PH gets G7, Quad support letter on SCS tack

THE recent 2023 Group of Seven (G7) and Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) summits expressed support for the Philippines’ position to adhere to the international rules-based order in the South China Sea and to maintain peace and stability in the region.

The expression of support was relayed to Communications Secretary

Cheloy Garafil by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko through a letter sent on May 20.

Garafil said the letter contains Koshikawa’s report on the outcome documents of the recent summits hosted by Japan.

This developed as China on Friday defended its decision to deploy its own buoys in Philippine waters, saying they are doing it “in accordance with law.”

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said it sees nothing wrong when Beijing deployed its largest beacon vessels to the West Philippine Sea, several days after the Philippines did the first move.

STAYING IN STEP. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. walks with Philippine Navy officers and some Cabinet members as they attend its 125th

PBBM: Submarine plan still on table as Philippine Navy marks 125th year

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday that his plan to acquire submarines for the Philippine Navy (PN) is still on the table, with offers from different countries that could involve domestic assembly and construction of naval assets.

“There is a plan. But it’s still being developed because the commitment to operate a submarine is not a small commitment. It is a very large commitment because of the training that is involved, the equipment that is involved, and the operational requirements that are involved are quite significant,” President Marcos said during a media interview following his attendance at the 125th anniversary celebration of the Navy in Naval Base Jose V. Andrada on Roxas Blvd.

“So, it is still part of our plan. But right now, we are in the middle of developing mostly our anti-submarine

Party-listers stress support for Speaker

By Maricel V. Cruz

exceptional vision and unwavering dedication to achieving balance and fairness in the work we do. Under his

MINISTERS from the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and 11 other IndoPacific nations will agree at their meeting Saturday in Detroit to bolster supply chains for chips, medicine, and other critical items in the event of an emergency under a US-led economic initiative, sources familiar with the matter said Friday.

The enhanced supply chain resiliency will be the first agreement among 14 member countries of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, Kyodo News reported. IPEF represents 40 percent of global gross domestic product, and could help counter China's economic influence in the region.

Supplies of food, energy and key industrial products, such as semiconductors, were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine.

The IPEF partners, also including Australia, Indonesia, India, South Korea and