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A6 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 30 July 2022
China accuses U.S. of ‘navigation bullying’ in South China Sea

By JIM GOMEZ globe away” aimed to “to
Associated Press flex muscles, make military
MANILA, Philippines (AP) provocations and create
— China blasted a top U.S. maritime and air tensions,”
Navy official Friday after he conducting “navigation
criticized Beijing’s increas- bullying” in the name of
ingly aggressive actions in freedom of navigation.
the South China Sea, say- “In an attempt to preserve
ing it’s America’s military its hegemony, the U.S.
deployments in the disput- keeps intensifying power
ed waters which it called projection in this region,
“navigation bullying” that and deliberately seeks to
could spark confrontations. widen differences and pro-
The Chinese Embassy in voke tensions,” it said.
Manila said it strongly de- China and other rival claim-
plored U.S. Secretary of ants “have exercised re-
the Navy Carlos Del To- straint, kept their differenc-
ro’s remarks, which were es and disputes in a proper
“unfounded accusations place, and got them on
against and maliciously the track of consultation
smeared China” and inflat- United States Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro talks during an interview at the financial district of and management,” the
ed the “China threat.” Makati, Philippines, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. embassy said.
In an interview Tuesday Associated Press However, rival claimant
with The Associated Press states, including the Philip-
while on a visit to Manila, sia in the South China Sea, claims and continues to support the Filipino nation pines and Vietnam, have
Del Toro underscored how which China claims virtually defy the landmark decision and the Filipino people in filed numerous diplomatic
Beijing has encroached in its entirety on historical on a case brought up by every possible way,” Del protests over the years
in sovereign waters of its grounds. the Philippine government. Toro said. amid China’s increasingly
Asian neighbors in violation Brunei and Taiwan also Del Toro renewed assur- China’s move to transform assertive actions, including
of international law. have claims in the contest- ances by President Joe seven disputed reefs into its transformation of seven
U.S. military focus in the ed waters. Biden that the U.S. would missile-protected island disputed reefs into what
Asia-Pacific region, partic- Washington lays no claims honor its obligations under bases in the Spratlys, the are now missile-protected
ularly in the disputed South to the strategic waters but a 1951 Mutual Defense most hotly contested sec- island bases.
China Sea, would never has said the peaceful reso- Treaty in case Philippine tion of the South China Sea, Diplomatic talks have
slacken and, in fact, has lution of the disputes along forces, ships and aircraft “is very concerning” and eased occasional confron-
intensified despite the war with freedom of navigation come under attack in the prompted the U.S. and oth- tation but not ended them.
in Ukraine, he said in an and overflight in the water- contested waters. er Western nations to press “The South China Sea is
assurance to Asian allies, way where a bulk of world “As President Biden has on with freedom of navi- not a ‘hunting ground’ for
including the Philippines. trade transits are in the U.S. said, if one country violates gation patrols around the countries outside the re-
China has had increasingly national interest. one inch of Filipino sover- Chinese-claimed territories. gion, still less should it be a
tense territorial spats in re- Beijing rejected a 2016 eignty, whether it be at sea But the Chinese Embassy ‘wrestling ground’ for big
cent years with the Philip- international arbitration or on shore or an offshore said the U.S. military de- powers,” the Chinese state-
pines, Vietnam and Malay- ruling that invalidated its island, we will be there to ployments “from half a ment said. q

Venezuela’s Guaidó wins UK court ruling in battle over gold

LONDON (AP) — Venezue- battle with President Nico- in London ruled that British over to Maduro. the recognition of foreign
lan opposition leader Juan lás Maduro over a cache courts do not need to rec- Judge Sara Cockerill said judgments,” lawyer Sarosh
Guaidó won a U.K. court of gold bullion held in the ognize judgments by the there was “no basis” for Zaiwalla, who represents
ruling Friday that takes him Bank of England. Supreme Tribunal of Justice the recognition of the the Maduro board, said.
a step closer to victory in his A judge at the High Court of Venezuela, Venezuela’s judgments of the Venezu- Venezuela’s Central Bank
top constitutional court, elan court that declared itself later issued a state-
that said the gold should Guaidó’s bank board ap- ment complaining that the
go to Maduro. pointments unconstitu- British court had subordi-
The ruling is part of a long- tional. She said the Guaidó nated itself to British foreign
running wrangle over as- board “therefore suc- policy and had violated in-
sets of Venezuela’s central ceeds.” In a statement, ternational law.
bank. Two rival boards of Guaidó said the ruling was While serving as leader
Banco Central de Venezu- “another step in the pro- of Venezuela’s National
ela – one appointed by cess of protecting Venezu- Assembly, Guaidó chal-
Maduro and another by ela’s international gold re- lenged Maduro’s claim to
Guaidó – are battling to serves and preserving them the presidency, arguing
secure the release of more for the Venezuelan people that his 2018 election was
than 800 million pounds ($1 and their future.” rigged and invalid. Guaidó
billion) of gold in the vaults A spokesperson for the says he’s the country’s in-
of the Bank of England. Maduro-appointed board terim president under pro-
The British government rec- said it was considering an visions of the constitution
Juan Guaido, the leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly
who says he is also the country’s interim president, gives a ognizes Guaidó as Ven- appeal. that allow the head of the
press conference in Caracas, Venezuela on Dec. 7, 2020, left, ezuela’s president, and “This is an unfortunate rul- national legislature to take
and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks in Caracas, the Bank of England has ing that ultimately rests on power until free elections
Venezuela on Jan. 22, 2021. refused to hand the gold a narrow issue of law about can be held.q
Associated Press