Latest news with #EnriqueManalo
Al Jazeera
7 hours ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Beijing warns the EU to stop ‘provoking trouble' in the South China Sea
China has told the European Union to stop 'provoking trouble' in the South China Sea after EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed concerns about Beijing's coercive activities in the strategically important waterway. 'We urge the EU to genuinely respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and to stop provoking trouble,' a spokesperson for China's embassy in Manila said in a statement on Thursday. China said the EU had no right to interfere in regional issues, and advised the Philippines that it should stop 'fantasising about relying on external forces' to resolve disputes regarding the sovereignty of the South China Sea. The warning from China's embassy follows a meeting between Kallas and the Philippines' foreign minister, Enrique Manalo, in Manila earlier this week, where they announced a new security and defence dialogue between the EU and the Philippines to counter threats like foreign interference, cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns. The two sides also expressed concerns about China's 'illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive measures' against Philippine vessels and aircraft carrying out lawful maritime operations in the South China Sea. When asked by reporters about the EU's red lines towards China in the South China Sea, Kallas said that the EU is committed to upholding peace and a rules-based order. 'We reject any unilateral changes to the status quo, including use of coercion,' Kallas said. Half a dozen countries, including the Philippines, lay claim to different parts of the South China Sea, but Beijing claims sovereignty over almost all of it. The conflicting claims extend into the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, leading to frequent altercations between China and its neighbours.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Manila says may sign agreements with Beijing to reduce tensions in South China Sea
MOSCOW: The Philippines is considering the possibility of concluding new agreements with China to reduce tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said. "If there were to ever be such an agreement, it would have to be consistent with our position, that it doesn't affect our sovereign rights, our sovereignty … So certainly, there's a possibility," Manalo said in an interview with the Nikkei Asia news portal on Monday. He added that any new agreements will be reached through "dialogue and diplomacy." "What I hope is that China, you know, adopts less aggressive manoeuvres and is more cooperative in ensuring more or less a free and open South China Sea... Now, we have no intention of challenging China militarily, or in any other way. We, in fact, we've always said we're open to dialogue," Manalo noted. At the same time, the foreign minister reportedly said that the Philippines does not rule out the possibility of filing an international lawsuit against China, similar to the one that was satisfied in Manila's favour in 2016. However, there are no "active preparations" for such steps, he added. The territorial affiliation of several islands in the South China Sea has been the subject of disputes between China and several other Asia-Pacific countries for decades. Significant oil and gas reserves have been discovered on the continental shelves of those islands, including the Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands, Thitu Island and Scarborough Shoal. Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines have been involved in the disputes. The situation in the South China Sea is often complicated by the passage of US warships, which, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, violate international law and undermine China's sovereignty and security. Despite Beijing's protests, Washington has insisted on its right to sail wherever international law permits. - Bernama/Sputnik/Ria Novosti
GMA Network
2 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
Palace: DFA chief Enrique Manalo to serve as PH rep to UN in August 2025
Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo attends an interview during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Langkawi, Malaysia on Saturday, January 18, 2025. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain Malacañang on Tuesday clarified the status of Enrique Manalo in the Marcos Cabinet, saying he still serves as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). It was earlier announced by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that Manalo is poised to be the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations beginning July 31. At a press briefing on Tuesday, Bersamin said Manalo's latest appointment would be effective in August as he still needs to undergo confirmation. "This will take effect most likely August 1 but because of the necessity for him to be confirmed before going over as Permanent Envoy to the United Nations, the President recognizes the designation to be considered as done only after his confirmation," Bersamin said. "In the meanwhile, he will remain as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, in the meanwhile. Because there was a misunderstanding maybe about when he would really stop performing or discharging his duties as secretary," he added. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro is set to replace Manalo as DFA chief. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Philippines keeps Cabinet mostly unchanged after 'bold reset' call
MANILA, June 3 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has retained the majority of his Cabinet ministers, two weeks after requesting their resignations in what he called a "bold reset" of his administration, his executive secretary said on Tuesday. The call for "courtesy resignations" came in the wake of the disappointing performances by Marcos-backed candidates in the country's recent midterm elections. Speaking at a press briefing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed that Marcos had decided to keep several key officials, including the secretaries of agriculture, education, labour, health, and social welfare. Marcos had earlier maintained his core economic team, along with the heads of the defense, justice, and interior departments. Bersamin also clarified that Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will remain in his role until Congress confirms his appointment as the Philippines' permanent representative to the United Nations. Manalo was initially expected to step down by July 31. Performance reviews for other senior officials, including undersecretaries, are still ongoing, Bersamin added. "If you are asking for blood, there will still be blood," he said, suggesting further changes could follow.
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
Philippines and EU forge bold new security alliance, Minister reveals
Screengrab from MANILA: The Philippines and the European Union have decided to unveil a dedicated discussion on security and defense in a noteworthy move toward a more resonant international collaboration. This development, declared on June 2 by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, featured in a story by The Star , intends to respond to cross-border pressures such as foreign interference, cyberattacks, and information domination and exploitation. The declaration concurred with the official visit of EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas to Manila, where she met with both Manalo and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 'We hope that through the security and defense dialogue, we will remain proactive and united in addressing emerging threats,' Manalo said in a joint conference with Kallas. The effort is part of a larger alliance and collaboration arrangement between the Philippines and the EU, founded in 2012 and carried out in 2018. A platform for shared expertise and joint action Kallas highlighted the tactical significance of the new mechanism, labeling it as a 'dedicated platform' for both sides to share knowledge, skills, synchronize responses, and determine collective security initiatives. The negotiation will touch on an extensive array of concerns, including maritime safety and security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and emergency response. See also China virus death toll tops 100 as contagion spreads abroad 'Our work will be comprehensive,' Kallas said, 'and will contribute to regional as well as global security.' She reiterated the EU's pledge to a rules-based global order and stressed the coalition's posture against one-sided actions that challenge regional stability, principally in the South China Sea, and about tensions surrounding Taiwan. Pushing forward a positive trajectory The introduction of this security and defense discourse signifies a novel breakthrough in Philippine-EU relations. The two officials described the arrangement as an indication of collective autonomous ideals and a shared promise to transnational collaboration in the face of shifting worldwide challenges. 'We are like-minded partners,' Manalo stated. 'This mechanism will allow us to address challenges that transcend borders with greater depth and regularity.' Kallas echoed this sentiment, seeing the alliance 'on a positive trajectory,' that can lead to a future of more profound engagements between the Philippines and the European Union.
