated that the NTF-ELCAC was not engaged in red-tagging or the malicious linking of individuals or organizations that are critical of the government to a communist or terrorist movement.
He blamed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. “Joma” Sison for allegedly identifying the personalities and groups that are considered as affilliates of the communist movement.
“We are not red-tagging them, we are just informing them of their relations to the CPP – NPA [New People’s Army] – NDF [National Democratic Front],” Esperon said.
“Kaya sila galit kay Gen. Parlade dahil ngayon lang nabubunyag ‘yung kanilang relations with the CPP-NPA-NDF (They are mat at Gen. Parlade because it is only now that their relations to the CPP- NPA-NDF are being uncovered),” he added. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/esperon-vows-to-review-senates-calls-for-parlades-removal-from-ntf- elcac/ Esperon says consulting se nators amid calls to censure, remove Parlade Angela Coloma, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 01 2021 01:50 PM
Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade speaks to the media at the Department of Justice building in Quezon City Hall on Aug. 15, 2019 after rights group, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, filed their counter affidavits on the perjury case filed by the NSA. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA— National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said he is currently consulting with some senators, as some members of the chamber appealed for the censure and sacking of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade as spokesperson of the country's anti-insurgency task force.
This followed his remarks linking some legislators and private individuals to communist groups, even calling senators "stupid."
In a public press briefing, Esperon said he has coordinated with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who earlier urged him to look at constitutional provisions vis-a-vis Parlade's appointment.
Lacson had said an active member of the military like Parlade is barred from holding a civilian post, such as his role in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTC- ELCAC).
Esperon also wants to send a letter addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III. He also wished to consult Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on the matter.
These senators have expressed support for the controversial Anti-Terror Act - which led to the crafting of the NTF-ELCAC— but there have been fears among local and international rights groups that this may be abused by officials.
"May ginagawa akong sulat na dapat kahapon ko matatapos pero dahil may bagong development ibibigay ko 'yon kay Senate president. Dadalhin ko rin yon kay Sen. Bato, dahil hindi siya pumipirma sa call of resignation. May mga kakausapin din akong senador sa sulat tungkol sa subject," Esperon said, adding that the letter won't be publicized.
(I am currently writing a letter. Originally, I planned to finish this yesterday but since there is a new development I will give this to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. I will also bring this to Sen. Bato because he did not sign on the call of resignation. I will also talk to other senators about the subject.)
Several senators earlier pushed to defund NTF-ELCAC for 2022 as Parlade accused some community pantry organizers of being communist supporters.
They also urged Malacañang to remove Parlade from the office after he likened a community pantry organizer's efforts to "Satan giving apple to Eve."
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon later released a resolution denouncing Parlade's remarks, with a mix of opposition and pro-administration senators backing the move. Sotto had also urged the national government to defund NTF-ELCAC anew, if they were not going to remove Parlade from the post.
Asked about a timeframe, Esperon, who sits as the NTF-ELCAC vice chair, said his office was more focused on answering the sentiments of senators, adding that they are also pursuing legal remedies to study the matter.
"Wala naman kaming deadline na binigay sa sarili namin. Ang objective namin ay kung paano mabigyan ng karampatang tugon ang sentiments ng senado at sasabihin din namin ang aming tugon dahil parang nadadamay 'yung pondo ng NTF-ELCAC daw," Esperon said.
(We do not have a deadline for ourselves. Our objectives at the moment are centered on how we can promptly answer the sentiments of the Senate. We will eventually give our stance because they are saying that the funds for the NTF-ELCAC are being affected.) https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/01/21/esperon-says-consulting-senators-amid-calls-to-censure- remove-parlade
Esperon dares lawmakers: Defund NTF-ELCAC, allow insurgency to thrive
Published May 1, 2021, 3:18 PM by Martin Sadongdong National Security Adviser (NSA) Hermogenes Esperon Jr. challenged senators and congressmen on Saturday, May 1, to defund the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) if they want the national government’s anti- insurgency efforts to go to waste.
Esperon, vice chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC, emphasized that nothing good will come out from the calls of several lawmakers to take back the task force’s budget for the Barangay Development Program (BDP), its pet project.
“Itong problema ng CPP-NPA [Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army] ay 53 years na. Kung gusto niyong patuloy na mayroong sunugan, pangongotong, at pagpatay sa countryside eh ‘di kalimutan na niyo itong anti-insurgency, itong NTF-ELCAC para magkagulo na talaga (The problems brought by the CPP NPA have been on-going for 53 years already. If you want the burning, extortion, and killings in the countryside to continue, forget this anti-insurgency [campaign] and the NTF-ELCAC so all hell breaks loose),” Esperon said at a virtual “Laging Handa” press briefing.
Several senators and congressmen have called for the realignment of the NTF-ELCAC’s P19.2-billion budget to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response after two of the task force’s spokespersons were accused of red-tagging organizers of the community pantry intiative that aim to help the individuals affected by the pandemic.
But Esperon argued that defunding the task force would mean the cancellation of the BDP which aims to bring development projects in 822 barangays that are former guerilla bases but have been cleared of communist influence by government forces from 2016 to 2019. Of the entire NTF-ELCAC budget, P16.5 billion is allotted for the BDP.
Under the BDP, a “cleared” barangay is entitled to P12-million worth of development projects which include the establishment of farm-to-market roads, water system, school facilities, health centers, electrification, evacuation centers, and livelihood projects.
“‘Yun ang ating Barangay Development Program na gustong ipa-defund ng senado, mga ibang senador at ibang congressmen. Karamihan sa mga congressmen na ayaw niyan ay ‘yung may simpatiya sa NPA (This is our Barangay Development Program that some senators and congressmen want to defund. Most of the congressmen who don’t want this are sympathizers of the NPA),” Esperon claimed. The issue of the budget defunding was floated after NTF-ELCAC spokespersons Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy received backlash for red-tagging Ana Patricia Non, one of the organizers of the community pantry initiative in Quezon City. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/esperon-dares-lawmakers-defund-ntf-elcac-allow-insurgency-to-thrive/
Nagpakilalang opisyal ng NPA sumuko sa Davao City ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 01 2021 08:53 PM
Kuha ng RPSB 5.
Isang opisyal umano ng New People’s Army (NPA) ang sumuko sa mga awtoridad sa Davao City.
Kinilala ang rebelde na si Benjielito Polistico alyas "Ben," 39 taong gulang na taga Purok 7-B, Sitio Sicao, Brgy. Tamayong, Calinan District na sumuko sa Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) Cluster 5 pasado alas-otso ng gabi, Biyernes.
Ayon kay PLt. Rizalito Clapiz III, team leader ng RPSB Cluster 5, si Polistico ay logistic officer ng Guerilla Front 54 Pulang Bagani Command 3 na saklaw ang North Cotabato, Bukidnon.
“Boluntaryo siyang sumuko para magbagong buhay lalo na at sumuko na rin ang ilan s akanyang mga kasamahan,” ani Clapiz.
Naengganyo din umano si Polistico na sumuko dahil naniniwala siyang seryoso ang mga pulis sa pagtulong sa mga tulad niya upang mag balik loob sa gobyerno, ayon sa pahayag ng RPSB.
Bitbit ni Polistico sa pagsuko ang kanyang Magnum Cal .357 Revolver at bala.
Nangako naman ang mga pulis na tutulungan si Polistico sa pagbabagong buhay, pati na seguridad niya at kaniyang pamilya. -- Mula sa ulat ni Francis Magbanua https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/01/21/nagpakilalang-opisyal-ng-npa-sumuko-sa-davao-city
Ina ng Maginhawa community pantry organizer, di maiwasang mag-alala sa anak ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 01 2021 01:11 PM MAYNILA - Naging maugong na kakambal ng community pantry ang pangalan ni Ana Patricia Non, ang nag- umpisa ng inisyatibong nagbibigay ng libreng pagkain sa mga nangangailangan ngayong panahon ng pandemic.
Ang naturang inisyatibo ay umusbong na rin sa maraming lugar hindi lang sa kalakhang Maynila.
Para sa ina ni Non na si Zena Bernardo, habang proud sa kanyang anak ay hindi nito maaalis ang pag-aalala, lalo na ng lumutang ang isyung red tagging laban dito.
“Nag-post ako last 2 days ago na sabi ko please allow me a moment of weakness. Normal lang naman ito and I am really worried. But then mas worried si Patricia, and mas worried kami doon sa iba,” ayon kay Bernardo.
Kuwento ni Bernardo sa TeleRadyo na hindi nila inakalang magba-viral ang simpleng community pantry ng anak na magiging inspirasyon din para sa iba na magtayo ng parehong inisyatibo sa kanila-kanilang lugar.
“Kinikilabutan nga ako nung nakita ko 'yung sa East Timor and we know kung gaano kahirap ang situation sa East Timor and then Myanmar and I’ve also seen some in Thailand,” sabi ni Bernardo.
Pakiusap naman niya sa anak na magbigay ng panahon para tutukan din ang sarili.
“Patreng, I know you are very, very tired. I know you are absorbing a lot of bad energies and good energies, as well. I know you feel that you need to help everyone. Patreng, there’s only so much that you can do and you are doing so much. Please, be kind din to yourself na hindi mo kaya lahat. Andito naman kaming lahat. It’s ok to take a pause, people will understand. Mahal na mahal ka namin and we're so proud of you,” mensahe ni Bernardo sa anak.
Ayon kay Bernardo, higit 1,000 na ang community pantries na nakatayo sa ilang mga lugar sa Pilipinas.
“Sa lahat po ng pumipila we hear you po. Naririnig namin kayo. Naiintindihan namin 'yung sitwasyon,” sabi niya.
Hindi naging madali ang pinagdanaan ng anak sa pagtatayo ng community pantry na layon lamang makatulong sa mga taong apektado ng pandemya lalo na’t naging biktima siya at mga kasama ng red tagging.
Pero sa kabila nito, tiniyak niya na patuloy silang makikipagtulungan sa gobyerno, sa local government unit, at civil society organizations sa pagtugon sa pandemya.
“We are part of the solution. We are not part of the problem,” sabi ni Bernardo.
- TeleRadyo 1 Mayo 2021 https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/01/21/ina-ng-maginhawa-community-pantry-organizer-di- maiwasang-mag-alala-sa-anak
U.S.-Japan summit highlights resolve of ‘steadfast alliances’ in securing Free and Open Indo-Pacific IPDForum April 30, 2021 Top Stories 0 Comment
FORUM Staff
-Pacific region and Seven decades after it was forged, the “unwavering” alliance between Japan and the United April 2021 summit. States endures as “a cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo around the world,” the nations’ leaders said during their
Highlighting the relationship’s importance, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was inauguration in January 2021. the first foreign leader to visit U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House since the latter’s according to a White House transcript. “The United States is Japan’s best friend,” Suga told reporters after the April 16 meeting, values, such as freedom, democracy and human rights. Our alliance has served its role as “Japan and the U.S. are allies that share universal the foundation of peace and stability for the Indo- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden hold a news Pacific region and the world.” (Pictured: conference outside the White House following their summit April 16, 2021.)
The meeting encompassed a range of topics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, technological innovation, North Korean denuclearization, the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) aggressive activities in the East and South China seas and Taiwan Strait, and the PRC’s human rights abuses in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region. “Japan and the committed to defending and advancing our shared values, including human rights and United States are two strong democracies in the region, and we’re committed — we’re President Biden said. — Comingthe rule amidof law,” growing unease across the Indo-
Pacific over the PRC’s destabilizing behavior, expansionism. The joint statement issued aft nothing less than a complete the meeting served as a robust rejection of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) re-imagining of the U.S.- er the summit “is Asia at the Center for American Progress, wrote in an April 20 commentary for The Japan Japan partnership for a new era,” Tobias Harris, senior fellow for Times newspaper. antly, for the first time, the two governments explicitly identified China as the
“Most import preeminent challenge facing their alliance,” Harris wrote. “Whereas past statements had alluded to maritime security threats and the need to uphold a rules-based international order, the new inconsistent with the international rules- joint statement called out China by name, enumerating ‘activities that are The summit capped a series of interactionsbased by top order.’” officials from the two longtime allies, including a March 2021 visit to Japan by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for meetings with Suga, Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi.
Days before the White House summit, Kishi met in Tokyo with Adm. Philip Davidson, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), where they agreed to deepen by a video teleconference between Japan Chief of Staff Adm. Hiroshi Yamamura and U.S. security ties to counter the PRC’s maritime assertiveness. That was followed 24 hours later Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday to discuss interoperability and deterrence, according to USINDOPACOM. Both navies participated in the La Perouse 2021 exercise in the Indian Ocean in April 2021, which also included the navies of Australia, France and India.
In addition to the PRC’s building of military fortifications on reclaimed land in the disputed territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which are waters of the South China Sea, Chinese vessels have repeatedly intruded into Japan’s administered by Japan but claimed by China. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) announced in mid-April that it would hold a joint drill in Japan with the French Army and U.S. Marine Corps, possibly by May 2021, The Japan Times reported. The JGSDF also said it will conduct nationwide exercises involving all its units to bolster deterrence, the first such drills since 1993, according to the newspaper. tional public opinion, according to a recent Ministry of Foreign Affairs survey. Nearly 70% of respondents called for the Japan’s increased military readiness activities reflect na waters, The Japan Times reported. government to take a strong stance against Chinese incursions in Japan’s territorial Suga and President Biden left no doubt as to the resolv a Free and Open Indo-Pacific for generations to come. e of “steadfast alliances” in ensuring our regional vision; that our partnership fuels a sustainable global economic recovery, after “Together, we will ensure that our security relationship is steadfast, despite challenges to a year of global grief and hardship; and that we cooperate with like-minded partners around the world to lead a rules-based international order, despite challenges to its freedom and openness, https://ipdefenseforum.com/2021/04/u-s-japan-summit-highlights-resolve-” the leaders’ statement said. of-steadfast-alliances-in- securing-free-and-open-indo-pacific/
Biden administration sets new North Korea policy of ‘practical’ diplomacy
ReutersNandita Bose 3 minute read
1/5 General view of a military parade to commemorate the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea January 14, 2021 in this photo supplied by North Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS
President Joe Biden has settled on a new approach to pressuring North Korea to give up nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that will explore diplomacy but not seek a grand bargain with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the White House said on Friday.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters on Air Force One that U.S. officials had completed a months-long review of North Korean policy.
Complete denuclearization of North Korea remains the goal, she said, but she noted that the past four presidents had been unable to get Pyongyang to forswear nuclear weapons.
The Biden policy attempts to strike a middle ground between the policy pursued by Biden's most recent predecessors.
Republican Donald Trump held three summit meetings with Kim but achieved no breakthrough other than a pause in nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests that has lasted since 2017. Democrat Barack Obama refused serious diplomatic engagement with North Korea absent any steps by Pyongyang to reduce tensions.
"Our policy will not focus on achieving a grand bargain, nor will it rely on strategic patience," Psaki said.
Instead, the United States will pursue a "calibrated practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with" North Korea and making "practical progress" that increases the security of the United States and its allies, she said.
North Korea, so far, has refused diplomatic entreaties from the Biden administration. Pyongyang wants the United States and its allies to lift economic sanctions imposed over its weapons programs.
Psaki did not provide details of what the administration's next step might be beyond discussions with allies. Biden met Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga two weeks ago and is to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in on May 21 at the White House.
The United States had consulted with South Korea throughout the policy review process and Washington had informed Seoul of its conclusions in advance, the South Korean foreign ministry said.
"The two countries will discuss the direction of North Korea policy at the scheduled summit and meeting of foreign ministers in May and continue cooperation to have the North Korea-U.S. talks resumed shortly."
Jenny Town, director of 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea monitoring program, sad the broad strokes of the Biden policy sound good so far.
"But the details will matter greatly to assessing how successful the administration might be with this 'new approach.' Not sure there’s much to say until we see more," she said.
There are ongoing concerns that North Korea might return to testing of nuclear devices. North Korea launched two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea near Japan in March.
The White House did not say whether it will offer concessions to get North Korea to return to talks. The Biden administration has simultaneously signaled a hard line on human rights, denuclearization and sanctions, while making diplomatic overtures that officials say have been rebuffed by Pyongyang, which has long demanded sanctions relief.
On April 15, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius quoted a senior administration official as saying the likelihood of North Korea giving up nuclear weapons right now was “close to zero” and the administration was seeking interim “way stations,” such as halting weapons proliferation and checking North Korea’s development of new delivery systems like submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/biden-administration-has-completed-north-korea-policy- review-white-house-2021-04-30/
US searches for North Korean reset after ending policy review
Pyongyang hits back, saying Biden shows hostile intentions
U.S. President Joe Biden and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un: The Biden administration's policy toward Pyongyang will not focus on achieving a "grand bargain" on denuclearization, the White House says. (Source photos by Reuter and KCNA via Reuters)
TSUYOSHI NAGASAWA and YOSUKE ONCHI, Nikkei staff writersMay 2, 2021 03:37 JSTUpdated on May 2, 2021 06:46 JST
WASHINGTON/SEOUL -- The Biden administration has completed its review of past U.S. policy toward North Korea but has offered few clues as to what its approach will be, apart from remaining focused on the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
To continue reading, subscribe today https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Biden-s-Asia-policy/US-searches-for-North- Korean-reset-after-ending-policy-review
Biden bans most travel to U.S. from India to limit COVID-19 spread
David Shepardson 3 minute read
U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday imposed new travel restrictions on India in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, barring most non-U.S. citizens from entering the United States. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive-biden-set-ban-most-travel-us-india-limit-covid-19-spread- 2021-04-30/
US normalizes Taiwan exchanges with unprecedented meeting in France
For the first time in 40 years, US embassy in France invites Taiwan’s envoy in France for a meeting
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By Kelvin Chen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/05/01 10:36
U.S. Charge d'Affaires to France Brian Aggeler (left) and Taiwan representative to France Wu Chih-chung. (Twitter, U.S. Embassy France photo)...
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The U.S. Embassy in France invited Taiwan’s envoy to France for a meeting on Friday (April 30), marking a first since the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979.
Charge d'Affaires Brian Aggeler welcomed Taiwan representative Wu Chih-chung (吳志中) to the embassy for lunch. The two sides exchanged views on the stability of the Indo-Pacific region and universal values, as well as Taiwan's successful epidemic prevention efforts, international participation, and strong economic performance.
Aggeler underlined his support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). He said the two sides should continue working together to maintain stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific region, CNA reported.
Wu thanked the U.S. for its firm support of Taiwan and said he hoped the two sides would strengthen their partnership based on the shared values of democracy, freedom, and human rights. The diplomat added that Taiwan's exchanges with other countries have begun to normalize, and China can no longer prevent the East Asian nation from holding exchanges with countries around the world. Wu noted that beginning with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the U.S. had refused to accept China’s belligerent tactics. Under the guidance of the current Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Washington is moving toward more normalized exchanges with Taipei.
Wu said, “Even without diplomatic relations, working together and looking towards the future is the basic mindset mankind should have in order to progress."
The U.S. Embassy in France later posted a tweet summarizing the meeting. The development follows the Biden administration's announcement in April of more relaxed guidelines for exchanges between Washington and Taipei. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4192062
U.S. State Department calls for Taiwan's inclusion in WHA
05/01/2021 04:30 PM
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CNA file photo Washington, April 30 (CNA) The U.S. State Department has called for Taiwan to be allowed to participate in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA), citing Taiwan's successful efforts against COVID-19 and it assistance to other countries during the pandemic.
"Taiwan's outstanding control of COVID-19 and its donations of PPE demonstrate its strong contribution to global health," State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted Friday.
"Taiwan has some of the world's leading experts in combating this disease, and we need to hear from Taiwan at the World Health Assembly," he added.
The WHA, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), is scheduled to hold its 74th annual meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, May 24-June 1.
It is widely thought that Taiwan will not be invited to the event, due to the objections of China, which views Taiwan as a part of its territory.
In light of the situation, global powers, including the European Union and Japan, have recently issued statements in support of Taiwan's inclusion in the meeting.
On Friday, the World Medical Association, a group representing more than 100 national medical associations, sent a letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urging that Taiwan be granted observer status in the organization. Meanwhile, the Legislature of the U.S. Pacific island of Guam unanimously passed a resolution calling for Taiwan's inclusion in the assembly and expressing thanks for face masks donations and other medical assistance the island has received from Taiwan.
As of Thursday, some 250 lawmakers and senior government officials from more than 50 countries had expressed support for Taiwan's participation in the WHA, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the U.S., senators Ed Markey and Mitt Romney and representatives Ami Bera and Steve Chabot all recently released video statements as part of a global hashtag campaign to #LetTaiwanHelp.
Romney, a Republican, said Tuesday that Taiwan's participation in the meeting was a matter of "critical" importance, as its exclusion would benefit China in its efforts to "strategically isolate Taiwan from the global community."
Markey, a Democrat, warned that the WHO's "one-China" policy "must not be used as a bludgeon to shut out Taipei from saving lives and economies from disease."
Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China, was expelled from the WHO in 1972 after losing its seat in the United Nations when the U.N. switched recognition to the People's Republic of China.
Taiwan participated in WHA events as an observer from 2009 to 2016 under the designation "Chinese Taipei," when relations between Beijing and Taipei were warmer under the Kuomintang administration at that time.
