SCS South China Sea tensions rattle China's neighbors

China's growing naval power has encouraged it to be more assertive

Chinese leaders like to talk about their country's "peaceful rise" - and Europe's financial traumas are giving Beijing plenty of scope to assume the role of a benign new force on the world stage.

President Hu Jintao has presented himself as a "friend in need" during encounters with European supplicants while stopping short, for now, of committing China to a specific contribution.

But China has been showing a very different face to countries closer to home in an increasingly tense confrontation over rival claims to the resource-rich waters of the South China Sea.

It is a region where the peaceful nature of China's rise is starting to be questioned as it pushes a long-standing maritime claim that stretches deep into South East Asia.

China have threaten the 2 small neighbors that if the Philippines and Vietnam will not agree with what china's wants, then they will use force. "If these countries do not want to change their ways with China, they will need to prepare for the sound of cannons" – [published under  Global Times]

"China is becoming much more confident in the region and there are signs it is becoming giddy with success. It has become much more influential much more quickly than it expected," says Dr Kerry Brown of the Asia Programme at Chatham House in London.

Vietnam and the Philippines in recent months have seen the snarl of a resurgent regional power that is fast losing patience with the gripes of smaller neighbors over maritime borders.

"If these countries do not want to change their ways with China, they will need to prepare for the sound of cannons. It may be the only way for the dispute in the sea to be resolved," said the state run newspaper, the Global Times, in a recent editorial.

The Philippines stands remain strong as they said anytime; we are willing to defend our territory in any form of invasion.

Philippines as the highly affected country of china's warning because almost all part of the disputed in the Spratlys is within it 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone become immune of China's threat. They are used to as that what china did often.

If China has successfully invaded the mischief reef and adjacent reef of Mainland Palawan, a province of the Philippines then this time, it not be happen again to any other islands and reefs within 200 Nautical Miles of the County.

China successfully invaded the mischief reef in 1995 when china build a fishermen shelter in the water of the Philippines but when asked; they replied that they are building a fishermen shelter but later the converted it into a military garrison inside the Philippines' territory.

Hard power

Chinese officials have been more restrained in their comments, but foreign ministry spokesmen have issued a series of warnings about what they see as encroachments into Chinese waters.

Beijing says it does want a peaceful solution. But Vietnam and the Philippines say Chinese ships have stepped up harassment of vessels involved in oil exploration and fishing.

China's stance on the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) is making neighbors like Vietnam worried

"The growth of Chinese military spending is beginning to translate into hard power," says John Hemmings, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute.

"This is the first major sign that a more confident Chinese grand strategy is emerging. It is in the South China Sea that there is a real risk of discord between the US and China."

The disputes are about oil and gas reserves, lucrative fisheries and sea lanes that are crucial to the giant industrial economies of East Asia. But they also point to a strategic contest with the United States, which has been the dominant military power in the western Pacific since 1945.

"China is driven by a nationalistic agenda - it won't find it easy to make compromises over what are seen as crucial resources, such as energy in the South China Sea"- [Dr Kerry Brown.]

"China has a containment mindset," says Kerry Brown. "It thought that the United States was ceding influence but it sees the US is still active all around its borders from Afghanistan to Japan."

In the latest incident, Beijing responded sharply to an announcement by the American company, Exxon Mobil, of a new oil find off the coast of central Vietnam.

It appears to be well within Vietnam's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. But China issued a now familiar warning that it has indisputable sovereignty to large parts of the sea.

"We hope foreign companies do not get involved in disputed waters for oil and gas exploration and development," said a foreign ministry spokesman. China's insecurity with US & Indian presence in the area shows it weakness and wanting to monopolize and bully the 2 small country; Philippines and Vietnam.

Vietnam vulnerable

China's maritime claim is ill-defined but it resembles a giant U shape extending for more than 1,000km (621 miles) off its southern coast and reaching into what Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei see as their own waters.

It recently warned Indian firms to stay away after they signed exploration agreements with Vietnam. India has nettled its giant neighbor by developing a "strategic partnership" with Vietnam - in China's view an intrusion into its own backyard.

