News Story: PH Air Force has now 8 supersonic jets, eyeing procurement of 36 more FA-50s

Philippine Air Force FA-50PH (File Photo)

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has now eight jets in its inventory while the delivery of the rest of the jets will be completed this year.

The fourth batch of FA-50PH jets with tail number 007 and 008 arrived on March 29 at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City, Clark Air Base in Pampanga with the Vice Commander of PAF, Major General Conrado V. Parra Jr. AFP, as Guest of Honor.

Last year, IHS Jane’s reported the PAF confirmed it would look to secure government approval for 36 additional FA-50s after the delivery of the initial 12 aircraft.

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News Story: DFA chief - Duterte misquoted on Benham Rise issue

By Patricia Lourdes Viray

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was again taken out of context when he said that Chinese ships are allowed to survey Benham Rise, the Philippines' top diplomat said Thursday.

Duterte earlier said that he does not see the reported presence of Chinese ships in the 13-million-hectare area off the coast of Aurora as an "incursion" into the country's territorial waters.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said that what Duterte meant was that the Chinese are welcome to conduct a friendly visit to the Philippines.

"He wasn't referring to Benham Rise. He was referring to, for example Russia sent a ship here, you're welcome to visit as long as it's friendly or in accordance with Philippine law. It wasn't in connection with the Benham Rise issue," Manalo said in an interview with ANC's Hot Copy on Headstart.

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News Story: Philippines, China to hold direct talks on South China Sea

By Pia Lee-Brago

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippines and China will hold direct talks on their maritime dispute in May, Filipino officials said yesterday, as President Duterte seeks stronger economic ties with Beijing.

China has invited officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for a visit to start discussions on a bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The DFA yesterday confirmed China is proposing to hold and host the bilateral consultation meeting with the Philippines in May.

“This is a new proposal, a bilateral consultation mechanism specifically on the South China Sea,” foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the Philippines and China agreed during the 20th round of Sino-Philippine diplomatic consultation last January to establish a bilateral mechanism on the South China Sea issue.

The two foreign ministries will act as coordinators to discuss issues of mutual concern and promote maritime cooperation and security. 

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News Story: Duterte to US - Why didn't you send armada vs China islands?

By Jim Gomez

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he has asked the U.S. ambassador why America did not deploy an armada of warships to pressure China to stop constructing man-made islands that are now at the heart of regional concerns in the disputed South China Sea.

Duterte said in a speech that U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim was unable to reply to the question when they met Monday in southern Davao City, where the president had a separate meeting with the Chinese ambassador. While criticizing the U.S., Duterte did not berate China's behavior in his speech.

Duterte said he told Kim that he was surprised by what he described as U.S. inaction when newspapers were publishing pictures of China's construction of runways and other structures on the newly built islands in the disputed waters.

"Had America really wanted to avoid trouble, early on ... why did you not send the armada of the 7th Fleet which is stationed there in the Pacific, you just make a U-turn and go there and tell them right on their face, stop it?" Duterte said he asked Kim, referring to the U.S. naval fleet based in Japan.

Kim, who arrived in Manila last year as American ambassador, replied that he was assigned elsewhere at the time and could not give an answer, Duterte said.

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Related Story: Rody asks envoy: Why didn’t US stop China?

News Story: Indonesia, Malaysia can enter Phl to pursue Sayyaf

By Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will allow its counterparts from Indonesia and Malaysia to enter Philippine waters to track down Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command said allowing the presence of Indonesian and Malaysian military forces in maritime areas of common concern is provided under the trilateral agreement.

The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia entered into an agreement last year allowing the three countries to conduct patrols in the waters off Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“Based on the agreement, we can allow the hot pursuit to neutralize the threat provided there is prior coordination with the concerned countries,” Galvez said.

 Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are also planning to designate an area for the deployment of navy and air force multi-forces on rotational basis.

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News Story: US official airs concern on Phl’s drug war

By Emmanuel Tupas

MANILA, Philippines -  While the United States recognizes the Philippine government’s commitment in the fight against illegal drugs, it is concerned about the way the campaign is being implemented under the Duterte administration, with rising reports of rampant killings and human rights abuses.

“The United States does recognize the Philippines’ commitment to fight drugs but… the Philippine government approach raises some significant concerns relating to human rights and due process,” Luis Arreaga, principal deputy assistant secretary of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said in a teleconference from Washington Tuesday evening.

“We are deeply concerned about reports of extrajudicial killings by or at the behest of government authorities in the Philippines,” Arreaga said.

On Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported 6,011 deaths labeled as homicide cases since Duterte took office in July last year.

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News Story: Japan ruling party urges strike ability amid N. Korea threat

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's ruling party urged the government Thursday to consider arming itself with more advanced and offensive capability, such as striking enemy targets with cruise missiles, further loosening the self-defense-only military posture the country has had since the end of World War II.

The Liberal Democratic Party's council on defense policy urged the government to immediately start studying ways to bolster Japan's capability to intercept missiles with a system such as the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD system, that the U.S. and Seoul have agreed to install in South Korea.

The panel cited a "new level of threat" from North Korea, which fired four missiles this month, three of them landing inside Japan-claimed exclusive economic waters.

"North Korea's provocative acts have reached a level that Japan absolutely cannot overlook," the party's security panel said in the proposal given to Abe. "We should not waste any time to strengthen our ballistic missile defense."

Read the full story at The Mainichi

News Story: Netherlands rep speaks for NATO members in opposing nuke ban treaty

NEW YORK -- A Dutch official participating in a United Nations conference here to negotiate a treaty outlawing nuclear weapons remarked that a pact without wide support from nuclear powers would not be viable.

The representative from the Netherlands made the remarks at a March 28 session of the first round of talks on the Nuclear Weapons Convention at U.N. Headquarters, as if to represent the voices of NATO member states. The meeting has been boycotted by the United States and other nuclear powers as well as most NATO members, which rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella.

Addressing the predominantly pro-treaty audience, the Dutch official opined that any nuclear weapons ban treaty must be consistent with obligations imposed upon NATO members.

Read the full story at The Mainichi

USA: Sterett-Dewey Surface Action Group to deploy to Western Pacific

From U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

File photo of USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105). (U.S. Navy/MC2 Declan Barnes) >>

SAN DIEGO - Ships and units from the Sterett-Dewey Surface Action Group (Sterett-Dewey SAG) will depart San Diego for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific, March 31.

The command staff of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 31 and the guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105) will deploy with the embarked helicopter detachments from Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 49 and HSM 78.

The Sterett-Dewey SAG will operate with regional navies to conduct routine patrols, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation activities to enhance regional security and stability.

USA: Carrier Strike Group 1, JMSDF conduct bilateral operations

From Carrier Strike Group 1 Public Affairs

Ships of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and JMSDF steam in formation, March 29. (JMSDF photo) >>

EAST CHINA SEA - Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) concluded an at-sea bilateral exercise in the East China Sea, March 29.

The U.S. Navy and JMSDF operated together March 26-29 to increase proficiency in basic maritime skills and improve response capabilities.

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) were accompanied by JMSDF destroyers JS Hamagiri (DD-155), JS Samidare (DD-106), JS Sazanami (DD-113), JS Umigiri (DD-158) and JS Yudachi (DD-103).