MikeLigalig.com

19. Did you know that recently-declassified documents indicate that David Ben-Gurion approved of the forced expulsion of Arabs from all Palestininan territory in 1948?

20. Did you know that the former chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Ovadia Yossef, who is also a founder and spiritual leader of the religious Shas party (Israel's third largest political party) openly advocates a 'Final Solution' to annihilate the Palestinians? Speaking at the widely broadcast sermon marking the last Passover, he declared of the Palestinians: "The Lord shall return their deeds on their own heads, waste their seed and exterminate them, devastate them and vanish them from this world. It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable."

https://ph.answers.yahoo.com/

17. Did you know that the Israeli Foreign Ministry pays six US public relations firms to promote a "positive image" of Israel to the American public?

18. Did you know that Sharon's coalition government includes a party--Molodet--which advocates ethnic cleansing by openly calling for the forced expulsion of all Palestinians from the occupied territories?

15. Did you know that on May 20, 1990, a group of unarmed Palestinian laborers were lined up and murdered by an Israeli soldier as they sat waiting for transportation back to Gaza? The terrified laborers who gathered in an area of southern Israel known as Rishon Lezion (known to Palestinians by its Arabic name Oyon Qara) handed their ID cards to the Israeli soldier. The soldiers ordered the distressed laborers to kneel down and face the ground and unexpectedly showered them with a barrage of bullets, killing seven and wounding many others. Needless to say, the soldier was not charged with any crime.

16. Did you know that until as recently as 1988, Israelis were permitted to run "Jews Only" job ads?

13. Did you know that Israel is explicitly dedicated to the policy of maintaining a distinct Jewish character?

14. Did you know that Israel's ex Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, was found by an Israeli court to be "personally and directly responsible" for the Sabra and Shatilla massacre in Lebanon where more than a thousand innocent Palestinian men, women, and children were axed to death or lined up and shot in cold blood?

11. Did you know that Israel blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a US warship in international waters (the USS Liberty), killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors and the US did nothing about it?

12. Did you know that Israel stands in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council Resolutions?

9. Did you know that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections from its sites?

10. Did you know that high-ranking military officers in the Israeli Defense Forces have admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war have been summarily executed by the Israeli forces?

7. Did you know that Israel is awaiting an additional $4 billion worth of American military hardware, including new F-16s and Apache and Blackhawk helicopters. As Israel's main ally and supporter internationally, the United States is committed to maintaining the Jewish state's "qualitative edge" in weapons over its neighbors.

8. Did you know that the U.S. administration has notified Congress on numerous occasions that Israel has violated the rules on how US-supplied weapons are used? (In 1978, 1979 and 1982 during fighting in Lebanon, and once after Israel's bombing of an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981.)

5. Did you know that the United States awards Israel $5 billion in aid each year from American tax dollars?

6. Did you know that US aid to Israel ($3.0 billion annually) exceeds the aid the US grants to the entire African continent? This aid is used both to buy American weaponry and to buy arms made in Israel.

3. Did you know that East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights are all considered by the entire world community, including the United States and the United Nations, to be occupied territory and NOT part of the State of Israel?

4. Did you know that Israel allots 85% of the water resources for Jews, and the remaining 15% is divided among all Palestinians in the territories? For example in Hebron, 85% of the water is set aside for about 400 Jewish settlers, while the remaining 15% is distributed among Hebron's 120,000 Palestinians?

just one side, but worth a read anyway for information's sake, not necessarily for swallowing hook, line and sinker.  well, they're not quarreling for nothing.

1. Did you know that non-Jewish Israelis cannot buy or lease land in Israel? A Jew from any country in the world is guaranteed citizenship in Israel, while the Palestinians who have been there for centuries are oppressed and persecuted.

2. Did you know that instead of sewing an insignia on clothing to distinguish race (like the Germans did to the Jews before WW2), Palestinian license plates in Israel are color coded to distinguish Jews from non-Jews?

i support israel too but so do i support the palestinians.  the latter need a country too.

n.b. the philippines had always voted in favor of palestine's recognition at the UN.  an example:


Philippines supports Palestinian state

ABS-CBNnews.com
12/01/2012

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines supports an independent Palestinian state, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday after Manila voted in favor of a move to grant Palestine a non-member observer state status at the United Nations.

"The Philippines supports Palestine's quest for self rule and self determination and we hope that one day an independent Palestine may live side by side in peace with its neighbors," DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said.

He said the move is part of the Philippines' belief that a 2-state solution will help end the violence between Palestine and Israel.

more at http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/30/12/philippines-supports-palestinian-state

Nine Chinese fishermen, part of 11 detained on May 6, stand outside the Palawan Provincial Jail on Wednesday, May 14, as they await trial. The PNP on May 6 intercepted a Chinese fishing boat carrying about 350 marine turtles off Half Moon Shoal in the Spratlys, arrested its crew of 11 and took them to Palawan to face charges of violating wildlife protection laws. Two minors who were with the fishermen were released and were turned over to the DSWD. Reuters/Liezel Chiu

DFA

DFA

One of several photographs gathered by Philippine intelligence sources and released by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, May 15, shows the extensive reclamation being done by China on Mabini Reef (Johnson South Reef). A building and a runway are also seen on the reef. The DFA said these actions are considered destabilizing and in violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and international law. Mabini Reef is part of the Kalayaan Island Group which is inside PHL territory. DFA

http://www.gmanetwork.com/

...the signed list linked the following people from five government agencies including Dennis Cunanan, who wants to be a state witness.

