US sends warship through Taiwan Strait ahead of presidential inauguration

May 9, 2024 | 6:18 pm

TAIPEI/BEIJING — A US warship sailed through the narrow Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, less than two weeks before Taiwan’s new president takes office, prompting an angry denunciation from Beijing.

China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan, and says it has jurisdiction over the strait. Taiwan and the United States dispute that, saying the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway.

US warships, and occasionally US Navy patrol aircraft, pass through or over the strait about once a month.

The latest mission’s timing was extra sensitive, given it took place ahead of the May 20 inauguration of Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te, a man who China says is a dangerous separatist.

The US Navy’s 7^th Fleet said the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey conducted a “routine Taiwan Strait transit” on Wednesday “through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law.”

China’s military described the sailing as “public hype,” adding it had sent naval and aerial forces to monitor and warn the US ship throughout its voyage and “deal with it in accordance with the law and regulations.”

“Troops in the theater are always on high alert and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability,” the Eastern TheaterCommand of the People’s Liberation Army said in a statement.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said that the US ship sailed south through the strait and that Taiwanese forces had monitored the situation but observed nothing unusual.

Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

Mr. Lai, currently vice president, has repeatedly offered to talk to China but been rebuffed.

Taiwan is on alert for any Chinese military maneuvers around the island in the run up to and after the inauguration.

During the past four years, China’s military has massively increased its activities around Taiwan, such as by flying warplanes over the strait’s median line, which once served as an unofficial buffer zone.

China says it does not recognize the line’s existence.

On Thursday morning, in its daily report on Chinese military activities during the previous 24 hours, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it had detected four Chinese aircraft crossing the median line, flying near to Taiwan’s Penghu islands, which are home to a major air base. — Reuters

Driving change: how tourists and local communities contribute to a sustainable economy

May 9, 2024 | 5:17 pm

Community engagement matters when it comes to fostering a sustainable economy, according to Riza Joy A. Abat, municipal environment and natural resources officer designate of San Juan, La Union.

The local government does its part in community awareness, but the local community has a bigger role, she said in the sidelines of the Pawi-CAN Sustainability Project launch of Athena, an executive assistant firm.

“If you’re a tourist, you become part of that local community for some time, and [thus] contribute to its sustainable development, as well as the preserving of its environment,” she said.

Promoting responsible trash disposal with turtle bins

May 9, 2024 | 5:13 pm

Athena, an executive assistant firm, partnered with the local government unit of La Union to deploy turtle-shaped bins in the Urbiztondo, San Juan areas frequented by tourists and remote workers.

Designed by visual artist John Parmisano, the turtle bins are part of the Pawi-CAN Sustainability Project, which aims to promote responsible garbage disposal and environmental protection.

The April 22, 2024 launch also had a coral reef planting workshop facilitated by EcoSurf.

The project’s partners are the San Juan Resort and Hotel Association Inc (SJRRHASS), Urbiz Garden, Dragon 8 Junkshop, ECOSURF Program Fostering Education and Environmental Development Inc (FEED, INC), Coastal Underwater Resource Management Actions (CURMA), La Union Soul, and the local government unit of San Juan, La Union.

Green and ‘Gento’: SB19 joins Puregold’s All-Star OPM lineup

May 9, 2024 | 5:09 pm

Puregold has officially confirmed its collaboration with Pinoy boy band sensation SB19, much to the excitement of every A’Tin across the Philippines. The group, often hailed as the “Kings of P-Pop,” teased the collaboration for weeks prior to Puregold’s official announcement made through Instagram posts and stories of them having fun riding Puregold shopping carts.

SB19, comprising Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken, and Justin, has been at the forefront of the P-Pop movement. Their journey, from their debut marked by rigorous group training sessions to their current status as world-class performers, affirms how immense talent and dedication can drive anyone to succeed. Today, SB19’s music resonates with fans not just in the Philippines but across the globe, attesting to its international appeal.

After a tumultuous year for the group that saw both triumphs and hardships, SB19 joins Puregold, ready to tell their panalo story of strength and resilience.

The past year, however, was not without challenges. Following the release of its latest album, Pagtatag, and while on its first world tour, SB19 had to grapple with the stress and loneliness of being away from home. The group also left its previous management and started its own — a massive undertaking in terms of artistic independence and freedom.

Undeterred by the speed bumps, the SB19 hopes to use such learning experiences in making its most intense and genuine art to date. Through a collaboration with Puregold, SB19 hopes to tell its panalo story of strength and resilience and remind every Filipino of the same fortitude that resides in their heart.

