#Enrique Manalo

[firstoccupier]

Tensions Escalate in the West Philippine Sea Amid Chinese Intrusions

WPS.News Report Dateline: January 30, 2025, Manila, Philippines From 1800 on January 29 to 0600 Philippine Time on January 30, 2025, the West Philippine Sea has been a focal point of escalating tensions, particularly around the Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal. This region has seen a notable increase in the presence of Chinese vessels, prompting urgent responses from the Philippine…

[rhk111sblog]

Philippine Government Officials admitted to Reuters that the Military Bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) will likely be used to help Taiwan in case a War over it erupts between the United States (US) and China, contrary to the Official and Public Position of the Bobong Bong Marcos (BBM) Administration

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

China responds to Rubio’s remarks on South China Sea after his phone call with Philippine FM

In response to a U.S. State Department statement claiming new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussing Beijing’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea” with his Philippines counterpart Enrique Manalo over phone and underscoring the “ironclad” U.S. defense commitment to Manila, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that the U.S. is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in the maritime issues between China and the Philippines.

[mariacallous]

The moment has been long in coming, but India is turning into a strategic actor in Southeast Asia. Amid a flurry of regional diplomacy, India has sealed an arms deal with Vietnam, sided with the Philippines over China on sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea, and enhanced defense cooperation with Indonesia. It is balance-of-power politics worthy of an international relations textbook: Even though most Southeast Asian governments have long made it their mantra not to choose geopolitical sides, China’s aggressive posture in and around the South China Sea is driving India and its partners in the region together. As yet, none of these relationships are on the level of alliances or include a serious force deployment component, but the trend is clear. And even though the United States and its Asian treaty allies are not involved, India’s moves raise the tantalizing possibility that it will increasingly complement the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy to counter China in the coming years.

India’s strategic outreach had its humble beginnings in 1991, when New Delhi announced the Look East policy—a recognition of the geostrategic significance of Southeast Asia to Indian security. More a vision than a concrete set of measures, Look East was followed by the Act East policy in 2014, when India began to proactively engage with the region to prevent it from succumbing to Chinese domination. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who first announced Act East, India in recent years has steadily strengthened key partnerships across Southeast Asia, particularly with countries along the maritime rim of the Indo-Pacific. These moves are clearly designed to cooperate with Southeast Asian partners who also seek to maintain the rules-based international order and norms of behavior in the face of rising Chinese assertiveness in the region.

Last month, Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang visited his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi and announced that India would transfer a missile corvette to the Vietnamese Navy to enhance maritime security. The two sides also reportedly discussed stepped-up training for Vietnamese military personnel operating submarines and fighter jets, as well as cooperation on cybersecurity and electronic warfare. There is also ongoing speculation that Vietnam may soon purchase India’s BrahMos cruise missile, which is co-produced with Russia and could complicate Chinese military operations in disputed seas. To strengthen relations further, Hanoi and New Delhi have also been considering a potential trade deal.

These recent moves reinforce the “comprehensive strategic partnership” India and Vietnam have maintained since Modi’s 2016 visit to Vietnam. Hanoi maintains just four partnerships at this highest of levels—with China, India, Russia, and most recently South Korea. That underscores the high strategic value Hanoi places on New Delhi. By comparison, the United States is only a “comprehensive partner” for Vietnam, two levels below India’s status. Washington has struggled to raise the partnership.

The Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, is steadily expanding and deepening its security partnership with India as well. Late last month, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo visited New Delhi and met with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar. For the first time, India recognized the legitimacy of the 2016 arbitration ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in favor of Philippine sovereignty claims over China in the South China Sea. During the meeting, Jaishankar reiterated India’s call on China to respect this ruling. Both sides further vowed to enhance their defense partnership through increased interactions between defense agencies and by sending an Indian defense attaché to Manila. India also offered a concessional line of credit to the Philippines to buy Indian defense equipment. According to a diplomatic source close to the negotiations, “We are both maritime nations and there is great scope where we could identify various cooperative activities including, in the future, joint sales and joint patrols and exchanging information, best practices and anything to enhance [maritime domain awareness].”

