20/10/2026

TUESDAY | OCT 20, 2026

7

Philippines summons China envoy over remark

Jakarta mulls relocating scrap metal smelters JAKARTA: I ndonesia is considering relocating scrap metal smelters from industrial estates that also host food manufacturers, a senior government official said, after authorities completed a year-long cleanup of a facility contaminated by radioactive Caesium-137. Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said the government was evaluating zoning and relocation measures for smelting operations, including at the Modern Cikande industrial estate, where the Caesium-137 contamination was first discovered. He said the estate’s original zoning plan did not include metal smelting operations, but at least two smelters were built on the site at a later stage. No relocation site has yet been identified. The government announced the end of the emergency operation to handle Caesium-137 contamination linked to imported scrap metal. The incident raised concerns about food safety and led the US to impose stricter import requirements on Indonesian seafood and spices. Authorities said inspections by the nuclear regulator found radiation levels below regulatory limits and the industrial estate has been declared “clean and clear”. Nearly 10,000 people were screened during the response, with traces of Cesium-137 detected in 11 people. All received treatment and no new cases have been detected, said Bara Hasibuan, another official. More than 1,000 metric tonnes of contaminated material remain stored at PT Peter Metal Technology, with the government planning to build an interim storage facility nearby costing about US$4.3 million (RM17.6 million) and expected to be completed next year. Caesium-137 can enter the environment as a result of nuclear tests or accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima, but it is also used in some industrial applications like oil well logging. – Reuters

o Comments unacceptable, ambassador told

MANILA: The Philippine Foreign Ministry summoned China’s ambassador yesterday to convey Manila’s “serious concern and strong objection” over a statement by the envoy that it said conveyed threats of the use of force. Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro summoned Ambassador Jing Quan and told him comments he made to media last week were “provocative and unacceptable”, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “The department reserves the right to take further diplomatic action as it deems necessary,” it said. Lazaro told Jing the comments aggravated an already sensitive atmosphere between the two countries and undermined mutual efforts to build understanding and cooperation, the Foreign Ministry said. Sensitive issues should be addressed through established diplomatic channels and bilateral mechanisms that reserve space for dialogue and engagement, she said. Jing was reacting to Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto

Teodoro’s labellingof Beijing as a regional “troublemaker”. Jing said last week that Manila should “feel fortunate” it had a neighbour like China. “If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force, and we love peace,” he said after giving a speech at a school in Manila. The comments sparked calls by politicians, including at least two sitting senators, for Manila to expel the envoy. Beijing said yesterday that it opposed “some individuals in the Philippines maliciously hyping China-related issues and undermining China-Philippines relations”. “The Philippine side should effectively restrain the irresponsible words and deeds of individual politicians,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news conference. Hours earlier, the office of Philippine Senator Erwin Tulfo filed a resolution calling for Jing to be declared persona non grata. Diplomatic squabbles between

Theresa and Jing at the Foreign Ministry in Manila yesterday. – AFPPIC / PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS HANDOUT

zone, while Beijing insists it is enforcing the law against vessels that are encroaching on its territory. China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ambassador being summoned. It last week said Jing had been selectively quoted and his remarks over-interpreted. – Reuters/AFP

China and US ally the Philippines have become more frequent in recent years, typically over standoffs and altercations between rival vessels in the South China Sea, much of which Beijing claims sovereignty over. Manila has accused China’s coast guard of aggressive conduct in the Philippines’ exclusive economic

Cambodia, Thailand agree on trust-building steps PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and Thailand have agreed on trust-building measures during UN backed talks to resolve their overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand. press statement posted on its Facebook page on Sunday.

memorandum of understanding on settling maritime boundaries and joint development of resources in the disputed area. The commission has noted that some commitments made previously by the parties have yet to be fully honoured and urged both countries to effectively implement the agreed measures, which it said are vital to advancing the conciliation process. “Among the agreed measures, both parties recognise that they have a right to make statements to protect their legitimate rights or to correct factual misinformation and disinformation,” according to the statement. – Bernama

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn led the delegation, while the Thai delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The commission will hold its third meeting with both parties from Nov 24 to 27 in Kuala Lumpur. The first meeting took place in Singapore from Sept 14 to 16 as part of efforts to resolve the prolonged maritime dispute. Cambodia initiated the compulsory conciliation process in June after Thailand revoked a 2001

The second meeting of the Conciliation Commission under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea took place from Oct 14 to 18 at the Peace Palace in The Hague. “Both parties reached agreement on confidence-building measures aimed at fostering mutual trust and confidence and facilitating an equitable and amicable solution in accordance with international law,” Cambodia’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry said in a

Indonesia hotspots cross 1,000 mark JAKARTA: The number of hotspots across Indonesia more than quadrupled to 1,104 on Sunday, with Kalimantan bearing the brunt as forest and land fires continued to generate smoke and haze. Central Kalimantan

and West Kalimantan are among six priority areas for firefighting operations, alongside South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Jambi and Riau. “Joint teams continue to tackle forest and land fires through ground firefighting, water bombing, aerial patrols, as well as prevention and control measures in priority areas,” the ministry said. South Sumatra recorded 51 hotspots on Sunday, up from nine on Saturday, while South Kalimantan registered 19, compared with two. Jambi recorded nine after recording none the previous day, while Riau remained at zero. The Transport Ministry said haze had affected 2,458 scheduled domestic flights nationwide between Aug 11 and Oct 17. Civil Aviation Director-General Lukman F Laisa said the disruptions included 1,080 delayed flights, 1,324 cancelled or postponed, 22 diverted to other airports, six forced to return to their departure airports and 26 rescheduled to depart earlier. – Bernama

The Forestry Ministry said the number of forest and land hotspots rose from 270 on Saturday, with Central Kalimantan recording the sharpest increase to 495 hotspots, up from 92 the previous day, while West Kalimantan rose to 174 from 22. The ministry said the sharp increases followed several days of relatively low hotspot counts in Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan despite continuing firefighting operations. A total of 61 aircraft remained deployed in both provinces, including 44 for water bombing and 17 for aerial patrols and weather modification operations, it said. Air quality deteriorated to very unhealthy and hazardous levels across much of Central Kalimantan, while West, South and East Kalimantan recorded unhealthy to very unhealthy conditions.

A police officer and firefighters toiling away at an oil palm plantation in South Arut, West Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan province on Sunday. – REUTERSPIC