Alongside Flow G, BINI, and SunKissed Lola, SB19 is a shining example of the growth and triumph of Original Pilipino Music. Puregold, in its commitment to supporting local music, is set to sustain this trend with its upcoming musical projects.

Stay tuned in! Subscribe now to Puregold Channel on YouTube, like @puregold.shopping on Facebook, follow @puregold_ph on Instagram and Twitter, and @puregoldph on TikTok for more updates.

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Women’s health awareness campaign launched as gaps in cervical cancer screening persists

May 9, 2024 | 5:09 pm

A regional women’s health awareness campaign has been launched on the heels of a 2024 survey that reveals that gaps surrounding cervical cancer screening persist in the Asia Pacific.

The 2024 Asia Pacific National Women’s Health Survey by Roche, a Swiss multinational holding healthcare company, found that the barriers to women’s health awareness and cervical screening are as follows:

a lack of time
fear over the perceived pain from the screenings
little to no knowledge of women’s health tests and screenings
the perception that female diseases are undervalued in healthcare systems.

Early screenings for breast or cervical cancers are the “first and most important step to save lives,” according to Ingrid Magnata, country program manager of non-government organization Jhpiego Philippines, and one of the partners of Cervical Cancer Elimination Movement (CCEM).

“This new survey reinforces the urgent need to reduce barriers and intensify efforts to ensure women have the right information and feel supported when it comes to their health,” Ms. Magnata said in a May 7 press statement.

“Improving access to information on where and how to get tested for diseases that impact women are a critical step to empower women when it comes to their health,” she said.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipino women.

About 7,897 Filipinas are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,052 die from the disease annually, according to a 2023 fact sheet by the HPV Information Centre.

The country has one of the lowest cervical cancer screening rates in the world, with about 1% out of 54 million women undergoing cervical cancer screening, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies found in 2023.

The campaign, themed #MakeTheMostImportantDate, launched on May 5 in the Philippines, in partnership with CCEM and Women Workers for Health Empowerment Network (WHEN).

Roche Diagnostics has also partnered with laboratories like Hi-Precision Diagnostics, New World Diagnostics, and Singapore Diagnostics to provide Filipinas access to screening.

Other activities will likewise run throughout the month of May in observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

“The Philippine National Women’s Checkup Month is not just a campaign,” Marco Antonio Valencia Sanchez, Roche Diagnostics Philippines’s country manager, said in the same press statement.

“It’s a movement to promote awareness, education, testing and support for Filipinas, celebrating the resilience and strength of women and acknowledging the need for them to put their health first, even though they have others to look after or support,” he said. – Patricia B. Marisol

APM LEAD Executive Summit 2024: Shaping a sustainable future

May 9, 2024 | 1:45 pm

The countdown is on for the APM LEAD Executive Summit 2024, set to take place this Friday, May 10, 2024 at the Citadines Bay City Manila, Pasay Philippines. This exclusive event promises to be a go-to platform for asset intensive industries to showcase their sustainability initiatives in accelerating the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The APM LEAD Executive Summit 2024 serves as a convergence of inspiration and innovation, bringing together thought leaders from across multiple asset intensive sectors such as power generation, utilities, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and pharmaceutical. The summit will feature a diverse lineup of panelists, industry experts, and plant level management who will share their insights and experiences. Attendees can expect an immersive experience, featuring dynamic discussions, interactive workshops, and insightful panel sessions. From predictive maintenance to renewable energy integration, every facet of APM will be explored through the lens of sustainability, aligning with the United Nations SDGs.

This year’s summit will also witness the active participation of technology vendors and solutions providers, furthering the partnership efforts emphasized in UN SDG 17: “Partnerships for the Goals.” By fostering collaboration between industry stakeholders and technology providers, the summit aims to drive innovation, accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices, and achieve meaningful progress towards the SDGs.

The summit is not just about learning — it’s about collaboration and innovation. Participants will have the chance to network with peers, exchange ideas, forge strategic partnerships that drive positive change. Attendees can expect to gain actionable insights, best practices, and real-world examples that they can apply to their own organizations to enhance plant performance, optimize efficiency, and promote sustainability.