Vietnam appears most vulnerable. Its leaders have been stung into an unaccustomed flurry of foreign visits as they seek help from the region and beyond.

"Vietnam feels out on a limb," says John Hemmings. "It understands that a naval conflict with China could be over very quickly. The Vietnamese are much more exposed than they first thought."

The West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) dispute raises intense passions in Vietnam.

Some believe it will be very hard for China to back down.

"China is driven by a nationalistic agenda, It won't find it easy to make compromises over what are seen as crucial resources, such as energy in the South China Sea," says Kerry Brown.

Whatever its intention, China has succeeded in frightening traditional US allies such as Japan and South Korea firmly back into the American fold, along with a host of new suitors.

US officials have tried to underline their commitment to the region, at a time when some allies are questioning Washington's staying power.

US naval might

It will be years before China's growing military power can challenge the overwhelming naval might of the United States, backed as it is by a network of military bases across Asia.

But China's development of new land based missiles designed to target aircraft carriers is a sign of its fast-growing capabilities.

"I want to make very clear that the United States is going to remain a presence in the Pacific for a long time," said the defense secretary, Leon Panetta, on an Asian visit late last month "If anything, we're going to strengthen our presence in the Pacific."

President Barack Obama is expected to underline this commitment when he hosts Asian leaders at the APEC conference in Hawaii this month.

China may have found in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) dispute an arena to test US resolve and attempt to nudge it out of the region.

If Washington fails to live up to its rhetoric, China's smaller neighbors will have little choice but to accept the new realities of what the US itself is calling the "Pacific Century"

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China wary as India looks East – South China Sea

In China, smaller publications in landlocked provinces are a better guide to the actual thinking of the immense cadre of the Chinese Communist Party than the bigger media outlets, especially those in English. The latter usually give a more restrained and assessment of situations, which is why it was a surprise to South Block (home of the Prime Minister's Office and the External Affairs Ministry) to note the harsh language of even leading English-language publications in Beijing ( such as "Global Times") about India's outreach to Myanmar and Vietnam. The ire was mostly against the oil prospecting contracts signed by state-owned Indian companies with their Vietnamese counterparts.

The Chinese media saw this as "interference in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea)", all of which is claimed by China and parts are claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam & Other ASEAN neighbors. The sea has immense deposits of hydrocarbon and other minerals essential to a fast-developing and large economy such as India; hence it is not likely that Petroleum Minister Jaipal Reddy will abandon the joint venture with Vietnam. The policy of Delhi is that the disputes between different countries in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) is a matter for them to settle, but that in the meantime, India will undertake commercial and other transactions with each of the governments whose territories about the sea. Beijing wants all countries to deal only with itself in any such activity; an in effect wants a monopoly over the resources of the Sea.

Apart from the vituperative articles against Vietnam, the Philippines and India written in English-language and Mandarin publications published from China, numerous China-based internet sites have gone much further in their verbal attack on the three Asian neighbors of China. Some have even alluded to the "racial inferiority" of people from India, Vietnam and the Philippines when compared to Han Chinese, and called for them to be slaughtered by military might "in the manner of roadkill" ie animals killed by vehicles while crossing a road. The overwhelming majority of the Chinese people are highly cultured, steeped as they are in a civilization which goes back 5000 years, but clearly there are some who in their thinking resemble followers of Adolf Hitler. Although such arrogant and aggressive voices are almost certainly not representative of the view of the Chinese Communist Party, yet the frequency with which they have appeared in the Chinese media have led to calls to strengthen Indian defenses on the border with China, a border which has been tranquil except for four brief instances since the 1962 war.

Since 2009, the Indian Air Force has moved a squadron of Sukhoi-35s to the China border, while the army has placed nuclear-capable missiles within easy reach of PLA fortifications and concentrations. On both sides of the border, there is hectic increase in activity relating to the creation or the strengthening of infrastructure, although as yet conditions on the Chinese side are far superior. Even in relation to equipment, PLA forces are much better off than their Indian counterparts. They have lighter bulletproof vests, better rifles and night-fighting capabilities, all of which has been documented in a recent issue of "India Today". Where India's military scores lies in the fact that it is battle-hardened. Constant sorties against hostile elements within the borders of the country has improved the fighting capacity of the Indian soldier, and made him or her better able to prevail, even against a better-equipped enemy. In this sense, even NATO soldiers are better prepared for war than troops from countries that have been at peace for long periods, such as China, which last fought a war in 1979 (against Vietnam). In the case of Pakistan as well, its soldiers are battle-hardened as well, because of action seen in numerous conflicts, some within the country.

