Category: Business Mirror

For motorcycle enthusiasts balancing the thrill of aggressive backroad carving with the reality of daily urban traffic, clutch control has always been a double-edged sword. Pulling the lever hundreds of times in stop-and-go congestion quickly turns passion into left-hand fatigue.

Enter Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI), which recently unveiled its updated lineup of middleweight Big Bikes featuring one of the most significant transmission innovations in recent motorcycling history: Honda E-Clutch technology.

What is the Honda E-Clutch Technology?

The Honda E-Clutch bridges the gap between a traditional manual gearbox, a full-fledged quickshifter, and Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

Equipped with an electronic actuator unit featuring dual internal motors, the system automatically controls clutch engagement and disengagement based on parameters like vehicle speed, engine RPM, gear position, throttle angle, and gear pedal pressure.

Key Benefits of the E-Clutch System:

Stall-Free Operation: Riders can start, gear up, shift down, and bring the bike to a complete stop without ever pulling the clutch lever.

Seamless Quickshifting: Under hard acceleration, it functions as an ultra-smooth quickshifter for upshifts and downshifts.

Instant Manual Override: The traditional clutch lever remains on the left handlebar. If you want to manually feather the clutch, launch hard, or maintain total mechanical control during spirited rides, simply pull the lever-the system instantly yields to manual input.

The Big Bike E-Clutch Lineup

Honda has rolled out the E-Clutch option across several of its flagship middleweight and adventure Big Bike models:

1. Honda CB650R and CBR650R E-Clutch

Powered by Honda’s smooth, high-revving 649cc DOHC 16-valve inline-four engine producing 93.4 hp, both the naked streetfighter CB650R and full-faired CBR650R gain massive daily usability with the E-Clutch. Paired with 41mm Showa® SFF-BP inverted forks, dual 310mm front disc brakes with radial-mount calipers, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), and a 5-inch TFT display with Honda RoadSync connectivity, these 650cc machines offer high performance with zero traffic stress.

2. Honda NX500 E-Clutch

For adventure tourers, the versatile NX500 paired with the E-Clutch system offers effortless gear transitions whether navigating city roads or tackling light off-road trails. Its punchy 471cc parallel-twin engine, combined with seamless shift management, keeps momentum smooth across long distances.

3. Honda CBR500R and CB500 Hornet E-Clutch

Bringing E-Clutch technology down to the highly accessible 500cc class, the CBR500R and CB500 Hornet make middleweight entry easier than ever. Offering Fireblade-inspired aerodynamic styling, a 471cc DOHC engine (47 hp / 43 Nm torque), and lightweight handling, these models prove that advanced riding tech isn’t strictly reserved for liter-class superbikes.

Connected Ecosystem: MyHonda+ App

Alongside the launch of its E-Clutch lineup, Honda unveiled its updated digital ecosystem anchored by the MyHonda+ Philippines app. Riders can manage their ‘digital garage,’ schedule dealer service appointments, check model specs, and track community events-ensuring that modern motorcycle innovation is backed by digital convenience.

IN a continued effort to make games a platform for fun and safety online, leading gaming company Riot Games has introduced new parental controls in the US for its titles to combat toxicity.

Riot Games has been on the front lines in fighting toxicity in games, especially with the gaming world known for its unforgiving trash-talking culture that led to several altercations, both online and offline, even more so in online games such as League of Legends, Valorant, and TFT.

In fact, back in 2022, Riot forged a partnership with another gaming company, Ubisoft, to launch the ‘Zero Harms in Comms’ project, having a database partnership training artificial intelligence (AI) to gather data detecting toxic behavior.

Today, their latest initiative is parental control, allowing the parents of players aged 18 below to have control over what the underage player plays, and who they engage with within the Riot Games’ circle of titles.

Enabling parental control settings allows them to turn text and voice

chat off; limit text and voice chat to friends only; prevent sending or accepting friend requests; view the friends connected to their child’s account; restrict access to specific Riot games; and disable account access entirely.

To enable parental control, the parents must enter Parent Portal by logging in using their child’s account and providing an email address designated under the account management tab. They will then receive an email that will enable them to access Parent Portal.

In their FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), Riot Games reassured parents that their child would be unable to remove or bypass the parental control once enabled. They may only do so once they turn 18.

Currently, this feature is available only on League of Legends, Valorant, and TFT on PC, with TFT on mobile planned to have the same feature by early 2027.

Riot Games plans to bring this feature to more countries.

However, they acknowledge that ‘different countries have different restrictions, guidelines, and requirements of parental control settings.’

