Philippines rejects new Chinese map over disputed territories in South China Sea - The Straits Times

MANILA - The Philippines on Thursday joined Malaysia and Indonesia in disputing a new Chinese map claiming the waters off the South-east Asian nations’ coasts, as well as part of the north-east of India.

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is rejecting the map issued on Aug 28 by Beijing’s Ministry of Natural Resources.

The new map features a 10-dash line that includes the eastern parts of the disputed South China Sea that falls within Manila’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Philippines officially calls this area the West Philippine Sea.

A 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling has already rejected Beijing’s sweeping claim over most of the South China Sea, which is also being claimed by four Asean countries – the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam – as well as Taiwan. China’s claim has long been represented by a nine-dash line in its map.

Beijing, however, has refused to recognise this ruling and has instead ramped up its military presence and artificial island-building activities in the disputed waters.

The Philippines said Beijing’s latest attempt to legitimise its claim over the country’s features and maritime zones in the disputed waterway has no basis under international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

“The 2016 Arbitral Award invalidated the nine-dashed line. It categorically stated that ‘maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant part of the nine-dash line are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China’s maritime entitlements under the Convention’,” said the DFA in a statement.

“The Philippines, therefore, calls on China to act responsibly and abide by its obligations under Unclos and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA added.

China’s new map also overlapped with Malaysia’s EEZ off the coast of the Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island. Malaysia disputed the map on Wednesday, making it the first Asean country to do so.

“Malaysia does not recognise China’s claims in the South China Sea, as outlined in the ‘China Standard Map 2023 Edition’, which covers Malaysia’s maritime area,” the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said.

Kuala Lumpur described the South China Sea issue as “complex and sensitive”, and said the dispute must be “handled peacefully and rationally through dialogue” based on international law.

Malaysia said it supported the creation of a Code of Conduct on the disputed waterway, which South-east Asian nations are currently negotiating.

India, likewise, protested against China’s new map, which is claiming the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai Chin plateau.

India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi on Tuesday said China’s claims have no basis.

“Such steps by the Chinese side only complicate the resolution of the boundary in question,” Mr Bagchi said.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vYXNpYS9zZS1hc2lhL3BoaWxpcHBpbmVzLXJlamVjdHMtbmV3LWNoaW5lc2UtbWFwLW92ZXItZGlzcHV0ZWQtdGVycml0b3JpZXMtaW4tc291dGgtY2hpbmEtc2Vh0gEA?oc=5

2023-08-31 07:10:00Z
2384634692

Malaysia, India protest China's new map staking claims over disputed territories; Indonesia seeking clarity - CNA

MALAYSIA TO SEND PROTEST NOTE TO CHINA

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir on Thursday (Aug 31) said that the country will send a protest note to China following its claim on the South China Sea as outlined in the new map, The Star reported.

This comes after his ministry had earlier said that it does not recognise China's claims in the South China Sea, adding that the map holds no binding authority over Malaysia which marks its Independence Day - or Hari Merdeka - on Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Hari Merdeka event, Mr Zambry said that Malaysia’s next course of action following the ministry’s statement was to send a protest note to China.

“That is the practice,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.

Malaysia’s foreign ministry on Wednesday had said that the map had among other things, displayed China's unilateral maritime claims that encroach upon the country's maritime areas in Sabah and Sarawak.

Bernama reported that the ministry stressed that Malaysia consistently rejects any foreign party's claims to sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over maritime features or maritime areas based on the 1979 Malaysia New Map.

“Malaysia also views the South China Sea issue as a complex and sensitive matter,” it reportedly said. 

It also underscored the need for the issue to be managed peacefully and rationally through dialogue and negotiations based on provisions of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

"Malaysia remains committed to cooperating to ensure all parties implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea comprehensively and effectively,” said Malaysia’s foreign ministry.

"Malaysia is also committed to the effective and substantive negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, with the goal of finalising the COC as soon as possible.”

INDONESIA’S RESPONSE

China and ASEAN had reached an agreement on guidelines to speed up negotiations of the COC during a meeting of their foreign ministers in Jakarta on July 13.