Since 2017, however, Taiwan has been excluded from the WHA due to opposition from China, which has taken a hard line against President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) because of its advocacy of Taiwan's sovereignty as an independent state.
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202105010008
Taiwan's foreign minister calls Chinese expansionism threat to democracy
Joseph Wu calls on world's democracies to stand 'united and stronger' with Taiwan against China
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By Kelvin Chen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/05/01 12:12
Sedona Forum 2021 (McCain Institute photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) warned at an online forum the expansion of Chinese authoritarianism poses a threat to global democracy.
Wu was speaking in an interview on Friday (April 30) at the Sedona Forum 2021, which was themed “Defending Democracy.” It was organized by the Washington D.C.-based McCain Institute, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.
The foreign minister said that China’s authoritarian expansion poses a threat to global democracy. He added that China is spearheading disinformation campaigns that are intended to create chaos and distrust in democratic societies.
Wu also pointed out that Taiwan's thriving democracy contrasts sharply with the oppressive communist regime. “The more Taiwan’s democracy flourishes, the more insecure Beijing becomes,” he said.
Wu said that in the face of Chinese pressure, Taiwanese will continue to defend democracy, freedom, and national sovereignty. He then called on like-minded countries and partners to stand with Taiwan, saying, “This is the only way to send a clear message that the international community of democracies is united and stronger than ever.”
This year’s forum invited prominent political figures including Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4192149
Chip shortage to continue into fall: TSMC boss Speaking to CBS correspondent Leslie Stahl on 60 Minutes, Dr. Mark Liu says chipmaker is striving to make up shortfall
By DAVE MAKICHUKMAY 2, 2021
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co chairman Mark Liu speaks at a Taiwan trade show in Taipei on Sept. 23 last year. Photo courtesy Taipei Times.
In an exclusive CBS interview with Dr Mark Liu, Chairman of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the head of the world’s largest chipmaker said the ongoing shortage of semiconductors could last several more months, until year’s end or possibly early 2022.
Liu spoke to correspondent Lesley Stahl remotely from TSMC headquarters in Hsinchu, Taiwan, in his first television interview, airing Sunday on 60 Minutes.
The chip shortage, which has forced carmakers to idle plants and workers throughout the country, has underscored the US reliance on chip manufacturing in Asia.
It has revealed how fragile the global supply chain of chips can be, and its inability to react to a sudden surge in demand, CBS reported.
TSMC is the world’s most advanced chip manufacturer. It makes the semiconductors that end up in Americans’ iPhones, the supercomputer managing the US nuclear arsenal, fighter jets and most American autos. https://asiatimes.com/2021/05/chip-shortage-to-continue-into-fall-tsmc-boss/
As Drought Worsens Chip Shortage, Taiwan Fights Brain Drain to China
Taiwan, under pressure to alleviate a global chip shortage, is fighting a drought at home and recruitment of its engineers by Chinese competitors.
By Nick Aspinwall
May 01, 202
Credit: PixabayADVERTISEMENT
labor ministry has ordered online job boards to remove all listings by Chinese employers attempting to recruit Taiwanese engineers to their Taiwan’s semiconductor firms, an escalation in an intensifying technology standoff as the world looks to Taiwan to alleviate a global chip shortage.
The move comes as Taiwan continues to withstand a historic drought that has threatened the speed of chip production, which requires lots of water.
In an official notice, the Ministry of Labor said it would increase the enforcement of existing laws that prevent Taiwanese job sites from listing advertisements from Chinese firms. The ministry, in the notice, accused China of stealing Taiw technology and poaching its talent, according to the job recruiting website 104 an’s chipmaking Job Bank.
104 Job Bank told Nikkei Asia it was asking clients individually to close their job vacancies in China. The platform said job listings in China had already fallen by half by Thursday night, from 3,774 listings to 1,872, Nikkei Asia reported.
Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month. cars and laptops, and the world is heavily dependent on Taiwanese chip Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain manufactures the chips used in iPhones, production. have hired more than 100 employees from Taiwan Semiconductor Beijing has long sought to break Taiwan’s industry dominance. Chinese firms poached talent from Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek and the technology giant Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest chipmaker. Other firms have Foxconn, often doubling or tripling the salaries of veteran engineers.
The issue is receiving renewed attention as Taiwan faces continued pressure to end a chip shortage that has drastically slowed global car production. ADVERTISEMENT
Taiwan Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua told NPR this week that, although TSMC and other chipmakers are taking more orders from automakers, demand from other sectors will likely ensure the global shortage will not ease in the near future.
pacity and production since old NPR in an interview. “Taiwanese foundries have begun to readjust their ca the beginning of this year,” Wang t Wang also said water supply has returned to “normal” for Taiwan’s April 27, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called for the island to conserve more semiconductor industry as it faces the island’s worst drought in 60 years. On water,especially in the semiconductor hub of Taichung.
Taiwan has ensured that water keeps flowing to its chipmakers during its drought. TSMC has used large water trucks to help store water, and the company is building a plant that would treat industrial water for reuse.
While the wo
rld watches the impact Taiwan’s drought has on its chipmakers, the has shut off irrigation to tens of thousands of acres of farmland, harming water shortage has also harmed the island’s agriculture industry. Taiwan production of crops ranging from rice to lychees.
https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/as-drought-worsens-chip-shortage-taiwan-fights-brain-drain-to- china/
China condemns Washington's 'coercive diplomacy'
TEHRAN, May. 01 (MNA) – Chinese Foreign Ministry says that the US is engaged in 'coercive diplomacy' by threatening countries not to use Chinese products. The US embassy in Denmark threatening to cancel its subscription with a local newspaper if it used Chinese telecommunications equipment is an example of "coercive diplomacy," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday, according to the CGTN TV website
Wang called the news "just another example of the US putting 'coercive diplomacy' into practice," saying Washington "not only maliciously oppresses Chinese enterprises, but also forces other countries to obey its wills, and even demands media outlets of other countries to act under its instructions."
"No one deserves the title of 'coercive diplomacy' better than the US," he said. "While preaching about democracy and rules, the US coerces other countries into oppressing Chinese enterprises," he continued. https://en.mehrnews.com/news/172854/China-condemns-Washington-s-coercive-diplomacy
China's Ruling Party Takes More Direct Control of Colleges, Universities
2021-04-30
Students waving flags of the Chinese Communist Party onn March 23, 2021 in Yangzhou, in eastern China's Jingsu province, as they prepare to watch a movie celebrating the party's 100th aniversary, "The Founding of a Party." Authorities are moving to boost patriotic indoctrination at the university level.
The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is tightening its ideological grip on higher education in the country, ordering structural changes that will allow a far greater degree of party control in the day-to-day running of colleges and universities.
Institutions are now required to ensure that their in-house party committee "exercises comprehensive leadership" over their teaching, scientific research and administration, according to a revised set of rules issued on April 22.
"All major issues should be collectively discussed and decided by the party committee," the "Regulations on the Work of CCP Grassroots Organizations in Colleges and Universities" said.
Party branches should also be set up to guide the work of teachers, researchers on specific projects, undergraduate students and other sub-groups within a university, it said, choosing members with "a strong party spirit."
Their job is to carry out propaganda work and implement the central party line, as decided by Beijing, it said.
They are also charged with "resolutely preventing and resist all kinds of illegal missionary and infiltration activities," it said, in an apparent reference to religious organizations and political dissent.
Full-time CCP staffers should number not less than one percent of the total faculty and student body, with at least one teacher of political ideology per 350 students, it said. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/ccp-universities-04302021083055.html
China's Xinjiang welcomes unbiased foreign visitors: official
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-01 00:38:08|Editor: huaxia
URUMQI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Foreign friends who are objective and impartial are welcome to visit China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, an official said Friday.
Li Xuejun, deputy director of the standing committee of the regional people's congress, made the comments at a webinar, adding that Xinjiang also firmly opposes anyone who is biased or engages in investigative activities based on the presumption of guilt.
The webinar, titled "Xinjiang is a wonderful land," was co-organized by the Xinjiang regional government and the Chinese Embassy to New Zealand. Memetili Turgun, from Bachu County of Xinjiang's Kashgar Prefecture, used to be deeply bewitched by extremism.
"The extremists incite us to sacrifice ourselves to violent and terrorist activities in order to turn humans into demons," he recalled.
His life was turned around when he was persuaded by his family to receive training at a local vocational education and training center. After graduation from the center, he got a job at a real- estate company, earning about 10,000 yuan (about 1,500 U.S. dollars) a month.
"It is the education and training center that has given me a rebirth. I'm very grateful," said Memetili Turgun.
More than 1,200 people from over 100 countries and regions, including officials from international organizations, diplomats, journalists and religious leaders, have visited Xinjiang since the end of 2018, official statistics show. Enditem http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-05/01/c_139918071.htm
Five-point initiative by China demonstrates sincerity, sense of responsibility: China's Middle East affairs envoy
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-30 23:16:37|Editor: huaxia
BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Five-point initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East floated by China shows the country's sincerity and sense of responsibility as permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Zhai Jun, China's special envoy on Middle East affairs said recently.
Zhai made the statement last week on a Middle East studies forum held in Hangzhou, where he was invited to deliver a report.
Unveiled by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya last month, the five-point initiative includes advocating mutual respect, upholding equity and justice, achieving non- proliferation, jointly fostering collective security and accelerating development cooperation.
Calling the five-point initiative question-oriented and far-sighted, Zhai said it reflects China's consideration on regional security and stability.
China will in the next stage enhance cooperation with Middle East regions and states in exploring routes of development, contributing to regional concerns and exploiting the advantages of new development paradigm for better cooperation. Enditem http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/30/c_139917989.htm
China deplores Japan's diplomatic blue book: military spokesperson
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-01 00:04:14|Editor: huaxia
BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Friday slammed Japan for its "extremely erroneous and irresponsible step of hyping the so-called 'China threat'," saying China deplores and opposes it.
In response to the 2021 edition of the diplomatic blue book released by Japan on Tuesday, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian said the blue book maliciously attacks and slanders China and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs.
Referring to the part about China's military expenditure and military strength, Wu said that China follows the path of peaceful development, pursues a defensive national defense policy, and maintains openness and transparency regarding its military expenditure and strength.
China's annual defense expenditure has remained below 2 percent of its GDP over the last 30 years, lower than that of the world's major countries and below the global average of 2.6 percent, said Wu.
The spokesperson said China's stance on maritime issues is consistent and clear, and the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are an inalienable part of China's territory.
He also warned Japan against interfering in the Taiwan question, which falls within China's internal affairs.
Wu urged Japan to view China and the Chinese military in an objective and rational way, and to make constructive efforts to promote the sound and stable development of bilateral relations. Enditem http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-05/01/c_139918041.htm
Chinese FM addresses 10th anniversary commemoration of Pacific Alliance
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-01 16:09:46|Editor: huaxia
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Pacific Alliance via video link on April 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday addressed in Beijing the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Pacific Alliance via video link.
On behalf of the Chinese government, Wang congratulated the Pacific Alliance on its 10th anniversary, saying that China stands ready to deepen multilateral and bilateral cooperation with the Pacific Alliance and its member states, continue to cooperate with Latin American and Caribbean countries in various fields such as combating the epidemic, demonstrate the concept of a community with a shared future between China and Latin America and jointly build China- Latin America relations in a new era featuring equality, mutual benefits, innovation, openness and benefiting the peoples.
The Pacific Alliance was established in 2011 and its member states include Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru. China became an observer country in 2013. Enditem http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-05/01/c_139919251.htm
Japan jolted by magnitude 6.8 earthquake; no serious injuries reported, no tsunami alert ReutersKevin BucklandAaron Sheldrick
3 minute read
People gather around a ticket gate as train services are suspended following an earthquake in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo on May 1, 2021. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8, revised up from an earlier estimate of 6.6, jolted northeast Japan on Saturday, shaking buildings 400 kilometres away in Tokyo and raising the possibility of landslides closer to the epicentre. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/magnitude-66-earthquake-strikes-off-coast-japan-no- tsunami-warning-issued-2021-05-01/
UN fails to agree on Myanmar statement, diplomats blame China, Russia
PUBLISHED : 1 MAY 2021 AT 07:45 WRITER: AFP UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener met with Myanmar junta leader Gen Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of an Asean meeting.
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council failed to agree Friday on a joint statement on the crisis in Myanmar after a closed-door meeting, with diplomats blaming Beijing -- the junta's main backer -- and Russia for raising objections and putting forward their own competing text.
The session was convened by Vietnam to present the conclusions of a recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(Asean) summit in Indonesia. Asean is to appoint an envoy to help resolve the crisis sparked by the Feb 1 coup by the
Myanmar military.
During the meeting, the UN Special Envoy to Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, who is currently touring the region, gave a report on her long meeting with Myanmar junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing, held on the sidelines of the Asean meeting.
Diplomats said the envoy, who is currently based in Bangkok, once again had her request for a visit to Myanmar denied. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2108747/un-fails-to-agree-on-myanmar-statement-diplomats- blame-china-russia
Myanmar protesters march three months after coup; U.N. warns of ‘standstill’
Reuters 3 minute read
Demonstrators carry flags during a protest against the military coup, in Dawei, Myanmar April 27, 2021. Courtesy of Dawei Watch/via REUTERS Protesters against military rule marched in Myanmar on Saturday three months after a coup ended a democratic transition, with several small blasts compounding a sense of crisis that a U.N. envoy warned could bring state administration to a halt. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-protesters-march-three-months-after-coup-un- warns-standstill-2021-05-01/
Myanmar's Suu Kyi marks third month under house arrest
• • Myanmar migrants in Thailand hold up pictures of detained Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a March 7 protest against the military coup in their home country, in front of the United Nations ESCAP building in Bangkok. | AFP-JIJI • AFP-JIJI • SHARE • May 1, 2021 BANGKOK – Myanmar’s deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi completed a third month under military-ordered house arrest Saturday — a period marked by scatter-gun criminal charges and apparent isolation from the chaos engulfing the country. The nation has been plunged into violence since the military deposed the Nobel laureate in a February 1 coup, ending Myanmar’s brief tryst with democracy. The resumption of junta rule sparked a wave of protests and a brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy movement, in which security forces have killed more than 750 people, according to a local monitoring group.
Charged on six counts including sedition and under Myanmar’s official secrets law, Suu Kyi has been denied private meetings with her lawyers.
Instead, she has had only a couple of video meetings that were physically monitored by security officials at both ends, her defense team said.
“We haven’t had the chance up to now to meet to get instruction from our client. Without getting instructions from the accused, how can we defend her?” lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said.
“We are very concerned for the defendant’s right to justice.” Min Min Soe, another member of the defense team, said on Monday that Suu Kyi is cut off from information about the ongoing unrest at the house where she is being detained in the capital Naypyidaw.
“I think she is not getting access to watch news and TV. I do not think she knows the current situation,” Min Min Soe said. Suu Kyi spent more than 15 years under house arrest during previous military rule before her 2010 release and rise to power in elections held five years later. Her international stature diminished following a wave of military violence targeting Buddhist-majority Myanmar’s marginalized Muslim Rohingya community that displaced more than a million people, but the coup has returned Suu Kyi to the role of cloistered democracy icon.
“As somebody who has had an impact on the democracy movement in Myanmar all these years, in that sense, she is irreplaceable,” said Moe Thuzar from the Singapore- based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, a politics and security research center.
“Even if people did not agree with the politics of the National League for Democracy, the way they viewed Aung San Suu Kyi as someone who has led the opposition, someone who has spoken up for democracy in the past, and also, as the child of the country’s independence hero, I think those things count for something.”
Suu Kyi’s NLD party built ties with the powerful military during the years of democracy, but the relationship frayed after November’s elections. The NLD won a landslide but the military called foul and then seized power when the election commission failed to investigate fraud claims to the generals’ satisfaction.
Since Suu Kyi’s arrest 12 weeks ago, the military has deployed lethal force on the streets to try to crush demonstrations and arrested more than 4,500 people.
But the army has been careful to keep her out of sight, even as it has piled up criminal charges — and corruption allegations — against her. Even if she is cut off from the movement, her image adorns posters and banners at virtually every protest, and demonstrators demand her release.
“Mother Suu is old now and she will pass away some time, so we should assume our responsibilities without her,” a 33-year-old activist said.
“As Mom Suu believes in us, we also believe in her again, and we will continue fighting until the winning moment of our uprising.”
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/suu-kyi- myanmar-detain-three-months/
NoKor says Biden policy shows hostile intent, vows response By JOSH SMITH, Reuters Published May 2, 2021 8:11am
SEOUL Recent comments from US President Joe Biden and members of his administration show he is intent on maintaining a hostile policy toward North Korea that— will require a corresponding response from Pyongyang, North Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
The comments came in a series of statements carried on state news agency KCNA, after the White House on Friday said US officials had completed a months- long review of North Korean policy.
In one statement, a ministry spokesman accused Washington of insulting the dignity of the country's supreme leadership by criticizing North Korea's human rights situation.
The human rights criticism is a provocation that shows the United States is "girding itself up for an all-out showdown" with North Korea, and will be answered accordingly, the unnamed spokesman said.
In a separate statement, Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the Department of US Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, cited Biden's first policy speech to Congress on Wednesday, where the new president said nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran posed threats that would be addressed through "diplomacy and stern deterrence." https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/world/785896/nokor-says-biden-policy-shows-hostile- intent-vows-response/story/ South Korea vows to coordinate with US for early resumption of nuke talks with North Korea Posted : 2021-05-01 14:53 Updated : 2021-05-01 17:10
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joe Biden / EPA-Yonhap
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday it will continue to coordinate with the United States to help encourage Washington to resume long-stalled denuclearization talks with Pyongyang at an early date.
The U.S. said Friday it will not seek a "grand bargain" in its denuclearization negotiations with North Korea, but will continue to engage with Pyongyang to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, after the Biden administration wrapped up its North Korea policy review.
"South Korea and the U.S. will continue consultations over the North Korea policy on the occasion of their leaders' summit scheduled for this month and meetings of their foreign ministers," said an official at the foreign ministry.
The official said Seoul has received detailed explanations in advance from the U.S. over the outcome of the North Korea policy review.
President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joe Biden will hold their first summit in Washington, May 21 to discuss the North Korea nuclear issue and ways to strengthen the Seoul-Washington alliance.
Talks aimed at ending the North's nuclear and missile programs have stalled since the second summit between former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February 2019 ended without a result.
The two sides were far apart over the scope of Washington's sanctions relief in exchange for the North's denuclearization steps. Trump held three meetings with Kim, including their historic first summit in Singapore in June 2018. (Yonhap) https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/05/356_308126.html
S. Korea mulls raising travel alert for India amid virus surges
• Home • » • International • » • S. Korea Mulls Raising Travel Alert For India Amid Virus Surges
South Korea could raise the travel alert for India amid a massive spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, the foreign ministry said Friday.
The ministry is considering raising the alert by one notch to "red," recommending South Koreans leave India unless there are essential reasons, officials said.
"We are closely watching the situation in India and reviewing measures and what we can do," an official said when asked about the possibility of raising the travel advisory.
The government has only issued the red warning once over coronavirus fears so far -- for China's Hubei province where the city of Wuhan, the original epicenter of the disease, is located.
The measure was in effect from January to August.
The ministry is also in talks with Indian officials and local air carriers about whether to increase non-regular flights to help South Koreans staying in India to return home, the official said.
Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines, the country's two biggest carriers, plan to provide one flight and four flights, respectively, next month to the South Asian country, to bring back Koreans there. India has reported more than 200,000 coronavirus deaths.
Currently, nearly 130 out of about 10,000 South Koreans staying in the virus- hit country have contracted COVID-19 so far, but the actual number of infections could be higher as the official count represents those collected by the diplomatic missions, the official said.
Meanwhile, the ministry said 14 medical oxygen generators requested by a South Korean residents association in India arrived in New Delhi via a diplomatic pouch.
Another three oxygen generators will be sent to the Chennai and Mumbai areas next week at the request of local Korean residents associations. (Yonhap) https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40000425
Nepal govt decides to close 22 entry points with India amid Covid-19 surge
• The decision comes in the wake of rising cases of Covid-19 infections in India. India's daily coronavirus tally crossed the grim milestone of four lakh, while the death toll rose to 2,11,853 with 3,523 fresh fatalities, according to the date updated by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday. PTI |
PUBLISHED ON MAY 01, 2021 03:24 PM IST
The Nepal government has decided to close 22 border points with India amid a sharp surge in Covid-19 cases in the neighbouring country.
The decision came after the Covid Crisis Management Coordination Committee (CCMC) on Friday recommended to the Council of Ministers to shut down 22 out of a total of 35 border points between Nepal and India, according to officials.
Now only 13 border points between Nepal and India will now remain operational. The decision comes in the wake of rising cases of Covid-19 infections in the southern neighbour.
India's daily coronavirus tally crossed the grim milestone of four lakh, while the death toll rose to 2,11,853 with 3,523 fresh fatalities, according to the date updated by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.