Where volcanoes, white sandy shores, hot springs, wellness, and solar power shape the island.

I remember my first time in Camiguin in 2010. It was a joint birthday trip with Kristina when our friend Lot invited us to celebrate in her hometown of Cagayan de Oro. From there, we ferried to Camiguin and spent the day circling the island aboard a rented jeepney.

Sixteen years later, I returned a little older, wiser, a few pounds heavier, but with the same wide-eyed curiosity. This visit comes with an advocacy. Traveling with the Mindanao Goes Solar movement, I became more aware of how global events can ripple through islands that depend on tourism. Yet Camiguin remains a place for reflection, where white-sand beaches, scenic roads, and the presence of Mount Hibok-Hibok remind me why I keep coming back.

Going Around the Island

The best way to experience Camiguin is on two wheels. I rented a scooter for just 400 pesos a day and spent my first morning café hopping, eventually settling in at the roadside Saga Café for a couple of hours of remote work. That afternoon, I rode through mountain roads to Utopia Café, located high above the coast with sweeping views of the sea.

The next day, I traced another loop around the island’s slopes, passing picturesque roads, cooling off at the refreshing Sa-ay Cold Spring, and stopping at more mountainside cafés. Before heading back, I followed a trail into a forest of towering pine trees, then carefully descended the steep mountain road, putting plenty of faith in my scooter’s brakes.

Another morning, we rented a boat for 500 pesos (good for five to six people) near Paras Beach Resort to catch the sunrise at White Island Sandbar, perhaps Camiguin’s most photographed place. I also revisited Katibawasan Falls and the ruins of the Old Spanish Church of Bonbon.

Eerie Wonders and Marine Sanctuaries

No trip to Camiguin is complete without tracing its volcanic past, preserved in the most peculiar marine sites. The Sunken Cemetery is a haunting reminder of the island’s geology, submerged during the 1871 eruption of Mount Vulcan Daan. What once was a burial ground is now marked by a giant white cross erected in 1982, standing above a thriving underwater ecosystem.

Nearby, Mantigue Island, a four-hectare marine sanctuary just offshore, reflects Camiguin’s commitment to conservation. Managed by local families serving as guides, it protects both forest and reef from overdevelopment. Snorkeling here reveals clear waters, vibrant coral gardens, and occasional sightings of endangered hawksbill sea turtles.

Staying in an Eco-Friendly Accommodation

My home for several days on the island is Haruhay Eco-Beach Tavern. ‘Haruhay,’ a Cebuano word for peace and ease, perfectly captures the atmosphere here-relaxed.

Unlike many places that use ‘eco’ as a marketing label, Haruhay practices low-impact living. Instead of plastic coffee sachets, fresh coffee beans are provided in the room. Toiletries are stored in reusable glass bottles, sourced from eco-stores. There is no air-conditioning; only low-energy fans and the natural ocean breeze, making sleep feel natural in a beachfront setting. Sunlight fills the lofts by day, while a garden of herbs and vegetables flows toward the shore.

Meals are entirely plant-based, prepared from scratch just steps away at Daos Plant-Based Kitchen, whose vegan menu quickly became a highlight of my stay.

I’ve always preferred small-scale accommodation, and Haruhay, with just three loft villas, is the perfect choice. It is also a labor of love of its owner, Potpot Pinili, a fellow travel writer who finally settled on the island, building an eco-community and one of Camiguin’s most unique stays.

The Island’s Capitol Taps Into the Sun

While experiencing island living at Haruhay, we discovered positive shifts happening across the province. Our visit was in connection with the Mindanao Goes Solar initiative, an energy movement actively promoting rooftop solar power across Mindanao to combat erratic grid supplies and skyrocketing fuel costs.

For many residents, solar is no longer optional but practical. Graham, a local IT professional working from home, invested 350,000 pesos in a 6-kW solar PV system to offset frequent brownouts and high electricity rates. His monthly bill dropped from 30,000 to 20,000. For him, solar is not an expense but a long-term savings tool that stabilizes daily living and work.

This transition is also visible at the provincial level. The Camiguin Provincial Capitol has installed solar systems and battery storage across key facilities, addressing electricity bills that once reached nearly 900,000 pesos a month. Governor Romualdo described the shift as a necessity. The solar rollout has significantly reduced expenses, with plans to expand to hospitals and remote schools, easing dependence on Camiguin Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CAMELCO) and diesel-based generators.

