ASEAN Perspectives

Pres. Duterte tells UN: PHL win in 2016 Arbitral Ruling “now part of int’l law”, affirms claim in South China Sea

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte told the United Nations General Assembly that the Philippine government is standing firm in its “commitment in the South China Sea” including the 2016 Arbitral Award which invalidated the “nine-dash line” claim of China on the South China Sea. Speaking during the High-Level General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), President Duterte said that the Philippines is standing firm on its claim […]

Pompeo urges Southeast Asia to shun South China Sea firms

  HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Washington’s top diplomat urged Southeast Asia on Thursday to cut ties with Chinese companies helping build islands in the South China Sea, weeks after the US blacklisted two dozen firms working in the disputed waters. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s comments came at a regional Asian summit overshadowed by the US-China rivalry over a range of issues, from trade to the coronavirus. Tensions are also simmering over the South China […]

Pres. Duterte calls on int’l leaders to unite vs terror, virus threat; urges economic cooperation amid pandemic

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte called on various economies to address the twin threats of COVID-19 and terrorism amid the virus pandemic by becoming more open economically with the proper observance of health protocols, and to engage in stronger cooperation among nations. In his statement during the Aqaba Process Virtual Meeting on COVID-19 response hosted by Jordanian King Abdullah II, President Duterte called for global unity to address terrorism and COVID-19 not by […]

Pres Duterte honors hero soldiers in Jolo, vows support for troops to crush terrorists amid pandemic

(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte lauded the men in uniform fighting terrorism in the country as he honored the soldiers who were killed in the Aug. 24 terrorist bombing in Jolo, Sulu. In his talk to the troops in Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Headquarters in Jolo, Sulu, President Duterte also vowed to give all the support needed by the soldiers to fight terrorism amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “To our troops, I stand in solidarity […]

PHL defense chief says China fabricating sea claims over PHL maritime territory

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — China’s “nine-dash line” used to claim most of the South China Sea is a fabrication, the Philippine defence minister said, as he accused Beijing of illegally occupying Filipino maritime territory. The remarks late Sunday come amid a fresh row between Manila and Beijing over the disputed Scarborough shoal, which has long been a flashpoint between the two countries. The Philippine foreign ministry last week lodged a diplomatic protest over what it […]

Philippines, China in fresh row over Scarborough shoal

  MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines accused China’s coast guard Friday of illegally seizing fishing equipment near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, sparking a fresh spat with Beijing. Scarborough Shoal, one of several reefs controlled by China, is one of the region’s richest fishing grounds and a flash point between the two countries. The Philippine foreign ministry said it has lodged a diplomatic protest over the “illegal confiscation” by the Chinese […]

Stronger ASEAN currency swap system takes effect, enabling PHL to borrow up to $22-B from facility

(Eagle News) — A stronger currency swap among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took effect on Tuesday, June 23, which would enably the Philippines to borrow up to $22.76 billion from the facility as a signatory to this, the Department of Finance said. The amended Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) agreement took effect Tuesday “offering a stronger currency swap arrangement and financial safety net” among ASEAN member-states and their partner-economies […]

Reps. Marcoleta, Barzaga point out ABSCBN’s intricate corporate layering, and how its foreign PDR holders given power of control

Solons quiz ABSCBN counsel responsible for PDRs on how ABSCBN allegedly “circumvented” PHL Constitution on mass media ownership   (Eagle News) – Two lawmakers pointed out how media giant ABS CBN used an “intricate web of corporate layering” as they questioned ABS CBN and their lawyers Thursday, June 11, on how they used the so-called Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs) to possibly “circumvent” the Constitutional limitation on media ownership to allow foreigners to have a level […]

Singapore Airlines reports nearly $150 million virus loss

  SINGAPORE (AFP) — Singapore Airlines reported an annual loss of almost $150 million Thursday, driven by the collapse in air travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and the latest sign of the outbreak’s devastating impact on the aviation sector. The airline group — which includes subsidiaries SilkAir and Scoo — suffered a net loss of Sg$212 million (US$148 million) for the financial year that ended on March 31, compared to a profit of Sg$683 […]

Malaysia to ease virus curbs as outbreak slows

  KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysia will allow most businesses to re-open from next week, the prime minister said Friday, easing a lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus as the country’s outbreak slows. The Southeast Asian nation in mid-March ordered the closure of all but essential businesses as well as schools and asked people to stay home, as cases surged. But the number of new infections has slowed markedly in recent weeks, […]

Virus pushes Indonesia zoo animals to brink of starvation

BANDUNG, Indonesia  (AFP) — Thousands of animals, including endangered Sumatran tigers and Bornean orangutans, are facing starvation at Indonesia’s zoos as the global pandemic pushes shuttered facilities toward collapse, officials say. Some 60 cash-strapped animal parks — home to roughly 70,000 creatures — across the Southeast Asian archipelago have been closed since mid-March and most say they have only enough food until the middle of May. “Most zoos relied on ticket sales so when they […]