Page 6 - aruba-today-20240902

A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 2 SepteMber 2024
Chinese and Philippine vessels collide at a disputed atoll and

governments trade accusations

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN ing Philippine ships in the
Associated Press disputed waters.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China China's coast guard, navy
and the Philippines accused and accompanying ships
each other of causing a regularly clash with Philip-
collision between their two pine vessels during attempts
vessels Saturday in the latest to resupply Filipino sailors sta-
flareup of tensions over dis- tioned in parts of the South
puted waters and maritime China Sea claimed by both
features in the South China countries. As the confronta-
Sea. tions become increasingly
In a statement posted on hostile, resulting in injuries to
social media, Chinese coast Filipino sailors and damage
guard spokesperson Liu De- to their ships, the Philippine
jun was quoted as saying government has faced ques-
that a Philippine ship ma- tions about invoking the trea-
neuvered and "deliberate- ty alliance with Washington.
ly collided" with a Chinese Sabina Shoal is near Sec-
coast guard ship "in an un- ond Thomas Shoal, another
professional and dangerous flashpoint where China has
manner." In this image taken from handout video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese Coast hampered the resupply of
Philippine officials in Manila Guard ship with bow number 5205, right, collides with Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Philippine forces. Both coun-
Magbanua near the Sabina Shoal at the disputed South China Sea on Saturday Aug. 31, 2024.
said it was their coast guard Associated Press tries reached an agreement
ship, the BRP Teresa Mag- last month to prevent further
banua, that was rammed ship's prolonged presence all of its historically based including today's intentional confrontations at the shoal.
thrice by the Chinese coast at the shoal. claims in the South China ramming of the BRP Teresa Also Saturday, Japan lodged
guard without any provoca- China is rapidly expanding Sea. Magbanua while it was con- a formal protest via China's
tion, causing damage to the its military and has become Commodore Jay Tarriela of ducting lawful operations embassy against what it
Philippine vessel. increasingly assertive in pur- the Philippine coast guard within the Philippines' Exclu- called an incursion by a
It was the second confron- suing its claim to virtually said in a news briefing in Ma- sive Economic Zone." Chinese survey ship into its
tation in days near Sabina the entire South China Sea, nila that the Magbanua had "We stand with the Philip- territorial waters. The latest
Shoal, about 140 kilometers which is crucial to interna- dropped its anchor again pines in upholding interna- such incident fueled unease
(85 miles) west of the Philip- tional trade. and would not withdraw tional law," U.S. Ambassador among Japanese defense
pine province of Palawan, The tensions have led to from Sabina Shoal "despite to Manila MaryKay Carlson officials, already concerned
in the internationally recog- more frequent confronta- the harassment, bullying ac- said in a statement she post- about the growing military
nized exclusive economic tions, primarily with the Phil- tivities and escalatory action ed on X. cooperation between the
zone of the Philippines. ippines, and could drag in of the Chinese coast guard." The United States has repeat- Chinese and Russian air
The Philippine ship, the Mag- with the United States, which Video released by the Philip- edly warned that it's obligat- forces.
banua, has been anchored is bound by a treaty to de- pine coast guard appeared ed to defend the Philippines On Monday, Tokyo also pro-
in Sabina since mid-April after fend the Philippines. The to show the Magbanua be- if Filipino forces come under tested a Chinese military
Manila suspected that China longtime territorial disputes ing rammed by a Chinese an armed attack in the South aircraft briefly entering Ja-
may construct a structure to also involve other claimants coast guard ship. China Sea. pan's southwestern airspace.
seize the uninhabited atoll. including Vietnam, Taiwan, The United States con- On Tuesday, Adm. Samuel Chinese foreign ministry
China harbored the same Malaysia and Brunei. demned "the multiple dan- Paparo, the head of U.S. In- spokesperson Lin Jian said
suspicions and recently filed China has rejected a ruling gerous violations of inter- do-Pacific Command, said on Tuesday his country had
a diplomatic protest against by a U.N.-backed arbitration national law by the PRC the U.S. military is open to "no intention" to violate any
the Philippines due to the panel that negated almost (People's Republic of China), consultations about escort- country's airspace.q

Robot waiters in Kenya create a buzz. But there are
concerns about what it means for human labor

on their inbuilt trays to deliver bots were acquired for en- across the table.
to diners in a busy eatery in tertainment. Cafe owner "I can say it is something
Kenya's capital. Mohammed Abbas says he unique because here in our
Nairobi has a vibrant tech experienced robot service in country Kenya, I have never
industry with various startups Asian and European coun- seen a restaurant like this
and innovations in operation tries and decided to invest one so I think for me, it is a
and has positioned itself as in them. good idea from the owner
a tech hub in the East Afri- "It was very expensive to im- of this restaurant," he said.
can region bearing the nick- port the robots," he says, but The three robots, which are
name The Silicone Savanna. adds that the investment has named Claire, R24 and Na-
This is the Robot Cafe, be- borne fruit, because the res- dia, aren't programmed to
Robotic waiter serves customers at a Robot Cafe in Nairobi, lieved to be the first of its taurant is "often busy with cu- have a full conversation
Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. kind in Nairobi and East rious customers" who come with customers, but they
Associated Press Africa, where three robots to experience robot service. can say "Your order is ready,
By DESMOND TIRO and EV- dren giggle as young people glide among human waiters One customer, Packson Welcome" and then people
ELYNE MUSAMBI flash their smartphones to serving food to mesmerized Chege, picks up a plate of have to press an exit button
Associated Press film robots carrying plates customers. fries from the robot tray as his after picking up their food
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Chil- of freshly prepared meals These preprogrammed ro- friend films the experience from the tray.q