Thai Industrial Estates Safety Under Scrutiny Post-Fires

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10 May 2024, 18:38

industrial fire1 — The Minister of Industry Pimpattara Wichaikul and delegation visit the MTT factory after an explosion at the gas storage tanks in an industrial area in Rayong Province on May 10, 2024.

RAYONG — The wife, family, and colleagues of an employee from the Mab Ta Phut Tank Terminal Company went on Friday to receive the body of Mr. Nopporn Nuanma, who died in the fire incident at chemical storage tank in an Eastern Thailand industrial estates.

Nopporn was the only fatality in this incident, while five other employees were injured at the Pyrolysis gasoline storage tank of the company located in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Rayong Province, on May 9.

They were grief-stricken while taking his body back to his hometown in Nam Yen Sub-District, Phan District, Chiang Rai Province, for the funeral ceremony.

His colleagues revealed that Nopporn was the person who attempted to climb up and close the valve on the tank before the explosion occurred. The force of the blast tragically took his life.

industrial fire3 — Family of Mr. Nopporn Nuanma, who died in the fire incident at chemical storage tank in the MTT factory receive his bodyใ

The fire was contained eight hours later. About 400 workers and residents who have been evacuated to a temporary shelter.

This incident underscores the problems of management and prevention of hazards from chemicals and fires in industrial estates in Rayong Province.

Previously, a fire broke out at the factory of Win Process Co., Ltd. on the morning of April 22, 2024, affecting nearby residents and the environment. Subsequently, Mr. Julapong Taveesri, the Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, submitted his resignation to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry on April 29, after being reprimanded by the Prime Minister for handling the situation too slowly.

This company was sued by the Department of Industrial Works and the Rayong Provincial Industry Office, petitioning the court to properly collect and store hazardous materials both inside and outside the factory premises, after the company had requested to cease operations since 2020.

Amidst the ongoing process of managing the chemical waste from Win Process Company, another explosion and fire incident occurred at the gas storage tanks of Map Ta Phut Terminal Company Limited (MTT), a subsidiary of Siam Cement Group (SCC) located in Rayong Province.

In the case of MTT, Mr. Thammasak Sethaudom, the Chief Executive Officer of SCC, revealed the preliminary investigation results regarding the cause of the incident that the employees had climbed up to inspect the quantity of Pyrolysis gasoline, a mixture of chemicals commonly used in gasoline blending, in the tank.

However, a cloud of smoke suddenly emerged, followed by an explosion at around 10.45 a.m. on Thursday. The force of the blast caused all individuals to fall from the tank, resulting in injuries and fatalities. The fire immediately ignited following the explosion.

Initially, employees managed to contain the fire at 12:30 p.m., but it reignited, and they were finally able to extinguish it at 6:00 p.m.

Afterward, authorities allowed the residents to return to the area and closed the temporary evacuation center at Maptaphut Panpittayakarn School. Subsequently, public health officials conducted health check-ups for the residents in the nearby communities.

Later, on May 10, the Governor of Rayong Province revoked the announcement declaring the communities of Nong Faeb, Ta-Kwan, and Ao Pradu as areas affected by a public disaster.

AP24130401243685 — Black smoke billows after an explosion at the gas storage tanks in an industrial area in Rayong province, eastern of Thailand, Thursday, May 9, 2024. At least one person was killed and several others injured after a huge fire broke out at gas storage tanks. (Fire & Rescue Thailand via AP)

Meanwhile, the SCC sent a letter to President of the Stock Exchange of Thailand on May 10 to update on the incident at the MTT.

“SCC hereby informs you that the fire incident at MTT on May 9, 2024 occurred in the area where a storage tank containing hydrocarbon compound C9+ was located. MTT will be responsible for the medical treatment and provide assistance to the injured and the families of the casualties to the fullest extent,” it stated.

The letter added that MTT has cooperated with the Health Service Center, Map Ta Phut Municipal, and Chaloem Phrakiat Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Hospital Siam Boromrajakumari, Rayong to deploy medical personnel to provide care for those affected in the community.

MTT is covered by insurance policies that has been arranged as follows:
1. Industrial All Risks Insurance and Business Interruption Insurance
2. Public Liability Insurance
3. Legal Liability Insurance for liabilities arising from Category 3 of the Fuel Oils Control Act
regarding the control of liquefied petroleum gas and the control of oil

MTT has notified the insurance company to prepare for a joint investigation as soon as the access to the area is possible, in order to assess the damage according to the fact verification procedure and evaluate all related damages, including the cause of the incident to determine the claim value according to the conditions under insurance policy.

AP24130401147682 — Black smoke billows after an explosion at the gas storage tanks in an industrial area in Rayong province, eastern of Thailand, Thursday, May 9, 2024. At least one person was killed and several others injured after a huge fire broke out at gas storage tanks. (Fire & Rescue Thailand via AP)

The company said in a statement that it is investigating the cause of the fire and will implement measures to prevent it from happening again. It expressed its condolences and said the company is ready to provide compensation to those affected.

In 2021, the company was ordered to cease operations temporarily after another one of its storage tanks erupted and caught fire, killing three and seriously injuring two.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed Ms. Pimpattara Wichaikul, the Minister of Industry, to closely take care of the affected people, while SCC has been assigned the responsibility of providing assistance and compensation to all those affected by the incident.

industrial fire — The gas storage tank was left completely charred on May 10, following the explosion and fire incident. Firefighters spent more than 8 hours extinguishing the blaze on May 9.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that all sectors must strictly enforce preventive measures to ensure that factories adhere to the rules and regulations. Furthermore, fire control measures must follow standardized procedures for fire management to minimize the impact on various factories and the residents living in the surrounding areas.