The infection tally rose to 1,91,64,969 with 4,01,993 new cases, while the active cases crossed the 32-lakh mark, the data updated at 8 am showed.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/nepal-govt-decides-to-close-22-entry-points-with-india- amid-covid-19-surge-101619858634206.html
Australia bans arrivals from India, says offenders face jail, fines
ReutersPaulina Duran 4 minute read
1/3 People wearing masks walk through a mostly empty domestic terminal at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, December 21, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo Australian residents and citizens who have been in India within 14 days of the date they plan to return home will be banned from entering Australia as of Monday and those who disobey will face fines and jail, government officials said.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-bans-arrivals-india-says-offenders-face-jail-fines- 2021-05-01/
Policy, Guns and Money: Biden’s first 100 days, Taiwan and biosecurity in northern Australia
30 Apr 2021|ASPI staffASPI podcast
Thurs day in office, a symbolic milestone used to measure the impact of a ne Peter Jennings,day 29 April is joined marked by USBruce President Wolpe, Joe senior Biden’s fellow hundredth with the United States Studies w administration.eas such as theASPI’s response executive to the director, pandemic, climate policy, and the domestic and foreign policy challenges facing the administration.Centre, to discuss Biden’s achievements so far, in ar
Taiwan has been receiving increased international attention recently, partly because of its successful pandemic response but also due to cross-strait tensions. ASPI research intern Elena Yi-Ching Ho speaks to Wen-Ti Sung, lecturer in the Taiwan Studies Program at the Australian National University, about cross-strait relations, the potential for military conflict and whether the status quo is still sustainable.
ASPI analyst Teagan Westendorf speaks to Ruth Wallace, dean of the College of Indigenous Futures, Arts and Society and director of the Northern Institute at Charles Darwin security challenges and the opportunities for Indigenous communities in northern Australia to play a significant role in understandingUniversity. They and discuss responding Australia’s to biosecurity evolving bio threats. https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/policy-guns-and-money-bidens-first-100-days-taiwan-and- biosecurity-in-northern-australia/
No island lost under Duterte gov't, only in Aquino administration, says Esperon
Published May 1, 2021, 4:40 PM by Martin Sadongdong The administration of President Duterte has not allowed even a single inch of the country’s maritime territory to be seized by China unlike his predecessor, the Aquino administration, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Saturday, May 1.
Esperon made the assertion as he criticized retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio to stress the efforts of the government in protecting the country’s interests in the West Philippine Sea.
“Ni minsan magmula noong 2016 ay wala tayong nawawalang isla na kinuha ng China (Not even once since 2016 that we lost an island to China,” said Esperon, also the chairman of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), at a virtual “Laging Handa” press briefing.
Esperon also disputed a claim made by Carpio that the country lost Sandy Cay to China in 2017.
“‘Yung sinasabi ni Justice Carpio na nawala natin ang Sandy Cay, hindi totoo ‘yon. Iyon ay parte ng Pagasa Island na mayroon tayong detachment na military at civilian (What Justice Carpio has been saying that we lost Sandy Cay is not true. This is part of the Pagasa Island where we have a military and civilian detachment),” he said.
“Mali si Justice Carpio, fake news, false news. Noong panahon nila may nawala, ‘yung Scarborough [Shoal] at Mischief [Reef], dahil iyon ay dapat nasa loob ng ating EEZ [exclusive economic zone] (Justice Carpio is wrong, it is fake news, false news. During their time, we lost Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef which are located inside our EEZ),” he added.
Carpio, a staunch defender of the country’s rights in the WPS, was criticized by Duterte last Wednesday for supposedly doing nothing during his time under the administration of former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
“If you are bright, why did we lose the West Philippine Sea?” Duterte asked Carpio, who played a crucial role in the Philippines’ arbitral victory over China in 2016. According to Esperon, China seized Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal) in Zambales in 2012 while the East Asian giant started constructing on Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, located approximately 125 nautical miles from Palawan, from 2013 to 2016.
The Philippines has overlapping territorial claims with several neighboring countries in the South China Sea. Among these is the Kalayaan municipality which is part of the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands) in the West Philippine Sea.
According to Esperon, the Philippines maintains nine detachments in the Kalayaan Island Group, including Pagasa (Thitu) Island, the largest among them, which is located approximately 480 km west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Esperon said China has also put up seven artificial islands in the Kalayaan Island Group; Vietnam claims 21 islands including 14 islands that are included in the Philippines’ EEZ; Malaysia claims five islands; and Taiwan claims one island.
“Hindi talaga libre-libre ‘yan na pwede pumasok anytime na wala tayong magiging kakontra (We cannot really enter it freely whenever we want to without being challenged by other forces),” Esperon said.
“Mayroon talagang dispute kaya nandyan ang pwersa ng Vietnam, China, Taiwan, at may limang isla ang Malaysia (There really is a dispute that’s why the forces of Vietnam, China, Taiwan, and Malaysia with five islands are there),” he added.
However, in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea which is a body of water that is located within its 370 km exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It also invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim which covers about 80 percent of the waters in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
China did not honor the tribunal ruling. Recently, the NTF-WPS said more than 240 Chinese vessels were dispersed in the West Philippine Sea as senators called on the government to investigate the possible destruction of marine environment due to Chinese fishermen’s overfishing in the country’s waters.
To address the challenges in the WPS, Esperon said Duterte has ordered the deployment of various military, coast guard, fisheries, and police vessels and aircraft to assert the country’s claims in the disputed waters. “Pinapagpatrolya natin ang Navy at Air Force ngunit karamihan sa pwersa ay PCG [Philippine Coast Guard] at BFAR [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources]. Lahat ng ‘yan upang protektahan ang territories at upang i-enforce ang fisheries laws ng ating bayan (Our Navy and Air Force are patrolling there ut majority of the forces belong to the PCG and BFAR. All of these just to protect our territories and enforce the fisheries laws of our nation),” Esperon said. https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/no-island-lost-under-duterte-govt-only-in-aquino-administration-says- esperon/
US probes Havana syndrome cases
CIA INVOLVED: US senators issued a statement after reports said more mysterious attacks had taken place in Miami and Washington, including near the White House
• AFP, WASHINGTON
US senators on Friday said that the government is investigating an apparent increase in mysterious directed-energy attacks dubbed “Havana syndrome,” amid new reports of potentially brain-damaging incidents inside the country.
US senators Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, who lead the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued a statement after two media reports said attacks had taken place in Washington, including just outside the White House, and in Miami, Florida.
“For nearly five years, we have been aware of reports of mysterious attacks on United States government personnel in Havana, Cuba and around the world,” they said. “This pattern of attacking our fellow citizens serving our government appears to be increasing.”
The still unexplained attacks have caused sickness and even brain damage in US diplomats and intelligence officials in China, Cuba, Russia and other countries.
Moscow is suspected to be behind them, even if the mechanism for them has yet to be explained. Scientists have theorized that the attacks arise from pulsed microwaves.
Earlier this week, CNN, citing unnamed officials, said US federal agencies were investigating an incident at the White House Ellipse in November last year in which a US National Security Council staffer was sickened.
A year earlier, another White House official reported feeling some symptoms while walking her dog in the Washington suburb of Arlington, reports said.
Politico on Friday reported that government investigators are examining a suspected attack on US personnel in Miami last year.
Those affected experience similar symptoms reported in the original case affecting US diplomats in Havana in 2016.
Since the first attacks were reported in Cuba, and after that in China, scientists and doctors have debated the causes and effects, without a uniform conclusion.
CNN said that some members of the US Congress had been informed of the more recent incidents in closed-door intelligence briefings. Neither the White House nor US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines denied the reports when questioned this week.
Haines told the US Senate Committee on Armed Services that she could not discuss the issue openly because it involved classified information.
Warner and Rubio said they welcomed renewed investigation by the CIA into the incidents, adding that it was important “to better understand the technology behind the weapon responsible for these attacks.”
“Ultimately we will identify those responsible for these attacks on American personnel and will hold them accountable,” they said. https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2021/05/02/2003756707
Defense secretary says intregrated deterrence is cornerstone of us defense
A P R I L 30, 2021 | BY C. TODD LOPEZ , D O D N E W S Deterrence has always been the first line of defense. Preventing conflict, when possible, is greater than engaging, said the secretary of defense.
"The cornerstone of America's defense is still deterrence, ensuring that our adversaries understand the folly of outright conflict," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in Hawaii Friday during a change of command ceremony for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
"Throughout American history, deterrence has meant fixing a basic truth within the minds of our potential foes: And that truth is that the costs and risks of aggression are out of line with any conceivable benefit," Austin said.
But Austin said that, going forward, deterrence must be different from what it has been in the past, characterizing a new approach as "integrated deterrence."
"To make that clear today, we'll use existing capabilities, and build new ones, and use all of them in networked ways hand in hand with our allies and partners," he said. "Deterrence still rests on the same logic but it now spans multiple realms, all of which— must be mastered to ensure our security in the 21st century. — Integrated deterrence, Austin said, includes having the best weapons systems and the latest technologies that make adversaries think twice. This includes development of tools that make use of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, for example.
Integrated deterrence also includes new concepts of operation, the elimination of stovepipes between services and their capabilities, and coordinated operations on land, in the air, on the sea, in space and in cyberspace.
"We can't predict the future," Austin said. "What we need is the right mix of technology, operational concepts and capabilities all woven together and networked in a way that is so credible, flexible and so formidable that it will give any adversary pause. We —need to create advantages for us and dilemmas for them." https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2592149/defense-secretary-says-integrated- deterrence-is-cornerstone-of-us-defense/
S defence in face of emerging cyber and space threats Pentagon chief seeks ‘new vision’ for U • Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin did not mention China or North Korea but said the next war the US fights will look very different from previous ones • He emphasised the Biden administration’s promise to put diplomacy first with the military maintaining deterrence
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin speaks at the U.S Indo-Pacific Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam west of Honolulu. Photo: AP
In his first major speech as Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austi for Americandefence in the face of emerging cyber and space threats and the prospect of fighting bigger wars.Reflecting President Joe Biden’s promise nto on put Friday diplom calledacy forfirst developing in dealing a with “new foreign vision” policy problems, Austin said the military should provide leverage that diplomats can use to prevent conflict. His comments suggested a contrast with what critics call the militarisation of US foreign policy in recent decades. employs all of o “US military isn’t meant to stand apart, but to buttress US diplomacy and advance a foreign policy that ur instruments of national power,” Austin said. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3131868/pentagon-chief-seeks-new- vision-us-defence-face
Next major war will be 'very different,' U.S. defense secretary says
• • Lloyd Austin | POOL / VIA REUTERS • REUTERS
• SHARE • May 1, 2021 WASHINGTON The United States needs to prepare for a potential future conflict bearing little resemblance to “the old wars” that have long consumed the Pentagon, Defense Secretary– Lloyd Austin said Friday in his first significant policy speech. Austin called for harnessing technological advances and better integrating military operations globally to “understand faster, decide faster and act faster.”
“The way we fight the next major war is going to look very different from the way we fought the last ones,” Austin said during a trip to the Hawaii-based U.S. Pacific Command.
Austin did not explicitly mention rivals like China or Russia. But his remarks came as the United States starts an unconditional withdrawal from Afghanistan on orders from President Joe Biden aimed at ending America’s longest war and resetting Pentagon priorities.
Austin acknowledged that he has spent “most of the past two decades executing the last of the old wars.”
Critics say withdrawing from Afghanistan will not end the Asian country’s internal conflict, extinguish the threat of terrorism or make experience from 20 years of counterinsurgency warfare irrelevant, as militant organizations like the Islamic State group spread around the world.
Austin’s remarks did not appear to prescribe specific actions or predict any specific conflict. He instead appeared to outline broad, somewhat vague goals to drive the Pentagon under the Biden administration.
“We can’t predict the future,” Austin said. “So what we need is the right mix of technology, operational concepts and capabilities — all woven together in a networked way that is so credible, so flexible and so formidable that it will give any adversary pause.” Preventing a conflict would mean creating “advantages for us and dilemmas for them,” he said.
U.S. responses could be indirect, he said, outlining a scenario in which cyberwarfare could be used “to respond to a maritime security incident hundreds of miles away.” https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01/world/politics-diplomacy-world/next-major-war-will- different-u-s-defense-secretary-says/
Hicks Says FY ‘22 Budget Will Emphasize New Tech Development, ‘Sustainable Approach’ To Divestitures
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks reacts to the start of her Senate confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C. Feb. 2, 2021. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)
By Matthew Beinart | 1 day ago | 04/30/2021
Also In This Issue:
The Pentagon’s number two civilian official shed some light last Friday on the department’s upcoming fiscal year 2022 budget request noting it will place a focus on developing software and subsystems based on next-generation technologies to power future platforms,… https://www.defensedaily.com/hicks-says-fy-22-budget-will-emphasize-new-tech-development- sustainable-approach-divestitures/budget/
Hack-to-Patch by Law Enforcement Is a Dangerous Practice by Ed Amoroso and Randal S. Milch April 30, 2021
The Department of Justice announced recently that the FBI had unilaterally removed malicious web shells from hundreds of private systems. These shells were the remnants of a major security problem that emerged earlier in March in Microsoft Exchange Server software. Hackers linked to the Chinese government exploited at least four zero-day that allowed remote access to sensitive data. The web shells were left behind to facilitate later exploitation of the infected systems. The White Housevulnerabilities and Microsoft in Microsoft’s urged the code machine owners to patch the various underlying vulnerabilities and to remove the web shells, but not everyone did.
On Friday, April 9, the FBI secretly asked a federal magistrate judge in Texas to issue a warrant allowing the Bureau, without prior notice, to access, copy, and remove the web -premises versions of Microsoft Exchange Server software used to provide enterprise-level e-mail shells from “hundreds next Tuesday, of vulnerable April 13, computersDOJ issued ina pressthe United release States announcing running thaton the operation had been completed. Th service.”successful, The although an accurate and detailed result summary for this hack-to-patch campaign is not available. Much of ethe FBI’s punditry attempt has to been fix these favorab systemsle: The appears action towas have been and a And the positive aspects of this sort of government intervention are o “bold andreduce innovative” cyber risk, and “practicalprovide assistance response fromto a serious experts problem.” to organizations that might lack the capability to protect their own systems. bvious: “Hacks to patch” can close vulnerabilities,
Here, we make the counterargument -to-patch approach is a harmful practice at the enterprise level and that a dangerous precedent has been set. There are many negative technical, security,– andnamely, policy that consequence the FBI’s hacks to the hack-to-patch approach. Moreover, we believe the proffered justifications for this particular government intervention are slight, which leads us to fear more ambitious hack-to-patch operations in the future. From an information security perspective, this is a troubling prospect. https://www.justsecurity.org/75955/hack-to-patch-by-law-enforcement-is-a-dangerous-practice/
China seeks to supplant liberal order: US Indo-Pacific commander
NEW YORK -- Adm. Philip Davidson, outgoing commander of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific, on Friday warned that China is aiming to replace the existing international order with its own, and that the U.S. and its allies must unite to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific. To continue r https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/China-seeks-to-supplant-liberal- order-US-Indo-Pacific-commander
New U.S. Indo-Pacific commander vows to avoid great power conflict
• John Aquilino | REUTERS • KYODO • May 1, 2021 WASHINGTON New U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino pledged Friday to maintain a “free and open” region and provide the deterrence needed to prevent “great –power conflict” amid China’s growing assertiveness. Calling the rules-based international order the foundation for the region to thrive and prosper, Aquilino said during a change of command ceremony in Hawaii to replace Adm. Philip Davidson that the environment the United States and its allies have created for decades is “being challenged.”
“We are committed to strengthening the relationships with our allies and partners across the globe. We are committed to providing the deterrence needed to prevent great power conflict, and should it be directed, we’re committed to be able to fight tonight and win,” he said. Davidson, in his speech, directly mentioned China and warned of its ambitions to expand its influence in the region and its authoritarianism.
“Make no mistake, the Communist Party of China seeks to supplant the idea of a free and open international order with a new order — one with Chinese characteristics, one where Chinese national power is more important than international law,” he said.
“But the strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific is not between our two nations. It is a competition between liberty, the fundamental idea behind a free and open Indo-Pacific, and authoritarianism — the absence of liberty and the objective of the Communist Party of China,” he added.
The remarks echoed U.S. President Joe Biden’s framing of the competition between the United States and China as a clash between democracies and autocracies. The administration has been rallying allies and like-mind countries to counter China’s rise. In Hawaii on Thursday, the top uniformed officers of the United States, Japan and South Korea shared their concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, according to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01/asia-pacific/aquilino-indopacific-command-china/
New US Indo-Pacific Command chief thanks Taiwan Navy commander
Taiwan Navy chief invited to Pearl Harbor ceremony, but not clear if he was present
1553 Tweet By Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer 2021/05/01 20:18
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — When Admiral John Aquilino took over as commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command at Pearl Harbor Saturday (May 1), he thanked Taiwan’s Navy chief, Adm. Liu Chih-pin (劉志斌), CNA reported.
Aquilino succeeded Adm. Phil Davidson, who has been noted for his criticism of China and for warning against the communist state’s rapid military modernization and expansionist designs.
While the new U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, was also present to supervise the ceremony at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, Aquilino issued messages of gratitude to several high-ranking naval officials, including Liu and representatives of South Korea, Japan and Australia.
However, it was not clear whether the admirals, including Liu, were present at the base or had only taken part in a video conference, as the U.S. military did not release any pictures of the guests, CNA reported. In Taipei, Taiwan’s Navy command did not issue any comment on the event.
In his final speech at the end of a 39-year military career, Davidson accused China of trying to “coerce, corrupt and co-opt businesses, organizations and the people of the Indo-Pacific,” Stars and Stripes reported. The American military newspaper added that Aquilino was expected to continue the same hard line on China.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4192418
Davidson, handing INDOPACOM’s reins to Aquilino, takes one last jab at China JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii Adm. Philip Davidson took a parting shot at Beijing on Friday as he ended his 39-year Navy career and handed the reins of U.S. Indo- Pacific Command to the former head of the Pacific— Fleet.
mmunist Party of China seeks to supplant the idea of a free and open international order with a new order, one with Chinese characteristics, one where Chinese“Make no national mistake, power the Co is more important than international l afternoon ceremony that included remarks by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. aw,” he said during an
-opt businesses, organizations and the people of the Indo-Pa Beijing’s approach to the region includes efforts to “coerce, corrupt and co cific,” Davidson said. May 2018, is expected to maintain that hardline regarding China. INDOPACOM’s new leader, Adm. John Aquilino, who took command of the Pacific Fleet in During his confirmation hearing earlier this spring, he told senators the United States needs to bolster funding for the Pacific Deterrenc influence in the region. He also warned that China was increasing its stockpile of nuclear e Initiative to better challenge Beijing’s
Austinweapons told “faster the audience than anyone in socially previously distanced believed.” seating that Davidson had absolutely superb job done “an - — at the helm of this organization.”
“HeAustin is a praised so called Davidson ‘old salt’ for — thethe 40 Navy’s freedom- longestof-navigation serving surface operations warfare conducted officer,” heunder said. his three years at the helm. The missions, in which ships are sent through contested inter shipping lanes. national waters, are intended to underscore America’s support for open access to The operations have been primarily directed toward China and its contested claims of sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. Davidson, who will now retire to a lake home run at Pearl Harbor. in upstate New York with his wife Tracy, spoke of the “symmetry” of ending his long Navy He noted that behind him was the USS Arizona Memorial, a battleship whose sinking propelled America into World War II. Docked nearby is the battleship Missouri, on which instruments of surrender were signed by the Japanese in 1945 to end the war.
https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/davidson-handing-indopacom-s-reins-to-aquilino- takes-one-last-jab-at-china-1.671850 Is The U.S. Navy Watching China’s Aircraft Carrier Too Closely?
The U.S. Navy has been tracking the movements of a Chinese aircraft carrier, and according to multiple reports, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer ended up in the middle of a Chinese navy flotilla.
Various outlets reported that the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, which was being Navy (PLAN) warships, was sailing from the Philippine Sea and satellite images show the U.S. Navy vessel following closely behind. Theescorted images by werefive other shared People’s across Liberation social media Army and showed a Type 054A-class missile frigate, a 052D destroyer, a 055 destroyer and a 901 replenishment oiler The unnamed U.S. destroyer had been following the Chinese carrier since Sunday, April 25. The PLAN warship was on a return voyage to the East China Sea following a month-long deployment to the South China Sea.
The Liaoning had recently conducted naval exercises near Taiwan and followed a low- altitude flight of a Chinese Y- identification zone (ADIZ) the airspace over land or water in which the identification, location, and control of civil aircraft9 tactical is reconnaissanceperformed in the plane interest near of Taiwan’s national airsecurity. defense – https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/05/is-the-u-s-navy-watching-chinas-aircraft-carrier- too-closely/
Navy Could Accelerate Shipyard Infrastructure Plan If Given More Funds
public shipyards faster than planned under a current 20-year plan if given more funding. The Navy’s top official said the service would welcome the chance to renew the it’s four mization Plan (SIOP)
“I believehttps://www.defensedaily.com/harker-navy-accelerated-shipyard-inf that the Shipyard Infrastructure Opti –… rastructure-plan- given-funds/navy-usmc/
US Navy swarm of sea and air drones track down, destroy target
The U.S. Navy successfully destroyed a target ship during a Sunday test of its unmanned sea weapons systems that saw a swarm of unmanned aircraft and sea surface vessels guide a missile to its intended target at sea.