However, this columnist is among those who believe that the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party has the wisdom to avoid war. There is a huge difference between the China since the time Deng took full control of the party in 1981 and the past, when Beijing was involved in the Korean, Indian and Vietnamese conflicts, besides skirmishes across the Taiwan Straits and with (the then) USSR. There is no doubt that Deng Xiaoping was a great statesperson, who is responsible for modern China.

During his time, civilian spending was emphasized and military budgets reduced. Deng made it clear that he favored a policy of peace, and although China was a huge country, took a very conciliatory line on external disputes. He was also searching for a solution to the Sino-Indian boundary dispute when ill-health and age forced him to take a much more reduced role in governance by the start of the 1990s. While his successor Jiang Zemin occasionally adopted a tough line, General Secretary Hu Jintao has reverted to the wise policies of Deng Xiaoping, stressing the importance of harmony in relations between states. However, since China is much richer today than it was during Deng's time, Hu has presided over an immense quantitative improvement in the capabilities and provisioning of the PLA.

The rapid economic growth since China took firmly to the Path of Peace is evidence that conflict may not be the best way to promote the national interest. Those who glibly talk of going to war against Vietnam and India, for instance, ought to examine the condition of China during the 1950s or the 1960s and see it in the 21st century, the second-biggest economy in the world, with $3 trillion worth of cash reserves, almost higher than the rest of the globe combined. Indeed, Sino-Indian trade has zoomed over the past decade, now crossing $60 billion and headed to $100 billion in two years time. In fact, the prospects are for trade between India and China to cross $300 billion in ten years, providing income and employment to millions of people on both sides of the border. This prosperity would be at risk, were there to be the cataclysmic event of a fresh Sino-Indian war.

Both the leaders of India as well as China are aware of the centrality of peace and friendship to the economic health of both countries. Which is why the hotheads who write vituperative essays against the other country are ignored by the top leadership in Beijing or Delhi? Indeed, both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Premier Wen Jiabao are to meet in the beautiful island of Bali on November 19, when they attend the East Asia Summit. Both will also be meeting (albeit separately) with President Obama of the US. Such meetings will help ensure that temperatures remain cool and that differences over the South China Sea get resolved peacefully, and in a way that ensures access to resources and economic development for all sides.

M D Nalapat—The writer of this article is Vice-Chair, Manipal Advanced Research Group, UNESCO Peace Chair & Professor of Geopolitics, Manipal University, Haryana State, India.

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China’s puppet Cambodia one sided to China for Spratlys

China's influence to ASEAN neighbors remains strong that make the ASEAN countries divided. Cambodia a member of the ASEAN countries shows an approval of china for in return to have a huge investment from them.

Cambodia's economy is still lagging far behind with other ASEAN countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam but the support of Cambodia for the ASEAN decision in connection with the Spratlys dispute is still important.

Cambodia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong said that the territorial dispute in the South China Sea should be solved between China and the concerned countries by complying with the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and recent adopted guidelines.

His remarks were made during meeting with visiting Liu Zhenmin, assistant to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, at the ministry.

"Both sides agreed that the South China Sea issues must be solved out between China and the states involved in the dispute only," Koy Kuong, spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters after the meeting.

"All concerned parties in the South China Sea have to comply with the (2002) DOC and adopted recent guidelines," Hor Namhong was quoted by Koy Kuong as saying to Liu Zhenmin.

DOC is called toothless by the DFA Secretary Del Rosario as he said even China the signatory of the DOC is violating it resulting to a heighten tension  in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea)

DOC and UNCLOS Law will work together as both parties are member of the United Nations and inner conflict which could not be solve by the region must be push to the United Nations ITLOS.