Later, Miss Pimpattara visited the factory where the incident occurred. As she stepped out of the car, she hesitated momentarily upon detecting the pungent odor of burned substances. She then proceeded to visit the residents living near the MTT factory at Sala Ta Kwan-Ao Pradu, Mab Ta Phut Subdistrict, Rayong Province, and apologized to those who were affected by the incident.

Afterward, she returned to Bangkok to hold a press conference, affirming that MTT Company would be held responsible for the damages and impacts caused. She also mentioned the results of air quality inspections at three locations: the Ta Kwan Health Station, the Nong Suea Kueak Station, and the Map Ta Phut Municipality Station. The air quality at these locations was found to be within normal limits.

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Coral Bleaching Detected in 19 National Parks Along Thai Gulf and Andaman Sea Coasts

By

Khaosod English

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10 May 2024, 16:16

BANGKOK – Mr. Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, revealed on May 9 that reports of coral bleaching surveys within the marine national parks had identified 19 affected areas. The most recent closure announcements include the tourist sites of Pling Island and the surrounding area of Sirinat National Park, Thalang District, Phuket Province, as a temporary measure.

Of the 19 marine national park areas affected (data from April 2 to May 8, 2024), eight are located on the Thai Gulf Coast, including Mu Ko Chang National Park, Khao Laem Ya – Mu Ko Samet National Park, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Hat Wanakon National Park, Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, Than Sadet – Ko Pha-ngan National Park, Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park and Hat Khanom – Mu Ko Thalae Tai National Park.

Along the coast of the Andaman Sea, 11 areas are affected, including Mu Ko Ranong National Park, Laem Son National Park, Mu Ko Surin National Park, Mu Ko Similan National Park, Sirinat National Park, Ao Phang Nga National Park, Than Bok Khorani National Park – Phi Phi Islands, Mu Ko Lanta National Park, Tarutao National Park and Mu Ko Phetra National Park.

Areas of particular concern where coral bleaching exceeds 50 percent include Hat Wanakon, where over 80 percent of the area is affected by bleaching. In Sirinat National Park, the area around Pling Island is also over 80 percent affected by bleaching and has been closed. In Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, bleaching is over 70 percent on Kram Island, over 60 percent on Ngam Noi Island and over 80 percent on Ngam Yai Island.

The cause of coral bleaching is attributed to abnormal marine environmental conditions, such as warm seawater, oil spills, sedimentation covering the corals, or prolonged exposure to high and low tides. This stress causes the corals to shed their symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), their primary source of energy, leading to coral bleaching and eventual death if the bleaching continues for 2-3 weeks.

To prevent further damage to coral reefs during bleaching, the Department of National Parks has taken measures, including closing tourist sites, to reduce activities that could exacerbate coral bleaching until the situation improves.

Pinsak Suraswadi, director general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), said after a marine survey in Ko Mak sub-district, Ko Kood district, Trat province, where coral bleaching of 30-50 percent was found, the damage was fortunately not as severe as originally predicted. This could be due to the cloudy weather during the two-day survey trip and the dropping temperatures.

He noted that coral bleaching and seagrass mortality in Thailand are in a critical state caused not by ordinary global warming, but by global turbulence that keeps occurring in different places, and by lower than normal sea levels. These conditions lead to the corals being exposed for longer and consequently bleaching.

bleach chumphon2 — The Chumphon National Marine Park Operations Center has installed a shade net to protect coral reefs from heat stress and prevent coral bleaching.

Seagrass also dries out and dies, as can be seen on Ko Kradad in the Ko Kood district of Trat province. One of the most important measures that the DMCR will take is to designate the marine area around Ko Kood as a marine protected area.

Meanwhile, the Chumphon National Marine Park Operations Center, in collaboration with officials and the Marine Biodiversity Research Group from the Faculty of Science at Ramkhamhaeng University, has installed a shade net to protect coral reefs from heat stress and prevent coral bleaching. This action was taken after it was discovered that 80 percent of the coral reefs in an area spanning 20 rai (approximately 8 acres) at a depth of 8-9 meters were affected by coral bleaching.

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A group of Trang marine tourism operators and divers who went diving to explore the beauty of the Andaman Sea at the Khon Mai Khao area and Ao Farang of Koh Muk were stunned to see that the coral had faded in colour, appearing white. Coral bleaching, likely due to this year’s increased global temperatures, is suspected to be the cause.

The divers are particularly worried about the sea anemone area, which is home to clownfish and has also bleached, according to Mr. Phruk Kirdaubon, the manager of Modtanoi Resort, who led the dive crew this time. The divers are concerned that it will impact the clownfish in the future.

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AIS, Central Retail, and 9 Bridge Alliance Operators partner to boost Thai tourism

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Contributor

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10 May 2024, 14:51

For the 1st Time in Asia, AIS partners with Central Department Store Group, under Central Retail, and 9 Bridge Alliance Operators to boost Thailand tourism with ‘Welcome to Thailand Privileges’ at 77 department stores nationwide

AIS, along with 9 member operators of Bridge Alliance, including China Unicom (China), csl. and 1O1O (Hong Kong), CTM (Macau), Globe (Philippines), Maxis (Malaysia), MobiFone (Vietnam), Singtel (Singapore), Taiwan Mobile (Taiwan) and Telkomsel (Indonesia) announced a significant first-ever collaboration in Asia with the leading retailer Central Department Store Group, under Central Retail, which includes Central Department Stores and Robinson Department Stores nationwide, and Central Embassy. By combining their strengths, they aim to provide seamless, exceptional experiences for international tourists, supporting the growth of the Thai economy and welcoming the revival of the tourism sector. This ‘Asia’s 1st Cross Border Privilege Program for Tourist’ collaboration offers over 600 million customers from Bridge Alliance operators who use AIS’s roaming service while visiting Thailand not only the best 5G network experience but also world-class services at Thailand’s leading department stores, Central and Robinson Department Store under Central Retail, and Central Embassy. They will enjoy premium privileges for shopping and dining that cater to all lifestyles, including fashion, Thai and international brands, exquisite restaurants, and more with the ‘Welcome to Thailand Privileges’ campaign: Enjoy Shopping, Explore Thailand with Ease (today – 28 February 2025).