Both nations have closely collaborated on security matters in recent years. In 2019, for example, India participated in a joint naval drill in the South China Sea with Japan, the Philippines, and the United States. In 2021, the Indian Navy conducted bilateral drills with the Philippines. In addition, a fourth round of high-level defense dialogue between India and the Philippines concluded in April, with the two sides pledging to deepen defense cooperation further. In 2022, the Philippines inked a major deal to purchase India’s BrahMos missiles. According to the Indian ambassador in Manila, India is exploring a preferential trade deal with the Philippines to boost their relationship, similar to what it is discussing with Vietnam.

Meanwhile, India’s security partnership with Indonesia has quietly been evolving in ways that also support the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. In February, an Indian Kilo-class conventional submarine made a first-ever port call to Indonesia, underscoring that New Delhi’s undersea assets could have access to Indonesian ports sitting astride the strategic waterways traversing the vast archipelagic nation. Beijing already faces a major strategic headache in the form of the so-called Malacca dilemma—China’s vulnerability to having its most important trade route cut off by the United States and its allies in the narrow waters between Singapore and Malaysia. Add potential blockades of Indonesia’s Sunda Strait and Lombok Strait—two other strategic narrows—and China might have to rethink future military operations entirely.

Indo-Indonesian defense relations truly kicked off in 2018, when Modi visited Jakarta and elevated relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. As part of this, the two nations signed a new defense cooperation agreement. That same year, India and Indonesia launched a new naval exercise, Samudra Shakti, that incorporated a warfighting component. Since then, the two navies have conducted four rounds, the last of which was in May and prioritized anti-submarine operations. The Indian Navy has further supported Indonesia with humanitarian and disaster relief operations, particularly following the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami that hit Palu in 2018. New Delhi and Jakarta are exploring potential air force cooperation as well. Indonesia may also follow in the footsteps of the Philippines by purchasing BrahMos missiles.

On the economic side, the two nations are considering a preferential trade agreement, similar to what India is discussing with Vietnam and the Philippines. Other plans include enhancing links between Indonesia’s Aceh province and India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These parts of the two countries are separated by just over 500 miles of sea, and Jakarta and New Delhi have been cooperating to boost trade and travel between them. India and Indonesia are also cooperating on developing infrastructure, such as a port at Sabang in Aceh, which could be viewed as India’s rival to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India is also cooperating with Malaysia, another counterclaimant against China in the South China Sea, on the basis of an enhanced strategic partnership signed in 2015. In 2022, both Jaishankar and Singh met their Malaysian counterparts and expressed interest in deepening their partnership. After his meeting with Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin bin Hussein, Singh described the engagement as “wonderful.” Although Kuala Lumpur’s decision earlier this year to cancel a deal to purchase Indian-made Tejas fighter aircraft may have dampened the partnership somewhat, the intent clearly remains to strengthen ties in line with upholding the mutual goal of maintaining the rules-based international order in the region—especially internationally recognized maritime borders and freedom of navigation, neither of which Beijing accepts. When Jaishankar met then-Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, the latter emphasized that India is a friend who shares the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” using the acronym for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Brunei is another emerging partner for India along the South China Sea. In 2021, the two nations renewed their defense agreement for five years, and they regularly engage in joint exercises, port visits by navy and coast guard ships, and official defense exchanges.

India’s strategic partnerships with Singapore and Thailand—a key partner and ally of the United States, respectively—are also close and long-standing. Singapore regularly engages in bilateral exercises, high-level dialogues, visits, and professional training with India. Modi visited Singapore twice in 2018, and on the first trip, he signed 35 memoranda of understanding agreements on a range of security and economic issues. For example, he signed a logistical agreement to boost bilateral naval cooperation and multiple agreements pertaining to investment in human capital. On his second trip, Modi attended the India-ASEAN summit, underscoring New Delhi’s emphasis on the region’s significance.

In 2022, Thailand and India took stock of their partnership and pledged to elevate defense engagements further, to include cybersecurity. Perhaps of greater importance is the economic side of their relationship. In a nod to New Delhi’s original Look East policy, Bangkok implemented its own Look West policy in 1997, in part to tap into the enormous Indian market. Moreover, Thailand and India are partnering with Myanmar to construct the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway that will significantly upgrade transport links between Southeast Asia and South Asia. Once the highway is completed, Modi and his government also want to add connections to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam—another clear rival to China’s BRI.