Hor Namhong continued to say that all relevant parties in the dispute have to build mutual trust in order to solve the dispute in the spirits of mutual benefit, peace and friendship.

The Philippines have slacken off  its mutual trust with china after china invaded the Mischief reef near Palawan by building a "said" fishermen shelter then later converted into military garrison. Mischief reef is just adjacent to the Mainland Palawan and within 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of Palawan, Philippines.

China and ASEAN in July adopted an agreement on the guidelines of implementing the DOC.

The guidelines include some principles that offer directions for implementing the DOC and map out procedural rules for cooperation in the future.

The oil- and gas-rich South China Sea is partially claimed by several Southeast Asian states, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Liu Zhenmin said the visit in Cambodia was to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation in all fields with Cambodia and said China still continued its support to Cambodia in all circumstances.

Cambodia's commitment in supporting China reaped a promise of support and more investment. Cambodia's vulnerable stands for the ASEAN might lead into losing its support from its fellows when china's expansionism attitude diverts' it point to Cambodia to be the next annex state of China.

Both sides also exchanged views on the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia later this month in order to enable the Summit to run smoothly and successfully as this year was the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations.

Liu arrived Phnom Penh on Saturday (November 5, 2011) and will leave here on Sunday.

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US & Philippines Marines Begin Drills Near Spratlys

About 3,000 U.S. and Filipino marines’ soldiers started two weeks of annual military drills in the Philippines on Monday that will include a hostile beach assault exercise near the disputed Spratly Islands.

U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Nick Eisenbeiser said the Oct. 17-28 maneuvers would focus on honing their joint capability to ensure regional security and were not aimed at China or any country as an imaginary target.

"They shouldn't get worried," Eisenbeiser, when asked if the exercises were aimed at China, who’s growing naval power has set off concerns in the region. "We're assisting the Chinese in ensuring that their region is peaceful."

The exercises would ensure that U.S. and Philippines forces could jointly respond to "anything that arises," he said.

The United States irked Beijing last year by asserting that Washington had a national security interest in the peaceful resolution of the disputes over the Spratly Islands.

The potentially oil-rich islands are located in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea), between Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, and straddle some of the world's busiest sea lanes.

China seeks to resolve the disputes through bilateral talks with five other claimants, including the Philippines. Beijing has rejected any U.S. role in the resolution of the disputes over the islands.

Philippine military spokeswoman 1st Lt. Cherryl Tindog said an Oct. 27 drill will involve a mock raid by about 100 U.S. and Filipino marines from an American warship to capture a hostile beachhead west of Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea.

Other events include a live-fire exercise in Crow Valley in Tarlac province, north of Manila, and medical missions and school constructions in several Philippine towns.

One Filipino-occupied island was proposed as a possible site for joint training but was ruled out to avoid antagonizing China and other claimants. The island lies close to a Spratly reef occupied by Chinese forces and an island separately occupied by Vietnamese forces. The information came from two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

Philippines marine Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen said the exercises with U.S. forces would be confined to the country's territory so "nobody could question that."

The Philippines and Vietnam, another Spratlys claimant, have separately accused Chinese vessels of intruding into what they say is their part of the contested areas and of disrupting oil explorations in their territorial waters this year.

Both countries have since discussed those allegations with China and renewed calls for the peaceful resolution of the disputes, easing monthslong tensions.

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MDT - USA obliged to defend the Philippines in Spratlys against any invasion

The hardest point of America is to stand in between the two roles in the same case and the same issue.   USA is supposed not to take one side on any countries with conflict but America have no escape for the Philippines as they signed an agreement called Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) in 1951 to take effect in 1952. The MDT was signed between US and the Philippines after 5 years of giving independence to the Philippines. The Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) obliged America to defend the Philippines to any External assault or attack to the Philippines' territory.

The binding of the MDT with PHL-US is clear that obliged America to defend the Philippines to any External assault or attack to the Philippines” even spratlys islands is not mentioned since the Spratlys is within 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines and countries invading the Philippine waters is subject for retaliation from the Philippines' forces and US Forces.

