Chinese general wants to attack Ayungin Shoal

Luo Yuan, a retired Major General of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, said in his commentary regarding the recent arrest of 11 Chinese fishermen, “We have maintained a great deal of restraint and patience. Philippines invaded our eight reefs, and is now arresting our fishermen. When are we going to fight back?”

“It is incorrect to assume that China will completely rule out military action in any event during this ‘period of strategic opportunity,” he said. “To safeguard our sovereign and territory rights, we will never hesitate to face up to any military challenge,” he added.

“Also, considering the relative military strengths of China and the Philippines, the Filipino people can judge for themselves the wisdom or otherwise of their government’s decision to take this stand against China,” Luo Yuan said implying that China has greater military capabilities than Philippines.

Luo Yuan also said that troops in the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal must be arrested, else, China has a variety of means to clear the territory and international community should understand. According to him, China should respond tooth for tooth, eye for eye, to take further measures.

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China Daily: Philippines will pay an unaffordable price

“Since the Philippines has singled itself out as a determined challenger of Chinese national interests and the devoted hatchet man of foreign anti-China forces, it needs to be convinced that it has made a choice that, if it persists, means paying an unaffordable price,” said a post entitle “Facing up to troublemakers” by state runned China Daily.

China Daily also said countries in dispute with China makes them look bully, “Those in a dispute must be reasonable and act reasonably. However, that is something that Japan, the Philippines, and now Vietnam, refuse to be, hypocritically accusing China of their own faults. With malicious third parties only too willing to goad them on, they have chosen to escalate tensions and are trying to portray China as a bully.”

In a separate post the state-runned news provider told that Manila violated United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) when Philippine government seized a Chinese fishing vessel and jailed the fishermen.

China Daily said, “The coast guard of a coastal state could board and check the relevant documents of vessels fishing in the waters near its coast if they violate these laws and regulations. It could even detain the fishermen. But under no circumstances, should the fishermen (or other people on board the vessels) be subjected to corporal punishment and imprisonment.”

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Pork barrel scam list given by camp of Janet Lim Napoles to Sec. Panfilo Lacson

Pork barrel scam list given by camp of Janet Lim Napoles to Sec. Panfilo Lacson

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China blasts Vietnam's efforts to gather support.

BEIJING - China's outside service said Vietnam's exertions to gather help over a regional debate in the South China Sea might fizzle, a day after South East Asian pioneers meeting for a local summit in Myanmar shunned censuring Beijing. 

Pressures climbed in the asset rich South China Sea a week ago after China situated a goliath oil fix in a territory likewise asserted by Vietnam. Every nation blamed the other for slamming its ships close to the questioned Paracel Islands. 

"The certainties demonstrate that Vietnam is attempting to rope in different gatherings and put weight on China, (yet) won't accomplish its points," China's outside service agent Hua Chunying told a day by day news meeting on Monday. 

"We trust that Vietnam can see the circumstances unmistakably, serenely face up to actuality, and quit badgering the Chinese operations." 

Identifying with individual pioneers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a summit on Sunday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Vietnam had acted with "most extreme limitation" and utilized all method for dialog to ask for China evacuate the apparatus. 

Manure said China was criticizing his nation and submitting hazardous violations. 

The dispatch issued at the end of the summit by the 10-country ASEAN gathering held no feedback of Beijing, then again. 

China a week ago reprimanded the United States for stoking pressure in the South China Sea by urging nations to participate in perilous conduct. 

Be that as it may, Hua said that media ought not buildup up the circumstances. China and ASEAN "have the capacity and determination to together keep up provincial peace and steadiness", she said. 

In a measure of Vietnam's indignation, many Vietnamese encouraged in the nation's greatest urban communities on Sunday to decry China, in uncommon dissents that looked prone to draw out the strained stand-off. 

Hua said that China "gave careful consideration" to the challenges, and had asked Vietnam to take all accessible measures to guarantee the security of Chinese natives and associations in Vietnam. 

China guarantees practically the whole South China Sea, dismissing adversary cases to parts or the majority of the oil and gas rich waters from Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. 

China's relations with the Philippines have gotten to be progressively strained as of late because of strains over the questioned Spratly Islands. 

A week back, the Philippines seized a Chinese angling vessel and its group off Half Moon Shoal in the Spratlys. The episode happened while Philippine and U.s. powers were leading joint activities. 

Philippine police said the watercraft and its team were seized for chasing ocean turtles, which are ensured under neighborhood laws. 

On Monday, a common prosecutor documented arguments against nine of the 11 group and set safeguard at 70,000 pesos (1,600)for each of them, notwithstanding requests from Chinese representatives who went to see the anglers and requested they ought to be liberated. 

The Philippines outside service said the other staying two group parts might be discharged as they are minors. They were turned over to the social welfare division. 

Hua has depicted the Philippines' movements as unlawful, saying the watercraft and team were seized in Chinese waters. 

Manila says the Chinese pontoon was seized 60 miles (96 kilometers) off Palawan island, inside a 200-mile (320-kilometer) select monetary zone pronounced by the Philippines.

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Filipino netizens boycott China-made goods amid West PH sea tension

Amid tension between China and Philippines, which heated up during the past week after arrest of eleven Chinese fishermen, Filipino netizens have expressed their call in joining them to boycott Chinese products.

Filipino netizens said that even there is no official call from the government to boycott Chinese goods they took the initiative to start eliminating China produced goods in their shopping lists. One netizen said, “I started to check where the item [is] made from before I buy and throw it back when [it's] made in China,” aside from it is made in China it can only sustain few usage.

