VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

South Korea's president stepped up criticism of China's ambassador on Tuesday, saying the envoy had been disrespectful in suggesting South Korea had made the wrong choice by siding with the United States against China.

The ambassador, Xing Haiming, sparked controversy last Thursday when, in comments to an opposition politician, he warned South Korea against making a "wrong bet" when it came to Sino-U.S. rivalry and urged it to stop "decoupling" from China.

South Korea's foreign ministry summoned Xing on Friday to issue a protest and express "strong regret" over comments that the ministry said were "provocative" and a possible interference in internal affairs.

President Yoon Suk Yeol made his disapproval clear in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, questioning Xing's approach as a diplomat.

"Looking at Ambassador Xing's attitude, it's doubtful if he has an attitude of mutual respect or promotion of friendship as a diplomat," the Yonhap news agency, citing unidentified people at the meeting, reported Yoon as saying.

"Our people are displeased with his inappropriate behaviour."

Yoon's office did not immediately comment on the Yonhap report but a presidential official said Xing had made "distorted" remarks and the government was awaiting "appropriate measures" by China.

South Korea has been a staunch U.S. ally for decades and is host to nearly some 28,000 U.S. troops but it has developed extensive economic ties with China in recent years.

China's foreign ministry called in South Korea's ambassador on Saturday to express its "serious concern and dissatisfaction" over Seoul's "improper reaction" to Xing's comment.

On Tuesday, it was more conciliatory.

Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China regretted some South Korean media reports that had been "inconsistent with the facts" in reporting Xing's comments and had even attacked him personally but he also stressed the benefit of good ties.

"Promoting the healthy and stable development of China–South Korea relations serves the common interests of both sides. We hope that the Republic of Korea will meet China halfway," Wang told a regular press conference.

A growing number of legislators from Yoon's ruling party have been calling for Xing to be declared "persona non grata" and expelled.

"If Ambassador Xing does not issue an official apology and continues his rude behaviour, we should consider taking steps to banish him," said Kim Seok-ki, a member of parliament's foreign affairs committee.

Foreign Minister Park Jin said on Monday Xing's remarks violated the Vienna Convention governing diplomats' duties including promoting friendly relations.

When asked about declaring Xing persona non grata, Park said the ministry had "clearly warned that he would be responsible for all consequences".

Xing has decades of experience working in both South and North Korea. (Reuters)

Taiwan's military released an updated civil defence handbook on Tuesday that for the first time includes a section on how to tell the difference between Chinese and Taiwanese soldiers based on their uniforms, camouflage and insignia.

Taiwan unveiled the handbook last year amid a rise in tensions with Beijing and after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, detailing how to find bomb shelters, water and food supplies via smartphone apps, as well as tips for preparing emergency first aid kits.

Taiwan's defence ministry said they received feedback that the book needed to better reflect war scenarios, given the conflict in Ukraine, which Russia calls a "special operation".

One of the changes includes illustrations of Taiwanese service personnel and "enemy soldiers" wearing Chinese military uniforms.

The Taiwanese soldiers are shown smiling, whereas the Chinese ones have downturned mouths and a severe expression.

It's actually quite hard to distinguish them," All-Out Defence Mobilisation Agency Director Shen Wei-chih told reporters at the defence ministry.

The booklet assumes Chinese soldiers will wear People's Liberation Army uniforms; experts say special forces troops may wear different gear as they try to infiltrate Taiwan during an invasion.

Taiwan's emergency personnel, including police and first responders, are also shown in the new handbook, which will be available for download.

The agency is working on an English translation, Shen said.

Planning for the handbook predates Russia's attack on its neighbour, which has prompted debate on its implications for Taiwan and ways to boost preparedness, such as reforms to the reservist training and extending military service.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory despite Taipei's strong objections and has ramped up military and political pressure over the past three years to push those sovereignty claims.

Taiwan has also been inspecting bomb shelters to make sure they are suitable and updating signs to make them easier to find; markers may eventually include flashing lights, officials said at the same news conference. (Reuters)

At least 14,000 people evacuated from around a volcano spewing lava and noxious gases in the central Philippines may remain displaced from their homes for months, authorities warned on Tuesday.

Incandescent lava was seen flowing slowly from the mouth of the 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) Mayon volcano, which was placed on a high alert level last week following seismic tremors and hundreds of rockfall events.

"Based on our previous experiences, this volcanic activity may persist for a few months," Teresito Bacolcol, chief of the state volcanology and seismology agency, told DZMM radio, adding that residents usually living within a 6 km (3.7 miles) radius of the volcano would have to stay in evacuation centres.

