EU: China endangering peace in South China Sea. Inquirer Newsletter April 26, 2021

No images? Click here   ROUGH WATERS The Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources hold training in navigation, small boat operations, maintenance and logistical operations near Thitu Island and Scarborough Shoal amid tensions in the South China Sea. CONTRIBUTED/ PCG     Board Talk COVID-19 takes heavy toll on working women The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to workers all over the world—in both emerging and developing markets—but it has been even more calamitous for women. The yearlong global fight against COVID-19 almost upended modest advances in giving women true equality. —Story by Linda B. Bolido Read more: newsinfo.inquirer.net   News Realign dolomite sand funds, scientists urge A group of scientists, engineers and researchers on Sunday renewed their call to stop the dumping of crushed dolomite rocks along the shoreline of Manila Bay, and instead realign the funds allocated for the project to the government’s pandemic response. —Story by Jhesset O. Enano Read more: newsinfo.inquirer.net   Newsletter / Join us Has this been forwarded by a friend? Subscribe now to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Newsletter and get your latest news and important updates on COVID-19. Subscribe   Get here     Banner Story EU: China endangering peace in South China Sea BEIJING—The European Union (EU) called out China on Saturday for endangering peace in the South China Sea and urged all parties to abide by a 2016 tribunal ruling which rejected most of China’s claim to sovereignty in the sea, but which Beijing has rejected. The European Union last week released a new policy aimed at stepping up its influence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s rising power. The Philippines on Friday protested to China over its failure to withdraw what it called as “threatening” boats believed to be manned by maritime militia around the disputed Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls the Julian Felipe Reef. “Tensions in the South China Sea, including the recent presence of large Chinese vessels at Whitsun Reef, endanger peace and stability in the region,” an EU spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday. The European Union reiterated its strong opposition to “unilateral actions that could undermine regional stability and international rules-based order.” It urged all parties to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, and highlighted a 2016 international arbitration that had ruled in favor of the Philippines while invalidating most of China’s claims in the South China Sea. China rejected the European Union’s accusation that its ships at Whitsun Reef, which China calls Niu’e Jiao, had endangered peace and security. The Chinese Mission to the European Union in a statement on Saturday reiterated that the reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands, or Spratly Islands, and that it was “reasonable and lawful” for Chinese fishing boats to operate there and shelter from the wind. The Chinese statement also insisted that China’s sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea were formed in the “long course of history and consistent with international law” and rejected the 2016 tribunal ruling as “null and void.” —REUTERS Read more: newsinfo.inquirer.net   Editorial Bleak projections The growing international consensus over the way the Duterte administration is struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19 is not encouraging: Because of the government’s chaotic response to the pandemic, the Philippines will be among the last economies in Asia to recover from the worst public health and economic crises to hit the region. Read full story: opinion.inquirer.net     Copyright © 2020 PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 2353, Makati Central Post Office, 1263 Makati City, Philippines.   Share    Tweet    Share    Forward  Preferences  |  Unsubscribe