Philippines says China has no right to interfere in ‘lawful' South China Sea activities
Published on: Thu, May 29, 2025 Text Size: Foreign ministry spokesman Teresita Daza said they are clearly within their rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research. (EPA Images pic) MANILA: The Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also 'rejects and refutes' recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China between them have claims and a presence on dozens of features in the Spratly archipelago, ranging from reefs and rocks to islands, natural and artificial. China's manmade islands there include runways, radar towers, ports and missile systems. 'We urge China to respect the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea,' foreign ministry spokesman Teresita Daza said in a statement. China and the Philippines traded accusations last week following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea, the latest incident in a long-running row in the strategic waterway. The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a vessel as it conducted marine research around a disputed reef.
Advertisement The Chinese coast guard said two Philippine vessels had illegally entered waters near Subi Reef, a Chinese-built artificial island, and organised personnel to land on the unoccupied sandbars of Sandy Cay. 'The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so,' Daza said. 'China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities.' China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 said Beijing's expansive claim has no basis under international law. The Chinese embassy in its statement sent to media on Monday said the Philippines had, since January, made 27 'unauthorised landings' on features, despite a 2002 agreement among Southeast Asian countries and China to refrain from doing so. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
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Zhang said he signed up for a new four-floor office building in Jakarta in May at an annual rent of 100,000 yuan ($13,936), up 43 per cent from last year, underscoring the pent-up demand. "The 19 per cent level is lower than my expectation. I thought it would be 30 per cent," Zhang said, referring to Indonesia's tariff deal and adding that net profit margins in China could be as little as 3 per cent. "In Indonesia, it's relatively easy to achieve net profit margins of 20 per cent to 30 per cent." And then there's the growing pool of consumers, with household spending making up more than half of Indonesia's GDP. The gauge accelerated slightly to 4.97 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter, helped by several public holidays. "Indonesia has always stood out for a different reason. 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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Chinese investors eyeing Indonesia to avoid US tariffs, tap local market
JAKARTA: Gao Xiaoyu, the founder of an industrial land consulting firm in Jakarta, has been inundated with calls from Chinese companies eager to expand or set up operations in Indonesia as they try to shield themselves from the United States' hefty import tariffs. The 19% US tariff rate for goods from Indonesia is the same as for Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, and just below Vietnam's 20%. China's rates currently exceed 30%. But Indonesia, South-East Asia's biggest economy and the world's fourth most populous country, has an edge over its neighbours - the potential of its vast consumer market. "We are quite busy these days. We have meetings from morning till night," said Gao, who set up her company PT Yard Zeal Indonesia in 2021 with four employees and now has more than 40. "The industrial parks are also very busy." Indonesia's economy expanded at a better-than-expected 5.12% in the second quarter, the fastest pace in two years, government data showed last week. "If you can establish a strong business presence in Indonesia, you've essentially captured half of the Southeast Asian market," said Zhang Chao, a Chinese manufacturer who sells motorcycle headlights in Indonesia, the world's third biggest market for motorbikes. Vietnam and Thailand were among the major beneficiaries of the first wave of Chinese companies' overseas diversification, but amid the latest trade turmoil with the United States, other near neighbours are benefiting. "There has always been a synergy... with Chinese corporates having the confidence to set up shop with ease in Indonesia," said Mira Arifin, the Indonesia country head at Bank of America. "Indonesia has a huge talent pool with a dynamic young demographic that encourages foreign investors to rapidly build scale in the country." Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has championed China ties, visiting Beijing in November where he held talks with President Xi Jinping and welcoming the Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Jakarta in May. Investment from China and Hong Kong into Indonesia was up 6.5% year-on-year to US$8.2 billion in the first six months of 2025. Total FDI grew 2.58% over the same period to 432.6 trillion rupiah ($26.56 billion), and the government has said it expects more investments in the second half of the year. To be sure, challenges persist across Indonesia, including regulatory hurdles, bureaucratic red tape, ownership restrictions, deficient infrastructure and the lack of a complete industrial supply chain that made China the "workshop of the world" for decades. Some foreign investors have also raised concerns about the populist Prabowo's fiscal prudence, as he pushes ahead with his campaign promises, including a flagship programme to deliver free meals to schoolchildren and pregnant women. After falling in March to its lowest level against the US dollar since June 1998, the rupiah has steadied. It is currently trading about 1% below its level at the end of last year. At the sprawling, more than 2,700 hectare (6,672 acres) Subang Smartpolitan industrial park in West Java, executives said it had been inundated with enquiries from Chinese investors. "Our phone, email and WeChat were immediately busy with new customers, agents wanting to introduce clients," once the US-Indonesia trade deal was announced last month, said Abednego Purnomo (pic), vice-president for sales, marketing and tenant relations of Suryacipta Swadaya, Subang Smartpolitan's operator. "Coincidentally, all of them were from China." Companies ranging from toy makers and textile firms to electric vehicle makers are scouring for facilities, particularly in West Java, the most populous province in Indonesia, which is home to the Patimban deep sea port. Chinese demand has pushed up prices of industrial real estate and warehouses by 15% to 25% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, the fastest rise in 20 years, according to Gao, from the land consulting firm. Rivan Munansa, the head of industrial and logistics services at the Indonesian arm of global property consultant