As sustainability awareness grows, Camiguin’s direction is becoming clearer: align tourism and governance with renewable energy. The next step, advocates say, is wider adoption among SMEs, supported by net metering. According to Philline Donggay of Mindanao Goes Solar, net metering allows households and businesses to sell excess solar power back to the grid, reducing costs and strengthening resilience while accelerating the clean energy transition.

As my experience has shown, Camiguin offers both first-time and returning visitors remarkable experiences at every turn; at its hot and cold springs, along its beaches, and even across its seven volcanoes. At the same time, the island is beginning to move in a more intentional direction, embracing eco-friendly practices and expanding its use of solar energy at both household and government levels. In this balance, Camiguin remains a place worth coming back to, again and again.

NEW ZEALAND has welcomed the signing of the first memorandum of cooperation (MOC) in education with the Philippines, marking a significant milestone in the relationship between both countries and creating a framework for collaboration across all levels of education.

The MOC was announced during the official visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt. Hon. Winston Peters of New Zealand, coinciding with the two countries’ 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The memorandum formalizes and reaffirms the commitment of the New Zealand Ministry of Education, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to work in partnership with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as well as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This includes partnership in the full education spectrum: from early childhood to tertiary, technical and vocational education, and training.

ENZ Group General Manager for International and Sector Engagement Sahinde Pala said the MOC reflects the strength of an education partnership that has been steadily growing between the two countries.

‘This [MOC] is an important step forward in our education partnership,’ Pala said. ‘It builds on years of collaboration between our governments, education agencies and institutions, [while providing] a framework to deepen that cooperation for years to come.’

Improved understanding, recognition

THE embassy said the arrangement will promote: (1) greater student, educator and academic mobility; (2) stronger institutional and research partnerships; and (3) knowledge sharing in areas such as education policy, qualifications recognition, workforce development, lifelong learning and capacity building.

A key example is the partnership between the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and CHED, including qualifications referencing work that has improved understanding and recognition of bachelor’s degrees between the countries, as well as supported learner and labor mobility.

The relationship is also supported by regular ministerial engagement and education policy dialogue. In 2025, delegations from CHED and TESDA met with ministers, senior officials and government agencies.

The education relationship between the countries is built on genuine two-way exchange. While increasing numbers of Filipino students are choosing the Oceanic country for their studies, the two benefit from the flow of knowledge, skills, research and professional connections that education partnerships create. Education has become one of the strongest foundations of the broader New Zealand-Philippines relationship.

Growing education linkages

SINCE 2014, 335 Filipinos have received Manaaki Scholarships across tertiary study, short-term training and English language programs that help scholars build skills, gain global experience and create lasting links binding New Zealand and the Philippines.

Both countries also work together to strengthen education systems through regional and multilateral fora, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC forum and Asean-related education initiatives, where both countries advance shared priorities in quality education, skills development and workforce readiness.

The Philippines is one of New Zealand’s most important education partners in Southeast Asia. Filipino student enrolments have grown by 36 percent since 2023, as it reached 2,635 students in 2025, making the Philippines New Zealand’s ninth-largest international student market.

Building on this momentum, a delegation of 16 New Zealand education providers will return for the ‘Study with New Zealand Study Expos’ in Cebu on September 19, 2026 and Iloilo on September 22, 2026. They are expected to give Filipino students and families the opportunity to meet education providers directly and explore the range of study opportunities available in the Oceanic country.

With a strong dealer confidence in Suzuki Philippines’ long-term growth, trusted dealer groups are actively investing in modernized facilities to enhance accessibility and elevate the customer ownership experience nationwide. This significantly expands Suzuki’s nationwide footprint through a series of dealership groundbreakings, relocations, relaunches, and facility upgrades across Northern Luzon, Visayas, and Metro Manila from July to September 2026.

Key network expansion highlights

Northern Luzon

(Elite North Autocars, Inc.)

Suzuki Auto Iguig (Cagayan): Groundbreaking of a brand-new 3S (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts) facility along the National Highway in Sta. Teresa, Iguig.

Suzuki Auto Tuguegarao: Relocation of its 3S Satellite (3SS) facility to a larger, more prominent site along Cagayan Valley Road.

Visayas Region

(Sakura Autoworld, Inc. and Cebu Autocentrale Corp.)

Suzuki Auto Tacloban: Official relaunch at a new standalone 3S facility in Abucay, featuring expanded service workshops.

Suzuki Auto Iloilo: Complete facility renovation and expansion, equipped with a dedicated e VITARA charging station in preparation for Suzuki’s electrified vehicle lineup.

