News Roundup 03 March 2024
Mar 03, 2024 • 8 min Read
Report notes rise in Chinese militia vessels in South China Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The number of Chinese maritime militia vessels around key features in the South China Sea increased by 35% in 2023, a Washington-based think tank said, as Beijing bolstered its presence in the disputed waters.
An analysis by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) based on satellite imagery found an average of 195 Chinese militia ships around nine features in the sea on any given day last year.
“The data shows that China’s militia is as active as ever,” AMTI said in its report released last week.
AMTI said the increase in militia vessels was accompanied by a “dramatic shift” in ships to Mischief Reef, also known as Panganiban Reef, in the summer of 2023, with over 180 militia vessels observed there from July.
AMTI said the reason for the increase—which it described as an “anomaly”—was unclear.
“While it is true that the militia vessels seen active at Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin) typically operate out of Mischief, deploying to Second Thomas in response to Philippine resupply missions, the summer surge at Mischief appears mostly unrelated to those efforts,” the think tank said.
It added that only a minority of the boats at Panganiban Reef were professional vessels observed supporting Chinese blockades, and that the peak in vessels occurred before the number of militia ships during those missions started to rise.
Full Story at: Report notes rise in Chinese militia vessels in South China Sea | Philstar.com
Senator calls out loitering China vessels in Philippines Rise | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Chinese vessels were caught “loitering” and doing research in Benham Rise, also called Philippine Rise, which is within the country’s exclusive economic zone, Sen. Francis Tolentino said yesterday.
In an interview over radio station dwIZ, Tolentino said the Chinese research vessels have no business being in Benham Rise in the country’s eastern waters.
“They are loitering there because they are interested in the area, but they need our permission before they can do the research,” he added.
The senator warned the Chinese vessels that their incursions would be illegal under the proposed Maritime Zones Bill, a recently passed Senate measure seeking to delineate the country’s internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ and continental shelf.
“Maybe they are not yet aware of the bill, but even if they loiter there, it is clear that that is our area. With the measure, more countries will recognize our maritime rights in the area, even if the one country loitering there does not,” he said, referring to China.
Tolentino expressed hope that the Congress bicameral conference committee would be able to reconcile varying versions of the Maritime Zones Bill, so that this can be signed into law by the President as soon as possible.
Full Story at: Senator calls out loitering China vessels in Philippines Rise | Philstar.com
Taguig closes Makati Park and Garden for allegedly lacking Mayor’s permit | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Makati Park and Garden is currently inaccessible to the public.
The place is a riverfront park along Pasig River under the jurisdiction of Taguig city.
The closure comes, after the local government unit (LGU) of Taguig temporarily closed it on Sunday “for operating without the necessary permits.”
According to Taguig, the closure stemmed from the facility’s failure to secure a Mayor’s permit.
It says the permit must be obtained following Local Government Code, jurisprudence, and local ordinances covering any business, trade, or activity within the city.
Full Story at: Taguig closes Makati Park and Garden for allegedly lacking Mayor’s permit | Inquirer News
Drag artist arrested, posts bail in 2nd case | INQUIRER.NET – Drag artist Pura Luka Vega was sent to jail a second time on Wednesday night, for another case arising from his controversial dance performance that some religious groups had denounced as blasphemy.
His accusers this time were churches affiliated with the religious group Philippines for Jesus Movement, which filed the case at Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 306.
The group sued him for allegedly promoting “immoral doctrines … exhibitions and indecent shows.”
Pura Luka Vega—whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente—was first arrested on Oct. 6 last year based on a complaint arising from a YouTube video showing him singing the prayer “Our Father,” but as a “remix” dance number where he was dressed as the Black Nazarene before a cheering crowd in a bar.
