INQToday: PH, China establish hotline presidents can use to stop sea clashes
Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
New deal establishes PH – China hotline presidents can use to stop sea clashes
A recently signed agreement will open a direct line of communication between the presidential offices of China and the Philippines to help prevent any new confrontation from spiraling out of control in the disputed South China Sea, according to highlights of the accord seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday.
China and the Philippines have created such emergency telephone hotlines at lower levels in the past to better manage disputes, particularly in two fiercely disputed shoals where the Philippines has accused Chinese forces of increasingly hostile actions and China says Philippine ships have encroached despite repeated warnings.
PH, US tackle Edca, maritime domain awareness
Top defense and security officials of the Philippines and the United States (US) met on Wednesday (Philippine time) to discuss the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the two nations as well as maritime domain awareness to combat “illegal and coercive” activities.
In a readout, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Charles Brown met with key Philippine leaders – Security Advisor Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. in Manila.
Marcos pre-Sona approval, trust ratings dip; VP gets modest gain
Just before his third State of the Nation Address (Sona), a Pulse Asia survey showed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval and trust rating slightly dropped.
Marcos’ approval rating dipped to 53 percent in June from 55 percent in March 2024. His trust rating dropped from 57 percent to 52 percent in the same period.