However, Philippine government do not support the call for product boycott. According to some commentators product boycott of all Chinese made is not a good idea for now, not until Philippines is econmically healthy and inclusive-growth is felt by everyone, because almost 60 percent of Philippine economy depends from Chinese products and investors. What we can do now is to start in becoming economically free from China by boycotting counterfeit products from China, consider products produced by other countries [though it may be more costly], and patronize Philippine products.

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Chinese destroyer spotted in Panatag shoal (Scarborough)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), the command ship of US Navy 7th Fleet, had spotted two Chinese warships. In a statement the USS Blue Ridge is in the vicinity for “routine presence in international waters, with the goal of providing security and stability for all maritime nations.” They are coducting flight operations drill when they saw two Chinese warships.

“A Chinese People’s Liberation Army vessel is seen from an MH-60 helicopter assigned to USS Blue Ridge while conducting flight operations in support of maritime security operations in the South China Sea. The aircraft is part of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12, under way with the embarked US 7th Fleet staff aboard Blue Ridge, building relationships and furthering interoperability with allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.”

One of the two Chinese warship was clearly photographed by a US Knighthawk helicopter. Chinese warship in photo is the Lanzhou 170, a Type 052c Destroyer. It is armed with surface to surface missiles, land cruise missiles, torpedo tubes, rocket launcher, and guns.

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PNoy left for ASEAN summit, territorial disputes one of his major agenda

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III left Manila Saturday, May 10, to attend the 24th Association of Southeast Asia Nations Summit in Myanmar.

Before the president took his flight to Myanmar, he said “We wish to emphasize, uphold and follow the rule of law in resolving these territorial issues so that the rights of all countries involved will be recognised and respected.” Aquino is said to push for immediate finishing the code of conduct over the disputed territories in South China Sea.

“This step mirrors our belief that an issue that affects all countries in the region cannot be effectively resolved merely through a dialogue between two countries,” President Aquino added.

Among the Southeast Asia Nations are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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PCSO head resigns amid several issues

“President Aquino thanks outgoing PCSO Chairperson Margarita Juico for her dedicated service to the government and the Filipino people. As an esteemed family friend, President Aquino wishes her well on her decision to end her stint in public service,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. confirming the resignation of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chiar.

Reason for the chair’s resignation was not made known to public, however, some speculators say that President Aquino is not happy with the current standing of PCSO. Juico’s resignation will take effect after the President officially accepted her resignation. The outgoing chair was given until the end of month to wrap-up her activities. Some sources say that former Cavite lawmaker Ayong Maliksi will likely to replace the soon to be vacant position in PCSO.

Over the past years of Juico’s leadership, PCSO faced several questioning. Included in the list was the PhP10 million unauthorized salaries and allowance last 2011, and the allegedly zero winner for the PhP249.8 million jackpot last month.

During President Aquino’s administration several appointed officials have voluntarily resigned for failing to hit set goals and targets.

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GMA not guilty in fertilizer fund scam

“We note the May 8, 2014 resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing the graft complaint against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. We respect the findings of the Office of the Ombudsman, an independent constitutional body, which has the authority to decide on such cases filed before it,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. welcoming the decision of Ombudsman headed by Conchita Carpio-Morales.

The Ombudsman said there is no enough proof that former President Arroyo, now Pampanga Representative, has a personal hand or direct participation in the distribution of fertilizer fund to her allies for election purposes. Said fund was distributed to former president’s allies even to those representatives without agriculture sector in their district.

According to Task force Abono, “In this case, without proof that respondent actually authorized the acts complained of, she cannot be held liable for the illegal acts of her subordinates.”

“All of the documents submitted by complainant were prepared and signed by other persons, and not by respondent. Not one of them may be traced back to her. Thus, no reasonable conclusion may be made that she, directly or indirectly, took part in the alleged irregularities that attended the entire process in the release of the fund,” as stated in an eight-page decision. “All of the documents submitted by complainant were prepared and signed by other persons, and not by respondent. Not one of them may be traced back to her.”

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Vietnam vows to take all measures to defend its territories

Days after its announcement of drilling oil in disputed waters, China warned Vietnam not to interfere with Chinese companies’ oil drilling operation near the disputed islands in the South China Sea. It was reported that Vietnam had condemned China’s provocative actions.

US commented on the latest assertiveness of China in the South China saying that the action is “provocative and unhelpful to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region”. This is the most assertive and provocative action of China in South China Sea. China’s recent assertiveness in terms of military and economic growth alerts its neighboring countries.

China’s foreign ministry said “relevant drilling work is totally within waters off China’s Xisha islands.”

Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh called China State Councilor Yang Jiechi to say that deploying an oil rig accompanied by military vessels violated Vietnam’s sovereignty. However, Yang Jiechi responded saying not to interfere with China’s activities in Xisha Islands (in China) or Hoang Sa (in Vietnam).

On the other hand, Vietnam vows to protect its territory and it “will apply all necessary and suitable measures to defend its rights and legitimate interests”.

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PH military boost defense against China’s plan to occupy

According to a senior military official, Philippine military will boost its defense in the West Philippine Sea to counter China’s occupying activities in the territory. AFP, according to the unnamed official, has a four-year plan to protect Philippines from poaching, illegal fishing, and increased presence of Chinese vessels and aircraft in the disputed territories.

“We need to ensure access to these oil-and gas-rich areas which are within our territory,” said the senior military official. “There is an actual threat, active presence of Chinese ships, including frigates, around the Second Thomas Shoal.”