Pratthana Leelapanang, Chief Consumer Business Officer of AIS stated, “We are beginning to see clear signs of growth and the return of tourism. In the first quarter of the year, over 9.3 million international tourists have already visited our country, marking an important opportunity to drive overall economic recovery through the power of all sectors. Therefore, as Thailand’s leading digital service provider that believes in delivering quality experiences from our network and aims to work with partners to provide benefits to our customers, while also fostering overall economic growth, we have initiated a special project to meet this goal.”

“This is the reason for collaborating with Bridge Alliance and its membership of leading telecom operators across the region. Through our partnership, we jointly develop digital service innovations for each customer’s benefit and provide an exceptional roaming experience on the AIS 5G network for customers of Bridge Alliance member operators when travelling to Thailand. It is also the first time that we, along with Central Department Store Group, under Central Retail, the country’s leading retail industry player as a Strategic Partner, have announced a collaboration to offer carefully curated exclusive privileges, such as shopping and dining discount coupons, at all Central department stores and all Robinson department stores throughout Thailand for mobile customers of the 9 member operators participating in this campaign.”

Rvisra Chirathivat, Chief Marketing Officer of Central Department Store Group, under Central Retail further explained, “At Central Department Store Group, we always believe in delivering the utmost impressive experiences for customers. As evident from our 77 years in business, we have continuously created premium products, services, and privileges to provide the best shopping experience that our customers trust and rely on. We keep seeking new innovations to serve our customers nationwide, aiming to be the department store of the future that captures the hearts of Thai and international tourists alike as the best shopping destination in Thailand.”

“Today, we are delighted to collaborate with AIS and their partners Bridge Alliance through the ‘Welcome to Thailand Privileges’ campaign to welcome international customers right from their first step from their home countries via leading mobile network providers. We aim to create a seamless impressive experience with a wealth of privilege packages from Central Department Store Group, including coupons from top brands, premium services like Personal Shoppers to assist each customer by recommending promotions and privileges throughout their shopping journey, VAT refund facilitation at Central and Robinson stores, free product delivery to hotels, and opportunities to savor delicacies from premium restaurants at Central Embassy – a comprehensive 360-degree experience to ensure every visitor has the most perfect and special shopping experience until the end of their trip.”

For customers of the 9 operators in Bridge Alliance who enable roaming when traveling to Thailand, they will receive the full privileges of the ‘Welcome to Thailand Privileges’ campaign to enjoy shopping and travel conveniently throughout their time in Thailand. The kick-off phase is launching first with China Unicom from China and CTM from Macau today. This will be followed by rolling out the full privileges to customers of the remaining 7 Bridge Alliance mobile operators within this year. Everyone can indulge in the abundant premium benefits until February 28, 2025, including:

Receive shopping coupons total valued at 3,600 Baht. The coupon can be used at every location of Central and Robinson Department Stores (Please check further terms & conditions at the point of sale)
Receive shopping coupons total valued at 140 Baht. The coupons can be used at participating Tops Supermarket, Tops Food Hall, and Tops Fine Food locations. (Please check further terms & conditions at the point of sale)
Exclusive array of privileges and discounts total worth 12,000 Baht from over 45 world-renowned brands including La Mer, Estée Lauder, Tom Ford Beauty, MAC, Sabina, Guy Laroche, Marks & Spencer, Sanrio, Smiggle, Adidas, Sunglass Hut, Tissot, Zwilling, PAÑPURI, and Dyson. (Please check further terms & conditions at the point of sale)
Special discounts at legendary Thai premium street food restaurants – a destination for all foodies in the heart of Bangkok that appeals to both locals and tourists: Public Lane and Public Market at Central Chidlom on the 1st floor; Lofter featuring renowned restaurants ranging from street food to Michelin- Michelin-guided eateries at Central Chidlom on the 6th floor; Living House at CENTRAL @ centralwOrld on the 7th floor; and Eathai, the ultimate destination for local eats at Central Embassy on level LG. (Please check further terms & conditions at the point of sale)

Customers can receive benefits and coupons by visiting the Customer Services counters at 8 participating Central Department Store branches and 9 participating Robinson Department Store branches.

Participating Central stores: Central Chidlom, CENTRAL @ centralwOrld, Central Chiangmai, Central Pattaya, Central Patong, Central Phuket Floresta, Central Samui and Central Hadyai.

Participating Robinson stores: Robinson Rama 9, Robinson Sukhumvit, Robinson Bangrak, Robinson Chiangmai, Robinson Mae Sot, Robinson Jungceylon, Robinson Chalong, Robinson Thalang and Robinson Hadyai

To enjoy these perks, simply follow the mechanics communicated by each participating operator to redeem the benefits at Central department stores and Robinson department stores, with 77 branches across the country.

Pratthana concluded by saying, “this collaboration between AIS and partners from Bridge Alliance, including Central Department Store Group, under Central Retail, highlights the private sector’s dedication to leveraging each organization’s strengths and capabilities to support the country’s economic engine in the tourism sector. This will drive growth across various sectors within the ecosystem efficiently. We firmly believe that this collaboration will impress tourists and convey the charm of Thailand, encouraging them to visit again in the future.”

Royal Ploughing Ceremony 2024: Thailand to Enjoy Greater Exports

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Khaosod English

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10 May 2024, 14:26

Thailand Plowing Ceremony — Thai master of the plowing ceremony, Prayoon Inskul, center, prays for Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, left, and Queen Suthida before the start of a royal plowing ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 10, 2024. The annual event marks the beginning of the rice growing season. (Sunti Teapia/Pool Photo via AP)

BANGKOK – Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn with Queen Suthida, addresses the audience at a Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 10, 2024.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, known as “Raek Na Khwan” or “Phra Ratcha Phithi Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan” in Thai, is a traditional royal ceremony held in Thailand to mark the beginning of the rice-growing season.

