Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 9 November 2017

Philippines backs down in S. China Sea after protest Military, residents
of Vietnam’s Hoi An
recover from flood
By JIM GOMEZ Duterte has courted Chi- which wanted him to de- sion after Foreign Secre-
Associated Press nese trade and assistance mand immediate Chinese tary Alan Peter Cayetano By TRAN VAN MINH
MANILA, Philippines (AP) and taken a nonconfron- compliance with the land- advised him of an agree- Associated Press
— Philippine President Ro- HOI AN, Vietnam (AP) —
drigo Duterte stopped The scenic Vietnamese
construction work on a city of Hoi An rushed to dig
newly formed sandbar in itself out of mud and debris
the disputed South China Wednesday after major
Sea after China protest- flooding just days ahead
ed, the defense chief said of a regional summit in the
Wednesday, disclosing de- nearby city of Danang.
tails of the territorial spat for The spouses of several
the first time. Asia-Pacific leaders are
The dispute over a string due to visit the UNESCO
of sandbars called Sandy World Heritage site during
Cay emerged in August the annual summit of the
and prompted China and Asia-Pacific Economic Co-
the Philippines to consider operation forum. About
negotiating some sort of ar- 1,000 soldiers were out in
rangement to prevent such ankle deep mud helping
incidents from spiraling out to remove trash and water
of control, Lorenzana said. and clearing rubbish from
The rift over the tiny the city’s river.
sandbar, where Filipinos Floodwaters have mostly
planned to erect fisher- receded despite persisting
men’s shelters, in the group heavy rains.
near Philippine-occupied Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana answers questions from media in The city, a 30-minute drive
Thitu island in the Spratlys Makati, metropolitan Manila, Philippines, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. Lorenzana says President from where the pre-summit
archipelago remains un- Rodrigo Duterte has stopped construction work on a newly formed sandbar in the disputed South meetings are being held,
resolved but both sides China Sea after a protest from Beijing. suffered its worst flood-
pledged not to occupy (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) ing in nearly 20 years over
any new territory, he said. the weekend as Typhoon
China’s claims to most of tational approach to their mark decision. ment involving China and Damrey hammered the
the South China Sea over- territorial disputes. He has “We tried to put some struc- the Philippines for a halt on area.
lap those of the Philippines refused to immediately tures in one of the sandbars new construction in the dis- It already is regaining its
and four other govern- take up with China a rul- near our island and the Chi- puted waters, Lorenzana festive air, with colorful lan-
ments. Despite that, ten- ing by a U.N.-linked tribunal nese reacted,” Lorenzana later told a news confer- terns hanging along its pic-
sions have eased since that invalidated Beijing’s told a diplomatic and se- ence. turesque streets.
Duterte took over as presi- sprawling claims in the curity forum in Manila, add- “We brought up people Residents said they suf-
dent last year and took South China Sea, spark- ing that Duterte later or- there to occupy, to put fered losses as the river’s
steps to thaw once-frosty ing criticism from national- dered, “Let’s pull out.” up structures for our fisher- level surged after dams
relations with Beijing. ists and left-wing groups, Duterte made the deci- men,” Lorenzana said. q upstream discharged wa-
ter. But those busy clean-
Silence on Pacific Rim talks ahead of APEC summit ing up were eager to have
the city ready for their high-
profile visitors.
By E. KURTENBACH The Vietnamese hosts It was unclear if the U.S. ing but projected growth “The natural disaster is over
AP Business Writer urged those involved to pushback on “free trade,” rates are still below pre-cri- and now it’s our job to
DANANG, Vietnam (AP) — work toward a compro- evidenced in the “America sis averages,” he said. clean up and to welcome
Foreign and trade ministers mise. first” policy of the adminis- Many in the region worry APEC delegates,” said tai-
of 21 Pacific Rim econo- “I hope that we will seize tration of President Donald about how efforts to boost lor Nguyen Van Xe as he
mies meeting in Danang, this last opportunity be- Trump and his decision to productivity through auto- cleaned up damaged
Vietnam, appeared to be fore our leaders’ meeting withdraw from a regional mation might affect their clothing and mannequins.
struggling for a consensus to show flexibility and will- trade pact, may have sty- own lives, he added. Souvenir shop owner Tran
on open markets and other ingness needed to bridge mied progress toward an Vietnam, the host of the Van Dung was washing
strategic issues ahead of the remaining gaps so that agreement. summit, is using the occa- out a refrigerator covered
a regional summit, as their we can come out with a Trump is to attend the sum- sion to showcase the prog- in mud.
hosts appealed for coop- meaningful package for mit, which begins Friday in ress its economy has made “We are trying to clean
eration. regional economic integra- the Vietnamese coastal re- thanks largely to opening up things to be ready to
A news conference tion,” said Vietnamese Min- sort city. to foreign investment and welcome the spouses,” he
planned for late Wednes- ister of Industry and Trade In opening the ministe- trade. said. “It’s not that easy to
day was canceled as the Tran Tuan Anh. rial talks on Wednesday, Danang, Vietnam’s third have a chance to meet
talks dragged on, and “Given the rapid changes Vietnamese Foreign Affairs largest city, is in the midst them.”
APEC officials said they and uncertainties that the Minister Pham Binh Minh of a construction boom as Hoi An’s beautiful old hous-
would continue on Thurs- global economy is now told delegates that shifting dozens of resorts and small- es and shops appeared
day. The ministers were facing, this will convey a global and regional condi- er hotels pop up along its to be mostly undamaged
due to endorse a draft of strong message that re- tions come with “intertwin- scenic coastline. and no casualties were
a statement their leaders in flects steadfastness and ing opportunities and chal- The country is a major gar- reported in the city of
the Asia-Pacific Economic determination of APEC in lenges,” as they began ment exporter and the 120,000. But in surrounding
Cooperation forum usually pursuing a free and open working out details of the largest production base for Quang Nam province, 10
issue at the end of the an- region for trade and invest- leaders’ statement. Samsung Electronics’ mo- people died and another
nual summit. ment,” Anh said. “Economic recovery is firm- bile phones.q 10 were reported missing.q