Looking ahead, the APM LEAD Executive Summit 2024 is just the beginning of a broader initiative aimed at fostering collaboration among asset-intensive industries. Future summits will continue to build upon the momentum generated, creating opportunities for ongoing dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collective action towards a more sustainable future.Together, we can drive positive change, build resilient industries, and create a more sustainable world for future generations. — Wins Bernal, MBA, CAMA; Erudite Reliability Services President

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Japan to start hunting fin whales after five years of commercial whaling

May 9, 2024 | 12:13 pm

whale-4463304_1280 — STOCK PHOTO | Image by Mario from Pixabay

TOKYO – Japan will add large fin whales to its list of commercial whaling species, government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Thursday, five years after leaving an international body that regulates the commercial hunt of the marine mammals.

Japan resumed commercial whaling in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zones in 2019, on withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

This week, its Fisheries Agency sought public comment on a draft revision of its aquatic resource control policies that would allow commercial catching of fin whales.

The Japanese government will continue to promote whaling and take the necessary diplomatic steps, Hayashi told a regular press conference.

“Whales are important food resources and should be sustainably utilized, based on scientific evidence,” said Hayashi, the chief cabinet secretary, referring to widening the allowable catch to include fin whales.

“It’s also important to inherit traditional food cultures in Japan.

Japan caught a total of 294 minke whales, Bryde’s whales and sei whales last year, said the Fisheries Agency, which currently limits commercial whaling to the three relatively minor species.

Whale consumption in Japan peaked in the early 1960s but did not become widespread as other meat became more easily available.

Japan drew criticism from environmental groups for launching what it called scientific research whaling in 1987, following an IWC regulation that banned commercial whale hunts.

Australia and New Zealand were among the nations that expressed disappointment when Japan declared it was withdrawing from the IWC in 2018. – Reuters

China’s exports and imports return to growth, signaling demand recovery

May 9, 2024 | 12:11 pm

China-Beijing-skyline — A GENERAL VIEW shows Beijing’s skyline on a sunny day in this file photo. — REUTERS

BEIJING – China’s exports and imports returned to growth in April after contracting in the previous month, customs data showed on Thursday, signaling an encouraging improvement in demand at home and overseas in a boost to a shaky economic recovery.

The data suggests a flurry of policy support measures over the past several months is gaining traction and helping to stabilize fragile investor and consumer confidence.

Shipments from China grew 1.5% year-on-year last month, in line with the increase forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. They fell 7.5% in March, which marked the first contraction since November.

Imports for April increased 8.4%, beating an expected 4.8% rise and reversing a 1.9% fall in March.

“Exports have been the bright spot in China’s economy so far this year. The weak domestic demand led to deflationary pressure, which boosts China’s export competitiveness,” said Zhang Zhiwei, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.

China’s economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, although data on exports, consumer inflation, producer prices and bank lending for March showed that momentum could be faltering again. A protracted property crisis is also showing few signs of abating, spurring calls for more policy stimulus.

In the first quarter, both imports and exports rose 1.5% year-on-year.

A string of forecast-beating economic data over the January-February period and a factory owners survey for March suggested the world’s No.2 economy had managed to successfully navigate some early challenges, buying officials more time to lift fragile investor confidence and revitalize growth.

However, Beijing has its work cut out. Rating agency Fitch cut its outlook on China’s sovereign credit rating to negative last month, citing risks to public finances as growth slows and government debt rises.

The Politburo of the Communist Party, the party’s top decision-making body, said last month it would step up support for the economy with prudent monetary policy and proactive fiscal policies, including through interest rates and bank reserve requirement ratios.

China has set an economic growth target for 2024 of around 5%, which many analysts say will be a challenge to achieve without much more stimulus.

Chinese exporters had a tough time for most of last year as soaring interest rates weighed on overseas demand. With the Federal Reserve and other developed nations showing no urgency to cut borrowing costs, manufacturers may face further strains as they battle for market share.

Analysts say Chinese exporters are continuing to slash prices to maintain sales abroad amid the weak domestic demand conditions.

“Overcapacity in many industries will continue to depress export prices in the coming months,” said Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China.

“As more Chinese companies make investments overseas to get around potential sanctions from the U.S., we expect more exports of industrial inputs like chemicals, fabric, auto parts and electric machineries,” she added.

China’s trade surplus grew to $72.35 billion, compared with a forecast of $77.50 billion in the poll and $58.55 billion in March. – Reuters

Philippine economy grows less expected than on weaker consumer spending

May 9, 2024 | 12:07 pm

Makati city-skyline — SEAN YORO-UNSPLASH

MANILA – The Philippine economy accelerated less than expected in the first quarter, government data showed on Thursday, as weaker consumer spending offset a rebound in export growth.

