Asia News Network News

Philippines undersecretary for foreign affairs policy Evan Garcia says that tension with China over disputed islands in the South China Sea is the country's most pressing security concern, reports Radio Australia. "We are focusing immediately on acquiring and building up our capabilities that we should have done before ... so we can protect what's ours," he said. China claims most of the islands in the South China Sea, putting it at odds with other claimants like the Philippines and Vietnam, which are backed by the US. The dispute has come to a head this week amid threat and counter-threat between the US and China as Beijing pledged to strengthen its naval defences.

An oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand caused by a pipe leak at an offshore platform raises concern about possible adverse impacts on the environment. More than 70 tonnes of crude oil have spilled into the sea following a leak in a crude-oil pipe at an offshore platform operated by PTT Global Chemical, a subsidiary of Thailand's national petroleum company PTT, reports ANN. Citing a statement by PTT Global Chemical, ANN informs that the leak of a crude transport pipe with a 16-inch diameter took place shortly before 7am [Saturday] from a single-point mooring…