The ceremony is usually conducted in May, which is the sixth month of the Thai lunar calendar, and is considered an auspicious time for farmers to start planting their rice crops.

AP24131152248639 — Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, left, with Queen Suthida, addresses the audience at a royal plowing ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 10, 2024. (Sunti Teapia/Pool Photo via AP)

In the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and they plough a furrow in some ceremonial ground, while rice seed is sown by court Brahmins. After the ploughing, the oxen are offered plates of food, including rice, corn, green beans, sesame, fresh-cut grass, water and rice whisky.

Depending on what the oxen eat, court astrologers and Brahmins make a prediction on whether the coming growing season will be bountiful or not.

This year, the royal oxen ate water, grass, and liquor, predicting that water resources will be reasonably abundant, and crops, fruits, vegetables, and meat will be plentiful. Transportation will be more convenient, and Thailand will enjoy greater export, leading to a prosperous economy.

royal plough3 — Prayoon Inskul perform a royal plowing ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on May 10, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/ Worapong Charoenpol)

royal plough2 — The royal oxen consumed water, grass, and liquor, predicting that water resources will be reasonably abundant, and crops, fruits, vegetables, and meat will be plentiful. Trade with foreign countries will improve, leading to a prosperous economy. (Khaosod Photo/ Worapong Charoenpol)

At the same time, the Lord of the First Ploughing picked up a piece of cloth measuring 5 cubits, forecasting that this year’s water supply will be just right, and the rice seedlings in the fields will yield abundant results. Fruits and meat will also be plentiful.

His Majesty the King also graciously granted permission to the Rice Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to use rice seeds cultivated during the 2023 rainy season in the experimental paddy field project at the Chitralada Royal Villa.

The seeds include six varieties of lowland rice and two varieties of glutinous rice, with a total weight of 2,743 kilograms. These seeds are designated as the “Royal Rice Varieties” and are packed in plastic bags to be distributed to the public, interested individuals, and farmers throughout the country as a token of good fortune and blessing for their agricultural occupations.

royal plough1 — People collect rice seeds from the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang on May 10, 2024.

UN to Vote on Resolution That Would Grant Palestine New Rights and Revive Its UN Membership Bid

By

Associated Press

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10 May 2024, 12:23

Israel Palestinians UN Membership and Rights — FILE - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2022, at the U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote Friday on a resolution that would grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine and call on the Security Council to favorably reconsider its request to become the 194th member of the United Nations.

The United States vetoed a widely backed council resolution on April 18 that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent, and U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood made clear Thursday the Biden administration is opposed to the assembly resolution.

Under the U.N. Charter, prospective members of the United Nations must be “peace-loving,” and the Security Council must recommend their admission to the General Assembly for final approval. Palestine became a U.N. non-member observer state in 2012.

“We’ve been very clear from the beginning there is a process for obtaining full membership in the United Nations, and this effort by some of the Arab countries and the Palestinians is to try to go around that,” Wood said Thursday. “We have said from the beginning the best way to ensure Palestinian full membership in the U.N. is to do that through negotiations with Israel. That remains our position.”

But unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the 193-member General Assembly and the resolution is expected to be approved by a large majority, according to three Western diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were private.

AP24085617721612 — Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour addresses United Nations Security Council at U.N. headquarters, Monday, March 25, 2024, (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

The draft resolution “determines” that a state of Palestine is qualified for membership – dropping the original language that in the General Assembly’s judgment it is “a peace-loving state.” It therefore recommends that the Security Council reconsider its request “favorably.”

The renewed push for full Palestinian membership in the U.N. comes as the war in Gaza has put the more than 75-year-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict at center stage. At numerous council and assembly meetings, the humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinians in Gaza and the killing of more than 34,000 people in the territory, according to Gaza health officials, have generated outrage from many countries.

The original draft of the assembly resolution was changed significantly to address concerns not only by the U.S. but also by Russia and China, the diplomats said.

The first draft would have conferred on Palestine “the rights and privileges necessary to ensure its full and effective participation” in the assembly’s sessions and U.N. conferences “on equal footing with member states.” It also made no reference to whether Palestine could vote in the General Assembly.

According to the diplomats, Russia and China which are strong supporters of Palestine’s U.N. membership were concerned that granting the list of rights and privileges detailed in an annex to the resolution could set a precedent for other would-be U.N. members — with Russia concerned about Kosovo and China about Taiwan.

Under longstanding legislation by the U.S. Congress, the United States is required to cut off funding to U.N. agencies that give full membership to a Palestinian state – which could mean a cutoff in dues and voluntary contributions to the U.N. from its largest contributor.

The final draft drops the language that would put Palestine “on equal footing with member states.” And to address Chinese and Russian concerns, it would decide “on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent” to adopt the rights and privileges in the annex.

The draft also adds a provision in the annex on the issue of voting, stating categorically: “The state of Palestine, in its capacity as an observer state, does not have the right to vote in the General Assembly or to put forward its candidature to United Nations organs.”

The final list of rights and privileges in the draft annex includes giving Palestine the right to speak on all issues not just those related to the Palestinians and Middle East, the right to propose agenda items and reply in debates, and the right to be elected as officers in the assembly’s main committees. It would give the Palestinians the right to participate in U.N. and international conferences convened by the United Nations — but it drops their “right to vote” which was in the original draft.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas first delivered the Palestinian Authority’s application for U.N. membership in 2011. It failed because the Palestinians didn’t get the required minimum support of nine of the Security Council’s 15 members.

