Philippines Detains 25 Chinese Fishermen for Poaching
Philippine fishing authorities said on Tuesday they had detained 25 Chinese crew of two seized fishing boats on suspicion of poaching, a move that could further strain ties between two countries at odds over maritime sovereignty. A joint team from the Philippine coastguard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) captured the Chinese vessels on Monday sailing without permits between waters off Babuyan Island and Batanes province in the northern Philippines. The Chinese vessels were in waters that are not part of the disputed South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have conflicting claims.
US Plans Naval Exercises with India and Japan
India, the United States and Japan will hold naval exercises in waters off the northern Philippines near the South China Sea this year, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, a move likely to further raise tensions with China. The announcement comes a day after the United States warned China against militarisation of the South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in a territorial dispute with several countries, saying there would be consequences. Last year, India and the United States expanded their annual naval drills in the Bay of Bengal to include Japan after a gap of eight years, in a move seen as a response to China's growing assertiveness in the region. Admiral Harry B. Harris, head of the U.S.
Storm Weakens after Ravaging Philippines
A typhoon swept across the northern Philippines killing at least nine people as trees, power lines and walls were toppled and flood waters spread far from riverbeds, but tens of thousands of people were evacuated in time. Officials fear the death toll may rise after Typhoon Koppu tore through the main island of Luzon on Sunday leaving several remote towns and villages isolated due to flash floods and toppled trees and boulders blocking roads. Power was down in many areas. The storm, downgraded to a category 1 typhoon from category 4, was moving slowly north on Monday and was forecast to weaken to a tropical storm within hours. "We haven't reached many areas. About 60 to 70 percent of our town is flooded, some as deep as 10 feet (3 metres).
Super Typhoon nears Philippines, Officials warn of Landslides
A powerful storm strengthened to a "super typhoon" on Sunday hours before it was set to slap the northeastern tip of the Philippines, prompting officials to warn of landslides and call on residents along the coast to evacuate to safer ground. Typhoon Noul is now a category five storm, packing winds of up to 185 kph (115 mph) near the centre, with gusts of up to 220 kph (137 mph), as it approaches the rice-producing province of Cagayan about 400 km (250 miles) north of the capital, Manila. It was moving faster at 20 kph as it neared the Philippines' northeastern coast, where it was expected to make landfall later on Sunday, and was estimated at 100 km east of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province.
China Deep-Dive Expedition Anchors to Avoid Typhoon
The ship, the Xiangyanghong 09, left the eastern port city of Jiangyin earlier on Sunday and travelled about 155 nautical miles to an anchorage at the mouth of the Yangtze River near Shanghai, according to the onboard headquarter of the operation. The submersible, named after a mythical sea dragon, will dive 7,000 meters below the surface of the Pacific Ocean between mid-June and early July at the Mariana Trench. Tropical storm Mawar battered northern Philippines Saturday and was moving north. Meteorological experts said that Xiangyanghong would encounter Mawar on Tuesday if it had kept to the original plan. The ship would continue its voyage at a proper time and typhoon Mawar would not affect the planned dive of Jiaolong, said the headquarters.
This Day in Naval History - January 11th
From the Navy News Service: 1863 - CSS Alabama sinks USS Hatteras off Galveston. 1900 - The gunboat Princeton takes possession of the Batan Islands in the northern Philippines. 1944 - Aircraft from USS Block Island (CVE 21) lead the first aircraft rocket attack on a German submarine. For more news, visit www.history.navy.mil.
Tanker Explodes in Northern Philippines
An oil tanker in the Philippines burst into flames on May 11 while it was docked in Bataan province, about 75 miles west of Manila, wounding or killing at least two people. Initial reports reaching the Coast Guard indicated that the oil tanker Daniela Natividad was docked at Lamao Anchorage in Bataan when the fire started. The sea craft is owned by the Shogun Shipping Corp., Coast Guard officials said. Tugboats in the area were mobilized to extinguish the blaze, even as the Coast Guard deployed vessels to help and to investigate the cause of the fire. (Source: Xinhua)
Ferry Mishap Claims Eight Lives
Eight people were killed when a ferry sank in the northern Philippines. Colonel Delfin Bravo, police operations officer in Tuguegarao, said 50 passengers survived by swimming to shore or were saved by rescuers after last Wednesday's accident. Rescuers were still searching for survivors along the Chico river, 360 km (225 miles) north of Manila. Officials said the ferry might have been buffeted by big waves and strong winds due to incessant rains in the northern Philippines over the past few days. Police said the base of the improvised ferry was made up of four boats, which were tied together to carry a wooden platform.