Department of Agriculture

1.       Ofelia Agawin
2.       Allan Umali

Department of Agrarian Reform

1.       Teresita Panlilio
2.       Narciso Nieto

National Livelihood Development Corporation

1.       Alexis Sevidal

Technology Resource Center

1.       Antonio Ortiz
2.       Denniss Cunanan

National Agribusiness Corporation

1.       Rhodora Mendoza
2.       Antonio Ortiz

Napoles also named the following as pork agents:

1.       Ruby Tuazon
2.       Bryan Yamsuan
3.       Jen Corpuz
4.       Mat Ranillo
5.       Pauline Labayen
6.       Catherine Mae “Maya” Santos
7.       Patricia “Gay” Agana Tan
8.       Alen Ruste
9.       Mon Arcenas

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/86890/official-napolist--12-senators-including-loren-alan-chiz-koko-jv

...or are you busy preventing colon cancer?

when freddie weds jovie

jovie's parents, freddie aguilar's parents-in-law

sad.

cool face, man.

opkors naman.  faun hubag, faun bugsay, faun lolla, etc.

51.      Marcelino Libanan
52.      Rolex Sulplico
53.      Benasing Macambon Jr.
54.      Jesnar Falcon
55.      Nasser Pangandaman
56.      Hussien Pangandaman
57.      Boy Umali
58.      Bagatsing
59.      Malapitan
60.      Ecleo

61.      Olano
62.      Jesli Lapuz
63.      Oca Rodriguez
64.      Alvarado
65.      Tulagan
66.      Nograles

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/86890/official-napolist--12-senators-including-loren-alan-chiz-koko-jv

41.      Clavel Martines
42.      Manuel Ortega
43.      Peter Falcon
44.      Isidro Real
45.      Corazon Malanyaon
46.      Narciso Monfort
47.      Uliran Joaquin
48.      Juaquin Chipeco
49.      Abdullah Dimaporo
50.      Ernesto Pablo

31.      Arnulfo Fuentebella
32.      Raul del Mar
33.      Rommel Amatong
34.      Marc  Douglas Cagas
35.      Digaden Dilangalen
36.      Iggy Arroyo
37.      Rodolfo Valencia
38.      Eduardo Zialcita
39.      Nanette Castelo Daza
40.      Constantino Jaraula

21.      Rufus Rodriguez
22.      Rizalina Seachon Lanete
23.      Edgar Valdez
24.      Scott Davies Lanete
25.      Rafael Nantes
26.      Sunny Rose Madamba
27.      Ruffy Biazon
28.      Gerard Gullas
29.      Carlos Padilla
30.      Rodolfo Plaza

11.      Neil Benedict Montejo
12.      Arthur Pinggoy
13.      Samuel Dangwa
14.      Florencio Flores
15.      Erwin Chiongbian
16.      Erico Fabian
17.      Florencio Miraflores
18.      Napoleon Beration
19.      Ricky Sandoval
20.      Max Rodriguez

more names from the official napolist said to be submitted by janet napoles...

The 66 House members are:

1.         Jesus Judin Romualdo
2.         Banzai Nieva
3.         Maite Defensor
4.         Mike Arroyo
5.         Isidro Ungab
6.         Reynaldo Umali
7.         Salacnib Baterina
8.         Conrad Estrella
9.         Raymond Estrella
10.        Victor Ortega

the congressmen on the list/s:

compare the 3 PDAF Scam senators list : Napoles, PDI and Lacson Lists

May 15, 2014

    the “janet napoles list” comes from the document SOJ leila de lima submitted to the senate blue ribbon committee.

    “the PDI (philippine daily inquirer) list” is a list PDI made based on the benhur luy’s computer hard disk. PDI made a copy of the contents of the hard disk.

    the “pin lacson list” according to lacson came from jimmy napoles, the husband of janet.

    nine (9) names appear in all 3 lists : cayetano, revilla, honasan, estrada, enrile, pimentel, legarda, villar and barbers

    three (3) names appear on 2 lists out of 3 : escudero, ejercito and sotto

    nine (9) names belong to 4 families : loi, JV, jinggoy â€" estrada family; bong and ramon sr â€" revilla family; cynthia and manny â€" villar family; koko and aquilino â€" pimentel family

    comparing the ping lacson and janet napoles lists, there are 2 names missing from the lacson list â€" JV ejercito and tito sotto.  lacson reportedly got his list from the husband of janet napoles, presumably given by janet napoles.



http://2010presidentiables.wordpress.com/

Difficulty of approval

At times, the approval to recite the prayers on a diocesan level have been known to be difficult to obtain, usually causing the faithful to rather demand in large numbers to an Archdiocese to release an Oratio Imperata. The most commonly authorised prayer is Oratio Imperata Ad Fluviam Petendam, in hopes of asking for rain in times of severe drought. Another one is Oratio Imperata Ad Calamitam et Bellonam, for casualties of war.

