News Roundup 18 April 2024
Apr 18, 2024 • 4 min Read
China told: ‘Peace-loving’ nations won’t take US-PH-Japan meet as threat | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the recent trilateral summit of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States should not be deemed as a threat “by any peace-loving country.”
It explained anew that the goal of the historic three-way talks was to promote peace as it responds to the Philippines’ development needs.
“It is the sovereign choice and decision of the Philippines to strengthen our alliance with the United States and our strategic partnership with Japan, in accordance with our national interests and in line with our independent foreign policy,” the DFA said in a statement Thursday, in a response to China’s remarks criticizing the trilateral meeting in Washington D.C. on April 11.
“Our actions are in line with international law and complement our commitments in other regional and multilateral forums,” it added.
According to the DFA, the meeting was nothing but “an admirable aspiration that should not be considered a threat by any peace-loving country.”
China earlier expressed its opposition to the summit, calling it a “stocking bloc confrontation” in the West Philippine Sea.
But contrary to China’s claims, the historic trilateral talks was not all about the West Philippine Sea row.
Still, the DFA responded to China’s statements, maintaining that it is China’s “excessive maritime claims and aggressive behavior, including its militarization of reclaimed features” that are undermining regional peace and stability and raising tensions in the region.
Full Story at: China told: US-Japan-PH summit shouldn’t be treated as threat (inquirer.net)
PH-US war games a provocation, says China, but AFP disagrees | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — China’s foreign ministry called the annual war games between the United States and the Philippines a “provocation,” a charge that was dismissed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“We urge the Philippines to stop making maritime provocations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said in a regular press briefing on Wednesday.
Lin made the remark in reaction to a report that the Philippines will also conduct joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea with the United States and France as part of the Balikatan (“shoulder-to-shoulder”) exercises for the first time.
Aside from this, Manila and Washington will also sink a mock enemy ship off the coast of Laoag in Ilocos Norte, the northernmost mainland province in the country, relatively near Taiwan.
Full Story at: China says PH – US war games a ‘provocation’; AFP disagrees (inquirer.net)
Teves’ son allegedly tried to bribe Timor-Leste police for father’s security — DOJ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) urged the authorities of Timor-Leste for the immediate extradition or deportation of expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr after reports of his son allegedly bribing a member of East Timor’s police in exchange for a “special treatment” for the expelled lawmaker during his detention.
Citing a local news report, the DOJ stated that Teves’ son allegedly offered $2,000 (P114,000) as a bribe to a member of Timor-Leste’s Criminal Investigation Police for “security” both inside and outside Becora Prison.
Last month, local law enforcement authorities arrested Teves, who is included in Interpol’s red list, while playing golf in Dili, Timor-Leste.
Following his arrest, the DOJ said that the expelled lawmaker is currently in pre-trial detention at Becora Prison.
The Justice department, however, did not disclose the name of the expelled lawmaker’s son who is allegedly accused of bribery.
Full Story at: Teves’ son allegedly tried to bribe Timor-Leste police for father’s security — DOJ | Philstar.com
Philippine Coast Guard to join military drills with United States | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday it will participate for the first time in an annual joint military exercise conducted by the Southeast Asian country and the United States.
More than 16,700 Filipino and American troops will take part in this year’s drills, which kick off Monday.
The exercises will be focused in the northern and western parts of the archipelago nation — near the potential flashpoints of the South China Sea and Taiwan.
Beijing claims almost the entire waterway and considers self-ruled Taiwan part of its territory.
Other countries, including the Philippines, have overlapping claims to parts of the sea. The United States has no territorial claim over the waters or features, but regularly conducts patrols there.
The United States has been deepening its defence cooperation with regional allies, including the Philippines, as it seeks to counter China’s growing assertiveness.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said Thursday it would be the first time Philippine Coast Guard vessels join the drills dubbed Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog.
Previously, PCG boats had patrolled the waters around the exercises to prevent interlopers.
Six vessels would participate, Balilo said, including four 44-metre multi-role response boats and two larger patrol vessels.
Full Story at: Philippine Coast Guard to join military drills with United States | Philstar.com
