BEIJING: China’s coast guard held a National Day flag-raising ceremony on a ship in the waters off the disputed Scarborough Shoal, vowing to “stand guard” over the atoll, a major flashpoint for diplomatic flare-ups and maritime clashes with the Philippines.
Both countries claim the triangular feature in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, but it is effectively under Beijing’s control. In September, China infuriated Manila with a plan to set up a “national” nature reserve there.
Coast Guard officers standing in formation on the rear deck of the patrol vessel Dahao (3304) saluted as the Chinese flag was raised, a video showed in a Coast Guard posting on Wednesday on Douyin, known as TikTok outside China.
“We stand guard over these blue waters, assuring the nation of our unwavering commitment,” the video subtitles read.
CCG vessel 3304 had been previously challenged by the Philippine Coast Guard for its “illegal presence” at the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island while in the Philippines it is known as the Panatag Shoal.
The Philippine Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Wednesday.
In 2012 China seized control of the shoal after a standoff with the Philippines and has since kept a deployment of coast guard and fishing trawlers there.
A landmark ruling on South China Sea issues by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 went in favor of Manila but deciding sovereignty over the shoal was not within the scope of the decision.
The ruling held that Beijing’s blockade there violated international law as it was a traditional fishing ground for several countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam.
Flare-ups near the shoal in recent years have included the use of water cannon, boat-ramming and maneuvers by China’s coast guard that the Philippines considers dangerously close, while jets have shadowed Philippine aircraft over it.
Both sides accuse each other of provocation and trespassing, though none of the clashes have escalated into armed conflict.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Chinese Coast Guard said it had stepped up law enforcement inspections around Scarborough Shoal since September to expel the “illegal” entry of vessels.
The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army, in a separate statement, said naval and air forces had also strengthened patrols around the shoal since last month to respond to “infringement provocations.”
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China holds National Day ceremony in waters off atoll claimed by Philippines
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China holds National Day ceremony in waters off atoll claimed by Philippines
- Both countries claim the triangular feature in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, but it is effectively under Beijing’s control
- Coast Guard officers standing in formation on the rear deck of the patrol vessel Dahao (3304) saluted as the Chinese flag was raised
Duterte drew up ‘death lists’, boasted about murders: ICC prosecutor
- Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte personally drew up “death lists” and boasted about murders committed during his “war on drugs“
THE HAGUE: Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte personally drew up “death lists” and boasted about murders committed during his “war on drugs,” an International Criminal Court prosecutor alleged Tuesday at a crimes against humanity hearing.
On day two of proceedings against Duterte, ICC prosecutor Edward Jeremy laid out searing testimony including allegations that children had their heads wrapped in packing tape and strangled to death.
“As president, Duterte publicly named persons he alleged were involved in drugs, and many of those would end up as victims in his so-called war on drugs,” Jeremy said.
The “Duterte list” was “basically a death list,” Jeremy cited a witness as saying, showing a video of Duterte himself saying: “I am the sole person responsible for it all.”
Duterte faces three ICC counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018.
Prosecutors say this is a “mere fraction” of the thousands believed killed in his “war on drugs” as mayor of Davao City and then president.
“As witnesses stated, the poor were often targeted, because they were the ones least likely to file complaints against the police,” said Jeremy.
Jeremy played a clip of Duterte joking about “extrajudicial killings” during a speech.
“And in this opulent, gilded, presentation room, the officials laugh along with their president while he boasts about his skills in extrajudicial killing,” said Jeremy.
“And outside on the streets of the Philippines, the bodies pile up.”
Jeremy alleged that almost 1,500 people had already been killed at the time of this clip.
The week-long ICC proceedings are not a trial but a “confirmation of charges” hearing, enabling judges to weigh whether to move ahead with a trial.
Duterte, 80, is not in the courtroom after exercising his right not to appear.
His defense team says he is weak and in cognitive decline. The prosecution and victims counter that he is healthy but does not want to face loved-ones of victims.
The court passed him fit to attend but granted him his right to absence.
Once the hearings wrap up Friday, the court will take up to 60 days to decide whether to proceed to a full trial, usually by written judgment.
Duterte’s defense lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, on Monday said his client “maintained his innocence absolutely.”
Kaufman argued that while Duterte used “bluster and hyperbole” in his speeches, he also frequently ordered authorities only to shoot in self-defense.
On day two of proceedings against Duterte, ICC prosecutor Edward Jeremy laid out searing testimony including allegations that children had their heads wrapped in packing tape and strangled to death.
“As president, Duterte publicly named persons he alleged were involved in drugs, and many of those would end up as victims in his so-called war on drugs,” Jeremy said.
The “Duterte list” was “basically a death list,” Jeremy cited a witness as saying, showing a video of Duterte himself saying: “I am the sole person responsible for it all.”
Duterte faces three ICC counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018.
Prosecutors say this is a “mere fraction” of the thousands believed killed in his “war on drugs” as mayor of Davao City and then president.
“As witnesses stated, the poor were often targeted, because they were the ones least likely to file complaints against the police,” said Jeremy.
Jeremy played a clip of Duterte joking about “extrajudicial killings” during a speech.
“And in this opulent, gilded, presentation room, the officials laugh along with their president while he boasts about his skills in extrajudicial killing,” said Jeremy.
“And outside on the streets of the Philippines, the bodies pile up.”
Jeremy alleged that almost 1,500 people had already been killed at the time of this clip.
The week-long ICC proceedings are not a trial but a “confirmation of charges” hearing, enabling judges to weigh whether to move ahead with a trial.
Duterte, 80, is not in the courtroom after exercising his right not to appear.
His defense team says he is weak and in cognitive decline. The prosecution and victims counter that he is healthy but does not want to face loved-ones of victims.
The court passed him fit to attend but granted him his right to absence.
Once the hearings wrap up Friday, the court will take up to 60 days to decide whether to proceed to a full trial, usually by written judgment.
Duterte’s defense lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, on Monday said his client “maintained his innocence absolutely.”
Kaufman argued that while Duterte used “bluster and hyperbole” in his speeches, he also frequently ordered authorities only to shoot in self-defense.
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