‘Manila is on DefCon 3 already? The Philippines and the single ASEAN Community are supposed to be a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, but two ASEAN members have been in a shoot-out…’
tEMBLORS of Terra and outer space:
1. Earthquake in Kamchatka reaches magnitude 8.7. “The strongest earthquake in the Kamchatka seismic focal zone since 1952 has just occurred, the Kamchatka branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported.” [https://tass.com/emergencies/1995823]
2. The Ligo–Virgo–Kagra collaboration (a global network of scientists detecting gravitational waves) confirmed the most significant black hole merger ever recorded—an astronomical collision dubbed GW231123. [https://winnipegsun.com/news/u-of-m-astrophysicists-help-unlock-mystery-behind-record-breaking-black-hole-merger]
3. An interstellar object is entering our solar system. “The NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, first reported observations to the Minor Planet Center of comet 3I/ATLAS on July 1, 2025…Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third known object from outside our solar system to be discovered. Astronomers have categorized this object as interstellar because of the hyperbolic shape of its orbital path.” Some observers are speculating that this might be a spacecraft piloted by an extraterrestrial intelligence. But according to the American space agency, “Comet 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth and will remain far away.” [https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/]
Meanwhile, on Terra itself, the Commander-in-Chief of Rizal’s native land had told his audience in the Northern Hemisphere: “Are we not already a target for China? So, I think that what we have to be thinking about is protecting the Philippines.”
[https://pco.gov.ph/presidential-speech/kapihan-with-the-media-in-washington-d-c-united-states-of-america/]
“On July 21, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss progress in accelerating the defense relationship and reestablishing deterrence in the Asia-Pacific region. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and underscored the importance of the ironclad US-Philippine alliance to achieving Peace through Strength. Secretary Hegseth commended the Philippines as a model ally and applauded President Marcos for his leadership and resolve in standing up to aggressive and coercive actions in the South China Sea.” [https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4251345/readout-of-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseths-meeting-with-his-excellency-ferdi/]
Manila is on DefCon 3 already? The Philippines and the single ASEAN Community are supposed to be a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, but two ASEAN members have been in a shoot-out:
1. “Heavy artillery shots were fired into civilian homes in Surin province in Thailand by Cambodian armed forces…The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to clarify…Thailand condemns in the strongest terms this egregious and repeated violation of international law and calls on Cambodia to immediately cease attacking civilian targets…Thailand reserves the inherent right to self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and has responded at limited military targets to neutralize the threats to our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” [https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/statement-th-cam-border-27-july-2025-eng?cate=5d5bcb4e15e39c306000683c]
2. “As of 1:10 p.m. on July 28, 2025, the fifth day since Thailand invaded Cambodia, in all battlefields in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces, Thai soldiers continued to shell and attack Cambodian territory without relenting.”
[https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501727127/conflict-update-petrol-station-hit-by-thai-shells-oddar-meanchey-and-preah-vihear-provinces-see-continued-fighting/]
“Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said that until July 28, despite the scheduled special meeting between the Cambodian Prime Minister and the Thai Acting Prime Minister in Malaysia, Thailand still launched a preemptive attack on Cambodia in the Ta Moan Temple area from 3:10 a.m. to 5 a.m.” [https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501726956/conflict-update-thai-soldiers-still-attacking-cambodia/]
How tragic. Neighbors warring while the Earth trembles. “Overall, 44 volcanoes were in continuing eruption status as of 17 July 2025. An eruption marked as ‘continuing’ does not always mean persistent daily activity, but indicates at least intermittent eruptive events without a break of 3 months or more. There are typically 40-50 continuing eruptions, and out of those, generally around 20 will be actively erupting on any particular day.” [https://volcano.si.edu/gvp_currenteruptions.cfm]
Meanwhile, Northeast Asia should also be a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality. “On July 18, the French government released its newest Indo-Pacific strategy report (La stratégie indopacifique de la France), which pointed out that China’s growing assertiveness in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea was undermining security in the Indo-Pacific region. The report warned that a high-intensity conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have major repercussions, such as on the global economy, and would run the risk of expanding to other areas.”
[https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1330&sms=274&s=120315]
“Unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the South China Sea have continued and strengthened…On this occasion, Japan also reiterates its serious concern over repeated actions that obstruct the freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as increase regional tensions, including dangerous actions against Filipino and other countries’ vessels and aircraft.” [https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_01444.html]
