East China Sea

Officials: the Philippines Expanding South China Sea Patrols Near Disputed Reef

Republic of the Philippines Navy ship BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150) steams in a multinational formation during a photo exercise off the coast of Hawaii during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise on Aug. 21, 2020. US Navy Photo

MANILA – The Philippines has sent additional ships on Tuesday to its maritime territory that is subject to China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, officials announced on Tuesday.

The Task Force-West under the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea deployed...

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/13/officials-the-philippines-expanding-south-china-sea-patrols-near-disputed-reef

Persistent Chinese Maritime Militia Presence off Philippines Raises Concerns in Manila

Overview of Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea and Chinese vessels moored in the waters surrounding the boomerang-shaped coral reef on March 23. MAXAR Photo

MANILA – Chinese maritime militia vessels remained berthed at the Whitsun Reef, which is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, lending credence to what Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana described as China’s plot to permanently occupy the feature.

Lorenzana disclosed on Saturday that at least 32 militia ships...

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/12/persistent-chinese-maritime-militia-presence-off-philippines-raises-concerns-in-manila

Davidson: China Could Try to Take Control of Taiwan In ‘Next Six Years’

Soldiers from a M110A2 self-propelled artillery squad from the Republic of China (Taiwan) Army. CNA Photo

China could attempt to take control of Taiwan by the end of the decade, the admiral leading U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said today.

Testifying in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Adm. Phil Davidson said China’s aggression in the region leads him to believe its goal of seizing Taiwan is a more imminent issue.

“I think our concerns are manifest here during this decade, not only on the...

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/09/davidson-china-could-try-to-take-control-of-taiwan-in-next-six-years

COLUMN | A tale of restructuring: Keppel (kind of) quits the rig building business (but not really), Borr Drilling, Grupo R, Guangdong Zhenrong – Part One [Offshore Accounts]

Headlines don’t tell the truth Last week saw a major strategic announcement from Keppel Offshore and Marine. Four or more separate publications, including the venerable ..

https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/offshore-world/column-a-tale-of-restructuring-keppel-kind-of-quits-the-rig-building-business-but-not-really-borr-drilling-grupo-r-guangdong-zhenrong-part-one-offshore-accounts/

New Oil Spill Cleaning Technology Breaks Down 84% of Crude Oil

In a major development, scientists have made an oil spillage cleaning technology breakthrough by using microbes, reports Down To Earth. 

Crude Oil Bioremediation

Cleaning up of the oil spillage from the oceans without damaging the marine ecosystem is becoming an increasingly challenging task. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has developed an eco-friendly crude oil bioremediation mechanism technology using consortia of marine microbes wheat bran (WB) immobilized on agro-residue...

https://mfame.guru/new-oil-spill-cleaning-technology-breaks-down-84-of-crude-oil/

U.S. Working to End Chinese Secrecy Around Nuclear Capabilities

Chinese leader Xi Jinping aboard a PLA Navy ship. Xinhua photo

America’s senior arms negotiator said Washington is taking diplomatic and military steps to put an end to Beijing’s “great wall of secrecy” that surrounds its rapid and expanding strategic weapons program.

Speaking at a Heritage Foundation online forum this week, Marshall Billingslea, senior envoy for arms control, said Xi Jin-ping and the Communist Party leadership are engaged “in a crash nuclear build-up” with the intent of...

https://news.usni.org/2020/10/15/u-s-working-to-end-chinese-secrecy-around-nuclear-capabilities

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