“China will occupy Reed Bank, it is highly possible that China is determined to assert its claim politically and militarily.” According to the officer to counter China’s plan AFP deployed two patrol vessels and two reconnaissance air assets.

Moreover, patrol vessels are planned to be deployed in Lawak Island and Rizal Reef to prevent Chinese exploration for oil and gas.

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Japan parliament supports EDCA, PH’s stand on SCS

Kenji Kosaka, president of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship League said Japan supports Philippines’ stand on its maritime dispute with China. According to him China is insistent for a bilateral negotiation, which according to him is biased.

“Not only through bilateral [talks] but also multilateral discussions or under international law, we should be able to solve these issues, these maritime territorial issues,” Kasoka said. Japan also has a dispute with China; the later is claiming sovereignty on Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands.

Japan also supports the newly signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between Philippines and US. “We are fully supportive of EDCA. We strongly believe that it will contribute to the stability of the region, so we support it,” said JPPFL Secretary-General Taku Otsuka, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives.

Kasoka and Orsuka with Takeshi Maeda, JPPFL Vice President and Member of the Japanese House of Councillors; Yukio Ubukata, JPPFL Chief Secretary and Member of the Japanese House of Representatives are in the Philippines for a five-day visit.

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Philippines arrested 11 Chinese in Spratly

In the joint efforts of Philippine National Police Maritime Group and PNP Region 4-B, eleven Chinese fishermen were arrested due to illegal catching of marine turtle (pawikan). These fishermen were arrested at Half moon Shoal in Spratly Islands, a hundred nautical miles from Palawan.

According to Police Chief Superintendent Theodore Sindac, 120 alive and 234 dead marine turtles were found in the Chinese fishermen boat.

As reported by a Chinese News Agency

According to report by Xinhua News Agency, China is claiming 11 fishermen to be taken by armed men near the Philippines. The fishermen were on board the Qiongqionghai 09063 when a group of armed men intercepted the said vessel, said armed men fired warning shots in the air yesterday near Half Moon Shoal.

Xinhua News Agency said the second Chinese fishing boat was lucky to have outrun another boat with armed men. The News Agency said that two vessels were sent to search for the missing fishermen but returned without finding any.

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Philippines to complete acquisition of high-end radars from Israel

The Philippines is hoping to finish the negotiations to acquire three Israeli-made radars worth P2.68 billion this month. These radars will be used to monitor the West Philippines Sea against aerial intrusions. According to The Star, Defense Undersecretary Eduardo Batac confirmed the completion of pre-negotiations for the radar project. “We have finished the pre-negotiations. That was actually a marathon negotiation for two weeks,” Batac said.

“Hopefully within May, we can finish (formal negotiations) because we are really putting priority to this,” he added. The three radars would be acquired from Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. -Elta through government-to-government transaction. “This is very important. This should precede the acquisition of all our air defense aircraft. We have to have the eyes, the ability to detect intrusions into our airspace before we can even scramble our air assets,” Batac said.

“We cannot let our fighters roam around our skies because it would be too costly. We scramble them on the basis of a detection report which is done by the radars,” he added. Batac, however, said that they could only start the talks once the special allotment release order (SARO) for the project is released.

“We cannot enter into formal negotiations until we have the SARO because the moment we enter into formal negotiations, there are already commitments both on the part of the supplier and us. There are some things which are to be prepared by us when the equipment arrives,” he said. Israel also offered assistance in the development of command, control, communications, computers and intelligence capabilities.

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Gozon, Ang in talks over GMA Network

Businessman Ramon Ang and GMA chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon confirmed that they are in talks for Ang to buy or buy into the network. Ang is the president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corporation and Philippine Airlines.

Gozon made the statement during the company’s first quarter briefing, as reported by GMA News itself. GMA had previously declined to comment on speculation or simply said various parties were interested in the company.

For his part, Ang confirmed the talks in a text message sent to ANC, which read, “Yes, in talks.” He is reportedly considering buying GMA-7 in his personal capacity.

Speculations that Ang may take control of GMA rose after the network's talks with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) Group fell through in March.

Earlier this year, PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said they are aiming for a minority stake in GMA Network Inc. Rumor had it back then that PLDT was nearing the completion of a buyout of GMA's main shareholders.

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1,000 ounces of gold recovered from sunken ship

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — An expedition to bring back the remaining gold from a steamship that sank in 1857 off South Carolina in one of the nation's worst maritime disasters has recovered almost 1,000 ounces of gold - the first gold recovered from the wreck in almost a quarter century.

The S.S. Central America was bringing gold back from the California when it sank in a hurricane claiming 425 lives. In addition, thousands of pounds of gold went to the bottom aboard the 280-foot, side-wheel steamship.

About $50 million was recovered during expeditions to the wreck in the late 1980s and early 1990s before legal disputes shut down the operation.

Odyssey Marine Exploration of Tampa, Florida, announced Monday that almost 1,000 ounces of the gold was recovered during a reconnaissance dive last month.

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Militant group fears another Olongapo 'prostitution boom' with EDCA

The Philippines and United States recently forged a defense deal, dubbed as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which will allow greater US military presence in the Philippines.

Sin City scenario

In light of this, militant group Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya has raised concerns that prostitution will again be rampant in Olongapo City once American troops return to the Subic naval base.

In the 1980s, Olongapo had once been dubbed a "Sin City" due to the high number of entertainment clubs and rampant prostitution when American forces ran the base.

