Day: August 27, 2021

An increase in world naval activity in the disputed South China Sea will prompt the strategic waterway’s largest claimant, Beijing, to send more of its own ships as a way of showing others it won’t retreat, experts say.

Two Indian navy warships and a Vietnamese navy frigate held exercises last week that started at a port in Vietnam and extended into firing drills and helicopter moves further at sea, the Indian Defense Ministry said on its website. It said the exercises were “in continuation with ongoing deployment of Indian Navy ships in the South China Sea” and “would be another step towards strengthening India-Vietnam defense relations.”

Among other exercises in or near the sea, a Royal Canadian Navy warship joined Australian, Japanese and U.S. naval vessels for a coordinated workout in January. Ships from Australia, India, Japan and the United States scheduled their annual Malabar exercises near Guam – the U.S. territory closest to Asia – for August 26-29.

Since about the start of the year, warships from eight countries with no actual maritime claims have passed through or near the South China Sea.

China claims about 90% of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea, overlapping waters  five other governments also claim. Chinese officials point to maritime documents dating back to dynastic times as support for their claim. The others cite a United Nations convention on sea usage.

 

People’s Liberation Army Navy ships are expected to travel the sea more often and step up the frequency of exercises, scholars believe. China already held naval exercises near its southern coast this month, following a round in January and another in March.

 

Officials in Beijing have indicated they hold exercises largely in response to U.S. movements. The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command “will always remain on high alert” and “resolutely safeguard” China’s sovereignty, a senior colonel said in August last year after it had “warned off” a U.S. guided-missile destroyer.

 

China fears the dispute is becoming more “internationalized” because of the spike in foreign navy operations and that it has lost its clout to discuss sovereignty disputes one-on-one with other Asian states, said Yun Sun, senior fellow and co-director of the East Asia program at the Stimson Center in Washington.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam – all militarily weaker than China – lay claims in the sea. They value the sea for its fisheries, undersea fossil fuel reserves and marine shipping lanes. Vietnam and the Philippines have spoken out against China’s ship movement and land reclamation at disputed islets.

 

“The more foreign vessels, the more need that China will identify for military exercises to show it’s not scared [and] it’s vigorously using military capability to define and defend national interests,” Sun said.

 

China will probably react to each foreign exercise with something comparable, though actual clashes are unlikely, said Jay Batongbacal, international maritime affairs professor at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City.

 

“What happens after these [foreign] ships come into the South China Sea really depends on China’s reaction, because always China tends to overreact to every vessel passage in the South China Sea,” he said.

 

Countries from outside the region often pair their exercises with statements opposing a single country’s control of the whole sea, another irritant to Beijing.

 

The Southeast Asian maritime claimants now “have some leverage” and are “not taking on China alone,” Sun said. A country such as Vietnam might now feel “emboldened” to step up its drilling for undersea oil and gas, she said.

 

“It is gradually offsetting China’s dominance in the region and also offsetting or attacking China’s hegemonic desire in that part of the world,” Sun said.

 

China would bolster its own exercises along with diplomatic protests against the non-Asian naval exercises, said Shariman Lockman, senior foreign policy and security studies analyst with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia. The country is likely to “act professionally” to avoid any wider conflict, though, he said.

 

“They will make a lot of noise,” Lockman said. “They will react. But I think they are also wary about prompting anything bigger.”

 

Source: Voice of America

Always maintain personal hygiene, practice social distancing and wearing face masks are a must when the country is being hit by the spread of COVID-19. Following the spread of COVID-19 in the community, the wearing of face masks has been updated to be worn at all times for every individual who goes out to public places and workplaces, whether indoors or outdoors.

 

The wearing of face masks is to ensure that the people and residents of Brunei Darussalam perform their respective social responsibilities. Currently, face mask is the best-selling item in the market.

 

Wearing a face mask over a long period of time, however, can have an impact and discomfort on the wearer especially women who wear the hijab or scarf. This is where the creative idea arose in the production of ‘extender’ or connector to the face mask to facilitate and provide comfort to the wearer without having to attach the strap behind the ears. Making extender is quite simple by using materials that are easy to obtain. Nowadays, various types of ‘extenders’ with various patterns are available and sold by various parties and individuals who offer at affordable prices.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

 

Various online learning initiatives are carried out as the country faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Such activities are held in view of movement restrictions in an effort to curb the risk of infection. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports through the Language and Literature’s Bureau Library.

 

The Language and Literature Bureau’s Library at Seria Branch, Belait District has organised the ‘Dapur Kitani’ activity live from the library’s Instagram to allow public participation. The cooking demonstration activity is held two or three times in a week. Also held were the Know Kedayan Dialect and Arabic Language as well as the Guess and Answer Brunei Language.