In a Tuesday press release, the Navy disclosed the successful test of its unmanned systems during its Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21 weapons systems tests that took place on Sunday.
USNI News reported the Navy, using a swarm of both manned and unmanned aircraft and surface vessels, the Navy was able to guide a Standard Missile-6 (SM- 6), launched from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG-113), to strike a target more than 250 miles away. The swarm of manned and unmanned air and seacraft guided the missile without using any active sensors. https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/04/pics-video-us-navy-swarm-of-sea-and-air-drones-track- down-destroy-target/
Osama bin Laden shot dead by Navy SEALs 10 years ago today
Ten years ago today on May 1, 2011, Osama bin Laden was shot and killed in Pakistan after U.S. Navy SEALs from SEAL Team Six conducted a raid on his compound in Operation Neptune Spear.
Bin Laden was the founder and first leader of the terrorist group al Qaeda, which carried out the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
He was killed May 2, 2011 in local Pakistan time. For Americans in the United States, the date was May 1 when this took place due to time zone differences.
Then- eath in a 9-minute national address at 11:35 p.m. EST on May 1, 2011. President Barack Obama confirmed Bin Laden’s d https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/05/osama-bin-laden-shot-dead-by-navy- seals-10-years-ago-today/
Marine Corps And Raytheon Test Naval Strike Missile Off Ground Vehicle
Raytheon Technologies [RTX] last Wednesday revealed an image of the successful recent live fire test with the Marine Corps of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) against a sea surface target from a ground system.
Thishttps://www.defensedaily.com/marine-corps-raytheon-test-naval-stri initial test occurred in November and demonstrated… ke-missile- off-ground-vehicle/navy-usmc/
America’s F-35 Fighter Kicked Asia’s Stealth Race Into High Gear
Singapore’s decision to buy F-35 puts it in what China derisively calls the “U.S. F-35 friends circle,” a group of nations that border China that have bought F-35s to counter China’s increasingly powerful air force. by Charlie Gao
Here's What You Need To Remember: Singapore’s decision to announce the F-35 purchase during a series of sea and airspace disputes with Malaysia suggest that the F-35s capability could become a “big stick” that it might wield in the future in regional affairs. In January 2019, Singapore announced that it planned to buy a limited number of F-35 fighters for evaluation purposes. While this didn’t come as a surprise to many Singaporean military watchers, the decision comes at a tense time for Singapore, with China becoming more assertive and rising tensions with Malaysia.
Could the F-35 purchase accelerate the arms race in the region? How might the F-35’s unique technical characteristics make it suitable for Singapore’s tactical environment? In order to understand the effect that the F-35 will have on Singapore’s national defense, it is important to recognize that they are slated to replace Singapore’s advanced F-16 variants. Singapore operates around 60 F-16 Block 52s, which are underwent an upgrade program that gave them more advanced features such as AESA radars. Nevertheless, the Singapore defense ministry (MINDEF) expects that these aircraft will be obsolete by 2030. In Singaporean service, the F-16 serves in a multirole capacity. However, the most recent upgrade appears to have prioritized its role as a strike aircraft rather than air-to-air combat. While some air-to-air missiles are included in the package, they are short range AIM-9X.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/america’s-f-35-fighter-kicked-asia’s-stealth-race-high- gear-184034
As counterterror missions fade, special operations finds time to fix its own problems Meghann Myers
After 20 years of relentless combat operations, organizations are taking a hard look at their mission sets, who is in the formations and how the job treats them.
Special Operations Command has openly discussed its imminent shift from counter-terror to near-peer competition in recent years, but at the same time, another major shift is underway in the military writ large: a new focus on attracting and retaining women in every career field, a renewed focus on preventing and responding to sexual assault and sexual harassment, and the first department-wide efforts to crack down on extremism.
“I present our update to the American people with humility,” Rear Adm. Hugh Howard, the head of Naval Special Warfare Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. “Humility, sharpened in combat losses, mission failures and imperfection. Humility that drives our sense of urgency to learn, to evolve, to come back stronger and even more committed to the missions our nation asks of us.”
Howard’s testimony came the same day his command unveiled a new plan for structuring SEAL units, decreasing the number of platoons and making those remaining larger, as well as an intensive new screening process designed to select for higher-quality leaders.
“We are implementing innovative approaches to directly reach candidates that might not think of joining our team, and how our candidates solve their first problems in the Navy, alongside a diverse cohort to authentically build mutual understanding, empathy, and respect,” Howard said Wednesday.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/04/30/as-counterterror- missions-fade-special-operations-finds-time-to-fix-its-own-problems/
Analysts Question Uniqueness of Hypersonic Weapons Capabilities
5/3/2021 By Meredith Roaten
As the U.S. armed forces plow forward with their multifaceted campaign to develop hypersonic weapons, national security analysts are raising questions about how the new capabilities will impact great power competition.
Hypersonics are a top research-and-development priority for the Pentagon. The weapons are being pursued by the Air Force, Army and Navy.
The Defense Department is pumping billions of dollars into the technology.
Military officials hope to begin fielding the new capabilities in fiscal year 2023.
y to travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 combined with high maneuverability will make it difficult for adversaries to defeat them. Officials have also expressedProponents enthusiasm say the weapons’ for their abilit depressed flight paths, which could delay detection from enemy defenses. They have been touted as game-changing capabilities and the Defense Department officially announced a strategy for accelerating their development and fielding earlier this year.
However, some analysts say the weapons are being overhyped.
Based on findings from the use of computational modeling, a recent study published in the Science and Global Security Journal said hypersonic missiles do not outperform other types of missiles in speed or in evading defense systems.
ersonic weapon performance have arisen from social processes by which the organizations developing these weapons construct erroneous technical facts “Misperceptions of hyp Boost-Glide Missil globalfavoring security continued program investment,” and David said Wright, the report, the former “Modeling co-director the Performance of the program. of Hypersonic es,” by Cameron Tracy, a fellow at the Union of Concerned Scientists’ There are faster ballistic missiles that already exist that could be used in a regional conflict instead of hypersonic weapons, said Tracy during a recent event hosted by the Aerospace Corp. deploy in“When that sawe are thinking about deploying a new weapon technology, it’s useful to compare that not just to what you’re already using, but any other new technology you could Tests of ame maneuverable space,” he said. reentry vehicle mounted on a Trident missile in the mid-2000s showed that ballistic missiles have already achieved high levels of accuracy, he said. Ballistic missiles also do not face the challenges of degradation to the external shell of the weapon that hypersonics systems have to contend with, he added.
-supported, data- supported argument that hypersonic weapons do a ton that a ballistic “Even in the theater use [case], I think there is not yet a strong evidence missile couldn’t — particularlyJeffrey Lewis, a ballisticdirector missileof the East armed Asia with Nonproliferation a maneuverable Project reent atry the vehicle,” Middlebury Tracy said.Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said while the great speeds of hypersonics enable them to outrun missile defenses, ballistic weapons can achieve similar outcomes. Additionally, there are some cruise missiles which can outmatch missile defense systems without solely relying on speed.
Even though weapons developers and other advocates have touted hypersonics as
revolutionary, “it’s unclear to me [that] this will ever be more than a niche capability, in Anotherpart because concern there raised are other by some ways analysts to defeat is thatdefenses,” hypersonic he said. weapons development could fuel an escalating arms race between adversaries.
In addition to the United States, China and Russia which the Pentagon views as great power competitors are also pursuing hypersonics. Jill Hruby, former director of Sandia National Laboratories,— noted that the rapid progression of other— technologies such as inexpensive satellites and artificial intelligence combined with hypersonics technology could encourage competitors to try to outproduce one another.
“We have to think about … what arms races are you creating, versus just are our However,hypersonics analysts better whothan see your great hypersonics,” military advantages she said. in deploying such weapons say stems pose a threat to the United States, and developing them domestically would add a layer of deterrence against would-be aggressors. adversaries’ hypersonic sy Their speed and maneuverability would pose a challenge for U.S. missile defense systems to counter threats from Russia and China, analysts have noted. During a military parade in 2019, China showcased a hypersonic missile known as the DF- had deployed the Avangard hypersonic weapon. 17. Russian President Vladimir Putin reported that same year that his country’s military Rebeccah Heinrichs, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said speed, maneuverability and precision make hypersonics a particularly powerful threat. Those capabilities would make them difficult to track.
ht before it hits and“We havemight an know interceptor when the or launchdefend is.any We other might kind know of active rig defense againstwhat this it’s weapon about to target,” she said. “But if we lose trackhe homeland ... it makes or itU.S. very allies. challenging to close the fire control
Additionally,system that is China headed towards”which wants t to push the U.S. military out of the Indo-Pacific region could use hypersonic weapons to try and achieve its objectives, and U.S. forces must be able to defend their —positions there, Heinrichs said. —
“Clearly, they believe it’s important, which is why they’re investing in it so much,” she said. The“The Pentagon United States has grown has to increasinglyhave a response concerned to that.” about the balance of power in the region. Indo-Pacific Command officials have requested a major boost in funding for capabilities to counter China.
n the region. A U.S. hypersonicsDean Wilkening, arsenal a fellow could at create Johns doubt Hopkins that University’s a Chinese high-spee Applied Physicsd attack Laboratory, strategy would said work,U.S. forces he said. would be vulnerable if they can’t match Chinese capabilities i
ch of a response t “The Chinese are thinking in terms of rapid strikes to defang our power projection Hrubycapability,” said U.S.he said. hypersonics “Currently, could we alsodon’t be have deployed mu against other advo that.”ersaries. Surgical strikes surroundings could benefit from the extreme accuracy offered by the weapons, which could be— usedattacks to attack intended terrorist to damage groups a targetwhile potentiallywith minimal minimiz damageing to civilian the target’s casualties. — on great power competition. Terrorist threats are not going anywhere, she said, despite the Pentagon’s renewed focus in the United Stat
“We have this tendency es to forget the last war … [which is] a war we’re still fighting,” she said. Meanwhile, the U.S. hypersonics enterprise faces supply chain and manufacturing challenges as the Defense Department gets ready to move into the next phase of weapons development, experts say.
Michael White, assistant director for hypersonics in the office of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, said the hypersonics community has spent many years working on research-and-development programs in support of the weapons. However, it is not as accustomed to building such weapons at scale and implementing rigorous systems engineering. requires us to be very, very strong from a systems engineering perspective, as well as fully “We’re talking about developing and flying missiles and weapon systems in a way that February. understand the implications of hypersonics,” he said at an Air Force Association event in
“Frankly, we’ve got a ways to go.” the industrial base until we are routinely
“I’m not going to be satisfied with the health of successfullyMeanwhile, improvementflying hypersonic and weaponsgrowth are in neededour prototype in areas developm such as gentround program,” testing he added. infrastructure, he added.
Because hypersonic weapons fly extremely fast, engineers must utilize large facilities systems hold up, explained James Weber, hypersonics senior technical lead at the Air Force Researchequipped Laboratory.to generate high energy levels to ensure the air vehicles’ thermal protection
“WeThe hypersonicsstill have a ways field toalso go, needs especially to grow in terms its intellectual of capabil capitaity andl. Thomascapacity,” Mahnken, he said. president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, emphasized that the pool of engineers and experts is finite and the Pentagon has been outpaced in this area by Russia and China.
“WeMaj. Gen.let it Andrewslide, and Gebara, we’ve beendirector paying of strategic the cost plans, for let programsting that slide,” and requireme he said. nts, said it is which manages the because of the progress in hypersonic weapons technology. Systemsa “revolutionary” that are in time the toworks be in such Air Force as the Global AGM-183 Strike Air-launche Commandd — Rapid Response Weapon, ornation’s ARRW, bomber and the fleet capability — to put such systems on long-range bombers, are promising, he said. The Air Force is focused on diversifying its hypersonics portfolio in coming years, he said. ot to an Air Force where we were just content with one thing
“It would be a shame if we g Meanwhile,and that’s all officials we did,” are Gebara working said. to “Those collect daysmore are data behin aboutd us.” hypersonics technology through testing. Collecting such information early on to inform programs will allow industry to start the development phase sooner and keep prices down, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Heath Collins, program executive officer for weapons and director of the Air Force Life irectorate.
Cycle Management Center’s armament d he said. “By being able to start faster, you get done faster, and that is always a recipe for success,” https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/5/3/analysts-question- uniqueness-of-hypersonic-weapons-capabilities
Biden leaves China a Xinjiang terrorism problem with US exit from Afghanistan
• With the return of the Taliban and civil war seen as likely threats to a weak Kabul, China faces a security vacuum on its Western borders • Beijing needs to guard against the spread of Islamist extremism, but Chinese boots
Russia on the ground in the ‘Graveyard of Empires’ would ring alarm bells in India and Maria Siow
The complete withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan later this year does not mean China will be able to establish its influence in the region or fill the security vacuum left by Washington, analysts have said.
Instead, the withdrawal and the uncertain security situation it poses, including the likelihood of a civil war, is likely to challenge China’s economic interests in the country and may even threaten security within China’s own borders, in the northwestern Xinjiang region where Beijing is trying to keep terrorism and extremism at bay.
In April, US President Joe Biden said the United States would withdraw its remaining troops from Afghanistan before September 11, the 20th anniversary of the al-Qaeda terrorist attacks.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3131837/biden-leaves-china-xinjiang- terrorism-problem-us-exit
China Expands Disinformation Campaign to Undermine International Xinjiang Outcry
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is stepping up an international disinformation campaign surrounding the mass detention of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in "re-education camps," as world governments accuse Beijing of genocide.
Authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps since early 2017.
After denying the camps' existence initially, China in 2019 changed tack and began describing the facilities as residential training centers that provide vocational training for Uyghurs, discourage radicalization, and help protect the country from terrorism.
But reporting by RFA and other media outlets indicate that those in the camps are detained against their will and subjected to political indoctrination, routinely face rough treatment at the hands of their overseers and endure poor diets and unhygienic conditions in the often-overcrowded facilities.
Former detainees have also described being subjected to torture, rape, sterilization, and other abuses while in custody.
Parliaments in Canada, The Netherlands, and the U.K., and the U.S. State Department, have described China's actions in the region as "genocide," while the New York-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW) says they constitute crimes against humanity.
According to an April 2021 report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), CCP-controlled media are now actively promoting Beijing's claims that the camps are "beneficial," with Chinese diplomats pursuing an aggressive social media and op-ed campaign in a bid to change the narrative in Beijing's favor.
The ASPI report found that state media "were consistently in the top 10
Xinjiang," between 2018 and 2020. Facebook accounts accumulating the most ‘likes’ on posts mentioning "CCP propaganda is also increasingly laundered through Western influencers and denialist fringe media outlets like The Grayzone," the report said, adding that, between December 2019 and February 2021, The Grayzone was cited at least 313 times in Chinese state media.
formation operations are growing in scale and reach," the ASPI report said, adding that China's approach has been to demonstrate "moral equivalence""The CCP’s in between China's actions and those of the U.S.
"The party-state has realized that it needs to speak with a more colloquial ctively shape opinion in the West," it said, adding that the CCP is also outsourcing its propaganda work to companies under the CCP's United Frontvoice ifWork it’s to Department's a aegis, including the Xinjiang-based Changyu Culture.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/disinformation- 04292021122736.html
growing military confidence puts Taiwan at risk
China’sAll-out conflict may not feel imminent, but America is deeply concerned BriefingMay 1st 2021 edition
May 1st 2021 BEIJING
ON JUNE 29TH 1950 the USS Valley Forge, flagship of passed through hangar, and a new vision of American-dominated AsianAmerica’s security Seventh unfurled Fleet, in her wake. the Taiwan Strait. A battle group defended her flanks, America’s first naval jets sat in her cretary of state, Dean Acheson, had declared that launchedOnly a few an months invasion before, of its America’ssouthern neighbour,se and a country confronting communism “Thecould Asian no longer peoples leave are Asia on theiralone. own, America and knowwould it.” fight But with on June South 25th Kore Stalinista. It was North to join Korea in that defence that the Valley Forge was steaming north from Subic Bay.
https://www.economist.com/briefing/2021/05/01/chinas-growing-military-confidence- puts-taiwan-at-risk
A huge rocket from China's space- station launch could fall back to Earth totally uncontrolled
Morgan McFall-Johnsen 9 hours ag A Long March-5B Y2 rocket carrying the core module of China's space station, Tianhe, stands at the launching area of the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on April 23, 2021.
An enormous rocket body is shooting around the planet out of control, and it could fall back to Earth within the next few days.
The roughly 21-ton object is the core stage of China's Long March 5b rocket. On Wednesday, China launched the first module of a new space station the country is building. Instead of falling into a pre-designated spot in the ocean, as is common for discarded rockets, the Long March 5b's core stage started circling the planet, uncontrolled.
The rocket body is likely to fall back to Earth sometime in the next few days, journalist Andrew Jones, who covers China's space program, reported for SpaceNews.
"I think by current standards it's unacceptable to let it reenter uncontrolled," Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer who tracks objects orbiting Earth, told Jones. "Since 1990 nothing over 10 tons has been deliberately left in orbit to reenter uncontrolled."
https://www.businessinsider.com/huge-chinese-rocket-stage-to-fall-to-earth- uncontrolled-2021-5
China’s military commanders come under attack for outdated training
• more powerful automated weapons but instruction of The People’s Liberation Army has adopted lighter and • Military chiefs have to reboot and adapt to lead the youngground generation troops ‘has of not soldiers, kept up’ observer says
Minnie Chan
Automation of weapons systems? Check.
Launch of cyber force to help spot targets? Check.
Cutting-edge combat training for ground troops? Not yet.
It has taken two decades for Liberation Army to fully automate its weapon systems, shifting much of the operational burden from physical grunt to digital technology. China’s People’s Where once a dozen soldiers were needed to fire a rocket launcher, now fewer than half that number are needed to operate much more powerful hardware, according to one military expert.
But training of troops has reportedly not kept pace with the advances in weapons, manders for not adopting a modern mindset to technology. prompting the Chinese military’s mouthpiece to lash out at some com Was China’s military modernisation driven by its ‘humiliation’ in 1996?
In several articles published in the last week, PLA Daily pointed out shortcomings in the ground force’s training system, saying many manoeuvres looked “very tough”, but were “actually distinctly outdated and inefficient”.
“All rivals value and rely on technology [in the modern battlefield],” Zhang Xicheng, a researcher from the PLA Military Academy, wrote in a commentary published on Monday.
“It will be difficult to hit the bull’s eye if we can’t have breakthroughs in training, and do not pay attention to innovative combat.” The article took aim at some army commanders for not having an understanding of technology and how it affected modern warfare operations.
Defence analysts said the criticism comes as the army finishes automating all of its weapon system in pursuit of its bigger goal of turning the world’s largest military into a nimble and capable combat force.
The Chinese defence ministry says the automation target was reached last year as the Central Military Commission also set the goal for the PLA to become a fully modern army by 2027, the centennial of the army’s founding.
How next-generation technology could allow US to fight off mainland Chinese invasion of Taiwan
Macau-based military commentator Antony Wong Tong said automating the weapon systems was part of the shift towards joint operations.
Rather than each branch of the armed forces operating in Soviet-style isolation, they are being asked to work together, connected by the Strategic Support Force (SSF), also known as the military’s cyber arm.
“The PLA ground forces operation system is a mixture of US and former Soviet Union styles, while their cyber force in the SSF has learned almost the essentials from the American army,” Wong said.
One example of the SSF in action was its leading role in integrating the command system of more than 10 ground force units into an early-warning system for the air force in the Western Theatre Command, PLA Daily reported on Tuesday.
“Integration into the air force’s early-warning network system not only allows us to see farther, but also give stronger support for early detection and advance strikes,” ground force company commander Li Bolin was quoted as saying. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3131870/chinas-military-commanders- come-under-attack-outdated-training
China’s new nuclear submarine missiles expand range in US: analysts
• JL-3 ballistic missile can deliver multiple warheads including nuclear 10,000km, navy source says • Naval engineer Ma Weiming charged with improving– the propulsion of Chinese– submarines
Minnie Chan
China’s newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine is armed with the country’s most powerful submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) capable of hitting the US mainland, according to a military source and analysts.
The Type 094A, or Jin-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), was presented last Friday as part of the celebration to mark the
72nd anniversary of the PLA Navy. It was capable of firing the JL-3, or Julang (Big Wave) SLBM with a range over 10,000km (6,200 miles), a source close to the navy said.
“The Type 094A is an upgraded version of the Type 094 that overcame one of the key problems – noise – by improving hydrokinetic and turbulent systems, allowing it to carry the more powerful JL-3,” said the source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
“Before the upgrade, the submarine was armed with the inferior JL-2 that could only hit the northeast United States, but now it’s able to cover the whole American continent.”
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3131873/chinas-new-nuclear-submarine- missiles-expand-range-us-analysts
China sends rescue ships to help recover lost Indonesian submarine
• The defence ministry confirms that the vessels will help efforts to recover the KRI Nanngala 402, which sank last month with the loss of all 53 crew members • Indonesia says it expects three Chinese navy ships to join the international efforts to salvage the lost sub
Laura Zhou in Beijing China is sending rescue vessels to help retrieve the Indonesian submarine that sunk with the loss of all 53 crew members.
