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WORLD NEWS Saturday 1 September 2018

Philippines informs China of grounded frigate amid sea feud

By JIM GOMEZ China transformed seven Detoyato said about the
Associated Press disputed reefs into islands, grounding, in which he said
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — including three with run- the frigate hit a shallow
The Philippines notified Chi- ways, and reportedly in- stretch of coral outcrop
na about a Philippine navy stalled missile defense sys- sideways.
frigate that ran aground tem. The United States and Two Philippine tugboats
in the South China Sea to Asian governments which were en route to extricate
avoid any misunderstand- have claims in the region, the frigate, Detoyato said,
ing because the incident including the Philippines, adding that the military de-
happened near a hotly dis- raised alarms over China's ployed an aircraft to moni-
puted region, three Philip- island building and militari- tor the stalled ship.
pine officials said Friday. zation of the strategic terri- A Chinese frigate ran
The BRP Gregorio del Pi- tory. The Philippines earlier In this photo provided by Armed Forces of the Philippines, the aground on the shoal in
Philippine Navy ship BRP Gregorio del Pilar is seen after it ran
lar ran aground during a was one of the most vocal aground during a routine patrol Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. 2012 and was pulled away
routine patrol Wednesday critics of China's assertive Associated Press by Chinese military ships.
night in the vicinity of Half moves in the disputed wa- Half Moon Shoal lies about
Moon Shoal, which is called ters. In 2016 it largely won a office in 2016 as he sought because they weren't au- 110 kilometers (68 miles)
Hasa Hasa in the Philip- complaint it lodged before infrastructure funding and thorized to discuss the issue from the southern tip of the
pines, the Philippine military an international tribunal, more trade and investment publicly. western Philippine island of
said, adding that its crew which invalidated Beijing's from Beijing. Defense Secretary Delfin Palawan and south of Sec-
was unhurt. sweeping territorial claims The three Philippine officials Lorenzana said China of- ond Thomas Shoal, where
The barren shoal is on the in the South China Sea. said China was informed fered to help deal with the a Philippine navy trans-
eastern edge of the dis- Philippine President Rodri- of the accident through its problem but that the Philip- port ship was intentionally
puted Spratly archipelago, go Duterte, however, took military attache at its em- pines can handle it. grounded in 1999 and has
where tensions have run steps to revive once-frosty bassy in Manila. They spoke "It was not intentional," mili- since served as a Philippine
high in recent years after ties with China after he took on condition of anonymity tary spokesman Col. Noel military outpost.q

Petition demands Japanese lawmaker apologize for LGBT remark

By MARI YAMAGUCHI staged angry protests out- mity is strong.
Associated Press side the party headquar- Japan does not legally rec-
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese ters. While critics called ognize same-sex marriag-
activists including seven her remark tantamount to es. As LGBT rights aware-
parents of LGBT children hate speech, senior party ness has gradually grown in
submitted a petition with officials seemed to excuse recent years, some munici-
more than 25,000 signatures it by saying it represented palities have begun issuing
to Prime Minister Shinzo one of a variety of views. partnership certificates to
Abe's party on Friday, de- The activists submitted ease problems in renting
manding that a lawmaker 26,650 signatures to the apartments and other ar-
apologize for saying that party on Friday demanding eas, but they are not legal-
sexual minorities are unpro- that it have Sugita apolo- ly binding.
ductive and don't deserve gize. The group also demanded
public support. There is a superficial ac- that the ruling party make
A lawmaker belonging to In the July 27, 2018 photo, people protest in front of ruling Liberal ceptance of homosexual- clear that it does not toler-
Abe's ruling party, Mio Su- Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo against lawmaker Mio ity in Japan, generally in ate views similar to Sugita's.
gita, said in a right-wing Sugita. the entertainment industry. Ryoko Kobayashi, the
magazine in July that the Associated Press However, many homosexu- mother of a transgender
government shouldn't use als hide their sexuality, even son, said Sugita's remark
tax money for LGBT rights comment triggered out- Abe's Liberal Democratic from their families, because deeply hurt the feelings of
because same-sex couples rage from sexual minorities Party was slow to respond, of a fear of prejudice at LGBT children who are al-
don't produce children and as well as others, including criticizing her only after tens school or work in a country ready struggling with their
have "no productivity." The the elderly and disabled. of thousands of people where pressure for confor- sexual identities. q