China opposes US intervention in the East Sea issue, the US declares the "Old World" order has ended, Saudi Arabia executes traitorous soldiers... are some notable world news in the past 24 hours.
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| New Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa wants stable relations with China. (Source: Reuters) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Asia
*Philippines to draw its own map of the South China Sea: The Philippine government will release its own version of the South China Sea map in response to China's Ministry of Natural Resources publishing a publication reflecting China's territorial claims in the area.
“After five hearings, we will try to draw our own map. That will be our response to China’s 10-dash line” in the South China Sea, said Philippine Senator Francis Tolentino.
According to the politician, the project will be developed by the recently established Senate Committee on Maritime Areas and Sovereignty, which is tasked with drawing up a revised map of the country and its surrounding waters, which “will take into account the Philippine characteristics in relation to the West Philippine Sea” (South China Sea). The first hearing of the Committee will take place today (September 14).
Earlier, a bill was also submitted to the Philippine Senate for consideration, which would regulate the legal status of the exclusive economic zones (EEZs), as well as the continental shelf and underwater features owned by the Philippines. (Philstar)
*India, Russia to expand maritime cooperation: The Indian government on September 13 confirmed that India and Russia will study the possibility of using new transport corridors such as the Northern Sea Route and the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) between Vladivostok and Chennai to expand bilateral maritime cooperation.
The decision to this effect was taken during a meeting in Vladivostok (Russia) between Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Russian Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic AO Chekunkov. During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to train Indian sailors for operations in Arctic waters at the Russian Maritime Training Institute, which is equipped with simulation facilities.
New Delhi and Moscow have enjoyed close ties for decades. Russia-India trade has surged to record highs in recent times, largely due to India's increased imports of Russian oil. (TTXVN)
*New Japanese Foreign Minister pledges to build stable relations with China: On September 14, new Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said it is important to maintain frank dialogue with China to improve the tense relationship between the two Asian powers.
In her first press conference as foreign minister, Ms. Kamikawa pledged to build “constructive and stable” relations with Beijing as a “consistent policy” of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government. “Japan and China are facing many challenges and issues of concern, but it is important for Japan to say what needs to be said, calling on China to act responsibly, engage in dialogue, and jointly address common challenges,” she said.
Ms. Kamikawa takes over as Japan's foreign minister at a crucial time when Japan-China relations are strained due to disagreements over the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, starting on August 24.
The two countries also disagree on issues including the Senkaku Islands, which are controlled by Tokyo but also claimed by Beijing, in the East China Sea and China's increased joint military activities with Russia near Japan amid the war in Ukraine. (Kyodo)
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*China opposes US interference in the East Sea issue, military exercises with Cambodia: Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense Tan Kefei on September 14 expressed his strong opposition to the US move to show off its military strength in the East Sea under the pretext of exercising “freedom of navigation”.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Dam Khac Phi emphasized that China believes that defense and security cooperation between relevant countries will not harm the interests of third parties or endanger peace and stability in the region.
A representative of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense affirmed that the Chinese military is determined to safeguard national sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and firmly maintain peace and stability in the East Sea. In addition, Mr. Tan Kefei also announced that China and Cambodia will conduct a joint humanitarian exercise called "Messenger of Peace 2023" in Cambodia from now until the end of September.
According to Mr. Dam, the joint exercise will be beneficial to the goal of improving the ability of the Chinese and Cambodian militaries to coordinate actions and respond to emergencies in the field of medical services, and at the same time enhance exchanges and practical cooperation between the two militaries. (THX)
*South Korea urges North Korea, Russia not to trade weapons: South Korea's National Security Council (NSC) on September 14 urged Russia and North Korea "not to trade weapons", emphasizing that South Korea is closely monitoring military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
On the same day, an unnamed senior official from the South Korean presidential office said that the country had long known that weapons supplied by North Korea were used by Russia in the war in Ukraine. The official explained: "It is difficult to give details because it is an intelligence matter... But we have long confirmed that weapons supplied by North Korea were used by Russia in the Ukraine battlefield."
However, the official said it was too early to assess the outcome of the Russia-North Korea Summit because leader Kim Jong-un's trip to Russia is still ongoing. (Yonhap)
*Chairman of the National People's Congress of China meets President of Venezuela: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Chairman of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji, on September 14 met with President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro in Beijing.
Zhao Leji affirmed that China-Venezuela relations have withstood the test of an increasingly complex international situation and remain steadfast. Zhao Leji affirmed that the National People's Congress of China is willing to maintain close communication at all levels and in all areas with the National Assembly of Venezuela, conduct exchanges of legislative experience, continue to consolidate the iron-clad friendship between the two countries, and bring greater benefits to the two countries and the two peoples.