In the Republic of the Philippines, the release of such prayers is often requested during monsoon season and is primarily reported in various television and media outlets.

Within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in June 2008, a special prayer for the request of more priestly vocations merited the request for the prayers, recited post-communion during Sunday Masses in the San Fernando Valley but was prohibited in being prayed during weekly masses.

wikipedia/

In very rare cases of enduring public calamities lasting a longer time, (i,e. national war, calamitous plague, etc), the local ordinary may indeed impose a suitable Oratio Imperata for an extended period:

    -May only be recited during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

    -Is prohibited on the same days twice, or in the same days coinciding with relevant liturgical days

The invocative prayers prescribed as Oratio Imperata are:

    -Must only be composed of one, singular prayer

    -Must be primarily addressed to a personage of the Holy Trinity, not directly to any interceding angel, saint, or a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    -Must be prayed and recited by all Catholic priests celebrating Holy Mass in their respective churches and oratories, as well as exempted ones of the diocese

    -Can never said under a single conclusion with the collect of the Holy Mass, but after the Mass is concluded

    -Is prohibited on all first and second class of liturgical days, in votive Masses of the 1st and 2nd class, in sung Masses, and when the all have been met on that particular day

    -An oratio imperata for the deceased is said only on Ferias of the Fourth Class and in low votive or Requiem Masses of the Class IV

History

The customary tradition of reciting such prayers are rooted in Apostolic age, when lay people asked the help and assistance of their bishops in the time of natural calamity, war or any grave public danger to society. In the Middle Ages, various saints (i.e. Saint Isidore the Farmer were invoked for the assistance of granting rain while Saint Roque was invoked for dire calamities and the black plague.)

In the present Roman Catholic discipline, any collect prayers from the Holy Mass may be prescribed by the local ordinary as this type of prayer. The prayer itself cannot be a permanent religious recitation, but rather only for used for a short period of time of need. The prayers are often recited post-communion or after the conclusion or final benediction of the Holy Mass. When the prayer itself is asked, composed, or canonically authorised by the Pope, it can also merit a plenary indulgence.

Quote from: islander on May 21, 2014, 05:01:32 PM
Oratio Imperata is defined as “a set of Roman Catholic invocative prayers consisting of a liturgical action and a short, general prayer which the local ordinary or prelate of the church may publicly pray when a grave need or calamity occurs.”

Oratio Imperata


Invocative prayers invoked by a Catholic bishop. Fresco by Italian Artist Lorenzo Lotto, Suardi, Italy. Circa 1524.

Oratio Imperata (Latin: Obligatory Prayer) is a set of Roman Catholic invocative prayers consisting of a liturgical action and a short, general prayer which the local ordinary or prelate of the church may publicly pray when a grave need or calamity occurs.

Common reasons for the religious invocation of the prayer are natural calamities such as storms, snow and drought while rare circumstances which merit the prayer are wars, plague and the disruption of public peace in society. The prayers are customarily invoked by an Archdiocese on behalf of overwhelming popular requests, and is authorised by a high-ranking prelate or Metropolitan Archbishop.

But the approval to recite the Oratio Imperata was known to be difficult to obtain on a diocesan level. In most cases, it should be demanded by a large number of Catholics.

Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Neri Colmenares said El Niño, being “quasi-seasonal in nature,” … “has been foreseen long before it happens.”

He said the government should have prepared for it long ago by formulating plans for irrigation, crop planting decisions, seed selection, and fertilizer application to mitigate the impact of the drought.

Colmenares said in an emailed statement that the government’s normal stop gap measures to address El Niño, including “expensive” cloud seeding and rice importation, as “very myopic” and “should be changed.”

“Instead, the government needs to build a strong agricultural base that would start from planting to post-harvest facilities, including rehabilitated irrigation system,” he said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/

However, Dela Cruz urged Catholics to take the initiative of praying more as the El Niño would spawn not only months of droughts but days of stronger cyclones.

“So is there a need for an Oratio Imperata? Maybe the people need to pray more instead of declaring an Oratio Imperata,” he said.

Oratio Imperata is defined as “a set of Roman Catholic invocative prayers consisting of a liturgical action and a short, general prayer which the local ordinary or prelate of the church may publicly pray when a grave need or calamity occurs.”

It is primarily decreed against natural calamities. The prayers are recited after communion or after the conclusion of the Holy Mass.

This early, the agency said that it already noted a significant increase in sea surface temperature from 0.2 to 0.4 Celsius between April 21 and April 28 alone.

Pagasa said El Niño could persist up to the first quarter of 2015.

The recital of Oratio Imperata was the subject of a circular issued by Catholic Bishops of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

In his circular issued early this month, Villegas urged dioceses to say the obligatory prayer from May 15 to September 29.

But the state weather bureau said while it expected the El Niño to make its presence felt starting in June, stronger storms that could bring rains to various areas of the country would also occur toward the end of the year.

“However, El Niño causes the behavior of tropical cyclones to become erratic, affecting its tracks and intensity. The tropical cyclone tracks are expected to shift northward and its intensity could become stronger,” Pagasa said in an earlier advisory.

El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP), according to Pagasa.

