Japan at US, sanib-puwersa vs. sa mga problema sa China

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | April 17, 2021

Mas pinatatag pa ng Japan at US ang kanilang alyansa laban sa mga banta ng pananakop at upang masiguro ang seguridad at kaligtasan ng dalawang bansa.

Binisita ni Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga si US President Joe Biden noong Biyernes at kabilang sa kanilang mga napag-usapan ay ang laban kontra-COVID-19.

Nagkasundo rin ang dalawang bansa sa seguridad at pagkakaisa upang ayusin ang isyu sa East China Sea, South China Sea at ang nuclear program ng North Korea.

Pahayag pa ni Biden, "We're going to work together to prove that democracies can still compete and win in the 21st century.

"We committed to working together to take on the challenges from China and on issues like the East China Sea, the South China Sea as well as North Korea.”

Saad naman ni Suga, "We agreed to oppose any attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China seas and intimidation of others in the region.

"Freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law are the universal values that link our alliance.”

Ayaw umalis... 220 barko sa Julian Felipe Reef, fishing vessels lang — China

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | April 4, 2021

Binuweltahan ng Chinese Embassy sa Manila ang naging panawagan ni Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na pagpapaalis sa diumano'y maritime militia vessels ng China sa Julian Felipe Reef na bahagi ng West Philippine Sea at giit pa ng embahada, parte ito umano ng Nansha Islands.

Ang Julian Felipe Reef ay tinatawag na Niu'e Jiao sa Beijing. Iginiit din ng China na hindi militia vessels ang mga naturang barko kundi fishing vessels.

Pahayag ng embahada, "The Niu'e Jiao is part of China's Nansha Islands. The waters around Niu’e Jiao has been a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen for many years. The Chinese fishermen have been fishing in the waters for their livelihood every year.

"It is completely normal for Chinese fishing vessels to fish in the waters and take shelter near the reef during rough sea conditions. Nobody has the right to make wanton remarks on such activities. "China is committed to safeguarding peace and stability in the waters and we hope that authorities concerned would make constructive efforts and avoid any unprofessional remarks which may further fan irrational emotions.”

Samantala, nauna nang iniulat ng awtoridad sa Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ang namataang 220 vessels sa Julian Felipe Reef noong March 7 na pinaniniwalaan ng awtoridad na maritime militia vessels. Ngunit, pinabulaanan kaagad ito ng Chinese Embassy at anila, nananatili lamang daw ang mga barko sa reef dahil sa “rough sea condition.”

Pahayag naman ni Lorenzana sa social media, “The Chinese Ambassador to the PH has a lot of explaining to do. There are still 44 Chinese vessels that are in Julian Felipe Reef. “I am no fool. The weather has been good so far, so they have no reason to stay there. These vessels should be on their way out. Umalis na kayo riyan.”

2 M Sinovac vaccine kada buwan, bibilhin ng 'Pinas sa China

ni Mary Gutierrez Almirañez | March 27, 2021

Mahigit isang milyong doses ng Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines ang inaasahang ide-deliver sa bansa kada buwan upang makumpleto ang 25 milyong doses na in-order ng pamahalaan sa China, ayon sa pahayag ni Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago ‘Chito’ Sta. Romana ngayong araw, Marso 27.

Aniya, “After that, every month, ang plano ng gobyerno is roughly one to two million doses every month from Sinovac for a total of 25 million by the end of the year.”

Nauna nang dumating ang donasyong 600,000 doses ng Sinovac noong Pebrero at sinundan ng 400,000 doses nitong ika-24 ng Marso.

Inaasahan namang darating sa Lunes ang biniling 1 milyong doses na bakuna upang iturok sa mga frontliners at mga susunod na prayoridad sa listahan.

Bukod dito, mahigit 525,000 doses ng AstraZeneca na rin ang dumating sa bansa.

Sa ngayon ay Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V, AstraZeneca at Sinovac pa lamang ang mga bakunang aprubado ang emergency use authorization (EUA).