United News of Bangladesh

Canada and the Philippines are in the final stages of negotiating a significant defence agreement that would facilitate expanded joint military exercises, according to the Canadian ambassador to Manila, reports AP. He also expressed concerns over China’s “provocative and unlawful actions” in the region. Trudeau: Trump’s idea of Canada as a U.S. state is serious Canada has been increasing its military presence in the Indo-Pacific and is committed to upholding the rule of law while expanding trade and investment. This aligns with the Philippine government’s efforts under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen defence partnerships with allied nations, enhancing its external defence amid growing tensions with China over disputed waters. Canadian Ambassador David Hartman stated on Friday night that Canada and the Philippines were “in the final stages of negotiations” for a status of forces visiting agreement. This pact would enable deeper participation in joint and multilateral training exercises and operations with the Philippines and its regional allies. Hartman made these remarks aboard the HMCS Ottawa, a Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate docked in Manila, in the presence of Philippine national security officials, foreign ambassadors, and defence attachés. He added that the vessel would be participating in joint exercises off the Philippines next week. Since last year, the Philippine military has conducted multinational patrols and drills alongside forces from the U.S., Japan, France, Australia, and Canada, including operations in the South China Sea. These actions have drawn strong reactions from China. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a vital global trade route, and has deployed coast guard and naval forces to assert control over what it considers its territory. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also maintain competing claims, leading to escalating territorial confrontations, particularly between Beijing and Manila over the past two years. In August last year, Canada joined the U.S., Australia, and the Philippines in air and naval manoeuvres to uphold the rule of law and ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. In what appeared to be a response, China launched air and sea combat patrols on the same day. While no direct clashes were reported, the Philippine military noted that three Chinese navy ships trailed the four-nation exercises off the western Philippine coast. Philippine VP prepares for impeachment, avoids commenting on resignation “We have been vocal in confronting the provocative and unlawful actions of the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea,” Hartman said. “We will continue to do so.” Canada signed a defence cooperation agreement with the Philippines last year. Additionally, an accord signed in Ottawa in 2023 granted the Philippines access to Canada’s “Dark Vessel Detection System,” which uses satellite technology to track illegal vessels, even when they deactivate their location-transmitting devices. The Philippine coast guard has accused Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels of disabling their location transmitters to evade surveillance in the South China Sea. Currently, the Philippines has visiting forces agreements—providing a legal framework for the temporary stationing of foreign troops and large-scale military exercises—only with the U.S. and Australia. In July last year, the Philippines signed a similar agreement with Japan, which is pending ratification by Japanese lawmakers. Additionally, the Philippines is holding separate defence negotiations with France and New Zealand.

Bangladesh has sought Philippines’ and ASEAN’s pro-active support for the early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. Bangladesh also mentioned the pressure the additional 1.1 million people are creating on the local law and order and security situation of Bangladesh when newly appointed Ambassador of the Philippines to Bangladesh Alan L. Deniega met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Tuesday. The State Minister highlighted the plights of the Rohingya people sheltered temporarily in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds. State Minister Alam mentioned that Bangladesh, being strategically located at the cusp of the South and South East Asian region, is making all efforts for further enhancing and deepening her relationship with the ASEAN member states. READ: Bangladesh keen to increase engagement with ASEAN: PM He sought the support of the Philippines for Bangladesh’s bid for ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner status, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. The Philippines Ambassador assured the State Minister of their full support and suggested certain steps and processes for expediting the inclusion of Bangladesh in this regard. Welcoming the new envoy of the Philippines, State Minister Alam assured him of all possible support and cooperation for carrying out his mission in Bangladesh. He hoped Bangladesh-Philippines bilateral relations would attain newer heights during his tenure in Dhaka. Also read: US may influence ASEAN to persuade Myanmar to stop atrocities, take Rohingyas back: Momen Alam recalled with gratitude the recognition by the Philippines to the independent Bangladesh in February 1972. He hoped that the warm bilateral relations will gain further momentum on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of diplomatic ties. During his discussion, Alam pointed to the pandemic-induced food insecurity, inflation and global supply chain disruptions as well as their impacts on some of the countries in the region and beyond, and stressed the importance of greater unity, collaborative efforts and synergies, particularly among the countries in the neighborhood and in the region, for overcoming these challenges and for protecting the lives and livelihood of the common people.      He observed that the Philippines have had remarkable expertise in the fields of human resource training, nursing and health-related service sectors, tourism and hospitality industries, agro-processing etc., which Bangladesh could share and utilize for adding further momentum to the current pace of economic development of the country. He also encouraged the Philippines’ investors to invest in Bangladesh, which has a burgeoning middle-class with an increasing purchasing capacity. The new Ambassador of the Philippines profusely admired the decisive and visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and described Bangladesh as a role model for social development. He expressed his keenness on mutual sharing of the experiences and expertise of the two countries for the benefit of the people of the two friendly countries. The Ambassador highly lauded the Disaster Management efficiency and capacity achieved by Bangladesh, which could be shared with many counties in the world, he said. He also congratulated the government and people of Bangladesh on their successful handling of the Covid pandemic and expressed satisfaction at the resumption of normal socio-economic life in both Bangladesh and the Philippines. During their talks, both the State Minister and the Ambassador exchanged felicitations on the historic occasion of the golden jubilee of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the Philippines and agreed to have more high level visits to further consolidate the bilateral relations in the coming days.  