Another "Nicole"

The group isn't the only one who has such fears.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan had also earlier warned that another incident similar to the Subic rape case may happen following the signing of EDCA.

In an April 29 interview broadcast on dzMM, Ilagan had said, "Papaano itong mga kababaihan, kabataan na mamemeligro? Dahil alam naman natin na base sa ating kasaysayan, na kung saan nandon ang military forces, eh magsusulputan na itong prostitution. Nandyan na naman ang mga problema tulad ng HIV-AIDS at maraming kabataan natin ang mabibiktima na naman (What happens now to the women and children who will become vulnerable? In our history, wherever military forces are, prostitution follows. We'll have complications like HIV-AIDS, as well kids who will be victimized)."

Optimistic outlook

But in the face of bleak reminders, Olongapo City Mayor Roeln Paulino said, "Pwede naman tayo na clean entertainment." He added that measures can be put in place to ensure this does not happen again. Even some residents agree that the return of the Americans to Subic will boost their livelihood.

Many other Olongapo residents said they welcome the return of U.S. military personnel, as it means a boost to their livelihood.

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De Lima: it’s Senate’s call whether to release Napoles’ list

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said on a text message that releasing the Napoles’ list it is up to the Senate. “By law and the Constitution, yes, the Senate can compel me to disclose the list, under pain of contempt,” the secretary said as a response to some lawmakers’ request to release the list.

However de Lima appealed to concerned parties “to wait for the proper time and give me enough space to discharge my mandated tasks with utmost responsibility.”

According to her the list will be released in due time after the completion of Napoles’ official statement and investigation process.

On the other hand the Palace is on de Lima’s side. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said, “The secretary of justice has been given the responsibility of doing what needs to be done and we will just await her report or update regarding this matter.”

The Palace also assured that there will be no special treatment if an administration lawmaker is included in the said list.

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Fearsome 'Goblin Shark'

 'Goblin Shark' Images

A rare, deep-sea "goblin shark" caught by Florida shrimp fishermen is only the second of these creatures ever seen in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists say.

The prehistoric-looking beast, whose pink color and daggerlike teeth earn the shark its name, is usually seen in deep waters off the coast of Japan.
On April 19, fisherman Carl Moore and his crewmates were fishing off the coast of Key West, Florida, when they hauled up the 15-foot-long (4.6 meters) shark with a net full of shrimp from 2,000 feet (610 m) of water. They hoisted the animal up and threw it back into the ocean.

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Maidana may have blueprint to beat Mayweather

Marcos Maidana didn't get the victory he had hoped for over Floyd Mayweather, but he did establish a blueprint for future challengers to try and upset boxing's pound-for-pound champ.

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Batino: EDCA is a defense agreement not a treaty

“EDCA is just the enhancement of that capacity as joint exercises are envisioned to do. This policy was reaffirmed in the Visiting Forces Agreement. The EDCA just further implements the policies already agreed. Thus, the EDCA does not need ratification,” said Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, EDCA chief negotiator for PH.

As indicated by Batino there is no new bargain that was made, further, EDCA is not changeless and has a close. This assention will just proceed the execution approaches set onward by the Mutual Defense Treaty. EDCA is a protection assention not a political understanding.

Congressperson Miriam Defensor-Santiago, seat for Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, says EDCA may have abused a few procurements in the constitution and it needs to be endorsed in the Senate before execution.

"By the stroke of a pen, through the EDCA, the Aquino government cedes all of Philippine sway to the US and makes us peons in our own particular nation. This assention is exceptionally unequal and is amazingly disadvantageous [to] Filipino interest," said in a determination request a Congressional test put together by Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna), Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna), and Antonio Tinio (ACT-Teachers).

Then again, Senate President Franklin Drilon said it is dependent upon the Supreme Court if senate movement or sanction is required. In the event that EDCA is announced as a protection (Executive) assention then senate mediation is unnecessary, in any case, on the off chance that it is a bargain senate needs to intercede.

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Jinggoy: start Malampaya Fund scam investigation, release Napoles’ list

“Senator Guingona, time and again, has been saying that he is going to start investigating the Malampaya scam, but up to now he has not started this. He is too busy with the pork barrel (scandal) where we three senators are allegedly involved,” Senator Jinggoy Estrada said, urging Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Senator Teofisto Guingona III to start Malampaya scam investigation.

“That is bigger because billions were lost here,” Jinggoy said. According to him Malampaya Fund scam is a lot more scandalous compared to PDAF scandal. Jinggoy said Ruby Tauson who is now admitted as a state witness in the Pork Scam is allegedly the mastermind in Malampaya Fund scam. Ruby Tuason was immunized against criminal liabilities in the Pork Scam but will remain defenseless in the Malamapaya Fund Scam.

Jinggoy also asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to release the list of congressmen and senators included in the recent statement of Janet Napoles. “As long as the list remains hidden, there will always be suspicion in the mind of every Juan de la Cruz that De Lima is sanitizing the list – that only three of us senators are being targeted by the DOJ.”

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Vietnam says China's oil rig movement into Sth China Sea is "illegal"

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam says China's plan to move its first profound-water penetrating apparatus into the questioned South China Sea, one of Asia's most unpredictable hotspots, is unlawful and has called for the apparatus to be uprooted from what it says is Vietnam's regional waters. 

The $1 billion seaward oil apparatus called Haiyang Shiyou 981 possessed by the China's state-run CNOOC oil organization has been boring south of Hong Kong. 