U.S. forces are obliged to help defend Filipino troops, ships or aircraft under a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty if they come under attack in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, Philippine officials said, citing past American assurances.

The potentially oil- and gas-rich Spratly Islands have long been regarded as one of Asia's possible flash points for conflict. China, the Philippines and Vietnam have been trading barbs and diplomatic protests recently over overlapping territorial claims, reigniting tension.

Complicating the issue is the role the United States could play in resolving the disputes. A Mutual Defense Treaty signed by U.S. and Philippine officials in Aug. 30, 1951, calls on each country to help defend the other against an external attack by an aggressor in their territories or in the Pacific region.

Amid renewed tensions in the Spratlys, questions have emerged whether the treaty would apply if ill-equipped Philippine forces come under attack in the islands, all of which are claimed by China. Parts also are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a policy paper that the treaty requires Washington to help defend Filipino forces if they come under attack in the Spratlys, citing U.S. diplomatic dispatches that defined the Pacific region under the treaty as including the South China Sea. The South China Sea was not specifically mentioned in the pact.

A copy of the policy paper was seen by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario also said in a recent interview that American officials have made clear that Washington would respond in case Filipino forces come under attack in the South China Sea.

Del Rosario said by telephone from Washington that he would discuss the Spratly disputes, along with issues related to the 1951 defense treaty, and other regional security concerns with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton when they meet Thursday.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila declined to discuss details of when the pact would apply.

"As a strategic ally, the United States honors our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines," said Alan Holst, acting public affairs officer at the embassy. "We will not engage in discussion of hypothetical scenarios."

The defense treaty, which came into force in 1952, defined an attack as an armed assault on "the metropolitan territory of the parties" or their "armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific."

While the U.S. has a policy of not interfering in territorial disputes, the Philippine paper said "it may be construed that any attack on our vessels, armed forces or aircraft in the Spratlys would make the treaty applicable and accordingly obligate the U.S. to act to meet the common dangers."

China has urged the United States to stay out of the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, saying they should be resolved through bilateral negotiations.

On Wednesday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai warned that Washington risks getting drawn into a conflict should tensions in the region escalate further.

Washington views the sea lanes in the area as strategically important.

"If the United States does want to play a role, it may counsel restraint to those countries that have frequently been taking provocative action and ask them to be more responsible in their behavior," Cui said at a briefing.

He later added, "I believe that individual countries are actually playing with fire, and I hope that fire will not be drawn to the United States."

The Philippines has accused China of intruding at least six times in Manila-claimed areas in and near the Spratlys since February. Among the most serious was a reported firing by a Chinese navy vessel on Feb. 25 to scare away Filipino fishermen from the Jackson Atoll.

The Philippines, whose poorly equipped forces are no match for China's powerful military, has resorted to diplomatic protests. President Benigno Aquino III insisted Friday that his country won't be bullied by China and said Beijing should stop intruding into waters claimed by Manila.

The battle for ownership of the Spratlys has settled into an uneasy standoff since clashes involving China and Vietnam killed more than 70 Vietnamese sailors in 1988.

 

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Communist China Don't deserves chair, power and authority in the United Nations

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guaranteed 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. UNCLOS did not show any China’s territory in the West Philippines Sea’s Spratlys. China’s limit is only until Paracel islands.  The Philippines recorded already 6 invasions by china to the West Philippine Sea as of June 16, 2011.

China’s temporary pedestal

Inspite of China’s temporary and limited power as they are not yet so powerful compared to America; they are already starts bullying the small neighboring countries around them. Just recently, we could see how the Chinese war planes browbeaten the Philippine warplane patrolling in the Kalayaan Islands Group (KIG), province of Palawan Philippines. China has been accused for 6 times invasion into the Philippines waters in just 4 months in 2011. It has been reported that China threaten and fired the Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, just few kilometers from the shore of Palawan. China also had been accused of invading the Philippine horizon in the Islands and waters of the West Philippine Sea. Further, they also conduct a research in the Philippine waters without asking any permission to the Philippines’ government. China insisted after the Philippines protest as they said it is within their jurisdiction rejecting the UNCLOS international laws of sea 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of all the countries surrounding the area. Part of china’s dream to create a Chinese empire, they issued a new 9 dotted map claiming the Philippines shore, waters and islands in the West Philippines after the result of study and research that the West Philippines Sea ranked as the 4th largest Oil and Gas Deposit in the world in line with the Arab countries. Not only in the Philippines; China also harassed the government owned oil and exploration of the communist Vietnam (Petro Vietnam). They also want to claim the waters and islands of Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Spratlys Islands of the Philippines

