"I am opposed to violence. Violence only helps the tyrant justify more oppressive crackdowns. On the other hand, making the tyrant think you might just disagree with me on this matter can be a powerful motivator!" -- Michael Rivero

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President Joe Biden will host a second summit with Pacific island leaders this week, part of a U.S. charm offensive to block further Chinese inroads into a strategic region Washington has long considered its own backyard.

During the three-day meeting, the U.S. will announce diplomatic recognition for two Pacific islands, promise new money for infrastructure, including to improve Internet connectivity via undersea cables, and honor regional leaders at an NFL game.

Manila is exploring legal options against China over its alleged destruction of coral reefs within the Philippines’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the disputed South China Sea.

Manila has accused Beijing of causing environmental damage at Iroquois Reef in the Spratly Islands and is currrently assessing the extent of the damage.

Blasting Bullhorns and Water Cannons, Chinese Ships Wall Off the Sea MikeRivero Mon, 09/25/2023 - 10:18

The Chinese military base on Mischief Reef, off the Philippine island of Palawan, loomed in front of our boat, obvious even in the predawn dark.

Radar domes, used for military surveillance, floated like nimbus clouds. Lights pointed to a runway made for fighter jets, backed by warehouses perfect for cruise missile launchers. More than 900 miles from the Chinese mainland, in an area of the South China Sea that an international tribunal has unequivocally determined does not belong to China, cellphones pinged with a message: “Welcome to China.”

Philippine authorities Monday vowed to remove a floating barrier installed by China's coast guard at a disputed lagoon in the South China Sea.

“We condemn the installation of floating barriers by the Chinese coast guard,” Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement Monday.

Ivanka Trump, daughter of former President Donald Trump, made a trip to Hawaii to help those who are still suffering from the tragic wildfires that took place last month.

The former first daughter was on a charity mission with CityServe International, which included serving over 250,000 prepared meals to displaced families who are struggling to get back on track after the biggest wildfires in American history.

The US is planning to open a Space Force command post in Japan as it’s looking to increase its space capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region as part of the buildup aimed at China.

Last year, the US established Space Force command posts in Hawaii and South Korea, which both fall under US Indo-Pacific Command. When President Biden hosted the leaders of South Korea and Japan at Camp David last month, the three nations agreed to increase space cooperation.

The O’Keefe Media Group filed a lawsuit this week against Hawaii’s Democrat Governor Josh Green and the County of Maui after being told he could not take photographs or video on public land during a trip to investigate the aftermath of the devastating fires that burned the area to the ground.