Prayers sought as El Niño will spawn drought, stronger typhoons

Bayan Muna hits gov’t for ‘myopic’ stopgap measures vs weather abnormalities

By Liza Jocson and Allan Nawal
Inquirer Mindanao



ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippinesâ€"Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo dela Cruz has urged the people to pray more as the country will be facing typhoons as well as periods of drought brought by the El Niño phenomenon in 2014.

“Maybe the people need to pray more instead of declaring an Oratio Imperata because already the Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration) said there will be as many typhoons this year,” Dela Cruz said.

The city is 44th on the list of areas expected to be hit by the prolonged dry spell.

labad.  naloryong pa ko ani.  hard to believe.  they may not have researched yet on tuberculosis of the breast and breast dementia due to too much sucking.

glad i can interact with cats and dogs and other fauna.  call it faunal interaction.

he wasn't only a genius.  he was also clairvoyant.

amen.

welcome back!  i've been busy too, like taking some sort of tour in south asia.  i'm impressed with colombo, with its cleanness and european feel.  they've gone a long way after those recent terrible years of tamil rebellion.

too bad i heard some buddhist monks there in sri lanka are destroying small christian churches in the countryside, all for preserving their buddhist culture and way of life.  i heard too that they don't touch catholic churches, though, as such churches seem too big to be destroyed.  let's include them in our prayers. 

alpine, tenk yu.

Quote from: islander on May 20, 2014, 11:43:35 AM
May 12 Beijing protests

Five protesters unfurled banners in front of the Philippine embassy in Beijing reading, "Huangyan Island will always belong to China" and "Keep your hands off Huangyan Island". The protest did not take long and the protesters were dispersed by the police by noon.

In “History, Identity, and Security,” there is an intriguing discussion, all too short, on Jeffrey Wasserstrom’s classification of political protests in China into either subversive “political theater” or establishment-oriented “political ritual.” What would that make of the May 12, 2012 protest in Beijing against the Philippines at the height of the Scarborough Shoal standoff, when, according to Hayton, only five people showed up? The “mass nationalist anger” Philippine effrontery was supposed to have stirred up seems merely ritualistic.

Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/74462/mapping-the-humiliation-of-china#ixzz32JChxbNE

sige lang.  ang kumagko ni ondoy intsik mora man pod ug hitsura ug just that... intsik.

it seems to me that the fish takes the likeness of pnoy.

indeed.  thankfully, i'm not about to go to jail for VIPs.

it seems like i know someone with a similar ability...

Quote from: hubag bohol on May 20, 2014, 11:48:48 AM
What an egoist...

ooops, i'm referring to miss lolla, dear.  she's the most qualified as miss tubagbohol, unless of course you give her a run for her money.

Quote from: islander on May 20, 2014, 11:49:24 AM
Continued Chinese presence

Under a 2012 deal mediated by the United States, China and the Philippines promised to withdraw their forces from the shoal until a deal over its ownership could be reached. The Philippines complied with the agreement and withdrew. China, however, did not abide the agreement and maintained its presence at the shoal, effectively militarizing it. Philippine president Benigno S. Aquino III later compared China's behavior to Nazi Germany's annexation of Czechoslovakia.

no wonder the philippines refuses to negotiate bilaterally, which in this case shows that trust and word of honor seem to be absent in china's vocabulary.

Quote from: islander on May 20, 2014, 12:04:38 PM
As of February 2014, the Philippines had not yet submitted a written pleading to ITLOS, and it was reported that China had offered mutual withdrawal from the shoal and other inducements if the Philippines would refrain from submitting a formal pleading, and that the Philippine position was, “With what's on the table, there's not enough.”

as of 30 march 2014, the philippines has submitted a memorial in its case against china. 

Defying China’s warnings, the Philippines on Sunday pressed ahead with the submission of a crucial arbitration document packed with evidence and legal arguments seeking to invalidate China’s massive claim over the South China Sea.

Ignoring a possible backlash from China, the Philippine government transmitted the document, called a “memorial” in international arbitration parlance, to the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration where a five-member tribunal operating under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea will hear Manila’s complaint.

“Today, the Philippines submitted its memorial to the arbitral tribunal that is hearing the case it brought against the People’s Republic of China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario told a news conference.

“With firm conviction, the ultimate purpose of our memorial is our national interest.”

Manila declined to release a copy of the memorial as it has yet to be reviewed by the court.

But Del Rosario said the document consists of “ten volumes with maps” with “nearly 4,000 pages” and will fortify the Philippine case, which seeks to declare China’s claim as illegal. A hard copy will be forwarded to the tribunal on Monday.

The document, he said, “contains the Philippine analysis of the applicable law and the relevant evidence, and demonstrates that the arbitral tribunal has jurisdiction over all the claims made by the Philippines.”

It will be used by the tribunal to determine if the Philippine case has legal merit under international law, and if the court has jurisdiction over it, Del Rosario said.

“Every claim is meritorious,” he said. “It sets out the specific relief sought by the Philippines in regard to each of its claims, and shows why it is entitled to such relief.”