Suzuki Auto SM Consolacion (Cebu): Relaunch and showroom modernization.

Metro Manila

(Wheels, Inc.)

n Suzuki Auto Manila Bay: Relocation to a new, accessible facility in Pasay City featuring enhanced customer safety measures and expanded parking space.

Partnering for Future Mobility

Norihide Takei, Director and General Manager for SPH’s Automobile Division, emphasized the importance of these collaborative investments:

‘The continued investments of our dealer partners reflect the strong trust and confidence they have placed in Suzuki Philippines and in the future of our brand. Each new dealership, relocation, renovation, and facility enhancement represents a shared commitment to providing a better ownership experience and bringing Suzuki closer to more Filipino communities.’

Through these nationwide developments, Suzuki Philippines and its dealer network reinforce their shared commitment to expanding accessibility, enhancing service standards, and driving sustainable mobility forward for drivers across the country.

CAMPI-TMA January-June 2026 sales data ranks OMODA and JAECOO among the country’s top three Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) brands as the company expands to 40 dealerships nationwide and showcases AIMOGA AI innovation.

Makati City, Philippines – July 22, 2026 – OMODA and JAECOO Philippines continues its rapid growth in the country’s automotive industry after securing the No. 3 position in the Philippine Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) market, according to the latest January-June 2026 sales report released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).

The milestone coincides with the official Philippine launch of the all-new JAECOO J5 EV, further reinforcing the brand’s commitment to accelerating the country’s transition toward intelligent, sustainable, and technology-driven mobility.

According to the latest CAMPI-TMA report, OMODA and JAECOO recorded 1,484 BEV units sold during the first half of 2026, ranking behind only VinFast (3,342 units) and Tesla (2,374 units). The achievement reflects the growing confidence of Filipino customers in the brand’s expanding portfolio of intelligent new energy vehicles and reinforces OMODA and JAECOO’s position as one of the country’s fastest-growing electric vehicle brands.

In July, the global football world crowned its new champion on the pitch. At OMODA and JAECOO, that same spirit resonates: the relentless pursuit of excellence, the discipline to go the distance, and the nerve to perform when it matters most. The JAECOO J5 EV proves that same champion spirit on the road. Ranked No.1 for the pure EV sales in Thailand and Indonesia’s for the first half of 2026, J5 EV officially made its Philippine debut. Combining intelligent technology, premium comfort, and practical electric mobility, the J5 EV expands OMODA and JAECOO’s growing electrified vehicle lineup designed for Filipino motorists.

Further reinforcing its confidence in the JAECOO J5 EV’s battery durability and long-term reliability, OMODA and JAECOO Philippines announced an industry-leading Battery State of Health (SOH) Warranty. Should the battery’s State of Health fall below 70% within the applicable warranty period, the company will replace the battery free of charge, subject to the terms and conditions of the warranty. This customer-first commitment is believed to be among the first of its kind in the Philippine automotive market, providing owners with greater peace of mind and confidence in their transition to electric mobility.

AIMOGA, OMODA and JAECOO’s AI humanoid robot demonstrated the brand’s vision of AI-driven mobility and customer engagement, showing how next-gen AI enhances customer experience and underscores its commitment to innovation beyond electrification.

Supporting its strong market momentum, OMODA and JAECOO Philippines has expanded its nationwide dealership network to 26 locations, with more openings planned to enhance customer access to intelligent vehicles, after-sales services, and customer support across the country. The achievement reflects the confidence dealer partners have placed in OMODA and JAECOO and positions the company to serve a growing customer base more effectively.

The combination of its top-three BEV market ranking, rapid dealership expansion, and the successful launch of the all-new JAECOO J5 EV underscores OMODA and JAECOO Philippines’ commitment to shaping the future of intelligent and sustainable mobility. As the company continues to introduce innovative products and advanced technologies to the Philippine market, it remains focused on making electrified mobility more accessible and delivering greater value to Filipino consumers.

What? HONOR Philippines is giving away 101 HONOR gadgets to its growing community with its biggest giveaway yet! Known for continuously surprising consumers with blockbuster promotions – from giving away luxury vehicles to exclusive rewards – HONOR is once again raising the bar by putting 101 HONOR devices up for grabs in a nationwide giveaway, including the latest HONOR 600 Series.

This celebrates the overwhelming support of HONOR fans while making the brand’s innovative technology more accessible to everyone. Joining is as easy as it gets. Participants simply need to comment on the official giveaway post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18wfpQRyTc/ – no follow required!