Gross domestic product grew 5.7% in the first three months from the same period last year, the statistics agency said, up from the previous quarter’s 5.5% but below the 5.9% forecast in a Reuters poll.

The Southeast Asian nation’s government remains optimistic about growth, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said, including the strong rebound in exports fueled by a recovery in shipments of electronic products.

“Despite our challenges on both domestic and international fronts, our economy continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and growth,” Mr. Balisacan told a press conference. “We are in good shape.”

He expressed confidence the economy can hit the government’s 6.0%-7.0% full-year growth target. The government cut the target range last month from December’s 6.5%-7.5% projection due to high inflation and an anticipated global slowdown.

Inflation continues to dampen domestic demand, which grew 4.6% in the first quarter, the weakest since a 4.8% contraction in the first quarter of 2021.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, economic growth slowed to 1.3% from 2.1% in the previous three months, although this was above the 1.0% growth forecast in the Reuters poll.

Exports rose 9.5% from a year earlier, the fastest since the fourth quarter of 2022. – Reuters

Australia backs long-term gas drilling despite 2050 climate goals

May 9, 2024 | 12:05 pm

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Rebecca Lintz from Pixabay

SYDNEY – Australia’s Labor government on Thursday laid out a strategy to boost natural gas development even as it remains committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, highlighting demand from key Asian trade partners.

Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and Resources Minister Madeline King said gas would be needed “through to 2050 and beyond” in the global shift to cleaner energy.

“It is clear we will need continued exploration, investment and development in the sector to support the path to net zero for Australia and for our export partners, and to avoid a shortfall in gas supplies,” she said, launching the government’s Future Gas Strategy.

Australia supplied around a fifth of global LNG shipped last year, with the largest projects run by Chevron CVX.N and Woodside Energy Group WDS.AX in Western Australia, with its biggest customers in China, Japan and South Korea.

The center-left government came up with the new strategy after facing criticism for a range of short term measures it took to boost domestic gas supply and drive down soaring energy prices in 2022 in the wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The plan lays out ways to reduce Australia’s emissions, such as leasing more offshore acreage for carbon capture and storage, while encouraging development of new gas fields, including tightening “use it or lose it” provisions on existing leases.

It comes as Woodside and Santos battle environmentalists opposing gas projects they are developing off northwestern Australia, while smaller companies face opponents to shale gas drilling in the Northern Territory.

“The strategy also makes it clear that we can’t rely on past investments to get us through the next decades, as existing fields deplete,” King said in a column in the Australian Financial Review on Thursday.

“That will mean a continued commitment to exploration, and an openness to the kinds of foreign investment that have helped build the industry into the powerhouse it is today.”

The announcement was welcomed by energy producers but criticized by renewable energy advocates and environmentalists.

“The Future Gas Strategy announced today promotes a reckless plan to open up new industrial gas basins that will damage land, water and communities,” Carmel Flint, national coordinator at environmental group Lock the Gate, said in a statement. – Reuters

South Korea’s Yoon takes responsibility for missteps after 2 yrs in office

May 9, 2024 | 12:04 pm

Korea-Yoon Suk-yeol — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. — REUTERS

SEOUL – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Thursday his government’s efforts to improve people’s lives had fallen short, conceding a crushing election defeat for his ruling party last month reflected voters’ assessment of his two years in office.

As part of a major policy push, Yoon also said a new government ministry would be created to address the country’s record low birth rate and fast-ageing society.

“We will utilize all available national capabilities to overcome the low birth rate, which can only be said to be a national emergency,” he said in opening remarks delivered from his office, behind a plaque which read “The Buck Stops Here.”

Yoon’s comments in his first news conference in 21 months come after the heavy defeat of his People Power Party in an April 10 vote, which prompted calls for a change in his leadership style and policy direction to salvage a presidency not yet at the halfway point.

“I think it reflects the public’s evaluation of my administration’s work is far short of what is needed,” Yoon said when asked about his People Power Party’s election defeat.

Yoon, who won the presidency in 2022 by a margin of less than one percentage point, has seen his support ratings plunge to a low of 21% in one public opinion poll.

He has pledged to communicate better with the public and parliament, as some analysts warned that the poll outcome meant he had already slipped into lame duck status.

The president pushed back on opposition parties’ demand for a special prosecutor to investigate alleged improper conduct by the first lady, who was captured in a video that became public in November accepting a pricey bag as a gift in 2022.