Ren Guoqiang, a spokesman for the defence ministry, said late on Friday that the ships had been sent upon the invitation of Indonesian government and they were heading for the Lombok Strait to help recover the KRI Nanggala 402, which went missing last Wednesday when taking part in a torpedo drill.
Citing an unnamed Chinese submarine expert, the state-owned tabloid Global Times said the rescue mission could also help China “study the maritime military geography of the area where the submarine was wrecked, as well as expanding the international cooperation and influence of our navy in submarine rescue and salvage”.
While the statement did not give further details of the ships the Chinese military has sent, the Indonesian Navy Information Service said in a statement on Saturday that three Chinese salvage ships, including a Type 925 rescue ship Yongxingdao, were expected to reach the waters off Bali where the sub was lost within days and would join its counterparts from Indonesia, the US, Australia Malaysia, Singapore and India in the recovery efforts.
On Friday, Indonesian navy chief Yudo Margono said the local authorities were waiting for the arrival of two ships, including one from China, that are equipped to handle deep-sea salvage operations.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3131897/china-sends-rescue-ships-help- recover-lost-indonesian-submarine
Myanmar launches fresh aerial strikes on KNU soldiers on Thai border
The Myanmar military launched aerial attacks on Karen National Union (KNU) soldiers stationed at their camp near Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province. The latest attacks took place at around 10.30pm when Myanmar fighter jets and helicopters attacked the KNU soldiers. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000435
Inside Russia’s Robot Army: Rhetoric vs. Reality
Russia has big ambitions for unmanned systems, said CNA scholar Sam Bendett, but it faces the same technical hurdles as the US — and shares the same concerns about human control.
By SYDNEY J. FREEDBERG JR.on April 30, 2021 at 12:01 PM
Russian Uran-9 armed unmanned ground vehicle WASHINGTON: Russia has created a new robotic combat unit of Uran-9 unmanned ground vehicles, which have been battle-tested in Syria, though with mixed results experimental unmanned version of its T-14 Armata tank, unmanned derivatives of the Cold War. It’sT-72 also and developing BMP-3, and an new long-range drones called Okhotnikand Altius.
quest for battle robots faces many of the same technical and policy problems as the US, said CNA and CNAS scholar Samuel Bendett, andBut Russia’sVladimir Putin is on a much tighter manufacturing useless Potemkin robots for propaganda purposes, but budget. Russia isn’t
Samthey’re Bendett not building the Terminator, either. In many ways, Bendett told me in an interview, the US and Russian military robotics programs are much alike. Both have grand ambitions for highly autonomous war machines; both struggle with the limits of current unmanned systems that require constant human supervision; both worry that future AI might undermine human control.
US officials warn that Russia and China lack the ethical self-restraint of Western nations when it comes to battlefield automation. But, Bendett said, Russian leaders at least sound a lot like Americans in their insistence that a human, not a computer, must make the decision to use lethal force at least for now.
– -like approach with a human
“Russianis said across MOD the statements MOD that point a robotic to a US machine should be never fully firmly in the loop to make the final strike decision,” Bendett told me. “[It] decision-making experience, and therefore cannot match true human autonomous, since it won’t be able to replicate a human soldier’s full
‘intellect.’ ssions, statements and deliberations coming from the MOD and its affiliated intuitions that “Atpoint the to same an ever-growing time,” he noted, role “there for military are official robotics discu in future combat and the almost- — inevitable full autonomy for these machines.” https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/inside-russias-robot-army-rhetoric-vs- reality/?_ga=2.261282510.215360882.1619745917-1889943733.1611096689
Sudan Reportedly Suspends Planned Russian Naval Base in Red Sea
Russia denied the base pact had been suspended.
Sudan has suspended an agreement that allowed Russia to construct a naval base off the coast of the Red Sea, Middle Eastern media reported this week. A senior Sudanese military official said his country had informed Moscow about the suspension, citing the need for thorough review by the parliament. He debunked rumors that the construction of the base already had begun and that Russian aircraft brought equipment to the area.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Khartoum said it has not received any official letter from the Sudanese government regarding the matter, saying the reports “do not correspond with reality.”
“This agreement will enter into force only after both parties ratify it,” the embassy wroteon Facebook. “Since this has not yet happened, all other statements are [wrong] and aim to damage traditionally friendly Russian-Sudanese relations.” The 25-year agreement between Sudan and Russia, signed in December last year, aimed to
“uphold peace and stability in the region.”
The deal would see Moscow establish a “logistical support center” in Port Sudan where “repairs and resupply operations” can take place. Furthermore, the logistics hub would host nuclear- powered warships and would become home to up to 300 military and civilian personnel.
Once complete, the base on the Red Sea would be Russia’s first naval base in Africa. https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/04/30/sudan-reportedly-suspends-russia-naval-base/ U.S. commander warns against attacks on troops in Afghanistan as deadline passes
Abdul SediqiHamid Shaliz 4 minute read
An Afghan National Army soldier sits on a back of an army vehicle at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail
The commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan warned on Saturday it would be a mistake for insurgents to attack foreign troops still present in the country after the passing of a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed last year with Taliban militants. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/kabul-high-alert-amid-deadline-us-troop-withdrawal- afghanistan-2021-05-01/
Taliban set for final onslaught as Biden’s slow retreat begins
President Biden has pushed back the May 1 withdrawal agreed by Trump Hugh Tomlinson, David Charter Saturday May 01 2021, 12.01am BST, The Times
The last American troops in Afghanistan are braced for a final Taliban onslaught as they begin a phased five-month withdrawal next week.
The Islamists have accused President Biden of breaking an accord struck by the Trump administration last year under which US troops were to have left by today. They have threatened to resume attacks on US and Nato troops. The ultimatum comes amid a surge of violence targeting Afghan government forces. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/taliban-set-for-final-onslaught-as-bidens-slow-retreat-begins- lj5863hj3
Ten Years After Bin Laden, We Still Need Better Intelligence Sharing
Leaders should still apply the lessons we learned, when contending with China and Russia.
ROBERT P. ASHLEY |
MAY 1, 2021 08:00 AM ET
It was a typical Sunday afternoon at U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. As the senior intelligence officer for the command, I was at work and we were monitoring the conclusion of an operation in Yemen. As I left the small operations room, I saw Gen. Jim Mattis, the CENTCOM commander, and our operations officer, Vice Adm. Kevin “Kid” Donegan, at the end of the hallway. As I approached General Mattis, he looked at me in a very factual and unemotional way, and said, “We just got bin Laden.”
While we all felt a sense of justice for the nation, we knew the aftermath meant increased risk to Americans globally, our deployed troops, and our partners and allies. Where would al Qaeda strike next? How would they strike? What force protection measures needed to be increased, and where?
As a career Army intelligence officer, with years working in CENTCOM and Joint Special Operations Command, or JSOC, and nearly a decade after 9/11, I knew immediately our ‘indications and warning’ network would be flooded with data in aftermath of the operation. No high-fives — it was time to focus on the task at hand.
That was then. Today, we constantly discuss how harnessing data and applying artificial intelligence will be integral to great power competition. Fortunately, we have a solid foundation to build upon. The last two decades of counterterrorism operations were built on a high-speed, data-driven ecosystem. Initially and largely built under the leadership and vision of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who led JSOC before serving as commanding general of the Afghanistan War, the fusion of intelligence and operations provided a base model for the new era of competition and confrontation.
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/05/ten-years-after-bin-laden-we-still-need-better- intelligence-sharing/173748/
Britain’s Royal Navy Is Sending a Warning to China A Indo-Pacific. Bystrike group led by the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth wants to bring “Global Britain” to the James Stavridis April 30, 2021, 3:00 PM GMT+8
Britain's Navy wants to rule the waves again.
Photographer: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images James Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also an operating executive consultant at the Carlyle Group and chairs the board of counselors at McLarty Associates. His latest book is "2034: A Novel of the Next World War."
Read more opinionFollow @stavridisj on Twitter
COMMENTS Throughout my U.S. Navy career, I loved to operate at sea with the British Royal Navy. U.K. warships were unfailingly well-handled, manned by crisp communicators, and when they needed to be quite operationally lethal. And when you visited them at sea, you could actually get a beer in the wardroom at lunch — —
— unlike onboard our own “dry” ships. In the 1990s, I spent a fair amount of time operating with the Nottingham, a destroyer led by a fellow young commanding officer who went on to be a British admiral and remains a close friend today, Ian Moncrieff. In our North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations conducting an arms embargo off the coast of the war-torn Balkans, his ship was simply the best of the multinational force outperforming my own brand-new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, despite the Nottingham being a decade older. —
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-04-30/u-k-s-royal-navy-is-sending-a-warning-to- china-in-the-indo-pacific Czechia: A Case Study of China’s Changing Overseas Propaganda Efforts How China localizes its propaganda via disinformation outlets in the Czech Republic. By Filip Sebok
April 30, 2021
Credit: DepositphotosADVERTISEMENT
As China steps up its efforts to manage global opinions, it increasingly customizes its message to local audiences, including via cooperation with disinformation outlets.
Notably, as thoroughly explored by ASPI, Chinese media and officials have utilized the coverage of the far-left website Grayzone to discredit reporting on human rights abuses in Xinjiang, singling out German scholar Adrian Zenz for personal attacks.
A similar nexus seems to be present in Czechia. But here, developments hint at Ch ct cooperation with disinformation outlets, rather than just amplification of their narratives. ina’s dire Opaque Cooperation
As covered by the recent report of Czech Denik N, there appears to be some form of cooperation between the Czech version of China Radio International (CRI) and ober 2020, dozens of anonymous articles have appeared on the website of CRI, obviously a prominent Czech “alternative” website, AC24. Since at least Oct written by local Czech authors.
Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month. In most cases, articles first appear on CRI, to be republished shortly after on the AC24 website itself, suggesting that they are primarily written for CRI use. While no author is identified on either of the sites, one can find the name of Ondrej Gersl, the founder and owner of AC24, under some of the articles that have subsequently been translated and published on the Chinese-language CRI website.
After a story on the issue was published in the Czech media, new author names n can suddenly appeared on CRI, listing them as “special commentators of CMG be found about these authors and there is a possibility that they are fake [China Media Group, which owns CRI] in Prague.” However, no informatio personas. Gersl, the owner of the AC24 website, has claimed that he did not write the articles and denied any kind of formal cooperation with Chinese media.
https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/czechia-a-case-study-of-chinas-changing-overseas-propaganda- efforts/
When It Comes to Political Warfare, China is at the Head of the Class
Beijing appears to be engaging in political warfare where it is attempting to fester animosity between foreign governments that show favor to Taiwan, a threat to the long- standing policy of “One Country, Two Systems” with regard to the island. In a recent instance, a fake announcement appeared to be from Taiwan’s Presidential Office on Facebook that asserted that the Taiwanese government intended to accept contaminated wastewater from a Japanese nuclear power plant. A second incident occurred in December 2020 when Taiwanese authorities investigated two Taiwanese with ties to Chinese mainland spreading a similar fake Presidential Office announcement that alleged U.S. and Taiwanese in involvement in protests in Thailand. Though these announcements were ultimately identified and subsequently reported to authorities, the incidents demonstrate Beijing’s continued use of producing disinformation/information in support of its political goals, particularly against Taiwan.
Taiwan has been the subject of a variety of Beijing’s information activities, which have ranged from propaganda, disinformation/misinformation, and cyber attacks. There is some evidence that even suggests that Chin uses Taiwan as a testbed for future activity against other countries like the the United States. In the steps leading up to Taiwan’s 2020 presidential elections, one computer security company found a marked uptick in influence operational-related activity between October 2019 and January 2020. Many of these activities focused on issues intent on dividing Taiwanese society and promoting pro-China issues, not unlike the type of influence China conducted against the 2020 U.S. presidentialelection. In some instances, these efforts are propelled via Beijing’s use of pro-China Taiwan-based media outlets, at least one of which coordinates with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, prior to disseminating messaging. The intent and goal of these efforts are clear: weaken Taiwan’s government, undermine its authority, and weaken public confidence.
https://www.oodaloop.com/archive/2021/04/23/when-it-comes-to-political-warfare-china-is-at-the- head-of-the-class/
The French Strategic Review Update 2021: A Call for Cohesion Among Allies 04/30/2021
By Murielle Delaporte
In the United States, and especially whenever a new administration comes to power, the process of conducting defense reviews is a common practice.
onal Security Strategic Guidance was indeed released last month.
President Biden’s Interim Nati It is however not such a common exercise in the rest of the world, even among Allies.
If NATO regularly reviews its strategic concept like it is currently the case with NATO 2030 it will be the very first time that the European Union will actually adopt what it is calling a during the first semester of 2022. ‘’Strategic Compass’’ Initiated under the German presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2020, such a document will be adopted under the French presidency.
At a time of increased instability, such a development is significative in itself as an effort to promote a
Allies agree with President Biden for the agreements,‘’common strategic and norms culture.’’shared underwriting threat the international assessment and order above the allUnited a common States coursehelped ofto action.establish If all are need to ‘’chart a new course’,’ while ‘’the alliances,in the wayinstitutions it , should be translated into action whenever a crisis occurs. being tested,’’as stated in the March interim document, there are obvious differences Both Germany and France are among the nations traditionally conducting White Papers as a preliminary analysis towards their military programming laws. In 2017 and in view of the aggravation of domestic a White Paper, which would be written by a committee rather than a commission in 3 months and a half rather thanand international a year. security concerns, France decided to opt for a “Strategic Review” rather than
Four years after this first and only strategic review so far, the Macron government decided it was necessary to update the last edition
with a ‘’2021 Strategic Update.” The sense of urgency came from what the French government and outside experts, who contributed to the review in collabo totally left out from a ’disinhibited strategic competition by big powers, but also by emboldened regionalration powers with such some as Turkey allies’ counterparts, and Iran. perceive as a genuine risk for Europe to be ‘ ’’ not only ’Today, the risk of a definitive downgrade, nay even of an erasing of the European continent in world affairs, cannot be avoided anymore forces‘ to the latter last January. ,’ says the official document presented by the minister of the Armed If the assessment of recent French and European efforts in general to catch up with the gap left by decades of benign neglect as far as military expenditures are concerned, is not overly concerning, the current pandemic has brought with– it the ’worst world economic recession– since 1929.
‘ ’’ The major question mark is therefore the sustainability by most European countries to keep up with the surge in military capabilities which had been underway before Covid.
France has decided to pursue both in terms of personnel and equipment such an effort for the duration of the current Military Programing Law 2019-2025 (at least till 2022 of course given the upcoming Presidential elections).
The French ministry of the armed forces indeed just announced on April 15th its decision to accelerate some procurement deadlines in order to help with the post-pandemic recovery with the early order of 8 caracal H225M helicopters. Used by both the Army and the Air Force and in particular by the French special forces, the Caracal is the only helicopter in Europe that can be refueled in flight. The 300 million euros investment is aimed at containing the current aeronautic crisis and sustaining 960 jobs for Airbus Helicopters, Thales, Safran and their suppliers over three years.
Such an effort regarding the respect of the military budget (an unusual habit actually) has a double focus: modernizing both nuclear and conventional forces considered the two complementary pillars of French defense and security policy on the one hand, pursuing what is referred to as a ’complete armed forces model r hand. ‘ ’’ capable of intervening no matter what kind of threat France may face on the othe The traditional ’tous azimuts alarming evolution of the risks now ’at the doorsteps of Europe. ‘ ’’principle seems indeed even more relevant today than ever given the ‘ ’’ From the deconstruction of the international order to new forms of ’muted subversion,”from new imbalances (demographic in particular) to a new global cartography of resources in the making (in part due to climate change) ‘ to the end of taboos in the use of massive destruction weapons whether NRBC (e.g. Syrian use of chemical weapons) or the, from ’end the of “instrumentalization” the classic nuclear codes of migratory of deterrence, flows the (the 55-page way Turkey update did is recently)very precise about the range of new threats high-end or hybrid – terrorism and the risks of new‘ Islamic states popping up in unstable areas.’’ – – joining of course the ‘’old’’ ones, such as Facing also new types of threats in their nature like all Western nations, the French government has been very steady in developing brand new strategies in domains now considered crucial such as cyber (in 2018), space (in 2019), artificial intelligence (2019), long range power projection (associated with a new Indo-pacific strategy also in 2019), and finally energy (in 2020). It intends to pursue investments meant to enhance France and European strategic autonomy in particular in game-changing domains and breakthrough technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
https://defense.info/featured-story/2021/04/the-french-strategic-review-update-2021-a-call-for- cohesion-among-allies/
How a brutal assault led a woman to one of the CIA’s most valuable Russian spies May 1, 2021 Pehal News Team 0 Comments
On a heat day in late September almost 10 years in the past, Lisa Sales was in the basement of her Virginia residence, going by means of information belonging to her former tenant, a man who had simply been arrested and would later plead responsible to assaulting her.
Sales, then in her early 40s, picked up a flash drive in a small glass dish the place she saved odds and ends by the printer. She assumed, she later recounted, that it was hers and inserted it into her pc. Instead, she realized the flash drive belonged to her former tenant, and it contained an funding report itemizing complete property of greater than $16 million, a seemingly inexplicable sum for somebody who had been paying $2,000 a month to hire a basement room in her home.
Her curiosity piqued, she began digging for extra amongst the belongings left behind after he was arrested. She got here throughout a handwritten letter in Cyrillic and different monetary paperwork in the recycling bin.
It had been a little over a week since Dmitry Mikhaylov had attacked her. Mikhaylov, a Russian immigrant attending graduate college, had not instantly struck Sales as a multimillionaire. Now she started to marvel about his actual background. Could he have ties to the Russian mafia?
Lisa Sales. (Alyssa Schukar for Yahoo News)
Even earlier than the assault, there have been some uncommon issues about her housemate. He may very well be sociable however was additionally inclined to moodiness, notably when he drank, generally bragging about a father in Russia who was in some kind of critical hassle, she recalled. He owned a black Mercedes, a flashy automotive for a younger man nonetheless at school, notably since Sales stated he couldn’t legally drive it with out restrictions as a result of of a latest DWI conviction.
There have been different hints of wealth. He was shopping for an costly rental in Falls Church, Va., and she or he’d seen him purchase drinks for a large crowd at the bar on greater than one event. And now there was the matter of the $16 million.
Sales was suspicious sufficient to name a neighbor in the FBI, later following it up with a name and e-mail to the bureau’s Washington area workplace regarding her former housemate’s “suspicious activity” — basically, his entry to a huge trove of cash. The area workplace by no means responded.
Story continues
Unperturbed, Sales started her personal investigation. Over the subsequent a number of years, she pieced collectively paperwork Mikhaylov had left behind, performed her personal interviews and scoured the web for info. Sales ultimately got here to imagine the CIA had helped her former tenant transfer to the United States, and is defending him as half of a authorized maneuver roughly comparable to the Justice Department’s witness safety program. The cause, she argues, is that he’s the son of one of the company’s most valuable property of the previous twenty years.
https://www.pehalnews.in/how-a-brutal-assault-led-a-woman-to-one-of-the-cias-most-valuable- russian-spies/742477/
PMA cautions doctors vs prescribing Ivermectin
Published May 1, 2021, 8:57 PM by Charissa Luci-Atienza
The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) cautioned Saturday, May 1, doctors against prescribing or compounding Ivermectin outside of the five hospitals that have been given permit for the compassionate use of anti-parasitic drug as treatment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The PMA said the current evidence on the use of Ivermectin in the treatment of COVID- 19 patients is inconclusive as declared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Ivermectin must be prescribed and used within the same hospital and the prescribing doctor must inform the patient of this compassionate use category with unproven end result,” it said in a statement.
“The drug Ivermectin may not be prescribed by any physician outside the designated authorized hospital. Its prescription as a prophylactic medicine against COVID-19 [is] strongly not advised,” it added.
The association said the FDA’s issuance of the permit for the five hospitals allows the limited the use of investigational drugs for life-threatening conditions.
“PMA reiterates its warning that FDA already cautioned that manufacture and dispensing of unregistered drugs would be prosecuted as a violation of the FDA Act of 2009,” he said.
The PMA’s statement was issued a day after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must investigate the alleged “token” prescription reportedly given to people during the distribution of anti-parasitic drug in Quezon City.
The DOF chief said prescriptions must contain the name of the doctor who prescribed the drug, their office address, professional registration number of the physician, professional tax receipt number, and the patient’s information.
Anakalusugan partylist Rep. Mike Defensor rushed in defense of doctors who wrote prescriptions for Ivermectin during their “community pan-three” project in Quezon City on Thursday.
“If there was anything wrong with our distribution of this COVID-19 wonder drug ivermectin, we are the ones answerable, not our volunteer doctors and other medical practitioners who just wanted to help our poor people,” he said in a statement.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/pma-cautions-doctors-vs-prescribing-ivermectin/ Sputnik V mini-rollout preparation for more doses in May
Published May 1, 2021, 9:31 pm by Lade Jean Kabagani
The "mini-rollout" of the newly delivered Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V from Russia will not only improve the government's vaccination program but will also prepare implementing units on how to handle the jabs once more doses arrive next month.
