CHINA ENVOY CENSURED

DON’T INTERFERE WITH RESUPPLY RUN, CHINESE SHIPS TOLD

HE municipal council of Kalayaan in Palawan province has declared Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian a persona non grata after the envoy defended the harassment of China Coast Guard and militia ships against local vessels in the West Philippine Sea two weeks ago.its previous RoRe mission – with a marked use of water cannons –saw only one civilian resupply ship reach the Sierra Madre with just two weeks’ worth of supplies.

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This developed as the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday called on the CCG to not interfere in the next resupply mission to troops stationed at the Ayungin Shoal aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, which is scheduled sometime next week.

Ayungin, as well as Rizal Reef, Balagtas Reef, and six nearby islands, are under Kalayaan town’s jurisdiction.

“(The Chinese) should not interfere in our RoRe (rotation and resupply) mission,” said AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar in a News Forum in Quezon City, which he said would be “soon.”

However, the AFP must deliver supplies to its troops in Ayungin this week after the Chinese Coast Guard and militia blockade of

Resolution No. 125-015 declaring Huang an undesirable person in the Palawan town was authored by Kalayaan Sangguniang Bayan Member Maurice Philip Alexis Albayda, who delivered a privileged speech condemning the Chinese envoy’s statement defending the actions of the CCG.

Since Kalayaan is the only town in the West Philippine Sea, the local government has the responsibility to stand up to such actions, Albayda added.

The Standard tried to reach the

US, JAPAN, KOREA BLAST BEIJING ON SEA ACTS

CAMP DAVID -- US President Joe Biden and the leaders of South Korea and Japan agreed Friday (Saturday in Manila) to deepen military and economic cooperation, making their strongest joint condemnation yet of “dangerous and aggressive behavior” by China in the South China Sea.

The leaders said they saw a “new chapter” of close three-way security cooperation as the Asian allies joined a first-of-a-kind summit that has already rattled China.

Going tieless at the bucolic Camp David presidential retreat, Biden praised the “political courage” of South Korean

ONE ON THREE.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in turning the page on historical animosity.

“Your leadership, with the full support of the United States, has brought us here because each of you understands that our world stands at an inflection point,” Biden told a joint news conference in the wooded hills outside Washington.

Biden insisted the summit was not about China, which has been flexing its muscle both at home and in Asia under President Xi Jinping, including with major exercises around self-ruling

But in a joint statement, the three leaders said they opposed the “dangerous and aggressive behavior” of China in maritime disputes in the East and South China Sea.

“We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific,” it said (see related story on World, A4 -- Editors).

The two US allies largely see eye to eye on the world -- and together are the base for some 84,500 US troops -- but such a summit would have been unthinkable until recently due to the legacy of Japan’s harsh 1910-1945 occupation of the Korean peninsula. AFP

Chinese Embassy for comment but has yet to receive one as of press time. Sources said Huang was currently in Beijing after CCG vessels used water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels heading for Ayungin on August 5, eliciting local and international criticism.

The Philippines, in response, sent a note verbale to China to protest the incident. Huang was also summoned by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs to explain his country’s actions.

Asked what the military would do should the China Coast Guard not heed their call, AFP’s Aguilar said: “We will see what will happen.” Charles Dantes and Jimbo Gulle

Arroyo: I never vowed to move ‘Sierra Madre’

FORMER President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, currently representing Pampanga in Congress, on Saturday broke her silence on the issue of the BRP Sierra Madre, saying she never promised China she would have the ship removed from the Ayungin Shoal during her tenure.

“I have been asked to comment on claims that the Philippine government had promised China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.... I never made such a promise to China or any other country. Second, I never authorized any of my government officials to make such a promise,” said Arroyo in a statement.

THE BRAVE, BOLD DELICIOUS WORLD OF ONE WORLD DELI CRAVINGS|C3

SWEDES BEAT AUSSIES FOR 3RD; ENGLAND, SPAIN CLASH FOR CUP

BRISBANE—Sweden scored either side of half-time to spoil Australia’s party and claim the third spot at the Women’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory on Saturday.

In front of a crowd of nearly 50,000, Sweden took the lead with a 30thminute penalty by Fridolina Rolfo and doubled their advantage with a powerful strike from Kosovare Asllani just after the hour.

Ranked third in the world, this is the fourth time that Sweden has finished third at the tournament.

They fully deserved their win against the hosts, dominating the midfield and keeping talismanic Australian striker Sam Kerr relatively quiet.

Meanwhile, Skipper Millie Bright said that England will need to play “the game of our lives” to beat Spain in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final.

When the Lionesses kick off at Stadium Australia in Sydney they will attempt to do what no England side, men or women, has managed since 1966 -- win the World Cup.

Bright said the European champions must treat it as just another game but admitted there was no escaping the enormity of the occasion for the country, the team, and the players.

Like Spain, England is into the final for the first time.

Australia’s other dangerous attacker, Mary Fowler, had a night to forget as she struggled physically against the size and power of the Swedish defenders.

By contrast, Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius caused havoc among the Australian defense during her 63 minutes on the pitch and had a hand in both goals. AFP