Sea Safety Administration of China (MSAC) on Saturday distributed a proclamation on its site saying it forbids all marine vessels entering into an one mile sweep of the Haiyang Shiyou 981's South China Sea boring work. 

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry agent on Sunday questioned the move, saying the oil apparatus directions were inside Vietnam's selective budgetary zone and mainland rack, about 120 nautical miles off its drift. 

"All exercises of remote nations in Vietnam's waters without Vietnam's authorization are unlawful and useless, Vietnam undauntedly contradicted," representative Le Hai Binh said in a proclamation. 

Vietnam's state Oil and Gas Group Petrovietnam sent a letter to CNOOC on Sunday saying it emphatically protested China's movement and "demanded CNOOC stop quickly the illicit exercises and haul out Haiyang Shiyou 981 of Vietnam's waters". 

Regardless of Hanoi's protest, MSAC on Monday stretched the precluded zone around its oil apparatus to a three miles span. 

CNOOC, China's top seaward oil maker, in 2012 welcomed outside organizations to together create nine squares in the western a piece of the South China Sea, a move Vietnam said was illicit in light of the fact that the pieces cover its regional waters. 

China and the 10 nations of the Association of South East Asian Nations, which will hold an ASEAN summit in Myanmar on May 10-11, are attempting to arranging an implicit rules to simplicity pressures in the South China Sea.

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Vietnam protests Chinese oil rig in disputed sea

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Vietnam dissented a Chinese choice to start penetrating for oil in debated Southeast Asian waters, calling the move illicit Monday and requesting that Beijing draw back from the region. 

Beijing's arrangement of its first remote ocean apparatus was the most recent in an arrangement of provocative movements pointed at stating its sway in the South China that have raised pressures with Vietnam, the Philippines and different petitioners. 

The United States offers a considerable lot of the local worries about China's movements in the oceans, which are possibly rich in gas and oil. A week ago, President Barack Obama marked another resistance agreement with the Philippines pointed at consoling partners in the locale of American sponsorship as they wrangle with Beijing's developing investment and military may. 

The China Maritime Safety Administration posted a navigational cautioning on its site exhorting that the CNOOC 981 apparatus might be boring in the South China Sea from May 4 to Aug. 15, in a territory near the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by China however Vietnam asserts as their own. 

It said boats entering a 3-mile (4.8-kilometers) range around the region are restricted. 

Vietnam's remote service said the range where the apparatus was positioned lay inside Vietnam's select monetary zone and mainland retire as characterized by the 1982 U.n. Meeting on the Law of the Sea. 

"All outside exercises in Vietnam's oceans without Vietnam's authorization are unlawful and invalid," the service said in an articulation. "Vietnam undauntedly dissents them." 

Vietnam's state-claimed oil organization, Petrovietnam, requested that China National Offshore Oil Corporation "quickly stop all the unlawful exercises and withdraw the apparatus from Vietnamese waters." 

Numerous examiners accept China is leaving on a methodology of progressively pressing its claims in the water by seeing what it can escape with, accepting that its much littler neighbors will be unable or unwilling to stop them. Vietnam has blamed Chinese ships for slicing links to its investigation vessels and bugging anglers, as has the Philippines. 

Chinese decisiveness puts Vietnam's dictator government in troublesome position locally on the grounds that outrage at China, an ideological partner, runs profound in the nation. This is misused by dissenter developments, who blame the administration for being unwilling to revolt against Beijing. 

Tran Cong Truc, the previous leader of a legislature board supervising the nation's outskirt issues, said the most recent Chinese move was particularly provocative. 

"This demonstration by China is substantially a greater number of hazardous than past activities, for example, cutting the investigation link or angling bans," he said.

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China manufacturing weakens further in April: HSBC

China's assembling division contracted for a fourth back to back month in April, HSBC said Monday, the most recent sign that the world's second-biggest economy is abating. 

The British keeping money monster's obtaining supervisors file (PMI) came in at 48.1 for a month ago, a tad up from 48.0 in March yet weaker than the 48.3 reported in its preparatory write about April 23. 

A figure beneath 50 shows compression while anything above focuses to development. 

The record tracks producing action in China's plants and workshops and is a nearly viewed pointer of the strength of the economy. 

The report comes after government's official PMI perusing a week ago, which rose to 50.4 in April from 50.3 in March. Contrasted and the authority perusing, the HSBC overview - ordered by data administrations supplier Markit and discharged by the bank - centers all the more on littler ventures, and utilization a more modest example. 

Monday's figures indicated provincial interest disintegrated at a slower pace yet stayed lazy, while the new fare requests and vocation sub-files both contracted, Qu Hongbin, a Hong Kong-based economist with HSBC, said in the articulation. 

"These show that the assembling area, and the more extensive economy all in all, keeps on loing energy," he said. 

In the initial three months of 2014 the economy developed 7.4 percent, weaker than the 7.7 percent in October-December and the most exceedingly terrible since a comparative 7.4 percent extension in the second from last quarter of 2012. 

Beijing a month ago acquainted an arrangement of measures with reinforce development, including tax reductions for little endeavors and focused on base expenses. 

Anyhow Chinese pioneers have openly precluded a gigantic jolt bundle to kick-begin development as they attempt to turn the monetary model far from many years of twofold-digit extension fuelled by expensive-financing tasks. 

Qu said bolder activities might be vital "to guarantee the economy recovers its force".

