Maniolas

VIENTIANE—Staunch China ally Cambodia is preventing Southeast Asia from reaching a consensus on the South China Sea after an international tribunal rejected Beijing’s territorial claims to the waters, a diplomat said on Saturday. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is meeting in Laos for the first time since the United Nations-backed tribunal ruled earlier this month that China did not have historic rights to vast swathes of the strategic sea. The issue is expected to overshadow the summit, with several of the 10 member states also claiming territory in the contested waters. China invests heavily across Asean but is accused of trying to divide the bloc by habitually offering aid, soft loans and diplomatic support to key allies Laos and Cambodia. A Southeast Asian diplomat told Agence France-Presse on Saturday that only Cambodia was standing in the way of a joint statement on the waters. “It’s very grave. Cambodia just opposes almost everything, even reference to respect for legal and diplomatic processes which already had been said in previous statements,” the diplomat said. A draft of the communique obtained by AFP showed the section titled “South China Sea” currently blank. Communist-ruled Laos has close links to Beijing and has also been accused of preventing a united front on the South China Sea issue. But diplomats note that as the chair of Asean this year, Laos is trying to see a statement produced even if it is watered down. “It does not need to take sides because even if only Read More …

President Rodrigo R. Duterte chats with Former President Fidel V. Ramos during the Testimonial Dinner Reception organized by the San Beda Law Alumni Association at the Kalayaan Hall of Club Filipino in San Juan City, Manila on Thursday, July 14, 2016 KING RODRIGUEZ/PPD DAVAO CITY – Former President Fidel Ramos on Saturday said he had accepted President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer for him to become the special envoy to China.  Speaking to reporters here after his meeting with Duterte at the Marco Polo Hotel here, Ramos said he was now physically fit to take the job. READ: Duterte meets with Ramos after envoy post offer  “I have been cleared by my doctors at the Makati Medical Center,” Ramos said, who admitted that he suffered from three serious ailments – including one that impaired the flow of blood to the brain.He said he also wore a pacemaker, he said.  But Ramos said he is now well and even jumped to the air to drive his point.  He also gripped this reporter’s hand to show his strength.  The meeting took place a few days after Duterte named Ramos as special envoy to China.  Ramos earlier said he wanted to clarify with Duterte what his specific role would be as special envoy to China.  Ramos also said being special envoy does not only entail going to China and talking with its leaders, especially in the wake of the ruling on the West Philippine Sea.  When he faced reporters, Ramos made little mention of what his specific role Read More …

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia—The five Malaysian sailors kidnapped off Sabah last week have yet to slip into Abu Sayyaf’s mountainous jungle hideout in Jolo. They are believed to be held by self-proclaimed Abu Sayyaf commander Apo Mike alias Najan Sahidjuan at Pandami Island near Jolo in the Sulu province. READ: 5 Malaysians feared abducted near Tawi-Tawi, Sabah Jolo-based anti kidnapping activist Prof. Octavio Dinampo said they were held at Pandami where the gunmen felt secure as it was the “territory” of another Abu Sayyaf leader Mulphi Jurahmad, a comrade of Najan. Mulphi and Najan were said to be among the kidnappers of the 21 Malaysians and foreign tourists from Sabah’s east coast Sipadan island in 2000. “From there, the gunmen will try to bring in the five kidnap victims into Maimbung or Parang in Jolo before taking them to their mountainous jungle lair at Indanan,” Octavio said. He said the abduction of the five sailors from a tugboat on July 18 was carried out notorious kidnap for ransom gang brothers Nikson and Brown Muktadil. The five were then handed over to Najan who is perceived to be “reliable” among the Abu Sayyaf gunmen to guard the hostages and to deal their release. “It’s a case of one success leading to another. He was successful in handling the Indonesian sailors a few months ago and they expect this to continue,” Octavio added. He said there was a delay in bringing the five Malaysian sailors into Jolo amid house to house checks by Read More …

In this July 14, 2016 file photo, Marcopolo Tam, a member of a pro-China business group in Hong Kong, points to what is now known as the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on a Japanese World War II era map purporting to support China’s claims to vast parts of the South China Sea, in Hong Kong. An international arbitration panel’s decision on the contested waters of the South China Sea so far is fueling regional tensions rather than tamping them down. In the ensuing 11 days, China has responded to the sweeping victory for the Philippines by flexing its military might. The Philippines faces pressure both at home and abroad not to cede an inch to China after the July 12 decision by a tribunal at The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. AP FILE PHOTO It’s a ruling that China cannot accept, and one that the Philippines must. An international arbitration panel’s decision on the contested waters of the South China Sea so far is fueling regional tensions rather than tamping them down. In the ensuing 11 days, China has responded to the sweeping victory for the Philippines by flexing its military might. The Philippines faces pressure both at home and abroad not to cede an inch to China after the July 12 decision by a tribunal at The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. The South China Sea is dotted with reefs and rocky outcroppings that several governments claim, including China and the Philippines. The arbitration panel didn’t Read More …

Valenice Balace, Founder and CEO of Peekawoo Philippine-based dating service, is listed in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 promising entrepreneurs in the field of consumer tech. Valenice Balace [via Forbes] The 27-year old Balace founded Peekawoo in 2013, received funding from Kickstart Ventures, and within a year gained 25,000 users. The De La Salle College of Saint Benilde graduate in computer applications has developed two patents. Balace is listed along with 29 other young gamechangers from Asia in the field of Consumer Tech for “turning smartphones into life’s remote control.” The Forbes Asia list features exceptional under 30 year-olds from the fields of technology, industry, business, arts, culture, media, entertainment and sports, and healthcare science.   Related posts: Leviste leads Forbes Asia list of energy leaders Crowdfunding founder is Forbes venture capital gamechanger Charice in Forbes Asia’s influential entertainers list Fil-Am ‘tech guru’ on Forbes list of under 30 achievers