India further has good relations with both Cambodia and Laos. In May, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni visited India, and the two sides reaffirmed “the strong civilizational bond between us.” Phnom Penh and New Delhi cooperate on a range of socioeconomic projects, de-mining, water conservation, and heritage protection. India’s engagement with Laos is less robust, but nevertheless, New Delhi and Vientiane are likely discussing ways to boost economic ties. This is all the more remarkable as both Phnom Penh and Vientiane are widely considered to be firmly in China’s camp.

Not all Indian engagements in the region are necessarily positive for the United States and its Indo-Pacific strategy, however. One notable example is India’s relationship with the military junta in Myanmar, which has plans to enhance its partnership with Beijing. New Delhi has yet to condemn the 2021 coup that brought it to power, and India refuses to join Washington in putting political pressure on the junta in the form of sanctions or through other means. To be sure, India is in a difficult spot as chaos in Myanmar has caused concerns that instability could spill over the border, where the Indian states of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland have ethnic and kinship ties with Myanmar. New Delhi hopes that its continued cooperation with the Burmese junta will contribute to greater stability in the border region.

But even in Myanmar, India is doing some things that are in Washington’s interest. Modi’s joint statement with U.S. President Joe Biden last month, for example, mentions Myanmar and notes the importance of the junta releasing all political prisoners and returning to constructive dialogue. While this is hardly the condemnation of the regime Washington has been seeking, it is a start. Additionally, New Delhi in recent months confronted the junta on how it is apparently allowing Chinese workers to build a listening post to spy on India in the Coco Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

From a multilateral perspective, India has been active as well. Within the existing India-ASEAN framework, the two parties in May held their inaugural group military exercise, known as ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, in the South China Sea. The exercise reportedly attracted the attention of China’s maritime militia, which was operating within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and approached the exercise participants.

Overall, India’s Act East policy is a net positive for the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at countering China. Washington should welcome and gently encourage New Delhi to do even more. For example, additional joint patrols in the South China Sea among India, the United States, and other nations—including those in the region—could bolster deterrence. Additional Indian infrastructure and development projects, as well as trade deals, could help lessen Beijing’s economic dominance of Southeast Asia.

Realistically, however, New Delhi rightly worries first and foremost about its own neighborhood, and its time and resources are inevitably constrained. China also maintains the inside track in Southeast Asia due to its growing power and proximity to the region. That said, New Delhi’s policy of outreach to Southeast Asia—even if it is sustained only at current levels—will help further undermine Beijing. That, in and of itself, is a big win for Washington and its Asian allies.

[warningsine]

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea and its continued harassment of Filipino fishermen.

The measure also exhorted the Philippine government to take action in asserting its sovereign rights over the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The resolution also calls on China to stop its “illegal activities” in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and with the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

The adopted Senate Resolution 718 was the outcome of an all-member caucus on Monday where the senators discussed with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. the appropriate action on Senator Risa Hontiveros’ resolution which urges the Department of Foreign Affairs to bring China’s aggression before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In his manifestation after the adoption, Zubiri explained that Hontiveros’ resolution was not “watered down” but rather strengthened after the meeting with the country’s Foreign Affairs chief and the top military official.

“We came out with a strong consensus yesterday after the discussions with the West Philippine Sea Task Force, together with the AFP chief-of-staff  General Brawner and DFA Secretary Manalo and actually we never watered down the resolution that we filed, we actually strengthened the first resolution that we initially filed with Sen. Risa,” Zubiri said.

“I think what happened here is we strengthened the position of the government. Now, we gave them several options to choose on how to deal with our neighbors in the north,” he added.

