News Roundup 09 December 2023
Dec 09, 2023 • 4 min Read
China Coast Guard targets BFAR ship with water cannon near Scarborough Shoal | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Several vessels from the China Coast Guard used water cannons against two Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships when the latter attempted to deliver supplies to Filipino fishers within the Scarborough Shoal.
According to a report by News5, the incident occurred when the China maritime militia tried to obstruct the BFAR vessels from nearing the shoal around 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The resupply mission was meant to bring diesel, engine oil and Noche Buena packages for Filipino fishermen working at the controversial waters — an area which is well within the 200 nautical exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
Scarborough Shoal (also known as Bajo de Masinloc) lies within the West Philippine Sea, an area which the Permanent Court of Arbitration awarded to the Philippines in 2016 after invalidating Beijing’s nine-dash line claim.
However, China persistently asserts ownership over the region. Even in 2023, Beijing released a “standard map” that claimed territories in the West Philippine Sea, parts of India, Taiwan and Malaysia as their own.
Despite the recent surge in hostilities, the resupply mission persisted as Filipino fisherfolk redirected their course towards the BFAR ships.
Full Story at: China Coast Guard targets BFAR ship with water cannon near Scarborough Shoal | Philstar.com
Christmas convoy to West Philippine Sea to prioritize safety amid China tensions | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Ahead of their journey to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Saturday, the civilian-led Christmas convoy assured to prioritize safety while following advice from the Philippine Coast Guard and avoiding potential confrontations with China.
During an interview with Dobol B TV on Saturday, Rafaela David, co-convenor of the Atin Ito Coalition, said that they will heed the PCG’s advice should they perceive any risks.
“Hindi tayo pupunta sa mga lugar na medyo tensiyonado. Ang intensiyon ng misyon na ito ay hindi makipagpatintero. Ang goal natin ay magbigay ng Christmas cheer,” David said.
(We will avoid areas with tense situations. Our mission isn’t about playing games with China. We’re here to spread Christmas cheer.)
“May mga area na kapag pinuntuhan na, isa-shadow ka na ng China. Hindi natin paabutin sa ganoong sitwasyon,” she added.
(Some areas lead to China shadowing your movements. We’re steering clear of situations like that.)
On Friday, coalition members boarded the marine vessel Kapitan Felix Oca, bound for Palawan, to join a group of 100 fisherfolk before setting off for the West Philippine Sea.
Full Story at: Christmas convoy to West Philippine Sea to prioritize safety amid China tensions | Philstar.com
VP Sara Duterte faces 3rd petition over 2022 secret funds | INQUIRER.NET – The Makabayan bloc will join the fray and ask the Supreme Court to declare the P125-million confidential expenses of Vice President Sara Duterte in 2022 as unconstitutional.
Incumbent and former lawmakers of the progressive bloc will file a petition on Monday before the high court to compel Duterte to return the funds she spent to the national treasury.
The present set of Makabayan lawmakers will be joined by former representatives of Bayan Muna party list, including its chair Neri Colmenares, and former Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat.
“There’s strong legal basis to challenge the constitutionality of confidential funds. The vice president had no expressly provided authority to use it,” said Gabriela Women’s Rep. Arlene Brosas.
In an online press briefing on Friday, the Makabayan bloc announced its intention to file the third petition challenging Duterte’s 2022 confidential expenses in the Supreme Court.
Full Story at: VP Sara Duterte faces 3rd petition over 2022 secret funds | Inquirer News
Envoys denounce latest China water cannon attack in WPS | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The American, Japanese and British ambassadors on Saturday rebuked China’s latest act of aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
A China Coast Guard vessel, also on Saturday, aimed a water cannon at Philippine boats on a goodwill mission in the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
“We condemn PRC’s aggressive, illegal actions against Philippine BFAR vessels lawfully operating in the Philippine EEZ. This PRC behavior violates international law and endangers lives and livelihoods. We stand with our Philippine #FriendsPartnersAllies in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko expressed serious concern over the actions of the Chinese vessels and reiterated the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Full Story at: Envoys denounce latest China water cannon attack in WPS | Inquirer News