The 15,000 doses, delivered by a Qatar Airways flight from Moscow via Doha on Saturday afternoon, will be divided among Taguig, Manila, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and Makati.
(PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)
The next batch of 485,000 doses are expected within May.
“As this is the first tranche of the scheduled deliveries from Sputnik V, we are very excited to roll out the initial 15,000 first doses as we reassess our country’s logistics capability to handle such highly sensitive vaccines with minus 18 degrees cold-chain requirement," said National Task Force Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., in a statement.
Galvez likewise thanked the Direct Investment Fund of Russia and Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Marat Pavlov for personally delivering the first tranche of the vaccines produced by pharmaceutical company Gamaleya Research Institute.
"Despite the shortage in global supply and the great demand for anti-Covid vaccines, the Russian government is committed to deliver vaccines for our country and help contain the ongoing surge in the National Capital Region," he said.
"With these additional doses, we will provide our countrymen with an added layer of protection against the virus, and realize our goal of inoculating 50 to 70 million Filipinos by year-end," Galvez further stated.
The government procured 10 million doses of Sputnik V, which Galvez said may possibly double.
"The Sputnik V doses that will be arriving this month will provide a major boost to our national immunization program, as we simultaneously immunize priority groups of healthcare workers, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities," he said.
Galvez urged anew the public to continue observing the minimum public health standards and community quarantine protocols, while the nationwide vaccination is ongoing.
"Please remember that the best vaccine is the one in your arm. So please get the shot once it becomes available in your area. Let us continue to protect ourselves, our family, and our community. Let us work together to beat Covid-19," he said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138774
PH welcomes Moderna COVID-19 jab's inclusion in WHO’s emergency use list
Published May 1, 2021, 7:30 PM by Charissa Luci-Atienza
The Philippines welcomed on Saturday, May 1, the inclusion of Moderna’s vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
(Manila Bulletin File Photo)
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire cheered at the decision of WHO to include the United States-made vaccine in its list of vaccines for emergency use.
“That’s one of the conditions that there is this EUL from the WHO. Maganda pong balita iyan dahil talaga pong madadagdagan ang puwedeng i-provide ng COVAX facility para sa mga participating countries (That’s a good news because more vaccines could be provided by the COVAX facility for the participating countries),” said during a public briefing on Saturday.
The WHO announced that it has issued EUL for Moderna’s jab to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older.
It previously issued EUL to vaccines of Pfizer BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Serum Institute of India, and Janssen.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/ph-welcomes-moderna-covid-19-jabs-inclusion-in-whos-emergency- use-list/ Mass COVID-19 vaccination eyed in NCR in June
Published May 1, 2021, 5:41 PM by Dhel Nazario
Metro Manila Mayors are eyeing mass inoculation against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) once vaccine supplies arrive in June, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez bared Saturday.
Mass vaccination is part of the goal to achieve herd immunity in areas with a high attack rate such as the National Capital Region (NCR), Olivarez, who is also Metro Manila Council (MMC) chair, said in a DZMM interview.
He earlier assured that local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila are prepared to store COVID-19 vaccines should they come in the following months.
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. has mentioned that the government aims to achieve herd immunity in areas with a high attack rate, specifically in Metro Manila, by October or November.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/01/mass-covid-19-vaccination-eyed-in-ncr-in-june/ Risk from virus variants remains after first Pfizer COVID- 19 vaccine, U.K. study finds
Published May 1, 2021
A single dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine may not generate a sufficient immune response to protect against dominant new variants, except in people who have already been infected with COVID-19, according to a U.K. study published on Friday.
The Imperial College-led study, which looked at immune responses among healthcare workers in Britain after their first dose of the Pfizer shot, found that those who had previously had mild or asymptomatic infection had enhanced protection against more infectious mutated variants that emerged in Britain and South Africa.
But the immune response after a first dose of the shot was weaker in people who had not previously been infected, potentially leaving them at risk from such variants, researchers leading the work said.
“This study highlights the importance of getting second doses of the vaccine rolled out to protect the population,” said Rosemary Boyton, a professor of immunology and respiratory medicine at Imperial who co-led the study.
“People who have had their first dose of vaccine and who have not previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 are not fully protected against the circulating ‘variants of concern.'”
The research, published in the journal Science, analysed blood samples for the presence and levels of immunity against the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the so-called U.K. variant, known as B.1.1.7, and another known as B.1.351 that emerged in South Africa.
It found that, after a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, a boosted immune response in the shape of T-cells, B-cells and neutralizing antibodies was associated with prior infection.
In people who had not had COVID-19, however, a single vaccine dose produced lower levels of neutralizing antibodies against the original virus and its mutant variants.
Danny Altmann, an Imperial professor of immunology who co-led the study, said this meant there would be a “window of vulnerability” for people between their first and second doses.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/01/world/science-health-world/pfizer-vaccine- study/ Scientists say India government ignored warnings amid coronavirus surge
Published May 2, 2021, 5:33 AM by Devjyot Ghoshal, Krishna Das
A forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told Reuters.
Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. Millions of largely unmasked people attended religious festivals and political rallies that were held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition politicians.
Tens of thousands of farmers, meanwhile, continued to camp on the edge of New Delhi protesting Modi’s agricultural policy changes.
The world’s second-most populous country is now struggling to contain a second wave of infections much more severe than its first last year, which some scientists say is being accelerated by the new variant and another variant first detected in Britain. India reported 386,452 new cases on Friday, a global record.
The spike in infections is India’s biggest crisis since Modi took office in 2014. It remains to be seen how his handling of it might affect Modi or his party politically. The next general election is due in 2024. Voting in the most recent local elections was largely completed before the scale of the new surge in infections became apparent.
The warning about the new variant in early March was issued by the Indian SARS-CoV- 2 Genetics Consortium, or INSACOG. It was conveyed to a top official who reports directly to the prime minister, according to one of the scientists, the director of a research centre in northern India who spoke on condition of anonymity. Reuters could not determine whether the INSACOG findings were passed on to Modi himself.
Modi’s office did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
INSACOG was set up as a forum of scientific advisers by the government in late December specifically to detect genomic variants of the coronavirus that might threaten public health. INSACOG brings together 10 national laboratories capable of studying virus variants.
INSACOG researchers first detected B.1.617, which is now known as the Indian variant of the virus, as early as February, Ajay Parida, director of the state-run Institute of Life Sciences and a member of INSACOG, told Reuters.
INSACOG shared its findings with the health ministry’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before March 10, warning that infections could quickly increase in parts of the country, the director of the northern India research centre told Reuters. The findings were then passed on to the Indian health ministry, this person said. The health ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Around that date, INSACOG began to prepare a draft media statement for the health ministry. A version of that draft, seen by Reuters, set out the forum’s findings: the new Indian variant had two significant mutations to the portion of the virus that attaches to human cells, and it had been traced in 15% to 20% of samples from Maharashtra, India's worst-affected state.
The draft statement said that the mutations, called E484Q and L452R, were of “high concern.” It said “there is data of E484Q mutant viruses escaping highly neutralising antibodies in cultures, and there is data that L452R mutation was responsible for both increased transmissibility and immune escape."
In other words, essentially, this meant that mutated versions of the virus could more easily enter a human cell and counter a person’s immune response to it.
The ministry made the findings public about two weeks later, on March 24, when it issued a statement to the media that did not include the words "high concern." The statement said only that more problematic variants required following measures already underway - increased testing and quarantine. Testing has since nearly doubled to 1.9 million tests a day.
Asked why the government did not respond more forcefully to the findings, for example by restricting large gatherings, Shahid Jameel, chair of the scientific advisory group of INSACOG, said he was concerned that authorities were not paying enough attention to the evidence as they set policy.
"Policy has to be based on evidence and not the other way around," he told Reuters. “I am worried that science was not taken into account to drive policy. But I know where my jurisdiction stops. As scientists we provide the evidence, policymaking is the job of the government.”
The northern India research centre director told Reuters the draft media release was sent to the most senior bureaucrat in the country, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, who reports directly to the prime minister. Reuters was unable to learn whether Modi or his office were informed of the findings. Gauba did not respond to a request for comment.
The government took no steps to prevent gatherings that might hasten the spread of the new variant, as new infections quadrupled by April 1 from a month earlier.
Modi, some of his top lieutenants, and dozens of other politicians, including opposition figures, held rallies across the country for local elections throughout March and into April. The government also allowed the weeks-long Kumbh Mela religious festival, attended by millions of Hindus, to proceed from mid-March. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of farmers were allowed to remain camped on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi to protest against new agriculture laws.
To be sure, some scientists say the surge was much larger than expected and the setback cannot be pinned on political leadership alone. "There is no point blaming the government," Saumitra Das, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, which is part of INSACOG, told Reuters.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/exclusive-scientists-say-india-government-ignored- warnings-amid-coronavirus-2021-05-01/
Coronavirus: India reports record 400,000 cases in a single day
Published May 1, 2021, 1:15 PM by Agence France-Presse
India on Saturday recorded over 400,000 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, the first country to do so in the pandemic, as it opened its faltering vaccination drive to all adults and a hospital fire killed 18 people.
According to the health ministry, 401,993 new infections were registered, taking the total caseload to 19.1 million. There were 3,523 deaths, bringing the toll to 211,853. Many experts suspect that because of insufficient testing and inaccurate recording of cause of death, the real numbers are much higher.
Reuters
Indian authorities lowered their guard in the early part of the year after infections fell below 10,000 per day, lifting restrictions on most activities.
Mass religious gatherings such as the Kumbh Mela, attracting millions of Hindu pilgrims, and political rallies were allowed to continue even when cases numbers began rising sharply in late March.
In April alone, India recorded around 7 million new infections. On a per-capita basis however India’s caseload remains low compared to many other countries.
The hard-hit capital New Delhi, meanwhile, extended its shutdown for another week while top US pandemic adviser Anthony Fauci said that India should go into a national lockdown for “a few weeks”.
Less than two months after the health minister said India was in the “end game” of the pandemic and New Delhi sent millions of vaccines abroad, the surge has sent worried Indians rushing for the jabs still in the country.
On Saturday the inoculation programme was expanded to all Indians over 18, equating to around 600 million people, even though many states said they have insufficient stocks to do so.
Millions of younger people terrified by the current situation and desperate to get inoculated registered on the government’s digital platform. But very few of them have been given appointments and only half a dozen of India’s 28 states began vaccinating people under 45, and in many cases only a token scale.
Further confusion has been created by New Delhi’s decision to ask states and private hospitals to order vaccine supplies on their own, creating a three-tier pricing system that requires them to pay more per dose than the central government.
This has led to squabbles between the central government, run by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, and states governed by opposition parties.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some private clinics have been told they won’t receive any vials for months.
“The whole thing looks like a confused elephant to me right now,” said T Jacob John, a retired clinical virology professor at the Christian Medical College Vellore.
“Do you want to control the epidemic, save lives or both? If you want both you’ll require a huge amount of vaccines. And we don’t have it.”
He and other experts say that given the shortages, and its colossal population, India should have a much more targeted policy, concentrating vaccinations in hotspots.
Gujarat is among the few states to have said they would do so, with chief minister Vijay Rupani saying on Friday that vaccinations for over-18s would happen only in the 10 worst- hit districts.
The Serum Institute of India is making 60-70 million AstraZeneca doses per month, and is aiming for 100 million by July. Bharat is aiming to produce 10 million a month and targets 60-70 million.
Indian firms also have deals to produce other shots including Russia’s Sputnik V – some 150,000 doses of which were delivered on Saturday – and Johnson & Johnson’s single- dose vaccine, but it could be months until these are deployed.
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3131874/india-reports-over-400000-coronavirus- infections-single-day
Cambodia drafts in army to speed up COVID-19 vaccinations
Published May 1, 2021, 6:49 PM by Reuters
Cambodia's army began a drive on Saturday to vaccinate nearly half a million people in the parts of Phnom Penh worst-hit by COVID-19, as the Southeast Asian nation looks to step up the pace of inoculations.
The country, which had been one of the least affected by the pandemic, is fighting a surge in coronavirus cases that has seen the total number of infections jump from about 500 to 13,790 since late February, including all 96 of the deaths it has recorded.
Phnom Penh is under lockdown until May 5 and has declared some districts of the capital "red zones", banning people from leaving their homes except for medical reasons.
Senior military official Eth Sarath said 471,573 people would be inoculated with China's Sinopharm and Sinovac shots during a one-month campaign led by the military, according to a Ministry of Defence statement posted on Facebook.
"To date, more than 1.3 million Cambodians, including foreigners, diplomats and civil society workers in Cambodia, have been vaccinated," the defence ministry said.
It said the country, which has a population of around 16 million, had received more than 4 million doses of vaccine, including 1.7 million doses of Sinopharm donated by China.
People queued to get vaccinated on Saturday at a primary school in Phnom Penh as camouflage army personnel coordinated the crowd by radio.
Businessman Sir Sokha, 51, said he had been trying for some time to get a vaccination, but had previously been told it was not his turn.
"So I waited until they broadcast on television recently that we can have our vaccinations today, so I rushed to vaccinate right away," he said as he waited in line.
But Soeung Senkaruna, senior human rights worker at local rights group ADHOC, criticised the use of the military, saying people might feel intimidated.
"Whether they want it or not, seeing soldiers like these, they are worried, they are scared in case they do not want to make a decision, do not want to get the jab," he said.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/cambodia-drafts-army-speed-up-covid-19-vaccinations- 2021-05-01/ What you need to know about the coronavirus right now
Published April 30, 2021, 11:59 PM by Reuters
Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:
Indian states run out of COVID-19 vaccines
Several Indian states have run out of COVID-19 vaccines a day before a planned widening of a nationwide inoculation drive, authorities said on Friday, as new infections surged to another daily record.
India reported 386,452 news cases in the last 24 hours, while deaths from COVID-19 jumped by 3,498, health ministry data showed.
However, medical experts believe actual COVID-19 numbers may be five to 10 times greater than the official tally. read more
Brazil passes 400,000 COVID-19 fatalities
Brazil became the second country to pass 400,000 COVID-19 deaths after the United States, and experts said the daily toll could remain high for several months because of slow vaccinations and loosening social restrictions.
Brazil on Thursday registered 3,001 COVID-19 deaths, taking its total since the pandemic began to 401,186 fatalities, the Health Ministry said.
A surge of infections this year has pushed hospitals around the country to the brink of their capacities and led to 100,000 deaths in just over a month. read more
Pfizer begins to export U.S.-made shots
Pfizer's shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico this week includes doses made in its U.S. plant, the first of what are expected to be ongoing exports from the United States, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
The vaccine shipment, produced at Pfizer's Kalamazoo, Michigan plant, marks the first time the drugmaker has delivered abroad from U.S facilities after a Trump-era restriction on dose exports expired at the end of March, the source said.
The U.S. government has been under mounting pressure in recent weeks to provide surplus vaccines to other nations desperately in need as it makes swift progress vaccinating its own residents. read more
Singapore finds COVID-19 cluster in hospital
Singapore has detected a COVID-19 cluster in one its largest hospitals, among 16 new locally transmitted infections that were reported on Thursday, its highest number of domestic cases in seven months.
Singapore has contained its coronavirus outbreaks since a big contagion among migrant workers in dormitories last year. Most of its subsequent cases have been imported and found in quarantine.
Eight of the cases announced late Thursday were linked to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the health ministry said. The hospital's cases include a doctor and a nurse who were vaccinated for the coronavirus. Both had symptoms. read more
Cambodians complain of lockdown hunger
Residents in Cambodia's capital gathered on Friday to demand food from the government, outraged at what they called inadequate aid distribution during a tough lockdown that bars people from leaving their homes.
Authorities put Phnom Penh and a nearby town under a hard lockdown on April 19 to quell a surge in coronavirus infections that has seen Cambodia's case total balloon from about 500 to 12,641 since late February, including all 91 of its deaths.
"People in my village haven't received a food donation yet. It has been 10 days," factory worker Oum Sreykhouch, 25, told Reuters by telephone.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-snapshot/what-you-need-to-know-about-the- coronavirus-right-now-idUSKBN2CE0EW
Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak Across the World
Published May 2, 2021, 9:21 AM by Charissa Luci-Atienza
U.K. 1,953 67,762 2,315.5 2.5
Brazil 1,933 70,023 N/A N/A
U.S. 1,746 98,071 1,252.0 2.8
France 1,551 84,358 N/A 6.0
Germany 1,035 42,469 690.1 8.0
Russia 766 33,533 885.2 8.1
India 162 14,612 218.4 0.5
Japan 82 4,762 88.6 13.1
Mainland China 3 65 N/A 4.3
Testing data as of April 30, 2021, 7:22 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 150 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.
151,770,657 Confirmed cases worldwide 3,188,298 Deaths worldwide Jurisdictions with cases confirmed as of May 2, 2021, 9:21 AM 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. 576,719 32,389,652 Brazil 406,437 14,725,975 Mexico 216,907 2,344,755 India 211,853 19,164,969 U.K. 127,782 4,434,157 Italy 121,033 4,035,617 Russia 108,675 4,759,902 France 104,867 5,703,505 Germany 83,111 3,410,821 Spain 78,216 3,524,077 Colombia 73,992 2,877,746 Iran 72,090 2,516,157 Poland 67,924 2,798,617 Argentina 64,096 2,993,865 Peru 61,477 1,799,445
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: 879,014 Jan 21, 2020 Apr 30, 2021 India New cases: 401,993 Jan 21, 2020 Apr 30, 2021 Brazil 68,333 U.S. 57,922 France 24,302 Iran 19,272 Germany 14,326 Russia 8,613 U.K. 2,397 Mainland China 16 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.
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
Published May 1, 2021 by The Visual and Data Journalism Team BBCNews
The US, India and Brazil have seen the highest number of confirmed cases, followed by France, Turkey and Russia.
Very few places have been left untouched.
In the table below, countries can be reordered by deaths, death rate and total cases. In the coloured bars on the right-hand side, countries in which cases have risen to more than 10,000 per day are those with black bars on the relevant date.
Confirmed cases have been rising steeply since the middle of last year, but the true extent of the first outbreaks in 2020 is unclear because testing was not then widely available.
The 100 millionth Covid case was recorded at the end of January - about a year after the first officially diagnosed case of the virus.
The world has now seen 150 million recorded cases.
Deaths have also been rising, however official figures may not fully reflect the true number in many countries.
Data on excess deaths, a measure of how many more people are dying than would be expected based on the previous few years, may give a better indication of the actual numbers in many cases.
Who has vaccinated the most?
Several coronavirus vaccines have now been approved for use, either by individual countries or groups of countries, such as the European Union and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Of the 179 countries and territories administering vaccines and publishing rollout data, 68 are high-income nations, 94 are middle-income and 17 low-income.
The map below, using figures collated by Our World in Data - a collaboration between Oxford University and an educational charity - shows the total number of doses given per 100 people, mostly first doses.
Overall, China and the US have given the most doses, 255 million and 237 million respectively, while India has administered almost 150 million so far.
But when breaking the figures down by doses per 100 people in countries with a population of at least one million, Israel and the United Arab Emirates top the list.
Most countries are prioritising the over-60s, health workers and people who are clinically vulnerable.
Some countries have secured more vaccine doses than their populations need, while other lower-income countries are relying on a global plan known as Covax, which is seeking to ensure everyone in the world has access to a vaccine.
Several African countries have received vaccines through the Covax initiative, with vaccinations now underway in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda, among others.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51235105
OPINION/EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY
Title Link
134 WW III in 2034 https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/05/02/2095213/ww-iii-2034
135 Should we now slay the elephant in the room? https://opinion.inquirer.net/139823/should- we-now-slay-the-elephant-in-the-room
136 Let’s pay off China’s COVID vax donations https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/05/02/2095219/lets-pay-chinas-covid-vax-donations
137 Parlade para me https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/05/02/opinion/columnists/parlade- para-me/869284/
138 Senators should look at themselves before getting angry https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/02/senators-should-look-at-themselves-before- getting-angry/
139 Satanic communists https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/02/satanic-communists/
140 Can the US drive an alternative to China’s belt and road plan? https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3131881/chinas-belt-and-road-plan-can- us-find-alternative-route
141 China, US have chance to find common ground in protection of oceans https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3131833/china-us-have-chance-find- common-ground-protection-oceans
142 Biden should consider downsides of stressing national values in Indo-Pacific https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Biden-should-consider-downsides-of-stressing-national-values- in-Indo-Pacific
143 Capabilities to strike China needed https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2021/05/02/2003756672
144 Will ASEAN's actions match its tough talk on Myanmar? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/05/01/editorials/myanmar-asean-human-rights- democracy/
145 Breaking the deadlock: The Japan-South Korea ‘comfort women’ dispute https://www.9dashline.com/article/breaking-the-deadlock-the-japan-south-korea-comfort- women-dispute
WW III in 2034 BREAKTHROUGH - Elfren S. Cruz (The Philippine Star - May 2, 2021 - 12:00am In the year 2034, there will be war between China and America. It starts with an incident in the South China Sea. The war will encourage Russia, Iran and India to take advantage of the situation.