Indonesia, which is not a claimant-state, has not yet issued an official response over China’s map that claims territory over the Natuna islet cluster that falls within its 200-nautical-mile EEZ.

But it is also claimed by Beijing within its nine-dash line over the South China Sea, a crucial waterway vital to international shipping lanes and an area of increasing contestation between China and the US.

According to BBC News Indonesia, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently looking for "the truth of the news" regarding the new map. 

"We are currently asking for information from the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing on the veracity of the news," foreign ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah reportedly said on Wednesday. 

When asked whether Indonesia would protest like India did, he said that the authorities are "waiting for input from the Indonesian Embassy first".

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMie2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9jaGluYS1uZXctbWFwLXNvdXRoLWNoaW5hLXNlYS10ZXJyaXRvcnktY2xhaW0tcHJvdGVzdC1tYWxheXNpYS1pbmRpYS1pbmRvbmVzaWEtMzczNjgzMdIBAA?oc=5

2023-08-31 04:28:00Z
2384634692

China issues highest typhoon warning as Saola moves towards Hong Kong - CNA

BEIJING: China issued the highest typhoon warning on Thursday (Aug 31) as Typhoon Saola crawled closer to the southeastern coastline, threatening Hong Kong and other major manufacturing hubs in neighbouring Guangdong province.

Chinese forecasters issued a typhoon red warning at 6am. China's National Meteorological Center said Saola, currently located about 295km southeast of Guangdong province, will move northwest across the South China Sea at a speed of about 10kmh, gradually approaching the coast of Guangdong, then slowly weakening in intensity.

Wind speeds at 9am were clocked at 209 kmh.

Saola will make landfall along the coast somewhere from Huilai County in Guangdong to Hong Kong on the afternoon to the night of Sep 1, the centre said.

China Railway has suspended several major train lines and Shanghai halted trains heading to Guangdong, according to local media.

As Saola edges closer to Guangdong, winds over the region will strengthen gradually, the Hong Kong Observatory said, noting that it will raise its strong wind Signal to No. 3 - the second lowest - later Thursday.

Saola will also bring storm surges to coastal low-lying areas, the Hong Kong Observatory noted, estimating Saola is currently about 440km from the metropolis.

Until 8am Friday there will be heavy rainfall in parts of Fujian and areas of Guangdong. Downpours could be 100mm to 220mm in some areas.

Saola's winds are also affecting Fujian province, where videos on social media showed waves crashing along the coastline. The meteorological administration of Shishi City issued a typhoon blue warning.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9jaGluYS10eXBob29uLWhpZ2hlc3Qtd2FybmluZy1zYW9sYS1ob25nLWtvbmctMzczNjY5MdIBAA?oc=5

2023-08-31 02:26:30Z
2368728213

Former Thai PM Thaksin prepares request for royal pardon: Lawyer - CNA

BANGKOK: Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is preparing documentation to draft a request for a royal pardon, but when it would be submitted was at his discretion, his lawyer said on Wednesday (Aug 30).

Thaksin returned to Thailand in a vaunted homecoming last week after spending 15 years abroad in self-exile. After landing in a private jet, he was transferred to prison to serve an eight-year sentence on charges of abuse of power and conflict of interest remnant from his days in power.

Hours after his arrival, Srettha Thavisin of the Shinawatra family-backed Pheu Thai party sailed through a parliamentary vote to become prime minister, fuelling speculation that Thaksin had struck a deal with his former enemies among the country's conservative and royalist military that ousted his government in 2006 and 2014.

Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party have denied this.

During his first night in Thailand, he was moved to a police hospital with chest pains and high blood pressure.

On Wednesday his lawyer Winyat Chartmontri told Reuters the former prime minister was preparing a request for a royal pardon.

"Thaksin is proceeding on his own and is currently in the preparatory stages of documentation and drafting the request," Winyat said, adding the legal team has not seen the request.

The timing of when the request will be submitted will be at Thaksin's own discretion, said Winyat.