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Five Chinese ships spotted in Ayungin

While on a resupply mission for BRP Sierra Madre Troops in Ayungin Shoal, the AFP saw five Chinese ships: a review deliver, three reconnaissance vessel, and a frigate. The Frigate is said to be a Jianghu-V Class frigate in the said questioned zone. 

Generally Jianghu-V figates convey high-controlled hostile to-airplane weapons, air and surface quest radar and profundity charges for against-submarine warfare. Nonetheless, early variants of these little frigates are currently basically utilized by China Coast Guard for seaside watch, given the nonattendance of gunfire control radars and out of date rockets. 

Jollibee Chicken Joy for Ayungin Troops 

"For a change and to support the confidence of our troops out there, we have chosen, shockingly, to incorporate in our air re-provisioning operation packs of Chicken Joy and non-perishable items from an all Filipino-possessed natural pecking order," Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Geneneral Emmanuel Bautista said. 

Western Command head Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda said, "We are doing this to remind our troops out there that we are thinking about their welfare 24/7 and in the meantime, advertise mindfulness around Filipinos that some place out there amidst an untamed ocean, their officers, in spite of being laid open to the components, stay devoted in performing their sworn obligations of guarding and securing the nation's oceanic sway."

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Benham Rise: PH's new region off Aurora

UNDERWATER PLATEAU. Found near Aurora, the 13-million hectare Benham Rise is part of Philippine territory. Screen grab from a document the Philippines submitted to UN

 Greater than Luzon, the 13-M hectare Benham Rise has been sanction by the UN as a component of Philippine domain 

MANILA, Philippines – Imagine a territory greater than the Philippines' greatest island, Luzon, that conceivably holds steel-generating minerals and regular gas for provincial utilization or exportation. 

This is Benham Rise, a 13-million hectare territory off the shoreline of Aurora area, which the United Nations (UN) as of late affirmed as a component of the Philippines' mainland rack and domain. 

"We claim Benham Rise now," Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in a media meeting, cited in a Philippine Daily Inquirer story Saturday, April 28. "This is for future Filipinos." 

Dissimilar to Scarborough Shoal and different bits of the South China Sea, no other nation asserts the range that is very nearly a quarter greater than the 10.5-million hectare Luzon. 

The UN approbation implies Benham Rise, a submerged level by definition, is a growth of the Philippines' mainland retire, a region rich in living and non-living assets like minerals and gas. 

Taking into account the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the mainland rack includes the seabed and subsoil of the submarine regions 200 nautical miles (NM), or 370 kilometers, from a State's baselines or "edges." Parts of the mainland retire that are not secured by the 200 NM procurement, as indicated by UNCLOS, need to be asserted and guarded before the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS). 

The UNCLCS sanction Benham Rise as the Philippines' developed mainland retire 3 years after the nation documented a case and shielded it before the UN requisition. (The UNCLCS was framed under UNCLOS.) 

It is currently up to the Philippines to establish a law or official request making the limits of its mainland rack, marine law master Jay Batongbacal told Rappler. 

More assets 

CONTINENTAL SHELF. This is a diagram of a continental shelf in its classical definition. UP's Jay Batongbacal, however, says Benham Rise is different because it is an independent feature, an underwater plateau, attached to the normal continental shelf. Screen grab from 'Continental Shelf: The Last Maritime Zone,' www.unep.org

With this, he said, the Philippines can investigate and misuse assets in a greater territory of seabed. 

"The bigger your rack, the bigger your potential assets are," demonstrated Batongbacal, an University of the Philippines educator who joined in the specialized group that ready and protected the Philippines' case over Benham Rise. 

Batongbacal said focused around two starting samplings in the territory, Benham Rise keeps a lot of overwhelming metals like manganese, whose gathering into manganese knobs can help in the creation of steel, besides everything else. 

Acknowledging the region is a seabed, which is known to hold gas hydrates, Benham Rise is likewise possibly a rich wellspring of characteristic gas, he said. 

He noted, then again, that Benham Rise – which is 2,000 to 5,000 meters profound – "has not by any stretch of the imagination been investigated." 

In a prior meeting, Paje trumpeted the district's oil-rich potential. "We've been stating this previously. This nation can accommodate its own particular vitality," the secretary said. 

He included it can additionally open doors for the Philippines to fare regular gas. 

To begin with for PH 

FIRST VICTORY. This is the Philippines' first victory for territorial claims under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Screen grab from a document the Philippines submitted to UN

This is the Philippines' first fruitful approval of a regional claim under UNCLOS, as indicated by a paper on Benham Rise ready by gatherings aware of the case. 

UNCLOS, by chance, is the same UN meeting the Philippines is conjuring in its progressing debate with China over Scarborough Shoal. (Read: Scarborough Shoal as per Manila, Beijing.) 

As to Shoal, China has more than once dismisses the Philippines' welcome to bring the two nations' debate to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, an alternate body structured under U

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VP Binay confirms his run for President in 2016

REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. – Vice-President Jejomar Binay is not beating around the bush.

He has admitted that he has the intent of being the next President of the Philippines.

Binay is currently in the U.S. for various speaking engagements with the community.

At the Banyan Tree Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. yesterday Binay confirmed without qualms that he is eyeing the top post in Malacanang in 2016.

An ambition he has openly admitted to have, the day after he was elected Vice President of the Philippines.

“You know that is not a rumor because the day after the election, because of the intimidations coming from the media. Because they were asking are you going to run by 2016 and I said yes. I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I had that dream of becoming President,” said Vice President Binay.

In a recent Pulse Asia survey, Binay ranked first among the people’s picks to become the next President of the Philippines, with four of every 10 respondents saying they would vote for him.