The first case against Pagente was filed at a Pasay City court by a group of Nazarene devotees, accusing him of “offenses against decency and good customs” under the Revised Penal Code. If found guilty, he faces up to 12 years in prison.Full Story at: Drag artist arrested, posts bail in 2nd case (inquirer.net)
Report notes rise in Chinese militia vessels in South China Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The number of Chinese maritime militia vessels around key features in the South China Sea increased by 35% in 2023, a Washington-based think tank said, as Beijing bolstered its presence in the disputed waters.
An analysis by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) based on satellite imagery found an average of 195 Chinese militia ships around nine features in the sea on any given day last year.
“The data shows that China’s militia is as active as ever,” AMTI said in its report released last week.
AMTI said the increase in militia vessels was accompanied by a “dramatic shift” in ships to Mischief Reef, also known as Panganiban Reef, in the summer of 2023, with over 180 militia vessels observed there from July.
AMTI said the reason for the increase—which it described as an “anomaly”—was unclear.
“While it is true that the militia vessels seen active at Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin) typically operate out of Mischief, deploying to Second Thomas in response to Philippine resupply missions, the summer surge at Mischief appears mostly unrelated to those efforts,” the think tank said.
It added that only a minority of the boats at Panganiban Reef were professional vessels observed supporting Chinese blockades, and that the peak in vessels occurred before the number of militia ships during those missions started to rise.
Full Story at: Report notes rise in Chinese militia vessels in South China Sea | Philstar.com
Senator calls out loitering China vessels in Philippines Rise | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Chinese vessels were caught “loitering” and doing research in Benham Rise, also called Philippine Rise, which is within the country’s exclusive economic zone, Sen. Francis Tolentino said yesterday.
In an interview over radio station dwIZ, Tolentino said the Chinese research vessels have no business being in Benham Rise in the country’s eastern waters.
“They are loitering there because they are interested in the area, but they need our permission before they can do the research,” he added.
The senator warned the Chinese vessels that their incursions would be illegal under the proposed Maritime Zones Bill, a recently passed Senate measure seeking to delineate the country’s internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ and continental shelf.
“Maybe they are not yet aware of the bill, but even if they loiter there, it is clear that that is our area. With the measure, more countries will recognize our maritime rights in the area, even if the one country loitering there does not,” he said, referring to China.
Tolentino expressed hope that the Congress bicameral conference committee would be able to reconcile varying versions of the Maritime Zones Bill, so that this can be signed into law by the President as soon as possible.
Full Story at: Senator calls out loitering China vessels in Philippines Rise | Philstar.com
Taguig closes Makati Park and Garden for allegedly lacking Mayor’s permit | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Makati Park and Garden is currently inaccessible to the public.
The place is a riverfront park along Pasig River under the jurisdiction of Taguig city.
The closure comes, after the local government unit (LGU) of Taguig temporarily closed it on Sunday “for operating without the necessary permits.”
According to Taguig, the closure stemmed from the facility’s failure to secure a Mayor’s permit.
It says the permit must be obtained following Local Government Code, jurisprudence, and local ordinances covering any business, trade, or activity within the city.
Full Story at: Taguig closes Makati Park and Garden for allegedly lacking Mayor’s permit | Inquirer News
Drag artist arrested, posts bail in 2nd case | INQUIRER.NET – Drag artist Pura Luka Vega was sent to jail a second time on Wednesday night, for another case arising from his controversial dance performance that some religious groups had denounced as blasphemy.
His accusers this time were churches affiliated with the religious group Philippines for Jesus Movement, which filed the case at Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 306.
The group sued him for allegedly promoting “immoral doctrines … exhibitions and indecent shows.”
Pura Luka Vega—whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente—was first arrested on Oct. 6 last year based on a complaint arising from a YouTube video showing him singing the prayer “Our Father,” but as a “remix” dance number where he was dressed as the Black Nazarene before a cheering crowd in a bar.
The first case against Pagente was filed at a Pasay City court by a group of Nazarene devotees, accusing him of “offenses against decency and good customs” under the Revised Penal Code. If found guilty, he faces up to 12 years in prison.
Full Story at: Drag artist arrested, posts bail in 2nd case (inquirer.net)