They went to the General Assembly and succeeded by more than a two-thirds majority in having their status raised from a U.N. observer to a non-member observer state. That opened the door for the Palestinian territories to join U.N. and other international organizations, including the International Criminal Court.

In the Security Council vote on April 18, the Palestinians got much more support for full U.N. membership. The vote was 12 in favor, the United Kingdom and Switzerland abstaining, and the United States voting no and vetoing the resolution.

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British Man Arrested in Bangkok on Charges of Defaming a Phuket Restaurant

By

Khaosod English

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9 May 2024, 20:20

british defamed1 — An officer from the Crime Suppression Division of the Central Investigation Bureau arrested a British man, who had been wanted in Phuket province, at a condominium near Wat Phraya Krai, Bangkok, on May 9, 2024.

BANGKOK – A British man, who had been wanted in Phuket province since the middle of last year, was arrested by officers from the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok on May 9 at a condominium near Wat Phraya Krai, Charoen Krung Road, Wat Phraya Krai Subdistrict, Bang Kho Laem District, Bangkok.

Alexander, 21, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court on August 23, 2023, on charges of “importing false information into a computer system in a manner likely to cause damage to the public.”

The investigation revealed that in mid-2022, Alexander, who was staying at an apartment in Phuket, had a dispute with the owner of an Italian restaurant over access to the accommodation.

Even though the restaurant allowed more convenient access to the apartment, it incurred the cost of opening the route and reserving it exclusively for clients who used their services. The restaurant advised that Alexander refrain from taking this route, which greatly upset him.

Later, the restaurant discovered that its customer review scores on Google had dropped dramatically from 4.9 out of 5 to just 3.1. According to investigation, they found that the restaurant had received one-star reviews in a short period, with the reviewer being Alexander, who used false and distorted statements to maliciously damage the restaurant. Additionally, his associates also left similar reviews.

The restaurant owner then filed a complaint at Sakhu Police Station in Phuket. The investigating officers gathered evidence and requested an arrest warrant from the court. However, Alexander quickly fled from Phuket to Bangkok, where he was recently apprehended.

He currently denied the charges, and the authorities have sent him to face prosecution at Sakhu Police Station in Phuket.

Thai Cannabis Network Opposes PM’s Move To Outlaw the Drug

By

Khaosod English

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9 May 2024, 17:05

A worker tends to cannabis plants at a farm in Chonburi province, eastern Thailand on June 5, 2022. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network issued a statement on May 9, 2024 in response to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s order instructing the Ministry of Public Health to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic substance.

The network emphasized that the definition of what constitutes an addictive substance should be based on scientific evidence. They called on the Ministry of Public Health to carry out a comparative analysis of the benefits and harms of cannabis, alcohol and cigarettes.

If it is scientifically proven that cannabis causes more harm than good compared to cigarettes and alcohol, the network will support the reclassification of cannabis as a narcotic. However, if it is proven that cannabis is not as harmful as it is currently portrayed, the network proposes the enactment of specific laws to regulate cannabis use in Thailand.

AP23193330517841 — A Japanese tourist smokes cannabis at a Dutch passion shop in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The network also criticized the government, claiming that the ruling Pheu Thai Party is influenced by large capital groups and that several of its MPs have business interests in cannabis. They believe that the government intends to control cannabis cultivation, which would lead to a monopoly, and that the reclassification of cannabis as a narcotic would be a legitimate tool for such control.

“We would like to inform the public that news reports of cannabis-induced psychosis are dubious. Individuals who have used cannabis openly and daily for more than a decade have shown no signs of psychosis. However, reports of cannabis-induced psychosis often involve people who have been using cannabis for a long time or only occasionally. This raises questions about the true cause of these incidents.

In reality, these individuals may be using other illicit substances and blaming cannabis to avoid arrest, or they may be using cannabis in conjunction with other drugs. The fact remains that cannabis does not cause psychosis. We urge the Department of Public Health to investigate this matter immediately and we believe that the experiences of numerous long-term cannabis users can serve as valuable case studies,” the statement reads.

cannabisday3 — The Future of Thai Cannabis Network, together with the Cannabis for Medical Use Network held a press conference on June 9 as the Thai Cannabis Day.

The secretary general of the Thai Cannabis Future Network, Prasitchai Noonuan, announced that the network would gather to submit a petition to the Minister of Public Health within seven days. If the government continues to disregard scientific evidence in determining the status of cannabis, a rally will be organized to demand the government base its cannabis policy on facts.

Furthermore, if the government insists on reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic on June 9 2024, the second anniversary of the decriminalization of cannabis, the network is planning a large-scale protest in front of Government House.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Anutin Charnveerakul, who heads Bhumjai Thai Party which democrimialised marijuana during the Prayut administration said on Thursday that his party is no longer in charge of the Public Health Ministry.

“We have to let the current minister determine the policy, but we must provide information on why cannabis has more benefits than harm. We provide full information, and then we vote in the meeting. Whatever the outcome, we must accept it,” he said.

Anutin said that this matter is the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Health and the National Committee for Prevention and Suppression of Drugs because the effects of cannabis can be scientifically proven, not based on emotions or feelings.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reacts during news conference Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi, Thailand, after signing a measure that drops cannabis from his ministry's list of controlled drugs. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP — FILE – Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reacted during news conference Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi, Thailand, after signing a measure that drops cannabis from his ministry’s list of controlled drugs. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP

If new information emerges today that cannabis is definitely harmful and addictive, he must listen and consider it, but currently, he has to wait for that information. He is not worried because the cannabis policy is included in the government’s policy statement to the parliament.

Anutin said that when he had announced the removal of cannabis from the list of narcotic drugs, over six thousand prisoners in jail for marijuana selling or consumption have already been released or went through rehab. As for the general practitioners and traditional medicine practitioners who used cannabis and were previously sentenced to imprisonment, they have also been released.