Among the courses of action enumerated in the adopted resolution are:

-Bringing international attention to China’s harassment of Filipino fishermen in the Philippine EEZ and its continued violation of the Hague Ruling and the UNCLOS

-Utilizing international fora to rally multilateral support for the enforcement of the Hague Ruling and raise awareness on the real situation in the WPS

-Engaging like-minded countries in various international organizations, meetings, and other fora to call on China to respect the Hague Ruling and the UNCLOS and subject to necessity and prudence

-Filing a resolution before the UNGA to call for the cessation of all activities that harass the Philippine vessels and violate the Philippines’ established rights in the WPS

-Pursuing such other diplomatic modes as the DFA may deem appropriate and necessary

[trendingnews19]

New US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticised China’s ‘dangerous’ actions towards the Philippines in the South China Sea.New United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Manila of Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to defending the Philippines in the face of Chinese provocation in the South China Sea, during his first call with Philippines Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo. Rubio also criticised Beijing’s “dangerous and destabilising actions in the South China Sea” in the call on Wednesday with Manalo, which the US’s top diplomat said violated international law. “Secretary Rubio conveyed that [China’s] behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law,” the State Department said in a statement. “An armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either of their public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces – which includes their Coast Guards – would invoke mutual defence commitments,” the State Department noted. Washington and the Philippines, a former US colony, signed the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951 stipulating that both countries would come to one another’s defence if they faced attack. Rubio held the call with his Philippine counterpart a day after holding a four-way meeting with his Quadrilateral Security Dialogue counterparts from India, Japan and Australia. In a veiled warning to Beijing, the four-country diplomatic and security grouping – known as the Quad – said they support a “free and open Indo-Pacific” region, “where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity are upheld and defended”. “We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” they said in a statement. China holds expansive claims covering most of the South China Sea, infringing on the maritime claims of several Southeast Asia nations, including the Philippines. A Filipino activist holds a placard during a protest condemning China’s actions in the South China Sea, outside of the Chinese Consulate in Manila, the Philippines, on April 9, 2024 [Lisa Marie David/Reuters] In 2016, in a dispute brought by Manila against Beijing, the Permanent Court of Arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea lacked any legal basis. The ruling, which Beijing has rejected, has had little bearing on China’s growing assertive actions in the disputed maritime area. Chinese and Philippine vessels have engaged in increasingly tense confrontations over disputed islands, waters and reefs in the area over the past year. On January 14, the Philippines criticised China for deploying a “monster ship” inside Manila’s exclusive maritime economic zone, calling the move by China’s coastguard alarming and intended to intimidate fishermen operating around a contested shoal. “It is an escalation and provocative,” Philippines National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said at the time, adding that the presence of the vessel was “illegal” and “unacceptable”. In response, the Philippine navy held a “sovereignty patrol” with a live-fire exercise near the shoal, followed by joint military exercises with the US. That week, China’s People’s Liberation Army also conducted military combat readiness drills in the contested waters. The Scarborough Shoal is one of the hotly disputed chains of reefs in the South China Sea. While sitting inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), China holds de facto control over the shoal. atOptions = 'key' : '6c396458fda3ada2fbfcbb375349ce34', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 60, 'width' : 468, 'params' : ;

[josh0555]

This is the 2005 Christmas Station ID of GMA. The Christmas Station ID was themed “Kapuso, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko”.

The Christmas Station ID Theme was sung Martin Nievera, Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, Pops Fernandez, Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez featuring the Christmas Carollers from GMA and the original cast from the TV5 sketch comedy show Goin’ Bulilit. Somehow, The Christmas Station ID was shortened due to the video. Somehow, Starting in December 1, 2005, The song “Star ng Pasko” can be heard in DZBB Radyo 594 and various radio stations nationwide where it was extended. Somehow, This Christmas Station ID occurred before Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez’s wedding in December 30, 2005 which was 1 day before Ogie Alcasid’s birthday.

