17/09/2025

WEDNESDAY | SEPT 17, 2025

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China fires water cannon at Philippine ships

Taiwan launches new civil defence guide TAIPEI: Taiwan’s Defence Ministry yesterday launched its newly updated civil defence handbook, saying the aim is not to cause panic but to get people prepared in case there is a crisis, such as an attack by China, which views the island as its own territory. Democratically governed Taiwan has stepped up its resilience and defence preparations as China has increased its military activities around the island over the past five years, and has drawn lessons from Ukraine’s defence against Russia. Taiwan’s new handbook, which Reuters reviewed last week, gives a list of scenarios Taiwan might face, from natural disasters, such as a tsunami, to an all-out invasion, and is the third edition after first being published in 2022. Taiwan military’s All-out Defence Mobilisation Agency director Shen Wei-chih said 5,000 hard copies would be printed for distribution initially, and it can also be downloaded online. “Why are we releasing this handbook during a time of peace? It is not to create panic but to tell people you need to make preparations while there is peace, so that when crisis happens you will know what to do. “The earlier you are prepared, the earlier you study (the booklet), the earlier you will be safe.” Shen said the government wants people to put a copy of the handbook in grab bags containing emergency supplies stored in an easily accessible location. It also includes instructions on how to listen to the radio in case the internet goes down, the use of landlines for dedicated government hotlines, and advice on going to police stations or neighbourhood government offices to get verified information if radio broadcasts are inaccessible. In a section on possible disinformation, it warns that “adversaries may also disguise themselves as friendly forces”, showing a cartoon image of a soldier with a Chinese flag and people running away. Taiwan’s government strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future. China has rebuffed multiple offers of talks from Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a “separatist”.

reserve amount to trying to take the moral high ground in the dispute over the atoll, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines. The dispute is part of a contest over sovereignty and fishing access in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion (RM12 trillion) of annual ship-borne commerce. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, overlapping the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Unresolved disputes have festered for years over ownership of various islands and features. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled that China’s sweeping claims in the region are not supported by international law. – Reuters

territorial waters of the Scarborough Shoal from different directions”. He faulted Philippine Coast Guard vessel 3014, saying in a statement it had “disregarded solemn warnings from the Chinese side and deliberately rammed a Chinese coast guard vessel”. He said: “The China Coast Guard lawfully implemented control measures against the Philippine ships.” These included measures such as verbal warnings, route restrictions and water cannon spraying, added Gan. A Philippine Maritime Council spokesperson said the Chinese Coast Guard’s statement contained “no truth”, dismissing it as “another case of Chinese disinformation and propaganda”. Analysts have said Beijing’s plan to categorise the shoal as a nature

o Confrontation comes a week after Beijing approved plans to turn Scarborough Shoal into national nature reserve

BEIJING: China’s Coast Guard fired water cannons yesterday at Philippine ships near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, accusing Manila of an “illegal” intrusion and the ramming of one of its vessels. The confrontation comes a week after China approved plans to turn the shoal into a national nature reserve, a move that defence analysts have warned would test Manila’s response over the 150 square kilometre triangular chain of reefs and rocks. Simmering tension over the shoal

has led to diplomatic rows in recent years, but no incidents have escalated into armed conflict at the site. Both sides accuse each other of provocations and trespassing in incidents featuring the use of water cannons, boat-ramming and manoeuvres by China’s Coast Guard that the Philippines regards as dangerously close, as well as jets shadowing Philippine aircraft there. Yesterday’s encounter involved more than 10 Philippine ships, said China’s Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu, accusing the vessels of having “illegally invaded China’s

Papua New Guinea, Australia to vow mutual protection PORT MORESBY: Australia and Papua New Guinea will commit to defending each other from armed attacks as they face “emerging threats” to their security, a new defence treaty seen by AFP yesterday showed.

The pact, seen as an attempt to counter Beijing’s rising Pacific influence, is expected to be signed by leaders Anthony Albanese and James Marape today in Port Moresby. The agreement, which also enables the nations’ citizens to serve in each other’s militaries, comes as Papua New Guinea marks 50 years of independence from Australia. “Each party recognises that an armed attack on either of the parties within the Pacific would be dangerous to each other’s peace and security and the security of the Pacific,” the pact states. Under the treaty, both parties would “act to meet the common danger, in accordance with its constitutional processes”. Australia and Papua New Guinea are “resolute in working together to support a peaceful, stable, prosperous region that is respectful of sovereignty”, it adds. Widely expected to be signed off by the Papua New Guinean Cabinet on Monday, Albanese told media that the signing had been postponed due to independence celebrations. “They did not have quorum because everyone has gone back to their places where they are from to celebrate this as a celebration throughout the entire nation.”

People standing in front of a statue of Papua New Guinea’s first prime minister Michael Somare during the flag-raising ceremony yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

engagement with the region in a bid to counter Beijing’s influence. Albanese was in Vanuatu last week to discuss a deal aimed at deepening Australia’s links to the Pacific nation. But the deal was not signed, with Prime Minister Jotham Napat citing concerns that its wording would limit Vanuatu’s ability to access funds for “critical infrastructure” from other nations. – AFP

populous state in Melanesia. China has committed billions of dollars to Pacific nations over the past decade, funding hospitals, sports stadiums, roads and public works. It is an approach that appears to be paying dividends. Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Nauru have severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China. Canberra has stepped up its

China’s military on Saturday released a music video called“Plant the flag of victory on Formosa”, showing missiles being fired, marines storming beaches and images of Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest building and still a major landmark. – Reuters Two more enter race to lead Japanese ruling party In Port Moresby yesterday, leaders from across the Pacific attended a flag-raising ceremony held to mark the anniversary of its independence. People wearing traditional outfits of the nation’s hundreds of tribes attended as scouts raised its distinctive black and red flag featuring the Raggiana bird of paradise. To the north of Australia, Papua New Guinea is the largest and most

TOKYO: Japan’s farm minister and its chief government spokesperson entered a race yesterday to lead the ruling party, pledging their candidacies in a vote set for early next month to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Ishiba announced his resignation this month to take responsibility for a

and monetary easing who could become Japan’s first female leader. The choice of Japan’s next leader is more complicated than before as the LDP, which has ruled for most of the postwar period, and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majorities in both houses of parliament during Ishiba’s tenure. – Reuters

Former minister Toshimitsu Motegi was the first to throw his hat in the ring last week, followed by former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi. Also expected to announce her candidacy this week is former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi, a proponent of government stimulus foreign

Minister Katsunobu Kato set to spearhead his campaign operation. Kato said he would back Koizumi in the spirit of “unifying the party”. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who has served as the Ishiba government’s top spokesperson, declared his candidacy on X.

series of bruising election losses that have made harder the task of choosing a leader for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told a press conference that he had informed supporters over the weekend of his intention to run for the role of LDP leader, with Finance