News Roundup 17 July 2024
Jul 17, 2024 • 4 min Read
Top US general tackles sea security with Philippine military during visit | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Charles Q. Brown Jr., chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed the importance of maritime awareness to further strengthen defense relations and “greater interoperability” between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military personnel.
Brown, the top military official of the Philippines’ oldest and closest ally, discussed bilateral security assistance and the utilization of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) locations with Philippine military and security officials on July 16, as reported in a readout of the meeting on Wednesday.
The officials also discussed awareness of the maritime domain to counter “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive activities.”
“The meeting underscored their commitment to (the) Philippine-United States’ longstanding military alliance. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral defense cooperation, strengthening joint military exercises, and addressing regional security challenges,” the AFP said in a statement.
“The AFP and U.S. Armed Forces continue to engage in various joint activities, including training exercises, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response operations, further solidifying their partnership and readiness to respond to any contingencies,” it added.
Brown had meetings with Philippines’ National Security Advisor Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.
The military officials exchanged their assessments on the regional security landscape, highlighting recent incidents in the Ayungin Shoal, which led to an amputation of a Coast Guard personnel’s finger due to a violent encounter with the Chinese Coast Guard in a routine and resupply mission.
Full Story at: Top US general tackles sea security with Philippine military during visit | Philstar.com
Philippines, China to create presidential hotline to manage South China Sea tensions | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — More than a year after creating a direct communication line on maritime issues, the Philippines and China have established a new mechanism that allows the presidential offices of both countries to reach each other through an emergency hotline.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the “Arrangement on Improving Philippines-China Maritime Communication Mechanisms” would give Beijing and Manila various channels for communication to settle maritime issues amid more frequent scuffles in the West Philippine Sea.
The accord, which was first reported by the Associated Press, was signed last July 2 during the Philippines’ and China’s dialogue to de-escalate tensions following a violent altercation between both countries’ coast guards in Ayungin Shoal.
The agreement provides for direct lines of communication between the following:
- Representatives of the presidents of the Philippines and China
- The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and China’s foreign affairs ministry, including at the secretary (foreign minister) and undersecretary (vice foreign minister) levels or through their designated representatives
The accord, once in effect, will also activate a communication channel between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), according to state-run Philippine News Agency.
Full Story at: Philippines, China to create presidential hotline to manage South China Sea tensions | Philstar.com
Escudero welcomes trust rating survey results | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines— Senate President Francis Escudero on Wednesday said work in the Senate will continue regardless of trust rating survey results.
Escudero made the remark after the recent poll issued by Pulse Asia Survey showed that he held a 69 percent trust rating among 2,400 adult Filipino respondents.
“Ang mga survey ay pabago-bago at ang mataas na numero sa anumang survey ay inspirasyon sa amin at ang mababang numero ay aral at gabay para sa amin,” he said in a text message to reporters.
(Surveys are ever-changing and the high ratings, in any survey, serve as our inspiration, while low ratings serve as our guide.)
“[M]ataas man o mababa, patuloy lang kaming magta-trabaho at gagampanan ang aming tungkulin alang-alang sa mas nakatataas na interes ng bansa at sambayanan,” he added.
(Whether it be high or low, we will continue to work and we will continue to fulfill our duties for the interest of our country and Filipinos.)
Still, Escudero thanked the Filipinos for the trust they had given him.
Full Story at: Escudero welcomes trust rating survey results (inquirer.net)
Senate minority to attend Sona: We’re not afraid of designated survivor | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines— They are not afraid of the “designated survivor.”
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel made this declaration on Wednesday, as he confirmed his and Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ attendance at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation address (Sona) on July 22.
“Nag-attend naman kami sa (We attended the) last Sona so we will attend,” Pimentel said in an interview at the Senate.
“Hindi kami natatakot sa designated survivor (We are not afraid of the designated survivor),” he added, apparently referring to Vice President Sara Duterte’s remark last week.
According to Duterte, she would not attend the Sona but named herself as the “designated survivor.”
Full Story at: Senate minority to attend Marcos’ Sona (inquirer.net)