 

The public can visit the Instagram and Facebook at Perpustakaan DBP Seria. Meanwhile, those who are interested with the library activities can visit the website at ‘www.librarybrunei.gov.bn’.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

Following the unpredictable weather and continuous heavy rains in the country, the water level has risen in the rural areas of Tutong District, especially in Kampung Benutan. As the result, several villages including Kampung Rambai, Kampung Ukong, Kampung Kuala Ungar and Bangkuru as well as Kampung Layong have experienced floods affecting several houses and roads.

 

Awang Ajmin bin Haji Meludin, Acting Tutong District Officer visited and assessed the situation in the affected villages. The visit also continued with the handing over of relief items to the owners of the houses that were flooded in the Kuala Ungar and Bangkuru areas.

 

Flood levels monitoring has been implemented since the heavy rains began in mid-August 2021. The flood water level is still under control and the Tutong District Office together with the relevant agencies, Penghulus, Village Heads and Acting Heads of village constantly monitors the development of flood water levels from time to time. Also joining the visit was a Member of the Legislative Council.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

ASEAN continues to ensure that the rights and opportunities of all women and girls, especially the most vulnerable are always protected while facing the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. The matter was emphasised by the Minister Of Culture, Youth And Sports as the Chair of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Pillar 2021, while attending the G20 Conference on Women’s Empowerment, as the guest of honour of the Republic of Italy as President of the G20 this year. Yang Berhormat Retired Major General Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, also shared the ASEAN 2021 Theme: “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”, and ASEAN’s mission towards gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in every aspect of life. The conference, held for the first time in the G20 system, was conducted in a hybrid format, and chaired by Her Excellency Elena Bonetti, Minister for Equal Opportunities and Family of the Republic of Italy.

 

During the Meeting, Yang Berhormat also shared ASEAN’s commitment to the ASEAN Declaration on Gender Responsive Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the SDGs, and the ASEAN Agenda for Action on Women’s Economic Empowerment. Yang Berhormat further shared several ASEAN initiatives including accelerating progress in managing the women’s economic empowerment through innovation, trade and inclusive business; continue to produce gender data and statistics to address inequalities and barriers to women’s empowerment; as well as continuing to strengthen social protection in ensuring that no one is left behind. As the Chair of ASEAN 2021, Brunei Darussalam is also actively working to develop the ASEAN Comprehensive Care Economic Framework and its Action Plan in addressing current and future needs arising from demographic change, inequality, and the challenges of sustainable development. This is hoped to be able to drive progress in women’s empowerment. ASEAN is also currently working to develop a Master Plan for the Development of Women in ASEAN. The conference was also attended by Ministers responsible for women’s affairs from G20 members and guest countries, high-level representatives from institutions, international organisations as well as from the official G20 partner groups and social partners.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

Young men and women are bringing new energy, creativity and dynamism to ASEAN. According to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, as ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth, AMMY Leader Brunei Darussalam and Brunei Darussalam’s ASEAN Chair 2021, not only is this timely with the challenges currently facing the world, this will also be crucial to bring about a post-pandemic future. One where they will have most to gain from, one where they are truly “Future Ready in the New Normal”. This is the underlying theme of the 11th ASEAN Youth Forum. During the closing ceremony of The 11th ASEAN Youth Forum, Yang Berhormat Retired Major General Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin also said that the forum among others to ensure the readiness of ASEAN youth to face future challenges and opportunities in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and in the context of the new normal post-pandemic and the future of work.

 

The 11th ASEAN Youth Forum was organized by The Brunei Youth Council in collaboration with the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network (AYAN) with the support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Brunei Darussalam, ASEAN Secretariat and supported by the ASEAN Youth Forum (Indonesian NGO) as the media partner, was held for 6 days digitally.  Also attending the forum were His Excellency Doctor Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of Cambodia as incoming ASEAN Chair 2022 and His Excellency Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of ASEAN. Also in attendance was a Member of the Legislative Council.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

The public can forward their complaints to relevant departments to enable the quality of services of the department or ministry to be improved. Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy explained during the question and answer session with the media.

 

Yang Berhormat added as most workers currently working from home, there are possibilities that the TPOR or the Client’s Charter services are affected. Therefore, the government is working to further enhance the use of technology, especially digitalisation to ease the public.

 

Touching on patients transfer, the Ministry of health explained that the best and safest way is to transfer 10 to 20 patients at one time.

 

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doktor Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew also explained that the monetary policy measure which was introduced last year allow affected companies or individuals to apply for bank loan restructuring.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei