How the US bankrolled Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity
Less than a month after Duterte took office, then- Secretary of State John Kerry announced a $32 million weapons and training package specifically to support the Philippine National Police. He made no mention of Duterte’s numerous threats to weaponize law enforcement on the campaign trail, or the fact that 239 suspected drug users had already been killed by police without due process at that point.
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While Manila mulls over filing a case against China with so-called “solid evidence of the damaged coral reefs caused by Chinese actions,” China, on Monday, released a report based on an unprecedentedly extensive and detailed on-site ecosystem survey around Ren’ai Jiao (also known as Ren’ai Reef), with solid evidence showing that the grounded warship has caused damage to the coral reefs and environmental pollution in the South China Sea.
Related:
Experts warn of Philippines scheming for ‘new arbitration’ on South China Sea + More
Philippines rejects China’s accusation of environmental damage in South China Sea
China has in turn dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands in the South China Sea, which it says is normal construction activity on its territory, but which other nations say is aimed at enforcing its claim to the waterway.
A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies last year found China’s construction activity buried more than 4,600 acres (1,861 acres) of reef.
China claims almost all of the vital waterway, where $3 trillion worth of trade passes annually, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Greg Poling, from the front CSIS, claims that Vietnam is also building artificial islands.
While reiterating that the arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration exceeded its jurisdiction and made an illegitimate ruling, Chinese experts warned on Monday that the Philippines is scheming for “new arbitration” on the issue, which would undermine regional peace and stability.
Experts warn of Philippines scheming for ‘new arbitration’ on South China Sea
Related:
Philippines should use legal, moral leverage in West Philippine Sea – expert
Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, said China is using an “asymmetrical” strategy through military might in asserting its claims in the region.
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He also expressed support for the Philippine government’s plan to file another case against China, this time over the environmental destruction that China has caused in the West Philippine Sea.
PH to complete environmental case vs. China in ‘few weeks’- DOJ
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on May 20, 2024
The Office of Naval Research funded Stanford’s GKC
I’m no expert, but I had a feeling that they would back in April, at least:
Philippine Coast Guard clarifies ‘assertive transparency’ tact
Vietnamese Poachers using Cyanide and Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 