Latest news with #EloisaLopez
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DFA rejects Chinese Embassy's claims over Pag-asa Island and cays
An aerial view shows Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea on March 9, 2023. REUTERS/ Eloisa Lopez/ File photo The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday rejected recent statements of the Chinese Embassy in Manila claiming Chinese ownership over Pag-asa Island and its cays and calling Philippine activities there 'illegal.' In a statement, the DFA emphasized that Pag-asa Island and its cays were part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), where the Philippines has longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction. '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,' the statement read. The DFA maintained that the country was following international law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). 'The actions of Philippine authorities in the area are a valid exercise of Philippine sovereignty and consistent with international law… China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities,' it added. In an interview on Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy spokesperson said that the Philippines violated the DOC's article 5, which stated that all Parties must 'exercise self-restraint' in conducting activities that might cause dispute and affect peace and stability. 'Nansha Qundao, including Tiexian Jiao, has always been China's territory. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters,' the statement said, using the Chinese names for the Spratly Islands and Sandy Cay respectively. China accused the Philippines of conducting 27 'unauthorized' landings involving 167 personnel 'in disregard of strong protests and representations from the Chinese side' since January 2025. They also claimed that the Philippines' 'scientific research' resembled a film production instead of actual research activity. 'The underlying intentions behind such activities are self-evident. It is clear which party initiated the provocation and which is engaging in deception… China will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, maintain Tiexian Jiao's status of no personnel or facilities, and steadfastly uphold the sanctity of the DOC,' the embassy spokesperson said. The DFA urged China to respect the Philippines' jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea. Beijing claims almost all of the West Philippine Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has not recognized the decision. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News
The Star
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
German defence minister does not rule out return of military draft, he tells FAS
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Germany may consider reintroducing military conscription from as soon as next year if it does not attract enough volunteers for its armed forces, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on Saturday. Part of the NATO alliance, Germany is looking to enhance its military strength following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but looks likely to fail to attract enough recruits. An additional 100,000 soldiers are needed in the coming years to meet NATO obligations, its armed forces have said. Its Conservatives, which lead a coalition in which Pistorius' Social Democrats (SPD) are junior partners, have revved up military spending and signalled openness to a compulsory service in the armed forces, which was abandoned in 2011. "Our model is initially based on voluntary participation," Pistorius said in an interview with the Sunday newspaper, which is already for sale on Saturdays. "If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then we may decide to make it mandatory," he added. A new bill to that extent could come into force as soon as January 1, 2026, he said. The SPD has always focused more on voluntary options to rebuild the military. Andreas Henne, Commander of Germany's Homeland Security Division, on Saturday also supported recruitment drives. "We've taken the right path, but we now need to increase the pace," Henne said in an interview with news site t-online. "In terms of equipment, infrastructure expansion, and, above all, personnel." (Reporting by Vera Eckert; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
German defence minister does not rule out return of military draft, he tells FAS
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez German defence minister does not rule out return of military draft, he tells FAS FRANKFURT - Germany may consider reintroducing military conscription from as soon as next year if it does not attract enough volunteers for its armed forces, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on Saturday. Part of the NATO alliance, Germany is looking to enhance its military strength following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but looks likely to fail to attract enough recruits. An additional 100,000 soldiers are needed in the coming years to meet NATO obligations, its armed forces have said. Its Conservatives, which lead a coalition in which Pistorius' Social Democrats (SPD) are junior partners, have revved up military spending and signalled openness to a compulsory service in the armed forces, which was abandoned in 2011. "Our model is initially based on voluntary participation," Pistorius said in an interview with the Sunday newspaper, which is already for sale on Saturdays. "If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then we may decide to make it mandatory," he added. A new bill to that extent could come into force as soon as January 1, 2026, he said. The SPD has always focused more on voluntary options to rebuild the military. Andreas Henne, Commander of Germany's Homeland Security Division, on Saturday also supported recruitment drives. "We've taken the right path, but we now need to increase the pace," Henne said in an interview with news site t-online. "In terms of equipment, infrastructure expansion, and, above all, personnel." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Trump misjudged influence on Putin, German defence minister says
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez BERLIN (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump misjudged his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Germany's defence minister said on Tuesday, after a phone call between the two leaders yielded no progress in Ukraine peace talks, prompting Europe to announce new Russia sanctions. "I suspect he assessed his negotiating position incorrectly," Boris Pistorius told the Deutschlandfunk radio broadcaster, following Trump's now-abandoned efforts to pressure Putin into accepting an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. The European Union is currently working on its next package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. Pistorius said it remained to be seen whether Washington would join those measures as talks continue via the usual diplomatic channels. (Reporting by Rachel More; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
US, Philippine troops shoot down drones in joint defence drills
A U.S. soldier checks an Avenger Air Defense System during the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez U.S. soldiers talk beside a MADIS or Marine Air Defense Integrated System during the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez U.S. soldiers talk beside an Avenger Air Defense System during the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez A U.S. soldier checks an Avenger Air Defense System during the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Philippine and U.S. soldiers walk past a MADIS or Marine Air Defense Integrated System during the annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez SAN ANTONIO, Philippines - U.S. and Philippine soldiers shot down drones with Stinger missiles during live-fire drills on Sunday, part of annual joint military exercises taking place at a time of simmering tensions with Beijing over the South China Sea. More than 14,000 Filipino and U.S. troops are participating in this year's Balikatan, or "shoulder-to-shoulder", exercises, which run until May 9, focusing on a "full battle test" between the two defence treaty allies in response to regional security concerns. China has criticised the drills as provocative. Sunday's drills were held in the western Philippines province of Zambales that faces the South China Sea, a flashpoint between China and Southeast Asian nations. Ties between Beijing and Manila are their worst in years amid frequent confrontations in the disputed waterway that have sparked concerns of a military conflict. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said last week the country's coastguard had conducted maritime control operations at Sandy Cay, which China calls the Tiexian Reef, exercising sovereignty jurisdiction, and the Philippines on Sunday conducted a maritime operation in the area, observing the "illegal presence" of Chinese coastguard and "maritime militia" vessels. While the Philippine military has described this year's drills as a rehearsal for national defence, it said the exercises were not directed at any country. The integrated air and missile defence exercise in Zambales employed the Marine Air Defense Integrated System or MADIS, marking the system's second live-fire test and its first deployment to the Philippines. "This type of training is absolutely invaluable to us," 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment Officer John Lehane told reporters after the exercise. This year's Balikatan also featured the debut of the NMESIS, the U.S. anti-ship missile system, which will be employed during maritime key terrain security operations in Northern Luzon and the Batanes Islands, near Taiwan. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