The novel 2034 has two co-authors. Elliot Ackerman is a former White House Fellow and Marine and served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart. He has written several novels and a memoir. He has been nominated for the National Book Award.
Admiral Jim Stavridis spent more than 30 years in the US Navy, rising to the rank of a four-star admiral. He was Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and previously commanded US Southern Command, overseeing military operations throughout Latin America. He holds a PhD from the Fletcher School of Diplomacy and Law at the Tufts University, where he recently served five years as dean. He has also previously published nine books including Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans.
While the book centers mainly on naval conflicts, much of the book is focused on the decision-making and behind-the-scenes that explain how the many events ended in a war. The illustrious background of the two authors explain why the events and characters in the book have such authenticity.
The other really interesting characteristic of the book is that it narrates the behind-the- scenes and decision-making at the highest levels of all the five major protagonists – America, China, Russia, Iran, India.
Most of the books and novels I have read on similar topics have focused on the American point of view. That is why I was really interested when the book centers on the Chinese characters which expose the Chinese point of view.
The book opens with the China Navy baiting an American destroyer flotilla and destroying three of the six ships in the flotilla. Here is an excerpt from the book of Chinese Defense Minister Chiang explaing to Lin Bao, a Chinese senior naval official, the purpose of their provocation in the South China Sea:
“This is what [Admiral] Ma Qiang does not understand… He wasn’t sent to sink three American warships; that was not his mission. His mission was to send a message. If the entire flotilla was destroyed, if it disappeared, the message would be lost. Who would deliver? Who would tell the story of what happened? But by sparing a few survivors we will be able to send our message more clearly. The point here is not to start a needless war but to get the Americans to listen to us, to respect the sovereignty of our waters.” Several scenes follow, with the Americans and Chinese assessing their next steps after the Americans sent carrier strike forces instead of negotiating. It would seem the Chinese underestimated the American response. However, the Chinese were still confident that they would eventually force the Americans to leave the South China Sea and abandon Taiwan. Here is a partial explanation by Minister Chiang:
“But our strength is what it always has been – our judicious patience. The Americans are incapable of behaving patiently. They change their government and their policies as often as the seasons. Their dysfunctional civil discourse is unable to deliver an international strategy that endures for more than a handful of years. They’re governed by their emotions, by their blithe morality and belief in their precious indispensability. This is a fine disposition for a nation to survive as we have through the millennia… And where will America be today? I believe in a thousand years it won’t even be remembered as a country. It will simply be remembered as a moment. A fleeting moment.”
In the novel and perhaps in real life, China mistakes democracy, freedom of speech and the press as symptoms of a dysfunctional society. On the other hand, time and again America believes that an authoritarian state like China will, sooner or later, undergo political instability and its people will adopt democracy just like Taiwan.
The Americans underestimate the nationalist fervor and feeling of superiority of China. The result is that both sides end up escalating the conflict way beyond the Cold War. Both nations suffer very heavy damage and lose their world power status.
A side story is how Russia exploits the war between China and America for its purposes. There is a scene where a top Russian naval officer is explaining to an Iranian observer that the invasion force they were witnessing was to “reclaim ancestral territories.” These territories were presently part of Poland. Kolchak, the Russian officer, explained that while the world’s attention was diverted to the Far East, Russia would use that crisis to their benefit. He explained that the Americans were in no position to object.
He explained: “As for the Chinese, they understand our actions intuitively. In their language the word for ‘crisis’ and ‘opportunity’ are one and the same… We carve this slice [of territory] from Poland and connect it to us [Russia] through Belorussia. The Poles will complain but they won’t really miss it. And it sews up a tiny ribbon around Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.” All the Baltic states would now belong to Russia.
The escalation of the conflict between China and America happens step by step, and the novel’s authors explain each step and the decision-making process to the reader as if you were actually witnessing a geopolitical process that ends in nuclear conflict.
Most of the scenarios are believable – conflict over the South China Sea; war over Taiwan; use of tactical nuclear weapons and cyber warfare. It is a novel worth reading, especially the ending. It is a novel that could become reality even before 2034 https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/05/02/2095213/ww-iii-2034
Should we now slay the elephant in the room?
By: Melissa Loja, Romel Bagares - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:02 AM May 02, 2021 The elephant in the room in popular discourse about maritime entitlements won by the Philippines before the South China Sea (SCS) Arbitral Tribunal is the status of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
To recall, the KIG regime was established by the 1978 Presidential Decree No. 1596 attaching it to the province of Palawan.
Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) issued a resolution in Republic v. Palawan (GR No. 170867, Jan. 21, 2020) expressly maintaining the legal status of the KIG by using and depicting the polygon-shaped baselines of the KIG as defined by PD 1596.
The SC used the KIG baselines to rule that the Malampaya oil and gas fields are outside the province’s jurisdiction. In doing so, it denied the province’s entitlement to the proceeds of the fields under the Local Government Code’s 60-40 sharing scheme.
To make matters worse, in the same case, the SC gave the KIG its own continental shelf! This is contrary to the 2016 SCS Arbitral Award, which said that all high tide elevations in the area under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) are only able to generate a territorial sea. Instead, the continental shelf flows from Palawan, covering the Recto Bank, Panganiban Reef, and Ayungin Shoal.
Too, proposed bills filed with Congress still adopt the baselines of the KIG, notably House Bill No. 7736, which seeks to reclassify the KIG as alienable and disposable land. (The bill begs the question: Why make the Philippine-held maritime features there capable of private ownership—so they could be sold to and purchased by dummies?)
Congress had also passed Republic Act No. 11259 dividing Palawan into three provinces, placing “Kalayaan” under a proposed Palawan Sur. The people of Palawan resoundingly rejected this proposal in a plebiscite held last March.
Even Justice Antonio T. Carpio’s ponencia in Ermita v. Magallona (GR No. 187167, Aug. 16, 2011) upholding the constitutionality of RA 9522 had maintained the existence of the KIG using the baselines of PD 1596.
The SC had not touched a hair of the Marcos-era decree. One might think RA 9522 had done away with PD 1596, at least by implied repeal. After all, the new baselines law had been passed purportedly to establish full Philippine compliance with the Unclos.
But no. Congress had incorporated PD 1596 in Section 2 of RA 9522, thus preserving the former’s baselines.
Despite these incongruities, the SC in the Magallona case said the Constitution looks fine, even with RA 9522.
So, who killed PD 1596?
The SCS Arbitral Tribunal did. It had to.
The SCS Arbitral Tribunal struck down China’s nine-dash lines using Unclos. The Arbitral Tribunal also had to strike down the baselines enclosing the KIG under PD 1596. Paragraph 1203 B (1) explains that “as between the Philippines and China, the Convention defines the scope of maritime entitlements in the South China Sea, which may not extend beyond the limits imposed therein.”
Consequently, paragraphs 574 and 575 of the Arbitral Award declared that any baselines of the Philippines that enclose the Spratly Islands violate the Unclos, as the KIG cannot be constituted as an offshore archipelago. It is the Arbitral Tribunal that nullified the baselines defining the KIG under PD 1596.
It had to, because under Article 25 of the rules of procedure of the arbitration, it had the due diligence obligation to “satisfy itself not only that it has jurisdiction over the dispute but also that the claim is well founded in fact and law.”
Had the Arbitral Tribunal not nullified the KIG definition under PD 1596, the Philippines would have continued to maintain a claim based on it.
The Arbitral Tribunal would have lost what scholars call its kompetenz-kompetenz. It killed PD 1596 in defense of its legitimacy.
Should we now slay the elephant in the room, according to the mandates of the 2016 SCS Arbitral Award?
https://opinion.inquirer.net/139823/should-we-now-slay-the-elephant-in-the-room
Let’s pay off China’s COVID vax donations - Federico D. Pascual Jr. (The Philippine Star ) - May 2, 2021 - 12:00am Has President Duterte’s accepting COVID-19 vaccine donations from China affected his handling of such sensitive issues as Filipino fishermen’s survival, Chinese occupation of the West Philippine Sea and the despoiling of the marine ecosystem?
No Philippine interests have been compromised, Duterte says, but his emphasis on “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude) and his hesitation to push harder against China’s continuing violation of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone seem to indicate the opposite.
Duterte often mentions his “utang na loob” to China to explain why he has not been asserting Filipino interests aggressively enough in resolving issues related to the West Philippine Sea.
Wednesday night, during his televised “Tell the People” show, Duterte again told the world, “China is a good friend. We owe them a debt of gratitude, a lot, including our vaccines. We don’t want trouble with them, especially a war.”
His simplistic view, colored by the “might is right” idea, is that an armed confrontation is the only way to recover territory lost to a militarily superior aggressor.
But the “utang na loob” card flies in the face of a report Friday of the Department of Finance that the Philippines has accumulated $18.4 billion (about P887 billion) in foreign loans for pandemic response obtained at concessional interest rates.
The loans, disclosed by Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven in a media briefing, can buy enough vaccines to inoculate 70-80 percent of the 110-million population to achieve herd immunity, or enough people with acquired resistance to stop the coronavirus from spreading.
Next question crying for an answer today, not Tuesday night next week, is: Where are those pandemic-response loans totaling about P887 billion? The total breaks down to a per capita share of $280.47 or over P13,500.
It appears that the Philippines can afford to buy all the vaccines it needs, if available, including those with efficacy and safety ratings superior to those made in China. The country can forego accepting vaccine donations with strings attached. Since the Chinese donations are affecting Duterte’s handling of issues involving China, we strongly suggest before national interests are compromised that we pay for those donations and put an end to this drama over “utang na loob.”
Last we heard, China has donated a total of one million doses made by Sinovac Biotech. At P1,300 per dose (the price disclosed by vaccine czar Carlito Galvez at a Senate hearing in January), they should cost us P1.3 billion.
President Duterte himself has said many times “may pera ako” when discussions turn to buying vaccines. With the finance department saying the country has accumulated P887 billion in foreign loans meant for fighting the pandemic, he must be telling the truth.
“May pera ako” literally translates to “I have money.” Even if said by one who sometimes confuses himself for the State – like in the personalistic “L’état c’est moi” (The state, it is I) similar to his “ang mga pulis ko” (my policemen) and “aking sundalo” (my soldier) – Duterte must be correct about our having the needed funds.
In the 2021 national budget alone, the government has set aside some P82.5 billion for COVID-19 vaccines, of which P70 billion will come from loans and additional revenues classified as unprogrammed funds.
That is welcome news. True Filipinos will agree that tapping those billions is better than paying for vaccines with our precious isles in the WPS and the rich mineral resources buried in what Duterte once referred to as the “bowels” of the seabed under it.
It is sad that many desperate Filipinos had allowed themselves to be injected with vaccines made in China only because no other brands were available. The Duterte administration has been unusually slow in procuring other vaccines from the West.
The second batch of 400,000 Sinovac vaccines donated by China arrived March 24. This is on top of the 600,000 doses delivered Feb. 28 to kick off the delayed mass inoculation. More shipments eventually totaling 25 million doses are coming, but these are purchases.
Even with just the loans secured from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank totaling $1.2 billion (around P58.5 billion) for vaccines, there are enough ready funds.
An interesting note in the ADB loan agreement, btw, specifies that the bank will not course payments through the Philippine government but will give the money directly to the vaccine suppliers. That looks like a good housekeeping rule in this neck of the woods.
The $400-million ADB loan is to be paid in 10 years, with a grace period of three years. It is the maximum amount the Philippines can get under this financing facility. The bank’s loans and grants supporting the Philippines’ pandemic response have amounted to around $3 billion. One wonders how Duterte can sleep in peace under his now famous kulambo (mosquito net) while loans, grants, aid, etc., dangle from strings attached to patrimonial assets, national honor and the mortgaged future of our grandchildren?
While on the subject, we suggest further that the President’s spokesman stops lying and denying the “verbal agreement” that Duterte himself said many times he had forged with his friend China President Xi Jinping on mineral exploration in the Philippines’ EEZ.
If the Palace continues to recast or deny declarations of the President when they become contentious, we have to ask that henceforth all his statements, speeches, messages and “Tell the People” reports be made in writing, under oath.
https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/05/02/2095219/lets-pay-chinas-covid-vax-donations
Parlade para me ByMauro Gia Samonte May 2, 2021 Latest Stories
DPWH builds more health care facilities for Covid-19 patients Go cites workers’ sacrifices amid pandemic LRT 2 resumes regular operations Fuel firms roll back LPG prices Myanmar’s Suu Kyi marks third month under house arrest Like it or not, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., in a most effortless way, suddenly becomes the benchmark for whether one is pro- or anti-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
In the controversies he has been thrown into by his detractors, one necessarily becomes pro- or anti-communist terrorist depending on whether he is pro- or anti-Parlade. His consistency to the point of obsession at exposing what he terms “duplicitous tactics” of the Sisonite communist terrorist insurgency has made him personify the government determination to end that insurgency once and for all.
I know of no other personality at the moment aside from President Duterte that has become the embodiment of the decades-old struggle of the Filipino nation to rid itself of the communist malady inflicted by the tandem of Jose Maria Sison and Benigno Aquino Jr. back in 1968.
Tarpaulins declaring the CPP-NPA persona non grata splashed on Manila footbridges, and the city mayor is quick to pin the blame on Parlade. Celebrities Liza Soberano, Catriona Gray and Angel Locsin cry “red-tagging,” bet your bottom peso it’s Parlade whodunit. A fair warning on the deceptive maneuvers of the CPP-NPA-NDF to drum up mass rage against the government through an innocent-looking humanitarian endeavor called “community pantry” can only come from who else but Parlade.
A huge bunch of senators threatens in unison to defund the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) if its spokesman is not fired and you can bet your balls this time, that guy is Parlade. How Parlade has come to be demonized for his rabid anti-CPP-NPA-NDF stance and yet under his watch as NTF-Elcac spokesman, how massively have the Sisonite communist terrorists been exposed so that they just must buy time to stay their imminent demise! Time has not been too far off when only legal front organizations of the CPP-NPA-NDF were hitting General Parlade precisely for unmasking them for what they really are: communist fronts. Party-list groups (Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT, Courage, Anak Pawis, Kabataan) calling themselves Makabayan bloc were one with leftist mass organizations (LFS, CEGP, NUSP, Kabataang Makabayan, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, etc.) in calling for his dismissal as the anti-insurgency spokesman.
It was obvious that their intention was to stop the determined campaign of General Parlade to crush the insurgency both in the propaganda arena and in the battlefields. And in any case, this was understandable. They were the enemies the general was contending against; they would damn him till kingdom come.
Now, all of a sudden joining the obvious Reds in vehemently agitating for Parlade’s ouster were not just government officials but members of the top legislature, the Philippine Senate: Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd, Senate Committee on Defense and Security Chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Senators Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Mary Grace Poe, Richard “Dick” Gordon, Franklin Drilon, Emmanuel Joel Villanueva and William Gatchalian.
Isn’t General Parlade doing a life-and-death struggle for the liberation of the country from communist terrorist aggression? And isn’t this struggle a primary strategy of the government which the general has been winning to the point of predicting the final demise of the CPP-NPA-NDF triad before the year ends. Why is it that among those fiercely agitating for his dismissal — which must only mean frustration of what is clearly taking shape now as the communist terrorists’ final defeat — are top government officials, including congressmen and senators?
Without him meaning it, General Parlade has, indeed, made of himself the paramount paradigm of what winning the war against the communist terrorists is all about.
Take Parlade and crush the CPP-NPA-NDF forever or reject him and plunge the nation into perdition.
I have made my choice: Parlade para me.
For whom are you?
https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/05/02/opinion/columnists/parlade-para-me/869284/
COMMENTARY Satanic communists “Concept of swaps, barter trade, and non-monetary transactions inherent in community pantries guarantees that both benefactors and beneficiaries maintain their dignity and self-respect. Published 11 hours ago on May 2, 2021 12:20 AM By Dean Dela Paz Allow us to simply discuss the concept of what has become known as the “community pantry,” a humanitarian experiment that started quite humbly in a middle class community of residential and entrepreneurial Filipinos, and from there has grown into what some who feel threatened by its popularity fear as almost a defiant community movement.
The attendant discourse has so far settled on a conceptual battlefield, although some paranoids are threatening to take it to actual and violent trenches through the exercise of police powers.
That it is being replicated in other communities nationwide, involving a cross-section of social classes and specialized niches from the residential, business, religious and the academe all unified within such a short time, can indeed be threatening to those who advocate for division, thinking a perpetually divided nation is easier to rule.
While concerns drawn against the humanitarian initiative on the surface appear focused on health, licensing and local government coordination, the underlying fears have more to do with the exercise of control and raw power. Note how the strongest adversarial reactions arrayed against this humanitarian undertaking spawn from former and active military men and the one-dimensional paranoia of fear mongers.
Citing the Book of Genesis, one official labelled it satanic. Others, as communist recruitment centers.
The other source of fear and apprehension albeit responded to with Draconian threats, red-tagging and virtual verbal violence as the aspect of this community movement as virtual commentary not simply on the Filipino condition as it has deteriorated recently, but as a proactive response to the failures of the government in such arenas as the economy, employment, and even basic food security.
As points of reference, neither posters nor placards are needed to elucidate those conditions inflicted by the worst pandemic responses in the region. The long lines of the desperate, hungry and poor are eloquent enough, and the apparent popularity could indeed instill a good amount of apprehension for those who, even in the smallest and most cramped confines of their vacuous minds, feel alluded to and are held responsible for their failures and fiascos.
One of the tenets of powerplay, subjugation and control is to render victims helpless and vulnerable, stripped of both their humanity and dignity. The selective Draconian measures we resorted to that abuse helpless innocents in this pandemic albeit letting off VIP violators, even promoting them, is part of the exercise of power and control consistent with the veiled threats of violence coming from star-ranked sociopaths in the service.
The concept of swaps, barter trade, and non-monetary transactions inherent in community pantries guarantees that both benefactors and beneficiaries maintain their dignity and self-respect. It is antithetical to a culture that subjugates foot soldiers, so that powerless pawns are constrained to tediously move across the chessboard one square at a time and are expendable. Dignity, after all, is empowering.
For those threatened by charity, compassion and good works, this inherently humanitarian initiative is now seen as defiance where it inspires others nationwide albeit calling attention to systemic failure from incompetence. Like the smallest pebble that creates a radiating and rippling effect on still waters, hope crests amid constantly inflicted despair.
https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/05/02/satanic-communists/
China’s belt and road plan: can the US find an alternative route?
• US President Joe Biden is keen for democracies to create a rival infrastructure development initiative, but observers say he’ll struggle to pull it off • Previous efforts by Washington and its allies have been ‘sporadic and disaggregated in terms of their strategic coherence’, academic says
China has signed belt and road deals with hundreds of countries. Photo: Xinhua
The US and its allies are keen to develop an alternative to China’s global infrastructure development strategy known as the
Belt and Road Initiative but observers say they may struggle to bring it to fruition. US President Joe Biden said in March he had spoken to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about democratic nations developing a rival programme.
“I suggested we should have a similar initiative, pulling from the democratic states, helping those communities around the world that need help,” he said.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3131881/chinas-belt-and-road- plan-can-us-find-alternative-route
Analysis | China, US have chance to find common ground in protection of oceans
• Delayed UN meeting to discuss conservation goals including protecting the seas and ending fishing subsidies – but some countries have resisted • Calls for urgency with Antarctica warming and indications that fishing fleets trawling the seabed release as much carbon as the aviation industry • Linda Lew Published: 2:00pm, 1 May, 2021
There is disagreement is over whether China, which is responsible for the most fishing subsidies, should be exempt from restrictions on them amid efforts to protect the seas. Photo: Xinhua The Covid-19 pandemic derailed many events in 2020, including the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity.
The meeting is rescheduled for October in Kunming, China, offering an opportunity for Beijing and Washington – rivals on nearly all fronts – to agree tangible climate change goals, with ocean conservation high on the agenda.
“An integrated approach must be taken to guarantee that action is taken to employ the essential tools needed to reverse biodiversity loss and its impact on ecosystems, species and people,” the UN body’s website said when announcing the meeting.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3131833/china-us-have-chance-find- common-ground-protection-oceans
Biden should consider downsides of stressing national values in Indo- Pacific Criticism could weaken strategic relationships to compete against China Derek Grossman May 2, 2021 05:00 JST
Joe Biden participates in the Quad leaders meeting via video link in Washington on Mar. 12: rifts in shared values would strike at the core of the security partnership's spirit. © Reuters Derek Grossman is a senior defense analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan Rand Corp. He formerly served as an intelligence adviser at the Pentagon.
In order to compete more successfully with China, the Biden administration has argued that the United States must strengthen its Indo-Pacific alliances and partnerships. What the new administration has not answered is a critical question on the minds of many: Will Washington prioritize national interests or national values?
If President Joe Biden plans to prioritize national interests, as was mostly the case under the Trump administration, then some key countries will be more amenable to assisting the U.S. in its intensifying great power competition with China. For example, Vietnam seeks U.S. support in pushing back against Beijing on South China Sea sovereignty, but Hanoi certainly does not appreciate American criticism of its human rights record -- a national values point of emphasis -- as part of the package. Such criticism could weaken the strategic relationship.