“It is about seeking not just any kind of resolution but a just and durable solution grounded on international law,” he added. (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/, march 30 2014)

ITLOS involvement

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an intergovernmental organization created by the mandate of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, with responsibility for the regulation of seabed mining beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, and with the power to settle disputes between party states. In May 2012, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) leader Jorge Madlos said in a statement that, "Mindanao views the incursion of China in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the Scarborough Shoal, as an infringement on the sovereign right and patrimony of the Filipino people. The Chinese government must immediately desist from taking injurious steps against the integrity of the Filipino people.", and urged both Chinese and Filipinos to pressure their respective governments in resolving the shoal dispute through diplomatic means before ITLOS.

In June 2013 it was reported that the Philippines had decided to bring the territorial row before the ITLOS after it had “exhausted all political and diplomatic avenues for a peaceful negotiated settlement of its maritime dispute with China.”, saying that it will ask the tribunal to declare China's claims as "invalid." China was reported to have formally rejected arbitration proceedings initiated by the Philippines. According to Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), however, China's refusal will not necessarily impede the proceedings.

As of February 2014, the Philippines had not yet submitted a written pleading to ITLOS, and it was reported that China had offered mutual withdrawal from the shoal and other inducements if the Philippines would refrain from submitting a formal pleading, and that the Philippine position was, “With what's on the table, there's not enough.”

wikipedia/

  Vietnam â€" Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said that Vietnam is "deeply concerned" over the Scarborough shoal incident. He stressed that "concerned parties need to practise restraint and peacefully resolve the disputes based on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 and the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC), to maintain peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea and region."

   United Kingdom â€" British Prime Minister David Cameron stressed that the United Kingdom calls for a "peaceful resolution" to the Scarborough shoal conflict.

  Taiwan â€" Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou hoped that the conflict will be solved "peaceful manner" but he also reiterate that Taiwan "will still continue to uphold sovereign claims over the South China Sea.”

  Russia â€" Russian Ambassador to Manila, Nikolay Kudashev reiterated that Russia supports bilateral solution among claimant countries and opposed the involvement of other nations in the South China Sea disputes. Kudashev also noted that Russia is not a party to the Scarborough shoal dispute and that his country wants to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Kudashev also stated that,“The UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) would provide a good and solid basis.”

  Pakistan â€" Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khan said in an ambassador's forum in the China Women's University said that "Pakistan is with China" on the Scarborough shoal incident.

  Malaysia â€" Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak stated that his country supports the Philippines' call for a “peaceful resolution” through a "multilateral solution" to the Scarborough shoal conflict.

  India â€" The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that, "Maintenance of peace and security in the region is of vital interest to the international community. India urges both countries to exercise restraint and resolve the issue diplomatically according to principles of international law."

International reaction

   Australia â€" Australia urged claimant nations to conform to international conventions and law for resolution. "We don't take a side on the various claims over the South China Sea. But we do, given our interest in the South China Sea, and given the fact that a large proportion of our trade travels through it, we do call on governments to clarify and pursue those claims and accompanying maritime rights in accordance with international law including the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention,"” Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said on May 12, who was in Shanghai to hold meetings primarily with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Continued Chinese presence

Under a 2012 deal mediated by the United States, China and the Philippines promised to withdraw their forces from the shoal until a deal over its ownership could be reached. The Philippines complied with the agreement and withdrew. China, however, did not abide the agreement and maintained its presence at the shoal, effectively militarizing it. Philippine president Benigno S. Aquino III later compared China's behavior to Nazi Germany's annexation of Czechoslovakia.

By July 2012, China had erected a barrier to the entrance of the shoal, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. Since then, vessels belonging to the China Marine Surveillance and Fisheries Law Enforcement Command have been observed in the nearby disputed shoal and Chinese government vessels have been turning away Filipino vessels sailing to the area. In response, the Philippines has stated that it would be preparing to resend vessels to the shoal, in what has been described as a "cold standoff". By January 2014, China continued to maintain a presence within the shoal, among heightened tensions regarded a new law which requires non-Chinese fishing boats to seek permission from China when in the South China Sea, however Philippine fishing boats were able to fish around the shoal without Chinese interaction.

Faeldon's planned protest

Former Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon planned to lead a group of fishermen to the Scarborough shoal as a protest to assert the Philippines' claim over the shoal. Faeldon also considered planting a Philippine flag on the shoal. On May 18, President Aquino, called Faeldon to dissuade him from pushing through his trip. According to Faeldon, even if his plan pushed through, his group did not intend to plant a flag, as opposed to earlier reports, or to fish in the area.

Fishing ban

The Chinese government unilaterally imposed a fishing ban in the South China Sea, where the Scarborough shoal lies, lasting from May 16 to August 1. Since 1999, China has been imposing the annual summer fishing ban, which covers fishermen, regardless of nationality. Mono-layer gillnets, and hook and line fishing is not covered by the ban.

The Philippines does not recognize the Chinese fishing ban but has imposed its own fishing ban. The Filipino fishing ban lasted from May 16 to July 15 and the Philippine Coast Guard will bar Filipino fishermen from the shoal. President Benigno Aquino III insisted that the ban was for the preservation of the marine resources. Fish aggregating devices were installed in the municipal waters of Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig and Iba in Zambales, as well as in La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte to ensure the livelihoods of affected Filipino fishermen. As of June 26, fishing vessels, together with paramilitary ships, are still in Scarborough shoal despite the Chinese fishing ban still effect.