The Christmas Station ID contains Martin Nievera who is riding on a Jeepney featuring the crew members, Heart Evangelista, Erich Gonzales, Dimples Romana, Gabby Concepcion with his daughter KC Concepcion, Eddie Gutierrez and Ruffa Gutierrez, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Zoren Legaspi, Arcee Muñoz, Alice Dixson, Tuesday Vargas, Ritz Azul, Eula Caballero, Paolo Bediones, Sharon Cuneta, Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon, Piolo Pascual, Willie Revillame, Janno Gibbs, Mike Enriquez, Henry Omaga-Diaz, Karen Davila, Cheryl Cosim, Jessica Soho, Amelyn Veloso, Anthony Taberna, Alvin Elchico, Sunshine Dizon, Sue Ramirez, Cesar Montano, Ogie Diaz, Arthur Solinap, Joem Bascon, Jodi Sta. Maria, Richard Yap, Albert Martinez, IC Mendoza, Arjo Atayde, Jayson Gainza, Patrick Garcia, AJ Perez, Carl Cervantes, Jerome Ponce, Christian Bables, Terence Baylon, JM de Guzman, Jeric Gonzales, Albie Casiño, Chad Kinis, Paolo Serrano, Derek Ramsay, Carlos Agassi, Eric Fructuoso, Michael V., Allan K., Edu Manzano, Jericho Rosales, JC de Vera, Martin Escudero, Gerald Anderson, Sef Cadayona, Edgar Allan Guzman, John Lloyd Cruz, Sam Milby, Luis Manzano, Matteo Guidicelli, John Prats, Ces Oreña-Drilon, Carmina Villaroel, Eugene Domingo, Nora Aunor, Leandro Muñoz, Kristine Hermosa, Meg Imperial, Gelli de Belen, Janice de Belen, Mark Lapid, Cherie Gil, Raymart Santiago, Enrique Gil, Lovely Abella, Carlo Aquino, Jake Cuenca, Wendell Ramos, DingDong Avanzado, Rene Hawkins, Pen Medina, Ping Medina, Alex Vincent Medina, Eric Quizon, Epy Quizon, Richard Gutierrez, Raymond Gutierrez, Zanjoe Marudo, Polo Ravales, Christopher de Leon, Richard Gomez and his wife Lucy Torres-Gomez, Janine Gutierrez, Roxanne Guinoo, Joyce Jimenez, Maricel Soriano, Candy Pangilinan, Julia Montes, Angel Locsin, Coleen Garcia, Shaina Magdayao, Ellen Adarna, Louise de los Reyes, Jessie Mendiola, Ivana Alawi, Maja Salvador, Pooh, Pokwang, Valerie Concepcion, Shawn Yao, Keempee de Leon, Eula Valdez, RK Bagatsing, Ian Veneracion, Claudine Barretto, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Kim Atienza, Charo Santos-Concio, Cherry Pie Picache, Judy Ann Santos, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Jess Lapid Jr., Vhong Navarro, Billy Crawford, Teddy Corpuz, Isko Moreno, Mico Halili, JP de Guzman, Mel Martinez, Neil Ryan Sese, Long Mejia, Jolo Revilla, Bong Revilla, Paolo Ballesteros, Oyo Boy Sotto, McCoy de Leon, Jhong Hilario, Ryan Agoncillo, Maine Mendoza, Catherine Bernardo, RJ Padilla, Aga Muhlach, Bembol Roco, Geoff Eigenmann, Gabby Eigenmann, Bernard Palanca, Mico Palanca, featuring child actress Angelica Panganiban who is an original cast member of Goin’ Bulilit. The Christmas Station ID includes the original cast of Goin’ Bulilit, the Spice Girls, the supergroup Group of 30, the SexBomb Girls and DJ Lance the Dinosaur from Sesame Street. The Christmas Station ID also features the pre-debut of South Korean boy band BigBang, the characters from Disney’s Blues Clues including Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse with his wife Russi Taylor, the voice of Minnie Mouse and president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who turns on the Christmas Lights and hugs Angelica Panganiban at the very end. Sadly, Fernando Poe Jr. and Mark Gil don’t appear in the 2005 Christmas Station ID because Fernando Poe Jr. died in September 11, 2005 of leukemia and Mark Gil died in November 11, 2005 due to a respiratory failure.

But eventually, This was the only Christmas Station ID of GMA to feature the crew from ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5. But somehow, The clips will look different in the 2010 ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID which is “Da Best ang Pasko ng Pilipino” where they set up Christmas decorations in the house. Luckily, Martin Nievera can create a portal that could transport other crew members into other dimensions.

Somehow, Arcee Muñoz, Alice Dixson, Tuesday Vargas, Ritz Azul, Eula Caballero, Aga Muhlach, Sam Milby, Maja Salvador, Geoff Eigenmann, Gabby Eigenmann and Willie Revillame moved to TV5 in 2005. But Ryan Agoncillo, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Judy Ann Santos and IC Mendoza moved to ABS-CBN in 2005.

