Latest news with #territorialclaims
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Alaska: a source of Russian imperial nostalgia
Alaska, the US state that will host the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Friday, is a source of imperial nostalgia and often less-than-serious territorial claims in Russia. The territory that Russia sold to the United States in 1867 is now a symbol of the entwined history of the countries, whose relations have been severely damaged since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022. To some experts, the summit in Alaska evoked memories of the thaw between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. "It's a classically orchestrated summit, like in the era of detente," Russian political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov said on Telegram. "Its symbolic significance is the absence of intermediaries: the powers, so to speak, decide for themselves," he added, saying that China is "not close" to Alaska and that Europe is "as far away as possible". - Fur trading hub - But beyond being a unique meeting place, Alaska also fuels Russian memories of the Tsarist empire, the historic predecessor of the Soviet Union. "For Russia, Alaska symbolises the peak of an expansion," Alexander Baunov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said on the centre's website. It was "when the Russian continental empire had, for the only time, succeeded in crossing an ocean like the European empires", Baunov said. A Russian colony since the 18th century, Alaska was eventually sold to the United States for $7.2 million in 1867 by Tsar Alexander II. The remote territory was economically very difficult for the Russians to exploit and at the time its sale was welcomed by the Imperial Court as the country was struggling economically. But the transaction later came to be seen as a regrettable bargain after what formerly was a fur trading hub turned out to house crucial natural resources: gold and oil. - 'Our bears' - In recent years, the price at which Alaska was sold, considered by some to be ridiculously low, and the legal validity of the transaction have become regularly recurring debates in Russia. In July 2022, in the midst of patriotic fervour in Russia and as tensions soared between Moscow and Washington following the offensive against Ukraine, the Alaska issue resurfaced. The speaker of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, spoke of "lands to be returned", describing Alaska as a "disputed territory". Russia's authorities are apparently not interested in reclaiming it. In 2014, Vladimir Putin, asked by a pensioner about the possibility, replied: "My dear, why do you need Alaska?" adding the territory was "too cold". Still, the idea of reclaiming Alaska is an endless source of memes widely circulating on Russian social media. One of the most famous claims that "our soul" suffered from the loss of Alaska because "it's where our bears live". The recapture of Alaska is even mentioned in a 1990s hit by a rock band Putin likes, Lyube, with the lyrics: "Stop messing around, America... And give back our Alaskan lands."
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China sanctions former Filipino lawmaker who defended Philippines' South China Sea claims
BANGKOK (AP) — China sanctioned a former Filipino lawmaker Tuesday over perceived 'anti-China' positions, including his authorship of bills that marked out the Philippines' territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. Francis Tolentino, who has just finished serving his term as majority leader of the Philippine Senate, is prohibited from entering China as well as the territories of Hong Kong and Macao, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "For some time, some anti-China politicians in the Philippines have adopted a series of malicious words and deeds on issues related to China for their own selfish interests, which have harmed China's interests and undermined China-Philippines relations," said the statement. "The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests." In a statement on X Tuesday, Tolentino said he will 'continue to fight — for what rightfully belongs to our nation," adding the sanction was a badge of honor and that no foreign power could silence him. Tolentino authored two bills which marked out the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea. The two laws, called the Philippine Maritime Zones act, and a second one called the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes act, were signed into law last November. The laws reaffirmed the extent of the country's maritime territories in the South China Sea and right to resources from these areas. The laws drew quick condemnation and dismissal of their legitimacy from China, which claims virtually all of the South China Sea. 'Any objections from China must be met with unwavering defense of our sovereign rights and adherence to lawful arbitration outcomes,' said Tolentino at the time. Tolentino also accused China of planning to interfere in the mid-term elections in May in the Philippines, and had launched an investigation into alleged Chinese espionage when he was still a senator. The Philippines and China have been engaged in verbal and physical clashes over their claims in the offshore region. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea have become increasingly common in the past two years, with the Philippine side publicizing videos of Chinese boats firing water cannons. —- AP reporter Jim Gomez contributed to this report from Manila.
