MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday expressed confidence that the diplomatic protest filed by the Philippines, questioning China’s new coast guard law, will not affect the country’s plan to procure vaccines developed by Chinese firms.

“Walang pong epekto yan, dahil ibang usapin naman ang bakuna. Ang bakuna po is actually humanitarian act of the entire planet earth in response to humanitarian disaster,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press briefing.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday said Manila filed a protest against Beijing’s move to pass a new law allowing its coast guard to undertake all necessary measures, including the use of weapons, when national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea.

Locsin said that while enacting a law is a sovereign prerogative, the new law – given the area involved which is the South China Sea – is a verbal threat of war to any country that defies it.

Malacañang has welcomed the filing of the diplomatic protest, saying that this is consistent with the country’s position that while states can enact laws as part of their sovereignty, this must be done in compliance with the United Nations (UN) charter which prohibits the use of force unless by way of self-defense or when authorized by the UN Security Council.

“We welcome the diplomatic protest of the DFA, and this will prove that the Philippines is fully committed to the rule of law and will assert all its right available under existing principles of international law to defend its interests,” Roque said.

China’s new law is expected to stoke tensions anew in the disputed waters where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes the Philippines and three other South China Sea claimants, are currently negotiating for a more binding code of conduct in the contested waters. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz)

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (July 22) it was “always possible” he would order the closure of more Chinese consulates in the United States in the wake of the State Department’s order to close Beijing’s consulate in Houston.

Trump, at a White House news conference, noted that a fire was spotted on the Houston consulate’s grounds after the State Department ordered the closure in 72 hours, marking a dramatic deterioration in relations between the world’s two biggest economies.

The U.S. State Department said earlier on Wednesday the Chinese mission in Houston was being closed “to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information.”

Overnight in Houston, firefighters went to the consulate after smoke was seen. Two U.S. government officials said they had information that documents were being burned there.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the consulate was operating normally.

The ministry said Washington had abruptly issued the demand to close the consulate on Tuesday and called it an “unprecedented escalation.” (Reuters)

(Production: Njuwa Maina)

Logistics and delivery service sectors in Beijing have ramped up testing for all staff members over the weekend to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

About 103,000 people from 17 postal and courier companies are estimated to be tested by Monday, according to China’s State Post Bureau.

More delivery services with e-commerce platforms also plan to join the massive testing across the city.

Many delivery staff would take about an hour in line for the testing. They said it is essential for the safety of themselves, but also for the catering businesses and customers, as the service is crucial to secure supplies for those who stay at home.

“It is necessary to do the nucleic acid test for the safety of ourselves, for the business and for our customers, so that everyone is assured,” said a deliveryman.

This campaign came after the municipal government prioritized the screening for all workers and residents close to the city’s biggest wholesale food market Xinfadi, which most of the infections are linked to.

If the testing result of one of them turns positive, all relevant records of contacts and travel would be traced. Besides, immediate testing and home quarantine are required should delivery riders travel to the high-risk areas.

That is about a three-tier risk alert system that Beijing has rolled out for neighborhoods and communities, ranging from high, medium to low. Beijing reported nine new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday. The capital has recorded over 230 new infections since June 11. A total of four areas in Beijing are now classified as high risk. (Reuters)