He also said that many foreigners owning marijuana shops must be arrested. Those who can open cannabis shops must be under the announcement of the Ministry of Public Health. There are already rules and regulations in place

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SNNP’s impressive Q1/24 financial statements

By

Contributor

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9 May 2024, 14:56

SNNP’s impressive Q1/24 financial statements: Revenue surges to 1,457 million baht, Actively developing new products and penetrating both domestic and international markets.

Srinanaporn Marketing Public Company Limited (SNNP) has reported exceptional performance in Q1/24, with earnings over 1,457 million-baht, and profits soaring to 158 million baht. The success is attributed to new product launches, including beverages and snacks, in the market. Mr. Wiroj Wachiradechkul, SNNP’s Executive, revealed that typically, the first quarter is a low season for businesses, coupled with an economic situation hasn’t recovered significantly. However, SNNP can still achieve growth in numbers compared to the previous year. This growth is driven by the continuous development of new products and proactive market penetration, both domestically and internationally.

Mr. Wiroj Wachiradechkul, Senior Executive Vice President of the Domestic Business Division at Srinanaporn Marketing Public Company Limited (SNNP), has revealed that the company’s overall performance in Q1/24 (ending March 31, 2024) showed a total income of 1,457 million baht, up 30 million baht or 2% compared to the same period last year. The net profit amounted to 158 million baht, up 4 million baht or 3% compared to the same period last year.

The factors supporting the continued growth in both domestic and international sales stem from several key products, including “Jele” and “Bento,” as well as the introduction of new products to the market at the beginning of the year. These new products include Jele Fresshy in a watermelon flavor, Lotus Crispy Chicken Skin with two new flavors, “Larb and Hat Yai style fried chicken flavors,” and Bento Max with three new flavors, “Sweet & Spicy, Hot & Spicy, and Spicy Larb.” Furthermore, new products in the supplementary category under the brand “Jele Fitt,” in the form of fruit-flavored jelly, have been launched. This has generated significant excitement and has strongly supported sales growth.

While in the first half of 2024, the Company is confident that the trend of product sales will increase significantly. According to the tourism sector that is very bustling during Songkran festival, including SNNP also launching new summertime products to the market with Jele Beautie 2 new flavors “Fiber Formula and Kombucha Flavor” and Magic Farm Fresh 2 new flavors “Coconut juice” and “Honey-Lemon Green Tea” quenching thirst on scorching days. Make a significant rise in sales.

In addition, SNNP also has guidelines for expanding overseas markets such as sending products to sell, participating in marketing in such countries, and appointing distributors to further support long-term growth.

In terms of Marketing communication plan, the Company intends to aggressively communicate through all channels both offline and online, such as commercial films and KOL / influencers, supporting through concert activities, including organizing roadshows to distribute products, in order to reach out to consumers and increase brand awareness.

“For the 2024 business plan, SNNP continues to create awareness and promote the consumption of products, including the release of new products both beverages and snacks continuously. The Company also plans to expand the market to foreign countries apart from Vietnam, which is the main country. We still see opportunities to market in other countries, such as the Philippines, Korea, and China, etc., The Company is confident that this year’s sales will continue to grow steadily according to the business plan,” Mr. Wirot said finally.

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Civilian Casualties Rise in Myanmar’s Civil War as Resistance Forces Tighten Noose Around Military

By

Associated Press

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9 May 2024, 13:17

Myanmar At A Crossroads — This undated photo released by the Free Burma Rangers, shows a monastery in Papun, Karen state, Myanmar after the monastery sheltering civilians displaced by fighting in the town was attacked on March 31, 2024 by a regime warplane. (Free Burma Rangers via AP)

BANGKOK (AP) — Six months into an offensive against Myanmar ’s military government, opposition forces have made massive gains, but civilian casualties are rising sharply as regime troops increasingly turn toward scorched-earth tactics in the Southeast Asian country’s bitter civil war.

There is pressure on all fronts from powerful militias drawn from Myanmar’s ethnic minority groups and newer resistance forces. Troops are retaliating with air, naval and artillery strikes on hospitals and other facilities where the opposition could be sheltered or aided.

“When the mass of people rise up against them, I think it terrifies them,” said Dave Eubank, a former U.S. Special Forces soldier who founded the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian aid organization that has provided assistance to both combatants and civilians in Myanmar since the 1990s.

“They know that hospitals, churches, schools and monasteries are important places for human care, and gathering, and symbols — and they hammer them,” said Eubank. “That’s new.”

AP24128187690644 — This undated photo released by the Free Burma Rangers, shows a monastery destroyed by a Burmese military airstrike on March 31, 2024, in Papun, Karen state, Myanmar. (Free Burma Rangers via AP)

Military forces now control l ess than half the country, but are holding on tenaciously to much of central Myanmar including the capital, Naypyidaw — recently targeted by drone attacks — and largest city, Yangon, and is far better armed than the resistance forces, with support from Russia and China.

“People have been saying that the regime was on the brink of collapse since two weeks after the coup,” in February 2021, said Morgan Michaels, an analyst with the International Institute of Strategic Studies who runs its Myanmar Conflict Map project.

“On the other hand, obviously the regime is weaker than it’s ever been…. so there’s no doubt that it’s in serious, serious trouble,” he said.

Thet Swe, a spokesman for the military government, acknowledged an email from The Associated Press seeking comment but did not respond to questions.

As the fighting has moved into more populated areas, about 1 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the offensive in October, contributing to the more than 3 million internally displaced people in the country of some 56 million, according to the U.N.’s humanitarian aid agency.

With the collapse of its health care system and food supplies dwindling, 18.6 million people are in need, up 1 million from a year ago, including 6 million children, the agency said.