May 12 Beijing protests

Five protesters unfurled banners in front of the Philippine embassy in Beijing reading, "Huangyan Island will always belong to China" and "Keep your hands off Huangyan Island". The protest did not take long and the protesters were dispersed by the police by noon.

May 11 Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong activists organized a protest on May 11, to reiterate China's claim over the Scarborough shoal near the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong. The protesters sent an open letter to the authorities claiming that the Scarborough shoal has been a Chinese territory since 1279 during the Yuan Dynasty. They also accuse the Philippines in inciting anti-China demonstration among Filipinos and disrupting Chinese fishermen in the shoal.

May 11 Philippine protests

Filipinos organized a protest near the Chinese Consulate in Manila against China's policies in the Scarborough shoal on May 11. Nearly 1,000 people were expected to participate in the protest. Organizers of the protests also noted that other protests were planned in other Chinese diplomatic missions around the world.

China deployed police near the Philippine Embassy in Beijing but only about 200 protesters were reported. The protest in Beijing ended peacefully. The Chinese embassy in Manila advised Chinese nationals to stay off the streets. Taiwan also released a similar advisory to its residents staying in the Philippines.

Suspension of tours to the Philippines

Most Chinese travel agencies suspended tours to the Philippines due to the standoff over the Scarborough shoal. Tourists from China makes about 9% of total arrivals to the Philippines according to the Philippine Department of Tourism.

The state-owned China Travel Service, Shanghai Tourism Bureau and Ctrip.com suspended all tours to the Philippines indefinitely citing the anti-Chinese sentiment in the country and for the safety of Chinese nationals.

Philippine fruit exports to China

China has imposed stricter regulations on its import of Philippine bananas, as a shipload of bananas was rejected in May, allegedly due to its failure to pass quarantine tests. According to Philippine banana exporters, China's move was related to the standoff in the Scarborough shoal. China also ordered stiffer inspections over Philippine pineapples and other fruits coming from the country.

Cyber attack exchanges

Hackers suspected to be from China, defaced the website of the University of the Philippines on April 20. The hackers left a message claiming, “We come from China! Huangyan Island is Ours,”. On April 21 “Anonymous #Occupy Philippines” retaliated and attacked the China University Media Union website, defacing its homepage with an image of a Guy Fawkes mask. The hacker said, "Chinese government is clearly retarded. Scarborough Shoal is ours!”. The website of the University of the Philippines was back online at the same day. After the attacks, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said that it didn't appear that the attacks would have any negative effect on the talks by Manila and Beijing to find a diplomatic solution to the standoff, and urged both Filipinos and Chinese to refrain from escalating tensions. Philippine websites of Official Gazette, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, and the Presidential Museum and Library were also defaced in April. On May 4, hackers defaced the websites of The Philippine Star newspaper.

Reactions and related incidents

Boycott of Chinese goods

There has been a call in the Philippines to boycott goods made in China. Albay Governor Joey Salceda renewed calls to boycott goods made in China to send a signal that the Filipinos are united when a foreign power threatens the country's territorial integrity and national dignity. According to Salceda, the boycott would not be a counter to China's economic or military might “but it will draw global attention to their hegemonic ambitions as the loss of international goodwill will make its expansionist strategy very costly.”. Salaceda's has been advocating his cause since June 2011 over the alleged aggressive policy of China in the Spratly Islands, another disputed territory claimed by China, the Philippines and four other countries.

U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance, together with the Vietnamese community in Florida also called for the boycott of Chinese goods.

Overview

The Scarborough Shoal is claimed by both China and the Philippines. Taiwan also claims the shoal as part of its territory. On April 8, 2012, a Philippine Navy surveillance plane spotted eight Chinese fishing vessels docked at the waters of Scarborough shoal. BRP Gregorio del Pilar was sent on the same day by the Philippine Navy to survey the vicinity of the shoal, and confirmed the presence of the fishing vessels and their ongoing activities. On April 10, 2012, BRP Gregorio del Pilar came to inspect the catch of the fishing vessels. The Filipino inspection team claimed that they discovered illegally collected corals, giant clams and live sharks inside the first vessel boarded by the team. BRP Gregorio del Pilar reported that they attempted to arrest the Chinese fishermen but were blocked by Chinese maritime surveillance ships, China Marine Surveillance 75 (Zhongguo Haijian 75) and China Marine Surveillance 84 (Zhongguo Haijian 84). Since then, tensions have continued between the two countries.

Quote from: islander on May 20, 2014, 10:44:02 AM
The Philippines has accused China of building up its military presence in the Spratlys. In early 2012, the two countries engaged in a lengthy maritime stand-off, accusing each other of intrusions in the Scarborough Shoal.

Scarborough Shoal standoff

From Wikipedia


Scarborough Shoal

Date:  April 8, 2012 - present

Location:  Scarborough Shoal

Status:  Ongoing

Belligerents:  Philippines                                  China

Strength:      1 frigate, 1 surveillance plane       2 surveillance ships

The Scarborough Shoal standoff refers to the ongoing tensions between China and the Philippines which began on April 8, 2012 over the Philippine Navy apprehension of eight Chinese fishing vessels in the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines has a rusting vessel beached on the Second Thomas Shoal, which China also claims

Is anyone trying to resolve the row?