[oipolinternacional]

U.S., Philippine Officials Brief the News Media

Oipol & Oijust operating in U.S.A | U.S Department of Defense (DoD), communication, photos and video, July 30, 2024 | 33:47 | Cooperation and edition Oipol & Oijust, July 30, 2024 – Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro hold a press conference in the Philippine…

[indiaepost]

Philippines and US hold 2+2 dialogue in Manila

The US and the Philippines held a Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) on Tuesday in Manila. Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo and Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro Jr met with their counterparts, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Quezon City, for the fourth such dialogue between the two…

[radioshiga]

Chanceleres da China e Filipinas buscam reduzir tensões

Vientiane, Laos, 28 de julho de 2024 – Agência de Notícias Xinhua – Os principais diplomatas da China e das Filipinas concordaram em buscar a redução das tensões no Mar do Sul da China com base em um acordo provisório recentemente anunciado. O Ministro das Relações Exteriores chinês, Wang Yi, e o Secretário de Relações Exteriores filipino, Enrique Manalo, realizaram conversações na sexta-feira…

[chinemagazine]

Wang Yi met en garde les Philippines contre le déploiement d'un système de missiles intermédiaires américain

"Si les Philippines introduisaient le système de missiles intermédiaires américain, cela créerait des tensions et confrontations régionales"

Le ministre chinois des Affaires étrangères Wang Yi, a rencontré le 26 juillet le secrétaire philippin aux Affaires étrangères, Enrique Manalo, à qui il a mis en garde contre le déploiement d’un système de missiles intermédiaires américain. Wang Yi a souligné que “la Chine et les Philippines étaient de proches voisins de part et d’autre de la mer et que le bon voisinage, la coopération…

[rhk111sblog]

I just find it highly amusing that the Deparment of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo now wants to establish “Strategic Partnership” and “Maritime Cooperation” with Vietnam, the very same Country which occupies MOST of the Features that are being claimed by the Philippines, and who STOLE Pugad Island from the Philippines.

This is exactly the type of HYPOCRISY we see with these Pro-American People in our Government. Imagine that, the DFA constantly makes noise about “China”, and yet here is Vietnam who we also have Territorial Disputes with, but they insist on making “Friends” with Vietnam while constantly DEMONIZING China.

Now if their excuse is that China is more “Aggressive” than Vietnam, that is because the PROPAGANDA of the Americans and their Filipino Dogs is to CONSTANTLY GOAD China into Action while keeping away from Vietnam’s occupied Territories. That is how they MANIPULATE the Perception of the Filipino People against China but not against Vietnam

SOURCE: PH, Vietnam reinforce Strategic Partnership amid Maritime Security Threats {Archived Link}

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If you like my Work, buy me a Coffee to help support it at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rhk111

[head-post]

Philippine soldiers fight off “armed” Chinese Coast Guard with “bare hands”

Philippine soldiers used “bare hands” to fight off Chinese Coast Guard personnel armed with spears, knives and swords in a clash in the disputed South China Sea, Philippine media reported.

A Philippine sailor was seriously injured after what his military described as a “deliberate high-speed ramming” by the Chinese Coast Guard aimed at disrupting a resupply mission for troops stationed at Second Thomas Bank.

Chinese Coast Guard personnel, who the Philippine military said were carrying knives and spears, looted firearms and “deliberately rammed” Philippine boats participating in the mission. Philippine navy spokesperson Roy Trinidad said in a phone interview on Thursday:

“We were unprepared for that kind of response. We stuck with the rules of engagement. They were not allowed to use guns except for self defence.”

Trinidad also said China’s “illegal, aggressive and deceptive” actions increased the risk of miscalculations at sea.

But China’s foreign ministry disputed the Philippines’ claim, and its spokesman said Thursday that the necessary measures were taken lawfully, professionally and above reproach. Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian also said:

“The Philippine ships not only carry building materials, they also smuggled weapons and equipment and deliberately rammed Chinese ships. Non-personnel have also splashed water and thrown objects at Chinese law enforcement officers, which has obviously aggravated the tense situation at sea, seriously threatening the safety of Chinese personnel and vessels.”

Tensions are rising in the region

Clashes between the Philippines and China, which claims much of the South China Sea, have become more tense and frequent over the past year as Beijing insists on its claims and Manila refuses to end its resupply mission. China considers such missions illegal incursions and has tried to repel the vessels.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone call with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo on Wednesday to discuss China’s actions in the South China Sea, which Washington, Britain and Canada have condemned.