AP24128153976910 — In this photo released by the Free Burma Rangers, families flee after a Buddhist monastery sheltering civilians displaced by fighting in the town of Papun, Karen state, Myanmar was attacked on March 31, 2024 by a regime warplane. (Free Burma Rangers via AP)

HOW IT BEGAN

Opposition in Myanmar, also known as Burma, had been growing since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, but it gained new momentum in October when major militias known collectively as the Three Brotherhood Alliance launched a joint offensive.

Together, the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army — among the most powerful militias formed by Myanmar’s ethnic minorities — made quick advances.

As they captured huge swaths of territory largely in the north and northeast, including economically important border crossings with China and several major military bases, other ethnic armed groups sensed momentum and joined the fighting.

At the same time, People’s Defense Forces — armed resistance groups that support the shadow National Unity Government, which views itself as Myanmar’s legitimate administration — have been increasing in number and launching their own attacks, often supported and trained by the ethnic armed militias.

Both sides claim they have inflicted heavy tolls. And the military government under Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has acknowledged it is under pressure, recently reintroducing conscription to increase its ranks.

That has pushed some young people into the resistance. Many more have fled to rural areas or neighboring countries to avoid fighting.

With the violence across its border, China helped broker a cease-fire in Myanmar’s north in January with the Three Brotherhood Alliance. But the alliance’s Arakan Army continues to fight in its home Rakhine state in the west and has made significant gains, while PDFs and other ethnic armed groups continue their own attacks elsewhere.

AP24128158226886 — In this undated photo released by the Free Burma Rangers, a mother prays for her 17-year-old daughter to live after a Buddhist monastery sheltering civilians displaced by fighting in the town of Papun, Karen state, Myanmar was attacked on March 31, 2024 by a regime warplane. (Free Burma Rangers via AP)

THE LATEST FIGHTING

The fiercest fighting in recent weeks has been in the southeast, where the main ethnic Karen fighting force, the Karen National Liberation Army, claimed in early April to have seized all the military bases in Myawaddy, the main town on the border with Thailand in Kayin state.

One army battalion clung to a position beside one of Myawaddy’s two bridges, assisted by the Border Guard Force, a rival Karen group that had been in charge of border area security for years, conducting lucrative business by providing protection to area casino resorts with links to organized crime.

The force, which declared itself neutral in January, now controls the town with military government administrators still in place, highlighting how some militia groups still prioritize their own interests.

“This is not a black and white situation. This is not the regime reconquering and reconsolidating control,” Michaels said of the fighting in the area. “This is the regime hanging on, keeping a foothold by the razor’s edge.”

Meanwhile, the military has pushed KNLA and People’s Defense Forces out of Kawkareik, a strategically important town along the road that connects Myawaddy with the rest of the country.

Thousands of civilians have fled Myawaddy and Kawkareik. But many civilians haven’t managed to escape.

AP24128154139519 — In this undated photo released by the Free Burma Rangers, Dave Eubank, center, founder of the Free Burma Rangers, evacuates the wounded after a Buddhist monastery sheltering civilians displaced by fighting in the town of Papun, Karen state, Myanmar was attacked on March 31, 2024 by a regime warplane. (Free Burma Rangers via AP)

At least 1,015 civilian deaths have been documented from Nov. 1 through May 1, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a watchdog group that tracks political arrests, attacks and casualties. It says 4,962 civilians have been killed overall since the military took power three years ago.

The watchdog blamed the deaths on the military’s increasing use of scorched-earth tactics and fighting moving into more populated areas.

“The military has increasingly lost areas of control in recent months, which has only increased their use of this strategy, responding with airstrikes, shelling and so on in civilian areas,” the AAPP said in an email.

The group added that the number of civilian deaths in the recent months of fighting is likely double what it reported, if not more, but that it can’t document the numbers due to the intensification of the conflict.

Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for the shadow National Unity Government, said the military had destroyed 343 hospitals and clinics since it took power, and that those attacks had accelerated in the last two months, though he didn’t have specific details.

Eubank, with the Free Burma Rangers, said he and his teams operating near the front lines have witnessed the military, known as the Tatmadaw, fighting with a “ speed and force and a viciousness that we’ve never seen.”

But in fighting a common enemy, the resistance is showing growing unity, he said.

“The Burma army is still stronger than any of these resistance groups, and if they want to bring a division or two to bear, they will win the battle, but they’re not stronger than everybody else together,” he said.

WHAT COMES NEXT

Whether that unity will continue if the regime falls, and if the disparate resistance forces can agree on a common path ahead for Myanmar, is an open question, Michaels said.

“On one hand, Myanmar is not Syria — there is common cause in fighting the regime,” Michaels said. “But at the same time, as the regime has receded from some areas, there are at least indicators of potential future conflicts between groups.”

AP24128150751820 — In this photo released by the Free Burma Rangers, a building burns in Pasaung, Karenni state, Myanmar in March, 2024, after a Burmese military airstrike and mortars destroyed the town. (Free Burma Rangers via AP)

He noted an incident in northern Shan state last month in which troops from two members of the Three Brotherhood Alliance — the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army — traded fire over a territorial dispute. One person was injured.

The groups quickly agreed to stand down, but the incident illustrates that territorial tension is real, Michaels said.

An opposition politician still inside the country, speaking on condition of anonymity for his own safety, said Myanmar’s people have a common desire for peace and stability, but the various factions still pursue their own interests.

“It is hard to predict what is ahead, and they still don’t have a single political direction or goal. I think there is quite a problem in this situation,” he said.

“Myanmar is now at a crossroads.”

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Chinese Warships Have Been Docked in Cambodia; US and Philippine Forces Sink a Ship During Drills

By

Associated Press

-

9 May 2024, 00:34

Cambodia Naval Base — This satellite photo taken by Planet Labs PBC shows two Chinese corvettes docked at the Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia’s Defense Ministry insisted Wednesday that the months-long presence of two Chinese warships in a strategically important naval base that is being newly expanded with funding from Beijing does not constitute a permanent deployment of the Chinese military in the country.

