News Roundup 03 September 2022
Sep 03, 2022 • 4 min Read
U.S. angers China with potential $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan | INQUIRER.NET – The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $1.1 billion sale of military equipment to Taiwan, including 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles, with China threatening to take counter measures. The Pentagon announced the package on Friday in the wake of China’s aggressive military drills around Taiwan following a visit to the island last month by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking U.S. official to travel to Taipei in years. The sale includes Sidewinder missiles, which can be used for air-to-air and surface-attack missions, at a cost of some $85.6 million, Harpoon anti-ship missiles at an estimated $355 million cost and support for Taiwan’s surveillance radar program for an estimated $665.4 million, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said. Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in a statement the possible arms sale “severely jeopardizes China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” “China will resolutely take legitimate and necessary counter-measures in light of the development of the situation,” he said. President Joe Biden’s administration said the package has been under consideration for some time and was developed in consultation with Taiwan and U.S. lawmakers. “As the PRC continues to increase pressure on Taiwan – including through heightened military air and maritime presence around Taiwan – and engages in attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, we’re providing Taiwan with what it needs to maintain its self-defense capabilities,” Laura Rosenberger, White House senior director for China and Taiwan, said in a statement. Reuters reported last month that the Biden administration was planning new equipment for Taiwan but that the equipment would sustain Taiwan’s current military systems and fulfill existing orders, not offer new capabilities, despite the heightened tensions that followed Pelosi’s visit.
Payment of NCAP fines on hold – MMDA | PHILSTAR.COM – There’s no need yet to pay fines for traffic violations committed before the Supreme Court’s suspension of the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local governments. MMDA spokesman Crisanto Saruca Jr. made this clear when asked in a television interview what concerned motorists should expect now that the high court has issued a temporary restraining order on the controversial policy. In an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News, Saruca said it’s best to wait for further pronouncements from the high tribunal. The SC issued TROs on the NCAP on Aug. 30 in response to separate petitions questioning its constitutionality. Saruca maintained there was “no conflict” in the pronouncements made by the MMDA and the SC on how to deal with notices of NCAP traffic violation before the TRO was released last Tuesday. “We’ve already mentioned that anything prior to Aug. 30 issuance pursuant to the MMDA NCAP would remain subject to further pronouncements from the Supreme Court,” he said. He noted the TRO was “immediately effective and continuing until further orders from the high court.” He also assured motorists with existing NCAP notices that no interest would be added to their fines. Under MMDA’s NCAP, drivers who violated its number coding rule would be fined P300. Disregarding traffic signs is punishable with fine. Asked if MMDA would abide by a possible SC order to refund motorists fined, Saruca maintained they would “comply with any decision the Supreme Court will hand down eventually.” He admitted it would “take a lot of funds to refund the fines.”
Oil price rollback seen next week | PHILSTAR.COM – Motorists can get a break from back-to-back weeks of hefty fuel price hikes as a possible rollback is expected next week. Philippine Petroleum Companies Association founding chairman Fernando Martinez said that as of Thursday, there were indications of a downward movement in pump prices next week. He did not provide estimates. Cleanfuel, for its part, said the running trend as of yesterday pointed to a P1.30 per liter reduction in diesel prices, and P2.70 per liter decrease for gasoline. The price adjustments will be announced by oil firms on Monday, which will take effect the next day. Reflecting the movements in the international oil market, prices of diesel, gasoline and kerosene have increased over the past two weeks.