‘Our fans have always been at the heart of everything we do. This giveaway is our way of thanking them for their continued trust and support while giving more Filipinos the opportunity to experience HONOR technology,’ said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) said investment approvals continued to accelerate in January to July, driven largely by manufacturing projects and export-oriented investments despite lingering global trade and geopolitical uncertainties.

The total approved investments reached P151.901 billion during the period, a 66.99-percent increase from P90.961 billion in 2025.

The Peza Board approved 174 new and expansion projects, up 16 percent from 150 projects approved in the same period last year.

‘The first seven months of 2026 demonstrate that investor confidence in the Philippines remains strong. More importantly, we are seeing investments that are increasingly export-oriented, technology-driven, and aligned with the country’s long-term industrial development goals,’ Peza Director General Tereso Panga said.

The approved projects are projected to generate $5.905 billion in exports, almost three times the $2.003 billion recorded in the same period last year, or a 194.82-percent increase. They are also expected to create 26,047 direct jobs.

Manufacturing remained the largest investment segment, accounting for 76 approved projects. It was followed by 28 information technology-business process management (IT-BPM), 26 ecozone development, 15 facilities, 13 logistics, 10 domestic market, four tourism and two utilities projects.

By location, 141 projects will be established in Luzon, 22 in the Visayas and 11 in Mindanao.

The Netherlands emerged as the biggest investment source during the period, followed by South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Germany.

Peza said its overall performance was supported by 25 big-ticket projects worth a combined P131.661 billion, accounting for nearly 87 percent of total approved investments from January to July.

For July alone, the Peza Board approved 17 new and expansion projects worth P11.212 billion, lower than the P18.599 billion approved in the same month last year.

Despite the lower investment value, the agency said that the July-approved projects are expected to generate $2.538 billion in exports, up 241.12 percent from $744 million a year earlier, while projected direct employment edged up to 2,907 jobs from 2,891.

The July approvals consisted of six export manufacturing projects, four IT-BPM enterprises, three domestic market enterprises, two ecozone development projects, and two facilities projects.

Four big-ticket projects worth P8.818 billion accounted for nearly 79 percent of the month’s approved investments.

‘While monthly investment values naturally vary depending on the mix of projects approved by the Board, what matters is that the investments entering our ecozones continue to strengthen the country’s export base, create quality employment, and position the Philippines deeper within global value chains,’ Panga said.

PEZA expects the latter half of 2026 to see more investment leads turning into actual projects, boosting production capacity, exports and jobs.

Patrice Salas’ first brush with paintings started early. As a child, she remembers watching her mother, Chichi, choose which artworks to hang at the family-owned Gallery Genesis.

Forty-five years later, Patrice is now running the show. In this interview, she talks about the challenges and rewards of discovering and supporting Filipino visual artists.

One of my earliest memories is visiting our gallery when it was still at SM Megamall and watching my mom choose from the paintings that artists would bring in. Even as a child, I witnessed her keen eye for talent and saw firsthand how she discovered, nurtured, and supported artists. Looking back, those moments shaped the way I see art today.

How much of an influence were your parents on your appreciation of visual arts?

My parents had an enormous influence on me. Art was never separate from our daily lives. It was part of our everyday conversations. My dad Ernie, my mom Chichi, and my sister Rhoda often talked about art, artists, and the industry, and we regularly visited museums and galleries together. We also attended exhibits and art auctions. We would spend time looking at artworks and discussing what moved or inspired us. Growing up in that environment made my appreciation for art feel completely natural.

Did you imagine you would one day take over running Gallery Genesis?

Not at all. It wasn’t something I had planned for myself. But now that I’m in this role, everything seems to have fallen into place. Looking back, I realize that all those childhood experiences quietly prepared me for this responsibility, even if I didn’t recognize it at the time.

This year Gallery Genesis is celebrating its 45th anniversary. What has been your most exciting experience while running it?

One of the most rewarding aspects has been discovering exceptionally talented artists from different parts of the Philippines. It still amazes me how far many of them travel just for the opportunity to share their work with us. Witnessing their passion, dedication, and creativity is incredibly inspiring and reminds me why we do what we do.

What do you also remember about its most challenging moments?

Like any business, we’ve experienced our share of challenges. One of the hardest parts is having to turn down talented artists simply because we can’t accommodate everyone in our annual exhibition calendar. There are many deserving artists, and making those decisions is never easy.