The Spratlys or also called as Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) or Freedom Land of the Philippines is composed of small islands, reefs and atolls. It is located in the West Philippines Sea (formerly called South China Sea) that links the Philippine Sea -Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. All its islands are coral, low and small, about 5 to 6 meters above water, spread over 160,000 to 180,000 square kilometers of sea zone (or 12 times that of the Paracels), with a total land area of 10 square kilometers.  The Spratly Island is - whole or partially claimed by the Philippines as it is in the West Philippine Sea, within 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone (UNCLOS – International Laws of Sea). The Philippines is the closest archipelagic country in Asia with the same features of the Spratlys. The Philippines also is the first country legally pronounced its ownership to the world through a Filipino navigator Tomas Cloma in 1955.  With UNLCOS 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone[200 Nautical Mile or = 370.40 Kilometers because 1 Nautical Mile (NM) = 1.85 Kilometer and / or 1.15 Miles (mi)], the Philippines, China and Vietnam gains their rights to explore their seas with such International Laws of Sea limit. The disputed areas are just in between the Philippines and Vietnam’s 200 Nautical Mile EEZ but disputes arisen in the non disputed areas which most are in the Philippines' water when other claimants including Vietnam, China, and Malaysia overlapped their claim into the Philippines Waters. In the UNCLOS 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone- the countries have rights over spratlys are only the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. For China and Vietnam their limit is just until the Paracels. In between the Paracel and Spratly is the international water which is disputed. The Malaysian claimed is based on the North Borneo which is called now as Sabah the old Sultanate of Sulu, Philippines which was turnover by Britain to Malaysia as gift for friendship and alliance. The Philippines still on their stake to take back the North Borneo and planned to void the turnover of Britain because Britain is not part of the country and they don’t have jurisdiction over the sultanate of Sulu, Philippines.

China, the 666; the beast in the phrase of the Holy Bible

China is not yet fully installed in the full power like America, but now they are start crawling to claim neighboring countries. Analysts and concerns asked- so how much more if china will become the powerful country in the world. China is also named as the golden dragon. The Holy Bible mentioned that time will come, the beast and dragon will rule the earth and the world slowly decrypts the phrases of the Bible which slowly pointing the communist china as the 666 dragon. In china religion is limited. China’s government will jail you if you will gather to praise Jesus Christ. The Bible mentioned about the Anti-Christ; and the existence of China as the golden dragon is performing the - what explained in the “Revelation” of the Holy Bible as anti Christ. If China will win over the Spratlys, it could be the time that china will take over the West Philippine Sea, and the dragon would have the potential to take over and rule the world as they would gain more power in the Oil and Gas deposit in the area of the West Philippines Sea. China might promote satanic act and 666 around the globe and might vanished the human rights law and control every breath of every living creature in earth. 

It’s not yet too late to boycott all products from china so the demon will stop growing. USA, the most powerful peaceful nation must start cutting the evil desire of china. Even the USA which is the most powerful country, they did not abuse their power and authority. USA promotes justice and human rights to the entire humanity as a good model to the countries of the world. Opposite on what happen in china, they are communist and anyone will against the government will die. Anyone will gather for their religions like Christianity will be jailed. USA is not like that. The America is a good leader with capability to discipline and educate other leaders.