Arab News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
China sanctions former Filipino lawmaker who defended Philippines' South China Sea claims
BANGKOK: China sanctioned a former Filipino lawmaker Tuesday over perceived 'anti-China' positions, including his authorship of bills that marked out the Philippines' territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. Francis Tolentino, who has just finished serving his term as majority leader of the Philippine Senate, is prohibited from entering China as well as the territories of Hong Kong and Macao, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'For some time, some anti-China politicians in the Philippines have adopted a series of malicious words and deeds on issues related to China for their own selfish interests, which have harmed China's interests and undermined China-Philippines relations,' said the statement. 'The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests.' In a statement on X Tuesday, Tolentino said he will 'continue to fight — for what rightfully belongs to our nation,' adding the sanction was a badge of honor and that no foreign power could silence him. Tolentino authored two bills which marked out the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea. The two laws, called the Philippine Maritime Zones act, and a second one called the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes act, were signed into law last November. The laws reaffirmed the extent of the country's maritime territories in the South China Sea and right to resources from these areas. The laws drew quick condemnation and dismissal of their legitimacy from China, which claims virtually all of the South China Sea. 'Any objections from China must be met with unwavering defense of our sovereign rights and adherence to lawful arbitration outcomes,' said Tolentino at the time. Tolentino also accused China of planning to interfere in the mid-term elections in May in the Philippines, and had launched an investigation into alleged Chinese espionage when he was still a senator. The Philippines and China have been engaged in verbal and physical clashes over their claims in the offshore region. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea have become increasingly common in the past two years, with the Philippine side publicizing videos of Chinese boats firing water cannons.
Al Arabiya
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
China Sanctions Former Filipino Lawmaker Over South China Sea Claims
China sanctioned a former Filipino lawmaker Tuesday over legislation that marks out the Philippines' territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. Francis Tolentino, who has just finished serving his term as majority leader of the Philippine Senate, is prohibited from entering China, as well as the territories of Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'For some time, some anti-China politicians in the Philippines have adopted a series of malicious words and deeds on issues related to China for their own selfish interests, which have harmed China's interests and undermined China–Philippines relations,' said the statement. 'The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests.' In a statement on X Tuesday, Tolentino said he will continue to fight for what rightfully belongs to our nation, adding the sanction was a 'badge of honor' and that no foreign power could silence him. Tolentino sponsored a bill called the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which was signed into law last November. That law and a second one called the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act reaffirmed the extent of the country's maritime territories in the South China Sea and right to resources from these areas. The laws drew quick condemnation and dismissal of their legitimacy from China, which claims virtually all of the South China Sea. 'Any objections from China must be met with unwavering defense of our sovereign rights and adherence to lawful arbitration outcomes,' said Tolentino at the time. The Philippines and China have been engaged in verbal and physical clashes over their claims in the offshore region. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea have become increasingly common in the past two years, with the Philippine side publicizing videos of Chinese boats firing water cannons.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
China sanctions former Filipino lawmaker over South China Sea claims
China sanctioned a former Filipino lawmaker Tuesday over legislation that marks out the Philippines' territorial claims in the disputed South China Seas. Francis Tolentino, who has just finished serving his term as majority leader of the Philippine Senate, is prohibited from entering China as well as the territories of Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "For some time, some anti-China politicians in the Philippines have adopted a series of malicious words and deeds on issues related to China for their own selfish interests, which have harmed China's interests and undermined China-Philippines relations," said the statement. "The Chinese government is determined to defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests." In a statement on X Tuesday, Tolentino said he will 'continue to fight — for what rightfully belongs to our nation," adding the sanction was a badge of honor and that no foreign power could silence him. Tolentino sponsored a bill called the Philippine Maritime Zones act, which was signed into law last November. That law and a second one called the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes act, reaffirmed the extent of the country's maritime territories in the South China Sea and right to resources from these areas. The laws drew quick condemnation and dismissal of their legitimacy from China, which claims virtually all of the South China Sea. 'Any objections from China must be met with unwavering defense of our sovereign rights and adherence to lawful arbitration outcomes,' said Tolentino at the time. The Philippines and China have been engaged in verbal and physical clashes over their claims in the offshore region. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the disputed sea have become increasingly common in the past two years, with the Philippine side publicizing videos of Chinese boats firing water cannons.
