The Philippine coastguard called on its country’s fishing fleets to keep operating around the Scarborough Shoal (known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Dao in China) despite the large Chinese presence in the disputed South China Sea area.
Coastguard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said while Philippine government vessels can’t maintain a constant presence, they are committed to protecting the country’s fishing rights in what it sees as its Exclusive Economic Zone.
Day: September 5, 2023
Confirmed: Xi Jinping Will Not Attend the G20 Summit
China’s Foreign Ministry has announced that Premier Li Qiang will lead its delegation to the G20 leaders’ summit in New Delhi later this week. While spokesperson Mao Ning didn’t say so explicitly, this almost certainly means that President Xi Jinping will skip the gathering.
ASEAN Under Pressure at Start of Leaders’ Summit
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders’ summit kicks off in Jakarta on Tuesday as it fights for its relevance and unity amid mounting geopolitical tensions. Increasing jockeying between China and the United States in the South China Sea has piled pressure ...
Amid West African Coups, Benin Leader’s Beijing Trip Is Notable
Considering the caliber of events Chinese President Xi Jinping is not showing up to, it’s notable that he made time to meet with Benin’s President Patrice Athanase Guillaume Talon on Friday. Talon led a four-day state visit to Beijing, which saw the establishment ...
Gabon’s Coup Could Open Opportunities for China
China’s response to last week’s coup in Gabon kept to well-trodden themes. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Webin told reporters: “China is closely following the developments in Gabon. We call on relevant sides in the country to proceed from the fundamental interests of ...
African Climate Summit Starts in Nairobi Amid Anger at Event’s “Western Agenda”
The first day of the inaugural African Climate Summit in Nairobi started with long queues as thousands of journalists and tens of thousands of delegates tried to get into the Kenyatta International Convention Center. More than twenty heads of state and key ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Philippine Fishing Fleets Urged to Maintain Presence at Disputed Shoal as Tensions Build
Chinese Presence at Climate Summit So Far Limited to e-Vehicle Photo-Op
The highlight of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) for Chinese e-vehicle manufacturers was President William Ruto’s self-drive from the State House to the Kenyatta International Convention Center in a small, bright yellow e-car. Manufactured in Liuzhou, China, the Air Yetu was ...