If China will win against the battle for the Spratly of the Philippines, the world would have imbalance of power both economically and leadership. If the Philippines will fail to protect their sovereignty especially in the Kalayaan Island Group, it is not the only loss of the Philippines but it’s a big loss of the world as the anti Christ 666 dragon china will rule the earth and they could control everything. The loss of the Philippines is the loss of the entire humanity. The only “key” left to jail this dragon to remain its cage is the Philippines the country of the people of God dominated by Christianity. As United States of America a chosen country to protect the world from the evil desire of any country like China and their allies, USA have the role to protect the countries who exercise freedom and justice and they have the role to protect the “key” to remain the dragon in jail which is the Philippines. We could not change the destiny of the Earth but we could protect the world and its people from totally damaged. We can delay the phrases revealed in the Holy Bible of “The Revelation” the beast, the dragon and the 666 will rule the earth before the coming of Christ.

The Philippines and the MDT with USA

As part of the agreement between the Philippines and the USA (MDT) or Mutual Defense Treaty; the United States is obliged to protect the Philippines and the only way to do it is to restore the presence of the USA in areas of the Philippines. If the USA will install their airbase in the Spratlys, then they could discipline china’s rude illusion in the Southeast Asia that would affect the world. USA and allies must protect the countries which are the subject of the illusion of China that might result to spark the unexpected Third World War (WWIII). How comes the very far China with 1000 Miles distance of the east Asia will crawl to claim the Philippines of the Southeast Asia? .

The Philippines and China in the Ancient times

It is undeniable that before the invasion of the Spain to the Philippines prior the year 1300 China already makes business with the Philippines peacefully. SPAIN, USA and British is not there in Asia, China and the Philippines live peacefully and China even use some islands of the Philippines which is the Spratlys while conducting business with the Philippines. China usually has the stopover in Spratlys before coming and leaving to the Main Islands of the Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao & Visayas).  China also continues their trading to Indonesia passing through the Philippine waters.  China now is slowly grabbing power both economy and leadership in the global community. What will happen if China will be fully installed as the most powerful country? China becomes greed and wants to betray the friendship with the Philippines that established since ancient time.  China must wakeup; if china wants peace then they must have to protect the still weakening friendship with neighbors because the reason of the recent conflict  is because of china’s illusion to claim the islands and waters of the West Philippines, and islands of the communist Vietnam in Paracel.

 

 

 

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Australia will Support the Philippines Spratlys - with America

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guaranteed 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. UNCLOS did not show any China’s territory in the West Philippines Sea’s Spratlys. China’s limit is only until Paracel islands adjacent to their waters.  The Philippines recorded already 6 invasions by china to the West Philippine Sea as of June 16, 2011.

Australia on Thursday (16th June 2011) expressed their support to the Philippines' call for a peaceful resolution on the issue concerning the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Australia, which has various oil and gas exploration projects in the Philippines, said at a bilateral meeting between the two countries that it calls for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in the reputedly oil-rich islands. The two-day meeting in Canberra concluded Thursday.

“Ministers and secretaries reaffirmed the view of both countries that territorial disputes should be settled peacefully and in a manner consistent with [the] international law," according to a joint statement, a copy of which was secured by GMA News Online.

The Philippines has recently accused China of intrusion into its territory near Palawan province.

Value and obey the UNCLOS

Australia said those involved in the territorial dispute — Brunei, China, Malaysia, Philippines, and Taiwan — should adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which codifies the international law of the sea.

Officials of the Philippines and Australia also engaged in extensive and detailed discussions on strategic issues such as maritime security at the West Philippine Sea.

Australia’s expression of support came less than a week after Washington expressed its support to Manila over the same issue.

Rules-based, cooperative approaches

Manila, which earlier accused Beijing of violating an agreement aimed at preventing tensions in the region, challenged other claimants over the potentially oil-rich region to adhere to UNCLOS to prevent armed conflict and ensure freedom of navigation.

The Philippines and Australia are one in supporting “rules-based, cooperative approaches" in addressing conflicts at the Spratlys Islands, according to the joint statement.

Philippine officials said it has recorded at least six Chinese incursions in Philippine-claimed areas in the Spratlys Islands. The Philippine military has discovered the installation of Chinese posts in Amy Douglas Reef, which it said was well within the country’s 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

 

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Philippines'Navy and Coast Guard remove Chinese markers in Spratlys

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guaranteed 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. UNCLOS did not show any China’s territory in the West Philippines Sea’s Spratlys. China’s limit is only until Paracel islands.  The Philippines recorded already 6 invasions by china to the West Philippine Sea as of June 16, 2011.

