ASEAN IN FOCUS

Beijing lashes out at US for South China Sea sail-by

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Friday scolded the United States for sending naval vessels close to disputed islands in the South China Sea where Beijing has built military installations. The US and its allies have in recent times sent planes and warships to the area for “freedom of navigation” operations, intended as a signal to Beijing of their right under international law to pass through the waters claimed by China. The USS Chancellorsville guided […]

EBC-NET 25’s entry “Kid Kuwento” brings honor to the PHL as it bags award at 2nd Southeast video festival for children

  (Eagle News) – NET 25’s entry “Kid Kuwento: Everyone can be a hero” bagged the award for the professional non-fiction category for ages seven and below in the recent the 2nd Southeast Asia Video Festival for Children. This entry from Eagle Broadcasting Corporation bested other entries from other ASEAN member countries which participated in the international children’s video festival, bringing honor to the country as it not only represented EBC, but the Philippines as […]

Indonesia set to free Bali Nine drug smuggler Lawrence

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia is expected to release the only female member of the “Bali Nine” heroin-trafficking gang from prison on Wednesday after serving 13 years in a case that caused a diplomatic furore. Australian Renae Lawrence, 41, was arrested in 2005 when authorities caught her with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin strapped to her body as she tried to fly out of the international airport on the holiday island of Bali. She […]

ASEAN, China agree on self-restraint, value of freedom of navigation and overflight in South China Sea, says President Duterte

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte reaffirmed ASEAN and China’s shared commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, as he stressed that both ASEAN and China had agreed on the value of self-restraint, and freedom of navigationa and overflight in the disputed South China Sea. “President Duterte reiterated the need to maintain and promote peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of […]

APEC leaders divided after US, China spat

  by Andrew Beatty / Ayee Macaraig Agence France Presse PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AFP) — Asia-Pacific leaders failed Sunday to bridge gaping divisions over trade at a summit dominated by a war of words between the US and China as they vie for regional influence. For the first time, APEC leaders were unable to agree on a formal written declaration amid sharp differences between the world’s top two economies over the rules of […]

US, China in APEC cruise ship clash on trade, influence

  by Andrew Beatty and Richard Carter Agence France Presse PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AFP) — China and the US crossed swords Saturday ahead of an APEC summit, duelling over protectionism, trade tariffs and “chequebook diplomacy” as they laid out sharply contrasting visions for the Pacific Rim region. In combative back-to-back speeches at a business forum held on a hulking cruise ship moored in Port Moresby, Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence […]

Boracay rehab takes spotlight at 2018 East Asian Seas Congress

  The highly touted efforts to rehabilitate the world-famous Boracay Island take center stage as the Philippines hosts the 2018 East Asian Seas Congress in Iloilo City on November 27-30. Organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Partnerships in Environmental Management of the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), the four-day congress will bring together international organizations, experts and multi-sector stakeholders to exchange knowledge and build capacity towards sustainable management and […]

APEC summit host urges respect for trade rules

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AFP) — The leader of Papua New Guinea, host of this year’s APEC summit, Friday urged respect for international trade rules by “countries large and small” as spats between the US and China threatened to overshadow the gathering. As leaders from Asian Pacific nations prepared to fly in to Port Moresby for their annual meeting, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill appeared to call his guests to order on damaging trade rows. […]

Thais take ASEAN chair, haunted by past summit chaos

by Martin Abbugao and Jerome Taylor Agence France-Presse SINGAPORE (AFP) — Protests, broken windows and dignitaries forced to flee by helicopter — Thailand’s last stint as host of Southeast Asia’s biggest summit was devoured by political chaos. But as the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) passed Thursday from Singapore to Thailand, Bangkok is hoping unrest will not spoil its year in the spotlight. The annual ASEAN summit has become a major […]

Xi arrives in Papua New Guinea ahead of APEC summit

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AFP) — President Xi Jinping arrived in Papua New Guinea on Thursday for a much-vaunted state visit ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit he is expected to dominate. Xi touched down in Port Moresby, where he was greeted on the tarmac by tribesmen and women in traditional attire, complete with feather headdresses. With US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the APEC leaders meeting in Port Moresby on […]

Pangilinan: Asean-China talks on territorial dispute should be anchored on respect

(Eagle News) — Talks for the creation of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea should be anchored on “respect,” Senator Kiko Pangilinan said on Thursday, Nov. 15. “Respect. For oneself, for who you’re talking to, for your countrymen, for the environment. That should be the basis of any Asean-China talks on the Code of Conduct in the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea,” Pangilinan said in a statement. According to Pangilinan, […]