Over the years, China has tended to favour bilateral arrangements negotiated behind closed doors - but other countries want international mediation.

Even if the Philippines is successful in its attempts to pursue China at a UN tribunal, however, China would not be obliged to abide by the ruling.

Recent attempts by regional grouping Asean to discuss new ideas for resolving the dispute appear to have left the bloc severely divided.

http://www.bbc.com/

Vietnam was also one of a number of nations that refused to stamp new editions of Chinese passports which include a map showing disputed areas of the South China Sea as Chinese territory.

In January 2013, Manila said it was taking China to a UN tribunal under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims in the South China Sea.

In May 2014, the introduction by China of a drilling rig into waters near the Paracel Islands led to multiple collisions between Vietnamese and China ships.

The Philippines has accused China of building up its military presence in the Spratlys. In early 2012, the two countries engaged in a lengthy maritime stand-off, accusing each other of intrusions in the Scarborough Shoal.

In July 2012 China formally created Sansha city, an administrative body with its headquarters in the Paracels which it says oversees Chinese territory in the South China Sea - including the Paracels and the Spratlys. Both Vietnam and the Philippines protested against this move.

Unverified claims that the Chinese navy deliberately sabotaged two Vietnamese exploration operations in late 2012 led to large anti-China protests on the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

How much trouble does the dispute cause?

The most serious trouble in recent decades has flared between Vietnam and China. The Chinese seized the Paracels from Vietnam in 1974, killing more than 70 Vietnamese troops. In 1988 the two sides clashed in the Spratlys, when Vietnam again came off worse, losing about 60 sailors.

The Philippines has also been involved in a number of minor skirmishes with Chinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian forces.

The most recent upsurge in tension has coincided with more muscular posturing from China.

Why are so many countries involved?

The Paracels and the Spratlys may have reserves of natural resources around them. There has been little detailed exploration of the area, so estimates are largely extrapolated from the mineral wealth of neighbouring areas.

The sea is also a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supply the livelihoods of people across the region.


Vietnamese protesters mark China's seizure of the Paracels in 1974

The other major claimant in the area is the Philippines, which invokes its geographical proximity to the Spratly Islands as the main basis of its claim for part of the grouping.

Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Island in China) - a little more than 100 miles (160km) from the Philippines and 500 miles from China.

Malaysia and Brunei also lay claim to territory in the South China Sea that they say falls within their economic exclusion zones, as defined by UNCLOS. Brunei does not claim any of the disputed islands, but Malaysia claims a small number of islands in the Spratlys.


The Philippines accuses China of strengthening its military presence in the South China Sea

Who claims what?

China claims by far the largest portion of territory - an area defined by the "nine-dash line" which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan. Beijing says its right to the area comes from 2,000 years of history where the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation.

In 1947 China issued a map detailing its claims. It showed the two island groups falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan, as the Republic of China.

Vietnam hotly disputes China's historical account, saying China had never claimed sovereignty over the islands before the 1940s. Vietnam says it has actively ruled over both the Paracels and the Spratlys since the 17th Century - and has the documents to prove it.

What is the argument about?

It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas and the Paracels and the Spratlys - two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries. Alongside the fully fledged islands, there are dozens of uninhabited rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal.


Map of South China Sea

Q&A: South China Sea dispute 

BBC News, 8 May 2014


Tensions between the Philippines and China over overlapping claims has risen in recent months

Rival countries have wrangled over territory in the South China Sea for centuries - but a recent upsurge in tension has sparked concern that the area is becoming a flashpoint with global consequences.

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How is this likely to end?

Alexander Neill from IISS predicts relations between the two will be strained for some time, but trade ties between the countries are likely to offer a way forward.

"I think there's a common misperception that the party-to-party relationship, the two communist parties in China and Vietnam, have this deep and understanding relationship. I don't think that's necessarily true. I think to a large extent this relationship is cosmetic," he said.

"The real business of the relationship is in trade so that might be an area where there could be a way out, or channels of communication could speak more than political acrimony.

"The Vietnamese authorities can't afford to lose very significant chunks of investment into their economy."

http://edition.cnn.com/

How has Vietnam responded?

While maintaining its demands for China to leave the contested area, the Vietnamese government says it's taken steps to dampen further protests. It has characterized the protests as "spontaneous acts" by individuals who are exploiting the situation to "cause social disorder."

Hundreds of people have been arrested and the government has reassured foreign investors that it attaches a "special importance" to ensuring their safety.

Commentary carried by China's state-run Xinhua news agency suggested: "It is advisable for the Vietnamese government to think of the bigger picture and not to get stuck in extreme nationalism so as to avoid escalation of violence and complication of the situation in the South China Sea.

"By immediately stopping the violence and any further provocations, Vietnam can work with China to tap the full potential of their economic cooperation in such areas as financial services and industry transfer."

What's the response from China?

The ferocity of the Vietnamese protests appears to have taken China by surprise and it's clearly expressed its dissatisfaction with Vietnam's handling of the unrest.

