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GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
NMESIS missiles test-fired in PH during Balikatan 2025
US soldiers check an Avenger Air Defense System during the Balikatan joint military exercises between US and Philippine troops at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/ Eloisa Lopez The United States' Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) was used in a test fire in the Philippines during the two countries' Balikatan Exercise, the US Pacific Fleet said Thursday. 'We test-fired NMESIS missiles, operated amphibious vehicles and HIMARS, and trained with unmanned systems, and conducted full battle tests and real-world scenarios,' US Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Stephen Koehler said in his speech during the closing ceremony of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila. However, the US military official did not give more details about the activity. This year's Balikatan was conducted in different areas in the Philippines from April 21 to May 9 with around 17,000 participants. NMESIS is a ground-based anti-ship missile system deployed by the United States Marine Corps' Marine Littoral Regiments for coastal defense and maritime security operations. The Naval Strike Missile has a range of up to 300 kilometers. The missile system was initially deployed to the Philippines in April to be used for Balikatan between US and Filipino forces. NMESIS will remain in the country where it will take part in more exercises, according to the Philippine military. This is the second advanced missile system from the US to be present in Philippine territory. Last March, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also welcomed reports on the second deployment of the US Army's Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system in the country.

Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Poland says GPS disruptions over Baltic could be related to Russia
FILE PHOTO: Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo Poland says GPS disruptions over Baltic could be related to Russia WARSAW - Poland has been observing GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday, adding its sources suggest they were "related to the actions of the Russian Federation, including sabotage actions". The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment. Russia has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Polish media have reported cases of GPS malfunction in the north of the country, including private drones flying away in unknown directions or losing connection. "This may be Russia's answer to the Baltops exercises," Polish Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski told Reuters on Tuesday, referring to NATO's annual exercise in the Baltic Sea, which is being held this month. Jaworski said the disruptions had become more intense since the start of the NATO exercise. On Monday, a flight from Alicante in Spain to the northern Polish city of Bydgoszcz was redirected to Poznan in the west of Poland due to navigation problems, a Bydgoszcz airport spokesperson said, without identifying the airline. "We are observing these disruptions. They are also observed over the Baltic Sea area by our allies in NATO countries - both in the Baltic states and the Nordic countries," Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists, when asked about such incidents at a press conference about new helicopters. "These actions are related, according to our sources, to the actions of the Russian Federation, also to sabotage actions." He did not elaborate on the sources. Countries located on the Baltic Sea have reported numerous incidents since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, including power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence in the region. Estonia and Finland last year also blamed Russia for jamming GPS navigation devices in the region's airspace. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


The Star
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Poland says GPS disruptions on Baltic could be related to Russia
FILE PHOTO: Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland has been observing GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday, adding its sources suggest they were "related to the actions of the Russian Federation, including sabotage actions". The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment. Russia has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Polish media have reported cases of GPS malfunction in the north of the country, including private drones flying away in unknown directions or losing connection. And on Monday, a flight from Alicante in Spain to the northern city of Bydgoszcz was redirected to Poznan in the west of the country due to navigation problems, a Bydgoszcz airport spokesperson said. "We are observing these disruptions. They are also observed over the Baltic Sea area by our allies in NATO countries - both in the Baltic states and the Nordic countries," Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists, when asked about such incidents at a press conference about new helicopters. "These actions are related, according to our sources, to the actions of the Russian Federation, also to sabotage actions." He did not elaborate on the sources. Countries located on the Baltic Sea have reported numerous incidents since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, including power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence in the region. Estonia and Finland last year also blamed Russia for jamming GPS navigation devices in the region's airspace. (Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Alison Williams)

Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Poland says GPS disruptions on Baltic could be related to Russia
FILE PHOTO: Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo Poland says GPS disruptions on Baltic could be related to Russia WARSAW - Poland has been observing GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday, adding its sources suggest they were "related to the actions of the Russian Federation, including sabotage actions". The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment. Russia has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Polish media have reported cases of GPS malfunction in the north of the country, including private drones flying away in unknown directions or losing connection. And on Monday, a flight from Alicante in Spain to the northern city of Bydgoszcz was redirected to Poznan in the west of the country due to navigation problems, a Bydgoszcz airport spokesperson said. "We are observing these disruptions. They are also observed over the Baltic Sea area by our allies in NATO countries - both in the Baltic states and the Nordic countries," Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists, when asked about such incidents at a press conference about new helicopters. "These actions are related, according to our sources, to the actions of the Russian Federation, also to sabotage actions." He did not elaborate on the sources. Countries located on the Baltic Sea have reported numerous incidents since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, including power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence in the region. Estonia and Finland last year also blamed Russia for jamming GPS navigation devices in the region's airspace. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


GMA Network
29-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DFA rejects Chinese Embassy's claims over Pag-asa Island and cays
An aerial view shows Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea on March 9, 2023. REUTERS/ Eloisa Lopez/ File photo The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday rejected recent statements of the Chinese Embassy in Manila claiming Chinese ownership over Pag-asa Island and its cays and calling Philippine activities there 'illegal.' In a statement, the DFA emphasized that Pag-asa Island and its cays were part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), where the Philippines has longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction. 'The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so,' the statement read. The DFA maintained that the country was following international law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). 'The actions of Philippine authorities in the area are a valid exercise of Philippine sovereignty and consistent with international law… China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities,' it added. In an interview on Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy spokesperson said that the Philippines violated the DOC's article 5, which stated that all Parties must 'exercise self-restraint' in conducting activities that might cause dispute and affect peace and stability. 'Nansha Qundao, including Tiexian Jiao, has always been China's territory. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters,' the statement said, using the Chinese names for the Spratly Islands and Sandy Cay respectively. China accused the Philippines of conducting 27 'unauthorized' landings involving 167 personnel 'in disregard of strong protests and representations from the Chinese side' since January 2025. They also claimed that the Philippines' 'scientific research' resembled a film production instead of actual research activity. 'The underlying intentions behind such activities are self-evident. It is clear which party initiated the provocation and which is engaging in deception… China will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, maintain Tiexian Jiao's status of no personnel or facilities, and steadfastly uphold the sanctity of the DOC,' the embassy spokesperson said. The DFA urged China to respect the Philippines' jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea. Beijing claims almost all of the West Philippine Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has not recognized the decision. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News