Read more HERE

[kozbeszedhu]

Szijjártó 10 ezer Fülöp-szigeteki vendégmunkásról beszél

[warningsine]

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Washington’s top diplomat and defense chief announced $500 million in new military funding Tuesday to boost the Philippines’ external defense and progress on a proposed military intelligence-sharing pact as both allies renewed their concerns over China’s continuing aggressive actions in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has fortified Manila’s decades-old treaty alliance with Washington as hostilities between Philippine and Chinese forces flared since last year in the disputed South China Sea.

Marcos hailed “very open” communication lines between Washington and Manila, adding that the two countries’ treaty alliance and key issues in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region “are continuously examined and reexamined so we are agile in terms of our responses.”

Marcos has underscored the need for a U.S. military presence for Asian stability and peace.

After meeting their Philippine counterparts later, Blinken and Austin announced the $500 million military funding to help modernize the Philippine military and coast guard and boost security collaboration amid shared concerns over China’s assertive actions.

“Both of us share concerns and many other countries in the region share concerns, as well, about some of the actions that the People’s Republic of China has taken, escalatory actions in the South China Sea, the East China Sea and elsewhere,” including “coercive methods,” Blinken said in a joint news conference.

He and Austin renewed a warning that the U.S. would help defend the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under attack in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea.

“Every peso or dollar spent on hardening Philippine capabilities to defend itself and to deter unlawful aggression will be a plus against any threat actor, whether it be China or anyone,” Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.

The visit came the week after the Philippines and reached a temporary arrangement to prevent clashes around the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal like the violent faceoff between their forces on June 17.

Philippine forces transported food and other supplies and a fresh batch of navy personnel Saturday to Manila’s territorial outpost at the shoal without a confrontation were reported for the first time since last year.

The U.S. along with Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore, have welcomed the arrangement to deescalate tensions, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said.

But the Philippines would continue strengthening its territorial defense with the assistance of the U.S. and other friendly military powers and build new security alliances, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said.

“The non-confrontational resupply and rotation is purely temporary. The People’s Republic of China will not stop and we are determined just as well,” Romualdez told The Associated Press.

The $500 million in U.S. military financing would include funding for reinforcing the Philippine navy’s capability. About $125 million would be used for constructions and other improvements in parts of Philippine military bases to be occupied by U.S. forces under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, Romualdez said.

With strong support in Congress, U.S. military funding may double next year “depending on our capacity to absorb it,” Romualdez said.

Progress in negotiations on a proposed military intelligence-sharing pact, the General Security of Military Information Agreement was announced by Austin, who said that the accord may be concluded later this year.

The agreement, similar to ones Washington has forged with other allied countries, would allow the U.S. to provide high-level intelligence, more sophisticated weapons, including missile systems, and access to satellite and drone surveillance systems to the Philippines with an assurance that such intelligence and details about sophisticated weapons would be closely kept secret in a highly secured manner to prevent leaks, two Philippine officials told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the issue publicly.

Philippine efforts to obtain sophisticated weapons from the U.S. military in the past have been hampered by the lack of such an intelligence deal.

In his meeting with Blinken and Austin, Marcos alluded to the intense political divisions in the U.S. ahead of the presidential elections this year.

“I’m a bit surprised considering how interesting your political situation has become back in the States, but I’m glad that you found the time to come and visit with us,” Marcos said.

Meanwhile, Blinken said U.S. support to the Philippines would not change regardless of who becomes America’s next president. Numerous countries have expressed concerns about the implications of former President Donald Trump returning to the White House in January after President Joe Biden withdrew and threw his support to Vice President Kamala Harris.

“That doesn’t change from election to election,” Blinken said. “That commitment will endure, again, irrespective of administrations and this has been a long and powerful story in our history.”

Marcos approved last year an expansion of the U.S. military presence in four more Philippine military camps under the 2014 defense agreement, and the largest war drills between Filipino and U.S. forces have been staged under his administration, drawing opposition and alarm from China. Beijing has said that increased deployments of American forces would endanger regional peace and security.

The Philippines has responded that it has the right to move to safeguard its territorial interests and national security.