Category: The Wire

(cb) – The European Commission recently was under enormous pressure react on the actual crisis concerning cyber security in public transport. “We get no information about anything, the communication with the European Commission is not working”, the Commissioner for Security Union complains. The EU cannot act on their own, as long as member states (like Germany) do not cooperate with us we are helpless, the Commissioner added. The EU could be a strong alley for member states but now has just to sit by idly.

(hh) – In a short interview, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs gave us some insight into their current situation. He is happy to say that the person responsible for the cyber attack on the Yellow River Dam has been arrested. Secure sources informed the newspaper that the suspect is the Chinese citizen Li Dongling, 28 years old Cybersecurity Specialist. China was able to prevent the attack because of its often criticized Cyber Security Law from 2015. The Minister didn’t want to comment on any connection to the terror group MAUTE as he say: “We don’t want to jump to any conclusion.”.
As the investigation about the harbor is ongoing China does not want to give any confidential information regarding the attack.
The Minister wants to use this opportunity to call upon the German Government to not invoke Article 5 of the NATO agreement. 1. Germany`s current state is not marked by a very strong military force. 2. The intervention would not be in the interest of South East Asia. And last but not least it would be the obligation of the USA to stand by the Philippines as they both signed their Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951.

Furthermore they are in contact with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to get hold of any concrete commitment proposal. The Minister has faith in Russia and is waiting for an invitation for a meeting for further communication.

(br) – In a brief interview with The Wire regarding the growing tensions between the German government and the Philippines Chancellor Merkel denied all rumors that Germany will conduct military actions on the Philippines whether against local Terror groups nor on the government. Dr. Merkel also stressed that any further action by the German government depends on the reactions by the Philippines. In addition to that the chancellor told us that Philippine citizens in Germany have nothing to worry about as long as they remain peaceful.

(ah) – The Russian government is concerned about the Philippines situation, one of their ministers made a statement appointing is passion regarding the situation “We are strongly against the behaviour of the German government, a military intervention is not the solution to the problem” They do not support this decision, the remedy is worse than the disease. However, they do not have any alternative plan of action to solve the problem. another importact fact is the irritation provoke by the US goverment, they completely disagree with them supporting germany decision. It could be a tactic to obstructs their relation with China.

Regarding the pipeline explosion: they have different issues they are working on, so the topic have not been discussed in the cabinet, many events are taking place and the effort of the ministers is reflected, it will be a topic to be discussed soon.

(br) – In an interview with The Wire a high ranking EC official told our newspaper, that “the EU is a Union of all member states and we of course support any member state if they are invoking article 5”. At the same time the EC criticized the German government for not sharing important information regarding security threats.