Roughly 14,000 people have been evacuated and are sheltering in schools and community centres, disaster agency data show.

Larry Llenaresas, a community leader in Albay province, told DZMM radio there was a need for more food and drinking water for the displaced.

Authorities said people living further away from the volcano should also be ready for possible evacuation, with the police placing checkpoints to prevent residents from returning.

"We will make sure evacuees cannot return until they are advised to do so," police regional director Westrimundo Obinque told reporters.

Mayon is a tourist attraction because of its near near-perfect conical shape.

Dorothy Colle, a provincial tourism official, said while the no-go zone was being enforced, people were still flocking to observation stations to witness lava flows, which appear particularly bright at night.

Mayon is among the most active of the Philippines' 24 volcanoes, having erupted more than 50 times in the last four

centuries. Its most destructive eruption came in February 1841

when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.

The Philippines is in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - French Ambassador to Indonesia Fabien Penone and a delegation of French company leaders, accompanied by Nusantara National Capital Authority (NNCA) Head Bambang Susantono, visited the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area on Monday (June 12).

The visit was the first time that potential investors from Europe had visited IKN directly, as noted in a release issued by the NNCA Communication Team and received here on Tuesday.

"This morning, I hosted a group of companies, business people from France. This is the first stage of engagement or interest from business people in France (to invest in IKN), and around 20 entrepreneurs want to see directly in the field," Susantono remarked.

He emphasized that the visit will be followed up with investment in IKN. The visiting French delegates came from various industrial sectors, such as energy, smart city technology, and environment-friendly materials.

"I think they are from all sides, not only investing in order to become investors but also becoming business people," he stated at the location of mixed land use for trade and services at IKN.

The Head of NNCA explained that at the location of the mixed land use, a large shopping center will be built in 2024.

Based on data from the Deputy for Funding and Investment of NNCA, currently, some prospective investors are committed to investing in an area of 7.30 hectares. In total, there are 71 mixed land-use clusters for investors spread across the Government Center Core Area (KIPP).

The mixed land use concept is planned to minimize travel between areas and provide public facilities, such as schools and sufficient commercial areas for each area. This will allow each area to function independently and be connected, thereby enabling high density and affordability, Susantono expounded.

On the same occasion, Sinarmas LDA Maritime (SLM) President Director Matthieu Lavoine revealed that the arrival of the French company delegation today aims to directly witness the IKN development project on the field.

"To make sure this project is realized, today, we witness what is happening, so that we can report later to the head office about the project and Indonesia's commitment to this big project," he affirmed.

"Hopefully, I really hope so, we can decide to invest and support Indonesia to build the country's future," he stated.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the Economic Department of the French Embassy Arnaud Tripet said that during the visit, the French Embassy invited a delegation of French companies to see firsthand and discuss with NNCA regarding investment opportunities in IKN.

"I think there are already French companies that have invested in Indonesia and employ Indonesians, and they want to take further steps with the authorities in terms of the private sector," he stated.

Apart from visiting the Nusantara area, the French company delegation also submitted a letter of intent (LoI) to NNCA through Deputy for Funding and Investment Agung Wicaksono. The submission of this LoI is the fourth handed over by France, from a total of 233 LOIs that have been received.

According to NNCA, some 233 LOIs have been submitted, and they are from various countries: 106 from Indonesia; 26 from Japan; 22 from Singapore; 16 from Malaysia; 15 from China; nine from the US; four from France; three from the UK; two each from South Korea, Finland, and the UAE; and one each from the Philippines, Luxembourg, Thailand, Germany, Spain, Canada, and Brunei Darussalam.

"Earlier, I received a letter of intent from an energy company, so from our total of 20 companies, we have received four letters of intent. In future, we hope other European countries will also be interested," Wicaksono stated.

He highlighted that the most important aspect to show to potential investors is the available investment land.

"The investment land that will be available to investors is already real. Earlier, they visited one of the lands for mixed land-use commercial development," he explained.

He further drew attention to a high level of interest from French company leaders, who were inquiring about various incentives and ease of investing in IKN.

"They asked for information on the documents, and with that they can prepare their proposal, and after that, it will continue to roll, they will calculate the numbers, the business plan, the feasibility study, and after that, it is easy to negotiate and then produce investment," Wicaksono stated.

Regarding land, the Investment Task Force and the Acceleration of Land Acquisition are currently closely monitoring and targeting completion by July 27, 2023.(Antaranews)