While First Lady Kim Keon Hee’s behavior had been unwise, the call by the opposition was a political attack, he said.

The first lady has not been seen in public since Dec. 15, reflecting a view by some analysts and even some members of Yoon’s party that she has become a political liability for the president and his PPP.

The creation of the ministry to address a fast declining and ageing population comes after the country’s fertility rate, already the world’s lowest, continued its dramatic decline in 2023, as women concerned about career advancement and the financial cost of raising children decided to delay childbirth or to not have babies.

The average number of expected babies for a South Korean woman during her reproductive life fell to a record low of 0.72 from 0.78 in 2022, data from Statistics Korea showed.

That is far below the rate of 2.1 per woman needed for a steady population and the rate of 1.24 in 2015 when concerns about issues such as housing and education costs were lower. – Reuters

Viable transition technologies bridge to cleaner, better power generation

May 9, 2024 | 10:30 am

The power industry’s shift to a future with cleaner and better generation technologies require investments in “transition” technologies today to ensure energy security and affordability for present and future generations, an Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) official said.

In particular, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is being regarded as a transition fuel to support the entry of more variable renewable energy (RE) and to give time for emerging technologies to be commercially viable.

“New and emerging technologies — energy storage, small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), and hydrogen — are still expensive today. But our need for energy continues year-on-year and we have retiring old plants, so we really need a lot of new capacity,” said AboitizPower Head of Energy Transition Projects Felino Bernardo. “We will need more LNG-to-power projects, RE capacity, and, at some point in time, we believe that these new and emerging technologies will come in to further accelerate the transition to more decarbonized sources of electricity.”

According to the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, 51% of the country’s registered capacity is from power plants that are more than 20 years old.

Amidst the impending depletion of the Malampaya gas field by 2027 and the moratorium on greenfield coal-fired power plants, LNG-to-power is considered a cleaner baseload alternative to coal, as it is less greenhouse gas intensive. Gas turbines also cycle more quickly, providing more flexibility when addressing the intermittencies of solar and wind power.

“We need baseload support for RE. It’s not a competition to RE, it’s an enabler for RE to grow,” Bernardo explained.

“Talking about what’s on the other side of the bridge, it’s the new technologies that are coming in. Unfortunately, we need to continue to lengthen and strengthen the bridge because there are still uncertainties on when they’re going to be available and become more affordable,” he added.

The AboitizPower official also maintained that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to an evolving and dynamic process like the energy transition, emphasizing on the necessity of diversifying the energy mix, especially to minimize reliance on one single energy source.

“We’re approaching this with our balanced portfolio strategy. We want affordable electricity that can be provided by coal plants. We want a bridge technology that can be secured by LNG. And we are pursuing our RE targets to support decarbonization. All of these are needed for us to be able to deliver a balanced outcome for the energy needs of the country,” Bernardo said.

The Department of Energy (DOE) projected peak electricity demand to increase annually by 6.6% from 2020 to 2040. This coincides with the Philippine government’s economic growth targets of 6%-7% for 2024, 6.5%-7.5% for 2025, and 6.5%-8% for 2026 to 2028.

In 2022, the primary energy supply mix comprised over 50% net imported coal and oil, and 49% indigenous energy mostly from geothermal, biomass, coal, natural gas, and hydro.

Under the Clean Energy Scenario of the Philippine Energy Plan, it was also forecasted that 50% of gross generation in 2040 will eventually come from indigenous renewable energy sources and 26% will be from LNG.

“LNG is something that we can access. Southeast Asia and North Asia are among the biggest buyers of LNG. A lot of LNG is going this way to our market, so we can access that commodity for energy security,” Bernardo said.

The DOE also said that a capacity of 1,200 megawatts from nuclear power is targeted to take part in the Philippine power mix by 2032.

“With respect to micro modular reactors, it can address specific market needs — powering decentralized grids, data centers, and providing process heat for the industry. For medium-sized SMRs, at 300 megawatts, it’s a good source of baseload energy — dispatchable, safe, and carbon-free,” Bernardo commented. “But we are still a long way from seeing the first-of-a-kind (FOAK) installation and in developing human capability and the supply chain.”

Taking into account the inherent costs and tradeoffs in the energy transition, Bernardo reminded fellow industry players to be very deliberate in their decisions as it will affect the energy security and affordability of present and future generations.

“What does it mean to be energy secure? Simply put, it’s having electricity every time at the right cost and the least harm,” he maintained.

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