Colliers International said that there was an urgency among Chinese firms to move and the company was getting inquiries for industrial land "almost every day" in the run-up to the tariff agreement. "Most of them (Chinese companies) are looking for immediate opportunities. So, they want land and a temporary building that can be used immediately, it's like a crash programme,' Rivan said. Zhang said he signed up for a new four-floor office building in Jakarta in May at an annual rent of 100,000 yuan ($13,936), up 43% from last year, underscoring the pent-up demand. "The 19% level is lower than my expectation. I thought it would be 30%," Zhang said, referring to Indonesia's tariff deal and adding that net profit margins in China could be as little as 3%. "In Indonesia, it's relatively easy to achieve net profit margins of 20% to 30%." And then there's the growing pool of consumers with household spending making up more than half of Indonesia's GDP. The gauge accelerated slightly to 4.97% year-on-year in the second quarter, helped by several public holidays. "Indonesia has always stood out for a different reason. Beyond supply chain diversification, Indonesia offers what few others in the regions can: a massive domestic market," said Marco Foster, Asean director at Dezan Shira & Associates, an investment consultancy. - Reuters
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
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JAKARTA, Aug 14 — Gao Xiaoyu, the founder of an industrial land consulting firm in Jakarta, has been inundated with calls from Chinese companies eager to expand or set up operations in Indonesia as they try to shield themselves from the United States' hefty import tariffs. The 19 per cent US tariff rate for goods from Indonesia is the same as for Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, and just below Vietnam's 20 per cent. China's rates currently exceed 30 per cent. But Indonesia, South-east Asia's biggest economy and the world's fourth most populous country, has an edge over its neighbours — the potential of its vast consumer market. 'We are quite busy these days. We have meetings from morning till night,' said Gao, who set up her company PT Yard Zeal Indonesia in 2021 with four employees and now has more than 40. 'The industrial parks are also very busy.' Indonesia's economy expanded at a better-than-expected 5.12 per cent in the second quarter, the fastest pace in two years, government data showed last week. 'If you can establish a strong business presence in Indonesia, you've essentially captured half of the South-east Asian market,' said Zhang Chao, a Chinese manufacturer who sells motorcycle headlights in Indonesia, the world's third biggest market for motorbikes. Vietnam and Thailand were among the major beneficiaries of the first wave of Chinese companies' overseas diversification, but amid the latest trade turmoil with the United States, other near neighbours are benefiting. 'There has always been a synergy … with Chinese corporates having the confidence to set up shop with ease in Indonesia,' said Mira Arifin, the Indonesia country head at Bank of America. 'Indonesia has a huge talent pool with a dynamic young demographic that encourages foreign investors to rapidly build scale in the country.' Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has championed China ties, visiting Beijing in November where he held talks with President Xi Jinping and welcoming the Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Jakarta in May. Investment from China and Hong Kong into Indonesia was up 6.5 per cent year-on-year to US$8.2 billion (RM34.4 billion) in the first six months of 2025. Total FDI grew 2.58 per cent over the same period to 432.6 trillion rupiah (US$26.56 billion), and the government has said it expects more investments in the second half of the year. Massive consumer market To be sure, challenges persist across Indonesia, including regulatory hurdles, bureaucratic red tape, ownership restrictions, deficient infrastructure and the lack of a complete industrial supply chain that made China the 'workshop of the world' for decades. Some foreign investors have also raised concerns about the populist Prabowo's fiscal prudence, as he pushes ahead with his campaign promises, including a flagship programme to deliver free meals to schoolchildren and pregnant women. After falling in March to its lowest level against the US dollar since June 1998, the rupiah has steadied. It is currently trading about 1 per cent below its level at the end of last year. At the sprawling, more than 2,700 hectare Subang Smartpolitan industrial park in West Java, executives said it had been inundated with enquiries from Chinese investors. 'Our phone, email and WeChat were immediately busy with new customers, agents wanting to introduce clients,' once the US-Indonesia trade deal was announced last month, said Abednego Purnomo, vice-president for sales, marketing and tenant relations of Suryacipta Swadaya, Subang Smartpolitan's operator. 'Coincidentally, all of them were from China.' Companies ranging from toy makers and textile firms to electric vehicle makers are scouring for facilities, particularly in West Java, the most populous province in Indonesia, which is home to the Patimban deep sea port. Chinese demand has pushed up prices of industrial real estate and warehouses by 15 per cent to 25 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, the fastest rise in 20 years, according to Gao, from the land consulting firm. Rivan Munansa, the head of industrial and logistics services at the Indonesian arm of global property consultant Colliers International said that there was an urgency among Chinese firms to move and the company was getting inquiries for industrial land 'almost every day' in the run-up to the tariff agreement. 'Most of them (Chinese companies) are looking for immediate opportunities. So, they want land and a temporary building that can be used immediately, it's like a crash programme,' Rivan said. Zhang said he signed up for a new four-floor office building in Jakarta in May at an annual rent of 100,000 yuan (US$13,936), up 43 per cent from last year, underscoring the pent-up demand. 'The 19 per cent level is lower than my expectation. I thought it would be 30 per cent,' Zhang said, referring to Indonesia's tariff deal and adding that net profit margins in China could be as little as 3 per cent. 'In Indonesia, it's relatively easy to achieve net profit margins of 20 per cent to 30 per cent.' And then there's the growing pool of consumers with household spending making up more than half of Indonesia's GDP. The gauge accelerated slightly to 4.97 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter, helped by several public holidays. 'Indonesia has always stood out for a different reason. Beyond supply chain diversification, Indonesia offers what few others in the regions can: a massive domestic market,' said Marco Foster, Asean director at Dezan Shira & Associates, an investment consultancy. — Reuters