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US troops will use 3 to 5 AFP bases

Philippine Panel director for Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) said three to five PH army installations were peered toward to base US military troops under the said assention. "It is extending from 3 to 5 AFP bases. That is not last, that is the beginning exchange." 

"Fortress Magsaysay is a perfect area. It is a huge range. We hold Balikatan practices there. We are as of now mulling over it. It is for proposal," Batino said. 

Batino declined to affirm or deny if Subic is incorporated in the rundown of proposed base for US troops. Be that as it may, Batino said that Subic will be the home base of two Brps (Alcaraz, and del Pilar) procured from US drift protect and impending warrior planes acquired from South Korea. 

"The Subic venture, I must underline, is an AFP venture. The AFP is asking for restricted bits of Subic so it can deliberately place Philippine Air Force supplies and Philippine Navy gear." 

As indicated by sources US is asking for access in Clark Airfield, Subic narrows, Poro Point, and Camp Aguinaldo – general central station of AFP. Additionally, US is recognizing to approach access for five regular person airstrips in Palawan, Cebu, General Santos, Laoag, and Batanes for refueling purposes. 

Bases and access for Us troops will be finished and included in the addition of EDCA

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France to PH: you don’t need to only have one ally

French Navy Commander Frédéric Daumas, commanding officer of the visiting Prairial – a French multi-purpose frigate, said It will be a good idea to have procurements from other countries, not just from the United States. “It’s not to say that they are not our best ally, because they are the best ally of everybody. But you don’t need to have only one ally, and you don’t need to put all your eggs in the same basket.”

“I think you already have a lot of American equipment. Most of your ships are coming from the American Navy, second-hand ships. I think it is good to have different ways of working, different procedures, different organizations, and if you have only one major partner, probably you deprive yourself of having a variety of points of view, a variety of partnerships,” Daumas added.

Daumas said France is upholding the common goal of protecting freedom of navigation in the Pacific. “We want to reaffirm that we apply the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and that with all our partners, we have a common understanding on what needs to be done.”

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ADF participate in Philippines exercise

Australian Defence Force personnel are participating in a major regional exercise in the Philippines focusing on humanitarian and disaster relief. Exercise BALIKATAN is an annual Republic of the Philippines-US bilateral military training exercise and humanitarian assistance engagement. Some 31 ADF personnel have already joined the exercise and will play a supporting role in Exercise BALIKATAN on the islands of Luzon and Palawan.

A further 37 ADF members will deploy on May 8 to the exercise area, bringing the total ADF commitment to 68 personnel. The focus of BALIKATAN 2014 will be on humanitarian activities throughout the Bicol Region of southern Luzon Island. Military medical personnel will offer medical, dental and veterinary care. Military engineers will construct and repair schools and other community infrastructure in selected communities.

Participating forces will also conduct command and control exercises from CampAguinaldo in Manila and HQ Western Command (Armed Forces of the Philippines) on Palawan with a series of scenarios focusing on maritime security and disaster relief.

This is the 30th annual bilateral exercise.

The exercise will conclude on 16 May 2014.

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What would make Miriam run for president again?

In her keynote speech during the commencement exercises of the University of the Philippines-Cebu on Wednesday, April 30, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said she might considering running for president again under one condition.

Tall order

"If all the crooks who are substantially involved in the pork barrel scam are brought to trial before the court, then I will consider running for president," she said.

She also added, "We need to start and commit with the chance of cleaning up government. And I'm not going to run for president and run the entire country while these crooks are in the environment."

Call for female president

In a speech at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna in March this year, Santiago had said that Filipino voters should pick a woman president in 2016.

Back then, she had said, “We should have a female president in 2016. Research shows that when women are empowered as political leaders, countries often experience higher standards of living with positive developments in education, infrastructure, and health care.”

No cash for campaign

But when asked back then if she also considered herself a contender for the position of president, Santiago had laughed and pointed out her lack of money to finance a campaign. “I was not a member of the pork barrel scam so I don’t have this amount. I never sold my body so I don’t have this amount. My main problem is I don’t have the money, period,” she had quipped.

Santiago ran for president in 1992, but lost to President Fidel V. Ramos.

What survey says

In the recently-released results of the Pulse Asia survey on the potential presidential picks for 2016, Santiago was ranked No. 3.

Some 1,200 respondents were reportedly shown a prepared list of names and asked: "Of the people in this list, whom would you vote for if the 2016 presidential elections were held today and they were candidates?"

The following emerged as the top 10 contenders:

1. Jejomar Binay 40%

2. Grace Poe 15%

3. Miriam Defensor Santiago 10%

4. Chiz Escudero 9%

5. Mar Roxas 6%

6. Bongbong Marcos 5%

7. Alan Peter Cayetano 4%

8. Kris Aquino 4%

9. Bong Revilla 3%

10. Ping Lacson 2%

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Pulse Asia survey: 4 out of 10 would vote Binay for President

The Pulse Asia survey on the 2016 elections shows, Vice President Jejomar Binay would likely win in the presidential race. But potential administration candidate Mar Roxas says he does not pay attention to surveys. 

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Navy eyes French frigates

MANILA, Philippines - Amid regional debate in the South China Sea, the administration is searching at French frigates for the Philippine Navy's utilization.

Maritime authorities were given a tour yesterday of the French Navy's observation frigate Prairial – a 93.5-meter ship with both military and citizen attributes, making it perfect for different purposes including catastrophe easing and other helpful missions, operations against robbery and global pill trafficking, and regional watch.

