World View with Marites Vitug: Ambassador Laura del Rosario on Marcos’ foreign policy

South Korea has launched a review after its military nearly opened fire on a United States military drone that was initially identified as an unknown aircraft near the border with North Korea. The incident briefly raised security concerns in one of the most heavily guarded areas of the Korean Peninsula before officials confirmed the aircraft was taking part in a joint military exercise. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the drone was detected on Thursday in northern Gyeonggi Province close to the border. Military personnel followed standard operational procedures after they were unable to immediately identify the aircraft. As a precaution, troops prepared to respond while continuing to track its movements. The aircraft was later confirmed to be a United States Marine Corps drone participating in combined training with South Korean forces. The incident prompted a temporary security alert in the border region. Local authorities issued evacuation warnings to residents and farmers living inside the Civilian Control Zone around Cheorwon and nearby communities. Emergency text messages sent shortly after 2 pm advised people in frontline areas to move to shelters or other safe locations until the situation became clear. After military officials confirmed the aircraft’s identity, a second message informed residents that the alert had been lifted and there was no longer any immediate danger. No shots were fired and no injuries or damage were reported. United States Forces Korea confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the US Marine Corps and was involved in a scheduled joint exercise with South Korean troops. The command said it is reviewing the circumstances that led to the misunderstanding and is working with South Korean authorities to examine the incident. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that military inspectors from its readiness office would visit the Army’s 1st Corps on Friday to review how the situation was handled. The inspection will assess whether existing identification and communication procedures were properly followed and whether improvements are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future. The episode highlights the high level of military alert maintained along the border with North Korea, where tensions remain elevated. South Korean forces routinely monitor unidentified aircraft because of the possibility of North Korean military activity. Officials said troops acted according to established procedures because they could not immediately determine whether the aircraft posed a potential threat. The incident also comes shortly after another security concern involving the United States military. Earlier this week, residents living near a US military base in Pyeongtaek were briefly advised to evacuate following an incident involving white phosphorus. That event prompted some civic groups to call for an investigation and for the US military to provide a public explanation. Although the drone incident ended without violence, it has renewed attention on the challenges of coordinating military operations in a region where misunderstandings can quickly escalate. South Korean authorities are expected to use the findings of their review to strengthen communication and operational procedures during future joint exercises with United States forces.

Former Hong Kong opposition leader Wu Chi-wai has been granted permission to stay in the United Kingdom for six months after initially facing the possibility of deportation upon arriving at Heathrow Airport. The decision ends several days of uncertainty and allows the veteran pro-democracy activist to reunite with his family after years of separation. Wu arrived in London last Wednesday but was detained by UK Border Force officers for nearly 10 hours. Speaking to BBC Chinese, he said officials initially refused him entry and later informed him that he would only be allowed to remain in the country for one week before reporting back to the airport for deportation. However, the situation changed on Monday when UK authorities approved his entry under standard visitor rules, allowing him to stay in the country for up to six months. The 63-year-old is one of Hong Kong’s best known pro-democracy figures and formerly led the now dissolved Democratic Party. He was also among the group widely known as the Hong Kong 47, prominent activists and politicians prosecuted under Hong Kong’s national security law. Wu was released from prison in June after serving more than five years on convictions related to subversion and other charges. Wu said the trip was mainly intended to reunite with his wife and son, who moved to the United Kingdom in 2022 and 2023. During his imprisonment, he said their contact was limited to monthly phone calls and letters, making the visit especially meaningful after years apart. Before leaving Hong Kong, Wu said he sought advice from staff at the British Consulate General regarding his travel plans. According to him, officials assured him there should be no problems entering the UK and said they would inform the UK Border Force about his criminal record and travel itinerary in advance. Wu said border officials questioned whether he was a genuine visitor travelling only to see his family. He also rejected media reports claiming that he intended to seek political asylum in Britain, insisting that he had no such plans. The rights group Hong Kong Watch welcomed the UK’s decision to allow Wu to remain in the country. Policy Director Megan Khoo said the outcome was the correct one and argued that Wu should never have faced the threat of being sent back to the city where he had been imprisoned. Wu entered Britain using a British National Overseas passport, a travel document available to many Hong Kong permanent residents born before the territory’s transfer from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Holders of the passport are generally allowed to visit the UK without a visa for up to six months. The UK introduced a special visa route for British National Overseas passport holders in 2021 following the crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. The programme allows eligible applicants to live, work and study in Britain and eventually apply for citizenship after meeting residency requirements. Since the scheme began, more than 230,000 Hong Kong residents have received BNO visas, while nearly 170,000 have relocated to the United Kingdom, according to government figures. The UK Home Office declined to comment on Wu’s individual case but reaffirmed its support for the Hong Kong community living in Britain. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government said it had not received any request for assistance from Wu or other Hong Kong residents regarding the matter.