Page 4 - aruba-today-20221130

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 30 november 2022
US dismisses Chinese objections to South China Sea mission

(AP) — The U.S. Navy on to misrepresent lawful U.S.
Tuesday dismissed Beijing's maritime operations and
protests over a "freedom of assert its excessive and ille-
navigation operation" con- gitimate maritime claims" in
ducted near a Chinese- the South China Sea. China
held island in the South Chi- claims the area virtually in
na Sea, in the latest incident its entirety.
drawing new attention to The long-seething South
one of the world's potential China Sea territorial con-
military flashpoints. flicts involving China, the
The Navy said its guided Philippines, Vietnam, Ma-
missile cruiser USS Chan- laysia, Taiwan and Brunei
cellorsville on Tuesday "as- have long been regarded
serted navigational rights as a delicate fault line in
and freedoms in the South the U.S.-China rivalry in the
China Sea near the Spratly region. While the U.S. lays
Islands, consistent with in- no claims to the strategic
ternational law." waterway, where an esti-
China called the action il- mated $5 trillion in global
legal and said it mobilized trade transits each year, it
naval and air assets to issue has said that freedom of
warnings and drive off the navigation and overflight is
ship, a characterization the and called it "further iron- spokesperson for the South- is responsible for U.S. naval in America's national inter-
Navy and Pentagon disput- clad evidence of its pur- ern Theater Command, Air operations in the region, est. The sea is also home
ed. China said the U.S. Na- suit of navigational hege- Force Col. Tian Junli, was issued a rebuttal, call- to rich fishing stocks and a
vy's sail "seriously violated" mony and militarization of quoted as saying. ing it "the latest in a long potential wealth of energy
its sovereignty and security, the South China Sea," the The Navy's 7th Fleet, which string of (Chinese) actions and mineral resources.q

Mayor says NYC will treat mentally ill, even if they refuse

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN “We are heartened to hear
Associated Press that Mayor Adams ac-
NEW YORK (AP) — Bidding knowledges that commu-
to address a mental health nity-based treatment and
crisis on New York City least-restrictive services
streets and subways, May- must guide the path to re-
or Eric Adams announced habilitation and recovery,”
Tuesday that authorities the groups said.
would more aggressively The mayor said he has be-
intervene to get people gun deploying teams of cli-
into treatment, describing nicians and police officers
“a moral obligation” to act, to patrol the city’s busiest
even if it means involuntari- subway stations.
ly hospitalizing some. In addition, the city is rolling
“These New Yorkers and out training to police offi-
hundreds of others like cers and other first respond-
them are in urgent need of ers to help them provide
treatment, yet often refuse “compassionate care” in
it when offered,” Adams situations that could cause
said at a news conference, the involuntary removal
noting that the pervasive of a person showing signs
problem of mental illness of mental illness in public
has long been out in the Homeless Outreach personnel reach out to a person sleeping on a bench in the Manhattan places.
subway system, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, in New York.
open. Associated Press “It is not acceptable for us
“No more walking by or to see someone who clearly
looking away,” the mayor realizing they need inter- person to be behaving in A coalition of community needs help and walk past,”
said. vention and support. With- an “outrageously danger- groups, including the Le- Adams said in announcing
The mayor’s directive marks out that intervention, they ous” or suicidal way before gal Aid Society and several the program. “We can no
the latest attempt to ease remain lost and isolated a police officer or medical community-based defend- longer deny the reality that
a crisis decades in the mak- from society, tormented by worker could take action. er services, said the mayor untreated psychosis can
ing. It would give outreach delusions and disordered As part of its initiative, the was correct in noting “de- be a cruel and all-consum-
workers, city hospitals and thinking. They cycle in and city is developing a phone cades of dysfunction” in ing condition that often re-
first responders, including out of hospitals and jails.” line that would allow police mental health care. They quires involuntary interven-
police, the discretion to in- State law generally limits officers to consult with clini- argued state lawmakers tion, supervised medical
voluntarily hospitalize any- the ability of authorities to cians. “must no longer ‘punt’” treatment, and long-term
one they deem a danger force someone into treat- The mayor’s announce- to address the crisis and care. We will change the
to themselves or unable to ment unless they are a ment was met with caution approve legislation that culture from the top down
care for themselves. danger to themselves, but by civil rights groups and would offer treatment, not and take every action
“The very nature of their Adams said it was a “myth” advocates for the home- jail, for people with mental to get care to those who
illnesses keeps them from that the law required a less. health issues. need it.”q