On May 18, China announced it was suspending some of its plans for bilateral exchanges with the country. It's warned its citizens that Vietnam is not safe for travel, while the Global Times reported many Chinese travel agencies had suspended tours to Vietnam.

China has also warned of other unspecified punishment, hinting that it will use its economic leverage. Trade between China and Vietnam reached more than 50 billion dollars in 2013 according to Chinese state media and Vietnam depends heavily on foreign investment.

What is motivating China?

On the surface, oil would seem to be the reason China has waded into the disputed area but analysts say politics are clearly at play.

"This kind of a move by putting an oil rig in this sort of place, you could say it's a carte blanche to allow China to enhance its naval operations in the region and to project its power further out into the South China Sea," Neill said.

It's not the first time China has stepped on regional sensitivities by making high profile and deliberate incursions into contested tracts. There have been tense encounters between Japan and China over the Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands in recent years, and China has locked horns with the Philippines over competing claims to the Scarborough Shoal.

In a statement released May 7, the U.S. State Department characterized China's latest move as a "part of a broader pattern of Chinese behavior to advance its claims over disputed territory in a manner that undermines peace and stability in the region."

In 1974, the two countries fought the Battle of the Paracel Islands, which ended in a Chinese victory and complete control over the land and surrounding waters.

After the reunification of Vietnam in 1975, Vietnam's leaders publicly renewed the country's claim to the islands but the issue remains unresolved. In January this year, activists shouted anti-China slogans and laid flowers for more than 70 Vietnamese soldiers killed in the conflict, 40 years on.

Who is right?

While many commentators say Vietnam has every right to feel appalled over the positioning of the Chinese rig, at least one analyst says the issue not as clear cut as some suggest.

"Geographical proximity alone is not an unequivocal basis for claiming sovereignty or sovereign rights," writes Sam Bateman in the Eurasia Review.

Bateman, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University, says Vietnam's claim to the Paracel Islands is "seriously weakened" by North Vietnam's recognition of China's sovereignty over the Paracels and lack of protest between 1958 and 1975.


On patrol: Chinese coast guard vessels in the South China Sea. Beijing and Hanoi each accused the other of ramming its ships near the disputed Paracel Islands where China has moved a large oil rig / Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

On Sunday, China chartered flights to evacuate 290 citizens, including 100 injured in the most recent violence.

Video aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed some limping or being carried down the stairs of a medical flight arriving in the city of Chengdu, many with limbs bandaged. Two Chinese nationals were killed in earlier clashes, authorities said.

Around 7,000 Chinese nationals had boarded ships or were due to do so this week, state news agency Xinhua reported. An outraged opinion piece published on the same site said the protests by "irrational rioters" would in no way strengthen Hanoi's "groundless claim over Chinese territory and surrounding waters in the South China Sea."


Tensions rise: Chinese coast guard vessels (right) and an unidentified naval vessel (left) near China's oil drilling rig (centre) in disputed waters in the South China Sea, off the coast of Vietnam / Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

The Chinese rig was escorted to the region by naval vessels and fighter jets, drawing Vietnamese boats to the area and raising tensions at sea. The Vietnamese have accused Chinese vessels of ramming and blasting its boats with water cannon. The Chinese say any conflict was provoked by Vietnamese harassment.



Clashes on land

Miles away from the standoff at sea, violent protests have erupted at Chinese and Taiwanese owned or operated factories, mainly in the provinces of Ha Tinh and Binh Duoung.

Protesters smashed down gates and set fire to businesses, attacking anything deemed to be of Chinese origin, including its nationals.

Analysis co-authored by CSIS experts said China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs appears to be basing its right to be there on the assumption that one of the Paracel Islands, which it claims as its own, is 17 miles north, allowing it to claim its own continental shelf in the region.

China calls the contested Paracel Islands the Xisha Islands, while in Vietnam they're known as the Hoang Sa Islands.

Vietnam says the rig site is clearly on its continental shelf, and moreover is in its Exclusive Economic Zone. Hanoi has demanded that China remove the offending rig, escort vessels from the region and hold talks to settle the issue.

At issue is the positioning of an oil rig in waters claimed by both China and Vietnam. Vietnam claims the rig's presence is "illegal" while China says it has every right to drill, and has castigated the Vietnamese government for failing to ensure the safety of its nationals.

To understand the issue, it's vital to look at the exact position of the rig.

Where is the rig?

In early May, Beijing announced the HD-981 rig would be parked at sea for exploratory work until mid-August. Owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the rig is anchored in Lot 143, about 120 nautical miles east of Vietnam's Ly Son Island and 180 nautical miles from China's Hainan Island, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).


Location of HD-981Location of HD-981

How an oil rig sparked anti-China riots in Vietnam

By Hilary Whiteman, CNN
May 19, 2014

Hong Kong (CNN) -- When China's state-owned oil company dispatched an oil rig to a contested area of the South China Sea it flicked a match on a long-smoldering dispute with its communist neighbor Vietnam.

Analysts say Beijing must have known the move would elicit some reaction, but it clearly didn't predict having to evacuate thousands of Chinese nationals desperate to put some distance between them and violent Vietnamese protests.

"The whole episode seems to reek of miscalculation, perhaps by both sides, but it demonstrates how volatile this region can be," said Alexander Neill, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Asia (IISS).

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