Despite being away for 15 years, Thaksin still towers over Thai politics, known for populist policies like universal healthcare and cash handouts. Parties loyal to him have won every election in the last 20 years until 2023.

Anti-Thaksin groups have petitioned the corrections department to block any attempt to seek a pardon, citing that corruption cases should not receive clemency.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMieGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9mb3JtZXItdGhhaS1wcmltZS1taW5pc3Rlci10aGFrc2luLXNoaW5hd2F0cmEtcHJlcGFyZXMtcmVxdWVzdC1yb3lhbC1wYXJkb24tMzczNTAyMdIBAA?oc=5

2023-08-30 11:42:00Z
2382825647

India allows rice exports to Singapore: ministry - The Star Online

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

India allows rice exports to Singapore: ministry  The Star OnlineView Full coverage on Google News
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXN0YXIuY29tLm15L2FzZWFucGx1cy9hc2VhbnBsdXMtbmV3cy8yMDIzLzA4LzMwL2luZGlhLWFsbG93cy1yaWNlLWV4cG9ydHMtdG8tc2luZ2Fwb3JlLW1pbmlzdHJ50gEA?oc=5

2023-08-30 04:03:00Z
CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXN0YXIuY29tLm15L2FzZWFucGx1cy9hc2VhbnBsdXMtbmV3cy8yMDIzLzA4LzMwL2luZGlhLWFsbG93cy1yaWNlLWV4cG9ydHMtdG8tc2luZ2Fwb3JlLW1pbmlzdHJ50gEA

Wanted: Man who chopped tree down at new Tampines BTO estate - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - The Tampines Town Council is looking for a man who illegally chopped down a tree at an HDB housing estate at Tampines Street 62.

The town council had put up notices at the GreenDew estate, a new Build-to-Order (BTO) project in Tampines, on Aug 24, urging those with information on the culprit to come forward.

The notices carry a picture of a man taking what looks like a chopper to young saplings at the estate.

The town council told The Straits Times that one tree has been chopped down, while two others have been damaged, although it was not able to confirm if the same culprit was responsible.

A town council spokesman told The Straits Times that it was informed on Aug 23 that a resident was “seen chopping a tree” near Block 648C Tampines Street 62.

The Straits Times visited the site and saw two crudely hacked trees in front of the lift lobby of Block 648C. One felled tree was lying on a side.

“We are working with HDB to investigate the matter and have posted notices in the vicinity, seeking residents’ assistance in identifying the responsible party,” said the town council spokesman.

He added that the town council was taking the incident seriously and warned that damaging or removing plants, shrubs or trees in common areas is a violation of town council by-laws.

“We have reported the incident to the police, and appropriate action will be taken against the offender,” he said.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vc2luZ2Fwb3JlL3dhbnRlZC1tYW4td2hvLWNob3BwZWQtZG93bi10cmVlLWF0LW5ldy10YW1waW5lcy1idG8tZXN0YXRl0gEA?oc=5

2023-08-30 07:28:00Z
2376850020

US seeking more 'predictable' business environment in China: Raimondo - CNA

Those fears have been compounded this year by a broad crackdown on US consulting firms operating in China.

A new anti-espionage law, which came into force on Jul 1, has also spooked foreign and domestic firms as they try to decipher authorities' intentions and, crucially, pinpoint what is off-limits.

In a Tuesday meeting with Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing, Raimondo raised what Washington sees as unfair trade practices by China, according to a US Department of Commerce readout.

She also emphasised the "importance of strengthening the protection of trade secrets for US businesses operating in China".

The commerce secretary is one of a number of senior US officials to visit China in recent months - part of an effort by Washington to improve its working relationship with its largest strategic rival.

Raimondo has used the trip to seek more open discussions with the Chinese over restrictive trade curbs and the two sides have agreed to set up a working group to iron out the laundry list of trade disputes between them.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvdXMtc2Vla2luZy1jaGluYS1wcmVkaWN0YWJsZS1idXNpbmVzcy1lbnZpcm9ubWVudC0zNzMzOTIx0gEA?oc=5

2023-08-30 02:51:16Z
2352572814