Questions had arisen after the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported last month that two Chinese corvettes that docked at the Ream Naval Base’s new pier in December had maintained a nearly permanent presence there since.

Current satellite images, analyzed by The Associated Press, confirm that the two ships remained there on Wednesday, more than five months since they initially appeared.

The United States and others have long worried that the new pier at the Ream Naval Base, built with Chinese funding, could serve as a new outpost for the Chinese navy on the Gulf of Thailand, but Cambodia has said that would not happen.

Asked about why the two ships had been there for five months, Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Chhum Socheat told the AP they were due to take part in a joint Cambodian-Chinese military exercise later this month, and that they were also involved in training Cambodian sailors.

“We have been clear that Cambodia is not allowing any foreign forces to be deployed on its territory,” he said. “That won’t happen; that point is in our Constitution and we are fully following it.”

He said the ships were also “testing” the new pier, and that they were on show for Cambodia, which was considering purchasing similar warships for its own navy.

“The ships are docked for the training period only, they are not staying permanently,” he said.

AP24129333230982 — This satellite photo taken by Planet Labs PBC shows two Chinese corvettes docked at the Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Controversy over Ream Naval Base initially arose in 2019 when The Wall Street Journal reported that an early draft of a reputed agreement seen by U.S. officials would allow China 30-year use of the base, where it would be able to post military personnel, store weapons and berth warships.

The base sits adjacent to the South China Sea, where China has aggressively asserted its claim to virtually the entire strategic waterway, and also provides easy access to the Malacca Straits, a critical shipping route leading from it to the Indian Ocean.

The U.S. has refused to recognize China’s sweeping claim and routinely conducts military maneuvers there to reinforce that they are international waters.

Cambodia’s then-Prime Minister Hun Sen denied there was such an agreement. He pointed out that Cambodia’s Constitution does not allow foreign military bases to be established on its soil, but said visiting ships from all nations are welcome.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Chhum Socheat also said in a post on Facebook late Tuesday that the current prime minister, Hun Sen’s son Hun Manet, had made similar comments in April.

In its report, however, Washington-based CSIS noted that two Japanese destroyers that had made a port call in February were routed to a different port, and that Cambodia’s own boats had continued to use the base’s older, smaller pier to the south.

China only operates one acknowledged foreign military base, in the impoverished but strategically important Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, but many believe that its military is busy establishing an overseas network.

The U.S. has more foreign military bases than any other country, including multiple facilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

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US and Philippine forces sink a ship during largescale drills in the disputed South China Sea

LAOAG, Philippines (AP) — U.S. and Philippine forces, backed by an Australian air force surveillance aircraft, unleashed a barrage of high-precision rockets, artillery fire and airstrikes Wednesday and sank a mock enemy ship as part of largescale war drills in and near the disputed South China Sea that have antagonized Beijing.

Military officials and diplomats from several countries watched the display of firepower from a hilltop along a sandy coast in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s northern home province.

More than 16,000 military personnel from the United States and the Philippines, along with a few hundred Australian troops and military observers from 14 countries, were participating in annual combat-readiness drills called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder. The drills, which started April 22 and end Friday, include a scenario of a foreign invasion of the Philippine archipelago.

AP24129178105638 — U.S. troopers in battle gear walk under the scorching sun during a joint military exercise on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

It’s the latest indication of how the United States and the Philippines have bolstered a defense treaty alliance that started in the 1950s amid their concern in recent years over China’s increasingly aggressive actions in disputed territories in Asia.

Marcos has ordered his military to shift its focus to external defense from decades-long domestic anti-insurgency operations as China’s actions in the South China Sea become a top concern. That strategic shift dovetails with the efforts of U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration to reinforce an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China.

China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coast guard ships with powerful water cannons, a military-grade laser, blocking movements and other dangerous maneuvers in the high seas near two disputed South China Sea shoals. They have led to minor collision that have injured several Filipino navy personnel and damaged supply boats.

AP24121303146662 — Philippine Coast Guard vessel, BRP BAGACAY (MRRV-4410) is water cannoned by Chinese Coast Guards as it tried to approach the waters near Scarborough Shoal locally known as Bajo De Masinloc at the South China Sea on Tuesday April 30, 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

“We’re under the gun,” Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Romualdez told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

“We don’t have the wherewithal to be able to fight all of this bullying coming from China so where else will we go?” Romualdez said. “We went to the right party, which is the United States and those that believe in what the U.S. is doing.”

China has accused the Philippines of setting off the hostilities in the disputed waters by encroaching in what it says are its offshore territories, demarcated by 10 dashes on a map. It says the Chinese coast guard and navy have been forced to take action to expel Philippine coast guard and other vessels from those areas. The Philippines has repeatedly cited a 2016 international arbitration ruling based on the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea that invalidated China’s claim over virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds.

China did not participate in the arbitration complaint filed by the Philippines in 2013, and has rejected the ruling and continues to defy it.

AP24124475508323 — FILE – Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4, left, is hit by two Chinese coast guard water canons as they tried to enter the Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea on March 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

After being hit repeatedly by missile and artillery fire and bombs dropped by U.S. and Philippine warplanes during the combat drills, the mock enemy ship sank as black smoke billowed from its stern. The target ship was made in China but decommissioned by the Philippine navy in 2020 due to mechanical and electrical issues, according to the Philippine military.

Philippine military officials said the drills were not directed at any country. China has opposed military drills involving U.S. forces as well as increasing U.S. military deployments in the region, which it warned would escalate tensions and endanger regional stability.

For the first time in years, the combat exercises were staged in and near the fiercely contested Spratly Islands area, which China has closely guarded with its coast guard, navy and suspected militia flotillas.

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US and Philippine forces sink a ship during largescale drills in the disputed South China Sea

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