President Maduro affirmed that Venezuela is willing to cooperate with China to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, increase high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation and promote the strong development of the strategic partnership under all circumstances between the two countries. (TTX)
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*UK sells submarine rescue ship to Indonesia: Indonesia's Defense Ministry confirmed on September 13 that it had signed a deal to buy a $100 million submarine rescue ship from a British company, the latest move to modernize Indonesia's military equipment inventory.
This is the latest in a series of large-scale military procurement contracts for Indonesia, including 42 Dassault Rafale fighter jets worth $8.1 billion, 12 drones worth $300 million from Türkiye and 12 used Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets worth $800 million.
This year, Indonesia has budgeted up to $8.74 billion for defense, the largest allocation in the 2024 state budget. The British submarine is designed for rapid rescue operations, can accommodate 50 people and can be transported by plane.
Indonesia had no rescue ships when one of its five submarines sank during a torpedo exercise in the Bali Sea in 2021, killing 53 crew members. (Jakarta Post)
Europe
*Italian Defense Minister says Ukraine conflict will end soon: La Repubblica newspaper reported on September 14 that Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto expressed hope that the military conflict in Ukraine will be resolved by next summer.
“I hope that a diplomatic solution will be reached in the short term, in the next seven to eight months,” Crosetto told reporters in London, adding that he hoped the talks “could start with a ceasefire.”
Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine launched its latest counteroffensive in early June. Three months later, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine's counteroffensive, which was widely seen as progressing slowly, had failed. (La Repubblica)
*UN urges resumption of Black Sea grain deal: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is planning to meet separately with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky next week to discuss the extension of the Black Sea grain deal.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Guterres also said that there were no plans to hold a joint meeting with representatives of all three countries. He affirmed that he would do everything possible to resume the Black Sea grain deal, supporting Ukraine's food exports.
The meetings are expected to be part of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, taking place from September 19-23 in New York City (USA). The Russian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Lavrov.
Russia suspended its participation in the agreement in July, saying its part of the agreement had not been implemented. Moscow has said it is ready to return to the agreement once the remaining parties fully comply with their commitments to Russia.
America:
*US Secretary of State Declares 'Old World' Order Ended: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has declared that the world is moving to a new diplomatic order, in which Washington must take the lead in overcoming growing threats by working with its allies to build trust between nations where the old system has failed.
In a speech at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, Mr. Blinken said that the “post-Cold War order” is over. Specifically, those powers are led by Russia and China, according to Mr. Blinken, because “Russia’s war in Ukraine poses the most immediate, most urgent threat to the international order,” while China poses the greatest long-term challenge because it wants to reshape the international order and is developing economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to achieve that goal.
Secretary Blinken argued that the current order was a “Western imposition,” but that the system was rooted in universal values and enshrined in international law. The US secretary of state said the Russia-Ukraine conflict had demonstrated that “an attack on the international order anywhere hurts people everywhere.” He concluded that the US wanted to ensure Ukraine “defeats Russia” and emerges from the conflict as a “vibrant and prosperous democracy.” (Reuters)
Africa-Middle East
*Reason for Germany to cancel aid plan to Morocco: The German Red Cross (DRK) announced on September 14 that the agency was forced to cancel its plan to provide aid to Morocco due to "a number of technical reasons, beyond our control... new regulations and principles have been introduced that have prevented the plane from taking off today. The announcement said: "We regret these incidents, while the people are in dire need of help."
According to the plan, the German flight to Morocco was scheduled to depart from Leipzig airport on September 14, however, due to the incident on DRK, it was not possible to implement the plan to provide aid.
Morocco was hit by a devastating earthquake last week that killed nearly 5,000 people and injured more than 2,500, mostly in remote villages in the High Atlas Mountains.
However, Morocco has not accepted aid offers from several countries, including France and Germany, and has only allowed a few designated rescue teams.
Meanwhile, Morocco has allowed rescue teams from Spain, the UK, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to come to help, but has so far rejected offers from several other countries, including the US, France and several Middle Eastern countries. On September 14, the UK announced an initial aid of £1 million to Morocco. (DW)
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*Saudi Arabia executes two soldiers who were previously convicted of treason: Saudi Arabia's state news agency (SPA) reported on September 14 that the country's military had executed two soldiers who had been previously convicted of multiple crimes, including treason.
“The prisoners were transferred to a designated court and all judicial assistance was provided. They confessed to the crimes listed in the indictment. Two judgments were rendered proving that what they were accused of was well-founded, and they were sentenced to death,” the report said.
Saudi Arabia also executed three other military personnel in 2021, who were convicted of “treason” and “collaboration with the enemy.” Saudi Arabia has come under increasing international scrutiny over its human rights record. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called on Riyadh to end its use of the death penalty, citing allegations of torture and unfair trials.
Amnesty said the kingdom had executed 100 people this year and 196 last year, the highest number recorded in 30 years. (SPA)
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