And yet, early signs suggest there is good reason to believe that Biden will prioritize national values. Most prominently, Biden has pledged to hold a Summit for Democracy before the end of this year. That means countries such as Vietnam and semi-authoritarian Singapore -- spotlighted in the administration's Interim National Security Strategic Guidance as key partners in the competition against China -- would presumably not be invited.
Long-standing security partners the Philippines and Thailand were purposefully omitted from the allies section of the guidance. A reasonable explanation is that Biden is wary of Manila's slow slide into illiberal democratic governance under President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as Bangkok's turn away from democracy following the 2014 military coup. But the Philippines is a critical ally in the South China Sea, and Thailand could serve as a bulwark against China's growing influence in Indochina. On Mar. 12, Biden participated in the first-ever Quad joint summit with Australia, Japan and India. Prior to the meeting, a source close to the administration noted that Biden wants the Quad to play a "defining role in the region." Given the fact that the group is premised on shared democratic values, it is hard to envision the Quad ever inviting an undemocratic country into the dialogue, or an undemocratic state feeling comfortable among them.
Even within the Quad, all may not be well. There are simmering concerns in New Delhi that progressives within Biden's Democratic Party might seek to sway the White House away from aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government because of his maltreatment of minority groups.
Moreover, amid the explosion of coronavirus cases in India, the White House spokesperson said that the administration disagreed with New Delhi's request to Twitter to remove commentary critical of the Indian government's response to the crisis. Rifts in shared values would strike at the very core of the spirit of the Quad and make it difficult to cooperate against China.
Meanwhile, since the Feb. 1 coup in Myanmar, Biden has methodically set out to denounce and sanction elements of the new regime, and it seeks support from key allies and partners. But not everyone is on board. Because of its own national security calculations, India has refrained from publicly supporting the U.S. position that the Myanmar military cedes control to the civilian leadership. Neighboring Thailand has also remained silent as have other U.S. allies and partners, with the notable exception of Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia as well as Singapore.
Nations that do not vocalize their opposition to the coup are effectively supportive of Beijing's policy of noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries -- not exactly a good thing for U.S. competition with China. Washington will have to consider just how far to push these countries and whether doing so might compromise cooperation against China in other areas.
One has to wonder how a foreign policy prioritizing shared values might play out in other corners of the region. For example, the Trump administration, in an attempt to forge closer security ties with Indonesia to compete against China, invited Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto to the Pentagon in a reversal of decadeslong sanctions against him for past human rights violations.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Mar. 31 held an introductory call with Prabowo, but it is hard to imagine Washington rolling out the red carpet for him again. Moreover, emphasizing values over interests will make any engagement with Cambodia and Laos - - both heavily within China's strategic orbit and serial human rights abusers -- far less likely.
Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, pictured in November 2019: it is hard to imagine Washington rolling out the red carpet for him again. © AP The Biden administration's principled policy will likely have implications beyond China as well. In his quest to meet with North Korea's Kim Jong Un to achieve progress on denuclearization, Donald Trump downplayed or ignored Kim's ongoing human rights violations. If Biden decides to emphasize this point, then Pyongyang is even less likely to engage Washington in a productive manner. Such an approach could unnerve South Korea, a U.S. ally that has a pro-engagement leader in President Moon Jae-in.
None of this is to say that Biden is wrong or misguided for prioritizing national values over national interests in the Indo-Pacific. Throughout modern American history, the presidency has oscillated between the two, and usually put forth a hybrid policy.
However, within the specific context of waging successful great power competition against China, it might be beneficial for the administration to consider potential downsides of an approach stressing values to ensure that it does not inadvertently undermine the end product.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Biden-should-consider-downsides-of-stressing-national- values-in-Indo-Pacific
Capabilities to strike China needed
• By Jerome Keating
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has over the past few months continued to escalate its hegemonic rhetoric and increase its incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
The US, in turn, has finally realized how its “strategic ambiguity” is increasingly wearing thin.
Similarly, any hopes the US had that the PRC would be a responsible stakeholder and economic player have diminished, if not been abandoned.
Taiwan, of course, remains as the same de facto independent, democratic nation that the PRC covets. As a result, the US needs to reconsider not only the amount, but also the type of arms it sells to Taiwan. This and the changing nature of weapons’ capabilities require a bolder position.
Therefore, if the US is serious about providing Taiwan with weapons to sufficiently maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it can no longer offer the simple “wait until the last moment when they attack” defensive weapons.
Taiwan needs weapons to strike and even strike deep into China.
This might appear as a startlingly bold position. However, it is one whose time has come.
To understand that, one has to go back and navigate the whole, ever-changing Taiwan- China-Asia scenario since the end of World War II.
In this, one can see that the current Taiwan-China problem has been created by the US as the chief victor in the war over Japan.
It becomes evident that the US has for 75 years kicked this proverbial can down the road to where we are now.
To rephrase ancient Chinese strategist Sun Tzu (孫子): “You do not solve a problem by ignoring or running away from it.”
So what happened to Taiwan at the end of the war and in the following 75 years?
Start with the Treaty of San Francisco, which was formulated in September 1951 and went into effect on April 28, 1952: The treaty states that Japan must relinquish Taiwan, but it does not state to whom. There can be no excuse that the US was facing a hurried decision. This was nearly seven years after the end of the war and long after the Allied forces stopped trying to keep Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) engaged against Japan.
New pressure had obviously developed.
The Cold War with the Soviet Union had started; the Korean War was underway; and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had driven Chiang and his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) out of the country and into exile.
Chiang and the KMT rested as diaspora and appointed caretakers in Taiwan.
However, the San Francisco treaty did not give Taiwan to Chiang, the KMT, the Republic of China (ROC) or the PRC, which was formed in 1949.
This is where the saga of Washington’s “undecided,” flip-flopping position on Taiwan begins, marking the point from which it started to kick the can down the road.
Taiwan soon became a pawn in the perceived post-war struggle between communism and the West.
Then-US president Harry Truman was in January 1950 ready to pull the plug on Chiang, only to turn around in June of the same year because Mao Zedong (毛澤東) sent Chinese troops to aid North Korea.
Former US president Dwight Eisenhower later threatened to go nuclear in the region, but his threat was not so much in defense of Taiwan as one against the spread of communism.
At stake was a perceived and feared “domino effect,” an argument the US later used to justify its intervention in Vietnam.
Former US president John F. Kennedy ahead of his election said that the islands of Kinmen and Matsu were not part of the territory Japan surrendered in the San Francisco treaty, and not worth defending.
Later, former US president Richard Nixon and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger changed course, and were willing to sacrifice the ROC and its membership in the UN to gain some “China leverage” against the Soviet Union.
Former US president Jimmy Carter rightfully moved the US embassy to China from Taipei to Beijing, but the US Congress also stepped in to help Taiwan, finally referring to the nation as Taiwan, not as the ROC. The US replaced the embassy with the American Institute in Taiwan, but still failed to understand the democratic developments in the nation.
Former US president Ronald Reagan’s “six assurances” offered some relief, but when Taiwan in the late 1980s tried to develop nuclear defense capabilities, the US squelched it, in effect saying: “We want you to defend yourself, but with one hand tied behind your back.”
Ironically, when Israel was facing a larger enemy, the US did not make a similarly strong effort to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons there.
The US continued to change its position in reaction to regional developments, but it still dif not face Taiwan’s democratization.
The nation threw off the KMT party-state, but former US president George W. Bush still feared former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) using the word “independence.”
Taiwan was seemingly perceived as the only nation that had to beware of breaching the region’s fake “status quo.”
Taiwan’s status continued to bounce back and forth as each US president reacted differently to the changing times.
Yet, if there was ever any fear of Taiwan going rogue, someone in the US government should have at least noticed that after Chiang died in 1975, no Taiwanese leader has ever had any intentions of attacking China.
However, the US implemented its nebulous “one China” policy, which unfortunately only a few in Washington understand.
Having a “one China” policy would not conflict with having a “one Taiwan” policy, no more than it conflicts with having a “one France” or a “one Germany” policy.
The “one China” policy only acknowledges that Beijing’s claim to Taiwan is its own perception, but no one has to buy into it.
The ability to inflict serious damage on any attacking nation is the defense of today’s world.
The ability is not limited to damaging attacking armed forces, but extends to the attacking nation as a whole.
Therefore, China must be made aware that any attack on Taiwan would be Pyrrhic in more than one way. First, even if the CCP were to take over Taiwan, it would have the tremendous problem of trying to control the nation’s hostile population. Taiwan is sold on its democracy.
Second, with Taiwan’s ability to land strikes deep inside China, Beijing would begin to pay the price of its attack even before Taiwan’s allies and those with a stake in the nation’s independence can come to its aid.
The US has many weapons systems stationed around the world and far outside its borders. This is not new.
Finally, Taiwan having weapons capable of inflicting damage on China’s interior would bolster its position as a “democratic Gibraltar” in Asian waters and could make it the eastern gate to the South China Sea.
Taiwan has long been under the influence of colonial powers, from the Dutch to the Spanish, fleeing Ming Dynasty loyalists, the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese, who were the first to control the whole of Taiwan proper.
The nation does not need, nor want, to add the PRC to that list.
However, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is not resting.
Like Mao, who helped North Korea attack the South, Xi continues to push the envelope. For Taiwan to have the ability to inflict destruction on China would help counter the CCP’s “salami-slicing” methods.
The threat ideological communism posed to the world is part of the past. The new issues are territorial control and trade dominance, as well as the struggle for hegemony between one-party states and those under democratic rule.
Taiwan achieved democracy on its own and with little support from the US.
Therefore, one grows weary of hearing US parachute pundits saying: “We, the US, will help, but you have to first be able to defend yourself.”
The US remains the cause of Taiwan’s main problem.
Taiwan has for decades been defending itself with one hand tied behind its back, but has still achieved democracy.
The decoupling of any nation from global trade also needs not be an issue in the new economy. The issue makes China realize that Taiwan is not for the taking and the nation has the weapons to prevent that.
Similarly, China does not need to possess Taiwan to profit in today’s world. As for any other hegemonic motives China might have, democratic Taiwan is not buying into them.
However, with regard to US arms sales to the nation, Washington should first and finally recognize Taiwan as the democratic nation it is.
After that, it should simply return to rephrasing Sun Tzu: “The best way for the US to avoid war in Asia is to arm Taiwan, and to arm it well.”
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2021/05/02/2003756672
Will ASEAN's actions match its tough talk on Myanmar?
• Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks at a news conference after attending the ASEAN leaders' summit in Jakarta on April 24. | INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE / VIA REUTERS • May 1, 2021 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened a special summit last week to address regional concerns, with the coup and resulting violence in Myanmar at the top of their list.
The summit produced a “five point consensus plan” to “facilitate mediation of the dialogue process” between military leaders and the opposition that won last year’s elections and was overthrown by the coup. The agreement is an important first step but it is only meaningful if followed up by concrete action. Concerned governments must ensure that there is real dialogue and that the junta begins the process of restoring democracy to Myanmar.
On Feb. 1, a military junta led by Gen. Min Aung Hlaing overthrew the democratically elected government of Myanmar, charging that the November election results had been invalidated by massive fraud. That allegation is unfounded — but facts matter little to the Tatmadaw (the country’s military), which fears the loss of its power and privilege after the landslide victory by democratic forces led by the National League of Democracy.
Widespread public protests ensued, which the military met with violence. Human rights groups estimate that there have been more than 750 civilian deaths and nearly 4,500 people have been arrested. State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, head of the National League of Democracy, and other leaders of the former government are among the detainees.
Since the coup, the U.N. Security Council has passed three statements calling for an end to the violence and the release of detained prisoners. Remarkably, all were supported by Russia and China, which typically oppose measures that could be seen as interfering in the internal affairs of states. A special envoy for Myanmar has been named as well, but she has been unable to secure permission from the junta to travel to the country.
Cognizant of the need to address a regional problem, ASEAN convened a leader’s summit in Jakarta last Saturday, the first in-person head of state meeting since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, a sign of “ASEAN’s concerns over the situation in Myanmar and ASEAN’s determination to help Myanmar out of the crisis,” according to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. That show of determination was undercut by the absence of the heads of state from Laos, the Philippines and Thailand, which sent their foreign ministers instead.
Still, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was told by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, host of the meeting, that the situation in Myanmar was “unacceptable” and that “violence must be stopped, and democracy, stability and peace in Myanmar must be restored.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called the situation “deplorable” and said it “must stop immediately.” Political detainees should be released “promptly and unconditionally.” That sharp language is a break with ASEAN protocol, which favors bland pronouncements to avoid any hint of interference in domestic affairs.
The meeting’s five-point consensus echoed those views, calling for “immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar” and the exercise of “utmost restraint” from all parties, the launch of a “constructive dialogue among all parties concerned” to find “a peaceful solution in the interests of the people,” the creation of a special envoy to facilitate the dialogue process, the provision of humanitarian assistance and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all parties concerned.
Gen. Min Aung Hlaing listened. He also met on the sidelines of the meeting with the U.N. special envoy, although there is no sign of a readiness to let her visit the country. Critics charge his complacency reflected a calculation that whatever offense he may have swallowed was outweighed by the legitimacy bestowed by an invitation to the meeting, although ASEAN officials, speaking anonymously, said that the general was not treated like or addressed as Myanmar’s head of state. The National Unity Government, created by the National League of Democracy and other opponents of the junta, was not present nor was it invited to the ASEAN meeting. That would likely have been a step too far for the organization. It responded to the summit with caution, demanding substantive action.
Other governments were a little more positive but acknowledged that words are not enough. In Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato called the five-point consensus a “first step toward improving the situation,” and reiterated calls for the swift release of those arrested and detained. The European Union’s foreign policy chief echoed that language while China called the meeting “a good start … to de-escalate the situation” in Myanmar.
Experts warn that Myanmar increasingly resembles a failed state, with the economy projected to shrink 10% this year, although more dire forecasts double that rate. Foreign investors are freezing projects or ending them; trading partners are refusing to buy Myanmar-made products.
The U.N. World Food Programme worries that up to 5 million people face food insecurity over the coming year as prices rise for staples and other essentials. This will compound longstanding troubles with various ethnic groups, raising the prospect of floods of refugees.
ASEAN deserves credit for recognizing that business as usual would not suffice. As Muhyidden noted, the organization’s bedrock principle of noninterference “is not for us to hide behind, it cannot be a reason for our inaction.” Significantly, a crisis “in one ASEAN member state is not going to solve itself without affecting other member states.” Self-interest should drive action by an organization too often associated with grand rhetoric and little follow through. Japan, and other friends of Myanmar and ASEAN, should help them along.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/05/01/editorials/myanmar-asean-human- rights-democracy/
BREAKING THE DEADLOCK: THE JAPAN- SOUTH KOREA ‘COMFORT WOMEN’ DISPUTE
WRITTEN BY WICHUTA TEERATANABODEE
30 April 2021 Over the past few years, relations between two key US allies — Japan and South Korea — have soured to arguably their lowest point since the 1965 diplomatic normalisation. China’s recent increased diplomatic interest in South Korea is also adding pressure on Washington amidst the ROK’s ambiguous position in the US-China competition. The Biden administration arrives just in time to help Tokyo and Seoul reconcile their differences, including a longstanding disagreement over how to finally address the issue of the so-called comfort women.
South Korea and Japan have long argued over historical issues, such as wartime labourers and sexual slavery. Korean victims and their families have been left with graphic memories, which are particularly hard to forget, and there remains a perception that Japan has failed to offer a sufficient apology.
Souring relations
In February 2021, the South Korean Ministry of National Defence (MND) launched an annual White Paper 2020, detailing its current defence capabilities and strategies. The document grabbed attention because Seoul downgraded Tokyo’s status from a partner to the lessor ‘close neighbours’.
Events, such as the ROK reversing its decision to end the military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan due to threats from the North, have shown that the two countries can put aside their bitter relations to focus on regional threats.
This is a significant departure from the 2018 White Paper, in which South Korea described its relations with Japan as “…close neighbours as well as partners cooperating for global peace and prosperity”. In the latest version, however, their relations are described as “close neighbours that could cooperate…for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world”. Omitting the term ‘partner’ is just the latest development in a series of events that have fuelled mistrust between the main pillars of the regional security architecture designed (among other things) to help contain an increasingly belligerent North Korea.
Various attempts for reconciliation have been made over the years and in 2016, the two countries established the Tokyo-funded Reconciliation and Healing Foundation to provide financial support for former comfort women. However, under the Moon Jae-in administration, South Korea unilaterally dissolved the Foundation after just two years, reasoning that the voices of comfort women were being ignored and that Japan lacked sufficient sincerity in dealing with the issue.
Tensions have since escalated and this acrimony has manifested in recent trade conflicts. In 2019, both removed one another from their whitelists of valuable trade partners. Furthermore, Japan imposed restrictions on exports of key chemicals for ROK’s significant semiconductor industry — fluorinated polyimides, photoresists, and hydrogen fluoride. The issue has since permeated their security relationship, with South Korea threatening to end the General Security of Military Information Agreement, a key military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.
In January 2021, the South Korean Supreme Court ruled that the Japanese government should compensate former comfort women. Japan declined even to appeal the decision as that would mean it accepted South Korea’s jurisdiction. In April 2021, another judge from the same court dismissed the lawsuit, reasoning that Japan has the right to state immunity. While this recent decision was welcomed by the Japanese government, it sparked controversy in South Korea. The ball is likely to be passed to higher South Korean courts for final rulings.
Regional threats and the US security alliance
As Japan and South Korea are the US’ security partners in dealing with key regional challenges, such as China’s increasing military assertiveness and North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, the recurring clashes pose challenges to the security outlook of both countries and the US. China’s increasing military capacity and assertiveness are a particular concern. In February 2021, China introduced a new Coast Guard Law, upgrading its coast guards to a quasi-military status, allowing them to fire at foreign ships. These developments in China’s offensive capacity and intentions have led to concerns not only in Japan and South Korea but also in the US. Souring relations between the region’s two key democracies only adds to Washington’s problems.
Furthermore, China has recently shown signs it intends to strengthen diplomatic relations with South Korea. Chinese President Xi reached out to President Moon soon after the Biden administration came into power in January 2021. Since Seoul is seen as the weak link in US-Japan-ROK trilateral relations, this action is believed to be part of Beijing’s diplomatic campaign to challenge the US.
Caught between two mistrusting allies and chased by China’s increased interest in ROK, the incoming Biden administration has indicated that it is paying close attention to Japan- South Korea relations. Within only a month of Biden’s inauguration, the US Department of State has already held the first meeting with Japanese and South Korean diplomats on addressing the North Korean challenges. This suggests that Washington under its new leader is committed to restoring the relationship between its two significant allies.
A strong trilateral relationship is critical for both the individual and collective security of the US, South Korea, and Japan in addition to the wider Indo-Pacific region. Collectively they should therefore take the opportunity, provided by recent changes in leadership in Tokyo and Washington, to renegotiate the comfort women issue. This topic has been the bottleneck of their security alliance as it has triggered several waves of Japan-ROK conflicts throughout the past few years. If the two neighbours can overcome this historical challenge, a security alliance against China and North Korea could be easier to achieve.
The way forward
The three countries should consider the following recommendations. First, as the trilateral approach seems to be welcomed by Prime Minister Suga of Japan, the US should proactively urge its two allies to renegotiate, citing that strong bilateral relations are essential for tackling regional challenges posed by China’s rise and North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. Events, such as the ROK reversing its decision to end the military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan due to threats from the North, have shown that the two countries can put aside their bitter relations to focus on regional threats.
Second, Prime Minister Suga should learn from the actions of his predecessors when it comes to symbolic actions. During his term, former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo clearly stated that he had no intention of sending an apology letter regarding the comfort women issues, triggering South Korea’s decision to disband the Reconciliation Foundation. Suga should therefore start with a small step and — at least — seek to avoid actions perceived as disrespectful to Koreans, such as visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
Third, while being open to “appropriate measures” to address the comfort women issue, Japan always turns down a legal approach. When the ROK court ruled Japan should compensate former comfort women earlier this year, Suga rejected the ruling. Therefore, South Korea should consider prioritising a non-legal approach to at least allow conversations for a potential rapprochement to begin. To ensure attempts toward reconciliation do not face the same fate as that of the Reconciliation Foundation, both countries should adopt a victim-centric approach by allowing former comfort women to participate in the decision-making process. This could be done, for instance, by setting up a negotiation committee and inviting former victims to be part of it. If an institution similar to the Reconciliation Foundation is to be established, both governments should also ensure that the objectives and institutional operations would respond to the needs of former comfort women. Given the threats from China and North Korea, strong ties between Tokyo and Seoul are essential to maintain regional stability. The comfort women issue is a resurfacing challenge hindering a harmonious bilateral relationship between the two neighbours. If the issue is left unresolved, achieving mutual trust and security cooperation will continue to be difficult, which would add to Washington’s worries as it manages tensions with Beijing. By making attempts to renegotiate their historical issues relating to comfort- women in good faith, South Korea and Japan might be able to deescalate tensions and resolve their grudges over wartime memories and prioritise their security cooperation to deal with threats in the region.
DISCLAIMER: All views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of the 9DASHLINE.com platform.
https://www.9dashline.com/article/breaking-the-deadlock-the-japan-south-korea- comfort-women-dispute