The Prairial is one of two French warships sent in the Pacific – one in Tahiti and the other in New Caledonia. Prairial Commander Frederic Daumas said at a gathering on the boat the previous evening that the frigate, with 93 crewmembers, has performed well in different climate conditions including storms since being dispatched in May 1992, and might keep going a lot of people more years. The Prairial is outfitted with 20 mm and 100 mm firearms and Exocet surface-to-air rockets, and conveys a transport make, three watercrafts and one Alouette III helicopter.

A data sheet on the frigate states: "Their fundamental obligation is to watch abroad oceanic zones over which France executes its sway. In peace time, they implement navigational police, control fishery and secure exchange movement." Daumas said his group might direct joint activities with the Philippine Navy tomorrow in Manila Bay before the frigate leaves for Hong Kong.

The Prairial, which arrived Monday from Guam for its seventh port bring in Manila, is on the fourth month of a seven-month sending. It will additionally visit China, Japan and South Korea before coming back to Tahiti. A few months prior, the Philippine government acknowledged obtaining coast watchman watch watercrafts from France, yet the arrangement did not push thro

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The Army Scout Rangers

The Army Scout Rangers are one of the most renowned and admired jungle tracking units in the world

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PNP videographers to capture CPP/NPA hostile actions on Labor Day

PNP Public Information Office Chief Superintendent Theodore Sindac said that police officers carrying video cameras will be spread out in the Metro to document Labor Day activities of “ranks of groups holding public assemblies,” as well as the PNP.

“This documentation aims to identify the trouble-makers and anarchists, and whatever incriminating scenes captured on tape may be used as evidence to support investigation and prosecution of cases in court,” said the PNP PIO chief.

“Based on historical data, the CPP/NPA is known to stage hostile actions during similar occasions, including infiltration and agitation in mass actions, sabotage of public assemblies, and armed attacks on isolated government posts and vital installations in the countryside,” he said.

Sindac advised different labor groups “to guard their own ranks against infiltrators and saboteurs who may take advantage of the situation.”

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US on defending Phl: What more can we say?

MANILA, Philippines - The United States is resolved to safeguard the Philippines against outside assault, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg emphasized yesterday. In a meeting on ANC, Goldberg was pressed for an unmitigated articulation that his administration might safeguard the Philippines in the event of an assault in the South China Sea. Goldberg said US President Barack Obama has pronounced their legislature's "ironclad duty" to shield the Philippines under the two nations' Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

"I don't realize what more we can say," Goldberg told ANC host Karen Davila.

He urged Filipinos to propel respective relations as he guaranteed the nation that the recently consented to Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement might regard the Philippine Constitution and laws. Goldberg said he was mindful that the past formed occasions in the present, yet he said individuals can't live previously.

'South China Sea some piece of Pacific'

Remote Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, in the mean time, said yesterday that the South China Sea is some piece of the Pacific range where the United States is prepared to wander into to help safeguard the Philippines from outer strike. "In 1999, in a discretionary letter, the United States confirmed that the South China Sea is acknowledged as a component of the Pacific range," Del Rosario said in an explanation. The DFA boss underlined that "under the Mutual Defense Treaty, the United States will provide some much needed help the Philippines if our metropolitan region is struck or if our Armed Forces are assaulted in the Pacific range."

Obama on Tuesday reaffirmed his nation's dedication to help guard the Philippines against remote animosity under the 1951 MDT. He said the bargain spoke to the two nations' "normal determination" to help one another militarily "so that no potential attacker could be under the fantasy that either of them remains solitary." Obama gave the affirmation in a discourse conveyed before in the range of 500 Filipino and US servicemen at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City quickly before he came back to the US. His comments on the first day of his state visit were seen to be watched and implied not to offend China, which is forcefully staking its claim over practically the whole South China Sea.

On March 30, the Philippines submitted to the arbitral tribunal in The Hague a dedication or composed contention of its position on the West Philippine Sea. The US has pronounced its backing for the Philippine activity, however Beijing said it is just ready to arrange with the Philippines reciprocally.

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China seeks assurance in US-Philippines deal

MANILA, Philippines - The as of late fashioned Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States does not seem to threaten China as it demands that reciprocal exertions of its neighbors be kept positive.

In an articulation made at a press instructions Wednesday, China Foreign Ministry representative Qin Gang said that the EDCA need to keep up security in the district.

"It is reasonable for individuals to ask any assention between the US and the Philippines be predictable with this standard and not at the expense of shared trust between local nations and provincial peace and security," Qin said.

Beijing also said that security in the Asia Pacific "requires the basic deliberations of all."

"We accept that applicable gatherings ought to try positive exertions to upgrade shared trust and collaboration and push normal peace, steadiness and success in this area, as opposed to the inverse," Qin said.

The outside official likewise kept his explanation unbiased when asked whether the milestone bargain between the Western force and the Philippines, its adversary petitioner over sea ranges, is an exertion to hold climbing China.

"The Pacific Ocean ought to be kept pacific," Qin said.

In his two-day state visit in the Philippines, American President Barack Obama emphasized that the US, in marking the security bargain with its most established partner in the district, does not favor any gathering in the ocean line.

"Our objective is not to counter China. Our objective is not to hold China. Our objective is to verify universal guidelines and standards are regarded, and that incorporates in the region of worldwide debate," Obama said.

Washington additionally hailed EDCA for being the "most huge resistance understanding that we have closed with the Philippines in decades."

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