Gallery Genesis is widely known for launching the ‘Kulay sa Tubig’ watercolor competition, which is now on its 38th year. What do you like about watercolor as a medium?

What I love most about watercolor is its expressiveness. It has a unique ability to capture emotion, light, and movement with remarkable fluidity. I also appreciate its unpredictability and the way you can guide it, but you can never completely control it. That balance between intention and spontaneity is what makes watercolor such a beautiful and exciting medium.

To coincide with its 45th anniversary, the gallery is presenting a one-man show of ‘Kulay sa Tubig’ hall of famer Rolan Guina. What makes his hyperrealist works different from the rest?

One of the things I admire most about Rolan is his incredible versatility. He continually explores different subjects and themes, yet every piece is executed with extraordinary precision and technical mastery. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that such a diverse body of work comes from the same artist, and I think that’s what truly sets him apart. You’ll definitely see that in this month’s exhibit.

What’s your favorite among his paintings and why?

I love his ‘Wire Series,’ but I was especially drawn to ‘Through Her Eyes.’ It’s a work that feels complex and understated at the same time. The composition is thoughtful, the details are extraordinary, and the longer you look at it, the more it reveals. It’s one of those paintings that stays with you.

You must have tried painting, too. How do you like it?

I have, and I genuinely enjoy it. Painting is very calming and meditative for me. It gives me the chance to slow down, be present, and express myself in a different way. It has also deepened my appreciation for the skill, patience, and discipline that artists bring to their work, which I witness whenever we have exhibits.

What’s your wish for Gallery Genesis?

My wish is for Gallery Genesis to celebrate another 45 years and many more beyond that, the way my mom has always envisioned it. More importantly, I hope we continue discovering and supporting Filipino artists, inspiring future generations of collectors and art enthusiasts, and remaining a place where creativity, excellence, and artistic expression can flourish.

Japan and the Philippines used ASEAN’s key regional security forums to raise concerns over China’s actions in the East and South China Seas, prompting Beijing to issue a sharp public rebuttal defending its positions on maritime disputes and Taiwan.

The exchange unfolded during Thursday’s 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, where ASEAN and its major dialogue partners-including the United States, China, Japan, Russia and India-discussed regional security issues.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi warned against ‘unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion’ in both the East and South China Seas, language Tokyo has increasingly used in response to Chinese activities near the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands and in the disputed South China Sea.

Motegi also urged that the proposed South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) be consistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and safeguard the legitimate rights of all states using the waterway.

While the Department of Foreign Affairs did not release the full text of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s remarks during the meetings, China later said the Philippines and Japan had advanced what it described as ‘false rhetoric’ on the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the so-called ‘China threat.’

China was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying after Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who attended Wednesday’s ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, did not participate in Thursday’s ARF and EAS sessions.

In a statement issued Friday, the Chinese delegation said it delivered a ‘forceful refutation on the spot.’

Beijing also criticized Japan by citing its civilian plutonium stockpile, claiming it possessed enough separated plutonium to produce thousands of nuclear warheads, while reiterating its longstanding position that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.

On the South China Sea, China maintained that freedom of navigation has never been impeded and blamed countries outside the region for escalating tensions by deploying warships and military aircraft to the area.

The diplomatic exchange came days after fresh confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Two Filipino servicemen were reportedly injured during an encounter near Ayungin Shoal, while the China Coast Guard also used water cannon against a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Panatag Shoal.

Both features lie within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone under the 2016 arbitral ruling, which China continues to reject.

Code of Conduct negotiations

Despite the sharp exchanges, ASEAN foreign ministers expressed optimism that negotiations on the South China Sea Code of Conduct could be concluded by the end of the year.

Speaking after the ARF and EAS meetings, Lazaro said negotiations have gained momentum, with monthly meetings being held since January to resolve outstanding issues, including the code’s geographic scope, terms of reference and whether it should be legally binding.

She said there is growing political will among negotiating parties-including China-to complete the agreement within the target timetable.

Lazaro stressed, however, that any final agreement must remain consistent with UNCLOS and must not diminish the rights of third parties.

‘The code must strictly align with the 1982 UNCLOS and guarantee no diminution of the rights of third parties when it talks about the governance of the seas and the behavior in the seas,’ she said.

Asked whether the eventual Code of Conduct could affect the Philippines’ provisional understanding with China on resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, Lazaro declined to speculate.

‘We’ll see, because the code of conduct is the code of conduct,’ she said.

She also disputed suggestions that Manila had agreed under the provisional arrangement to refrain from construction activities at Ayungin Shoal.