The Philippines has demanded that China withdraw its ships and fishing vessels from the vicinity of a Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea, where the Chinese military has asserted its sovereignty and vowed to “unswervingly safeguard” the disputed territory. The exchange of protests by the Asian neighbors over the island, internationally called Thitu, is the latest flareup in a long simmering territorial feud in the strategic waterway that has escalated in the last two months. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said Saturday it has filed a diplomatic protest against “the incessant deployment, prolonged presence and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels in the vicinity of the Pag-asa islands.” It used the Philippine name for Thitu, which China calls Zhongye Dao. READ: Philippines weighs extending lockdown as COVID cases top 1M The department demanded that China withdraw its vessels from near the island, which it said “is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction.” The 37.2-hectare (92-acre) island is the largest of nine mostly islets, reefs and shoals occupied by Philippine forces in the disputed waters. The Manila government lists Thitu and outlying outcrops as part of a town in western Palawan province. Aside from Filipino troops and police, a small fishing community can be found on Thitu. The government has constructed a beach ramp to allow the docking of navy and cargo ships and unloading of construction materials and heavy equipment for new projects, including the repair and lengthening of a seawater-eroded airstrip, an ice plant for fishermen and more military barracks. Chinese officials have not protested as loudly as before the Philippine constructions amid cozier ties between Beijing and Manila under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. But on Thursday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tang Kefei said China was “resolutely opposed” to any Philippine development on Thitu. “China’s military will unswervingly safeguard national territory, sovereignty and maritime rights, while resolutely maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Tang said, without elaborating at a monthly briefing. The escalating feud between Manila and Beijing started after more than 200 Chinese vessels suspected by Philippine authorities to be operated by government militias were spotted in early March at Whitsun Reef. The Philippine defense chief and foreign secretary demanded the vessels leave, and Filipino officials later deployed navy and coast guard vessels to the area. China said it owns the reef and the Chinese vessels were sheltering there from rough seas. The Philippines has issued dozens of diplomatic protests to China since then over the disputes. READ: Philippines launches virus vaccinations amid supply problems Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. apologized early this month after tweeting an obscene phrase demanding China get out of Philippine-claimed territory in the South China Sea in an outburst that annoyed Duterte. “Just because we have a conflict with China does not mean to say that we have to be rude and disrespectful,” Duterte said. “We have many things to thank China for the help in the past and its assistance now.”

Bangladesh Embassy in Manila has handed over a commemorative artwork on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Filipino National Hero Dr Jose Rizal as a permanent showpiece to the Jose Rizal Museum which is dedicated to the Filipino National Hero Dr Jose Rizal at his ancestral house in the district of Calamba. The artwork was unveiled and handed over on Wednesday as part of the birth centenary celebration of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Also read:Bangabandhu an iconic statesman and hero: Indian HC The woodcarving was done by Filipino artist Nicolas P. Aca Jr. who was highly inspired by these two great leaders who fought against colonial powers for emancipation of their motherlands and gave their lives for their people. The work reflects engraved portraits of the two leaders with a red line flowing in the background symbolizing the supreme sacrifices they made for their people. The handing-over ceremony was conducted with a restricted audience as per the local health protocols. In the handing-over ceremony Curetor and officials of the Museum, Calamba Mayor’s Office, Cultural Affairs Office, Tourism Office, Cultural Heritage & Historical Society, Philippine Information Agency and the Historic Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) were present, among others. Bangladesh Ambassador to the Philippines Asad Alam Siam elaborated the life and philosophy of the Father of Nation including how he guided his people to freedom. He also said that two great leaders resonate the same chords of history, in two separate lands, in two separate times, by dreaming and leading their people’s liberation from oppression. He thanked the NHCP and the museum for accepting the gift and hoped that it would appeal to the visitors to discover the similar journey of two people and the two leaders. Also read:Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition inaugurated in ... The Curator of the Museum Zarah Escueta thanked the Embassy for making the Rizal museum a partner in the celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh and said that his life and work would inspire all the visitors of the museum and they would be more interested in his life and ideals. She also mentioned that the life and philosophy of Bangabandhu make him an icon of global peace and freedom. With the handing-over ceremony, it begins a two-month long exhibition in the museum which will display the artwork along with other exhibits on life and work of the Father of the Nation including his memoir, life sketch, historical photos, and books on him. Thereafter, the work would go to the museum’s permanent collection as a gift from this Embassy.

Philippine officials on Saturday announced a night curfew in the capital and said millions of people in the densely populated region should leave their homes during the daytime only for work or urgent errands under restrictions imposed to fight the coronavirus.

Red-hot lava gushed out of a Philippine volcano Monday after a sudden eruption of ash and steam that forced villagers to flee en masse and shut down Manila's international airport, offices and schools.

A small volcano south of the Philippine capital that draws many tourists for its picturesque setting in a lake erupted with a massive plume of ash and steam Sunday, prompting thousands of people to flee and officials to shut Manila's international airport.