Al Jazeera correspondent covering the Philippines and Asia-Pacific. Formerly @cbsnews, CGTN. Views my own. 📧: lobarnaby@aljazeera.net
Oct 22, 2023 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
🧵: Philippines says Chinese coast guard vessel collided with one of its Navy-contracted civilian supply boats this morning as the Chinese maneuvered dangerously to block PH ships heading to the Second Thomas Shoal, where PH has an old warship to stake its claim in this part of the South China Sea.
Full statement:
STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE FOR THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
22 October 2023
At around 0604H this morning, while conducting a regular and routine Rotation and Resupply (RORE) mission to BRP SIERRA MADRE (LS57), dangerous blocking maneuvers of China Coast Guard vessel 5203 (CCGV 5203) caused it to collide with the Armed Forces of the Philippines-contracted indigenous resupply boat Unaiza May 2 (UM2) approximately 13.5 nautical miles (NM) East Northeast of LS57. The provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action of CCGV 5203 imperiled the safety of the crew of UM2.
Sep 17, 2023 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
1/ LOOK: The Philippine Coast Guard releases underwater footage that shows coral reef damage in the Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal w/in the Philippines’ EEZ in the South China Sea (West PH Sea), where the PH military had monitored fleets of Chinese militia vessels. 2/ Full PCG Statement:
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD CONFIRMS EXTENSIVE MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE IN AREAS FREQUENTED BY CHINESE MARITIME MILITIA
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) fully supports and confirms the report released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (WESCOM), exposing the severe damage inflicted upon the marine environment and coral reef in the seabed of Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal.
1. Essential govT workers need to be accredited. 2. ID’s to be issued by PCOO by March 21. 3. Health & emergency front liners:
a. Public health workers
b.Private health workers
c. Red Cross, WHO
4. Transport Dept. to develop point-to-point transport services for health workers 5. Unimpeded movement of cargoes 6. Capital markets to open 7. DOLE to facilitate “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program