The UNCLOS 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone guaranteed to the Philippines and other claimants in the islands near Spratlys

Distance of the Spratlys Islands to the Philippines’ shore

·        Amy Douglas Bank – 231 KM or 124.73 Nautical Miles from Palawan Province, Philippines

·        Recto Bank (Formerly Reed bank) – 157 KM or 84.77 Nautical Miles

·        Mischief Shoal -  250 KM 0r 134.99 Nautical Miles

The Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard have removed wooden markers and plastic buoys left by Chinese authorities on three reefs located between southwestern Philippines and the chain of eight islands claimed by the Philippines in the disputed Spratly Archipelago off the South China Sea, recently renamed in the country as the West Philippine Sea.

The markers were taken out as soon as Philippine authorities found them near the Amy Douglas Bank, 231km from Palawan, southwest Philippines, said a report.

Another marker was plucked out near Recto Bank, formerly known as Reed Bank, 157km from Palawan. A buoy was lifted from the sea near Boxall Reef, also located within Philippine territory.

China's erection of poles and a buoy near the Amy Douglas Bank are serious threats or proof that Beijing has "aggressively violated" the Declaration of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) that China and the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) signed in 2002, Philippine authorities said in a complaint against China.

Ian Storey of Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies called China's moves ‘aggressive ... not just assertive.'

Following complaints by the Philippines, China said it left materials on the contested area for research and not for a takeover of the reefs and atolls in the Spratly Archipelago.

Structures

Meanwhile, Philippine authorities have not yet acted radically on the structures that China reportedly built on a total of six reefs within Philippine territories, a political analyst said.

In 1995, Philippine authorities found structures that China had built on Mischief Shoal, 250km from Palawan.

The incident resulted in the signing of the code of conduct for claimants in the contested sea lane and the Spratly Archipelago between China and Asean in 2002.

Reacting to China's reported move of this kind, Euan Graham, senior fellow in the Military Studies Programme of Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said, "If there is new building on a previously unoccupied feature, that would be a fairly clear breach of the DOC."

 

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Philippines Worry: US betrayal to the Philippines - might be repeated in Spratlys

While the tension in the West Philippine Sea / South China Sea is still on the peak, Philippine Government consider the 1950’s Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with America and pronounced their confidence that the United States will support if there is an attack will happen in the Philippine Territory. This is in connection of China’s renewed claim interest of the island and waters in the West Philippines.

US Embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thomson commented the issue saying the United States will not Support the Philippines for Spratly Issues. USA is out of the Issue. A statement that never terrified the Philippines to stand up and fight alone if there is any invasion will happen without America regardless of MDT agreement.

After a week, opposite from the statement of Rebecca Thomson, the US embassy for Manila Harry Thomas Jr. give another speech that assures the Philippines that the USA will support the country for whatever will happen. “I want to assure you – on all subjects, we in the United States are with the Philippines. The Philippines and the United States are strategic treaty allies. We are partners,” Thomas said at the launching of the US-supported National Renewable Energy Program in Makati City.

“We will continue to consult and work with each other on all issues, including the South China Sea and Spratly Islands,” Thomas said

In the past experienced, the Mutual Defense Treaty (MTD) failed already as the USA did not support the Philippines inspite of their promised and signed MDT agreement. When the Philippines sent troops to the North Borneo to take back the land which was turned over by Britain to Malaysia as a gift of their friendship and alliance instead of turning it over to the Philippines as the legal owner of the land (North Borneo), there is no America in fact, the US betrayed the Philippines by accepting the enemy to use the airbase in Manila. The British company in the past signed a lease contract with the Sultanate of Sulu (Philippines) and when the britain grant freedom to Malaysia as their colony, they included the North Borneo, an independent Sultanate Government which belongs to Sulu, Philippines. The USA gives 2 times warning to britain that the North Borneo is not belong to the crown treaty and must not be turn over to Malaysia because the land belongs to Sulu (Philippines)but Britain did not listen to the USA. America ended up to warning only without any action to support the Philippines and worst is they welcomed the enemy british forces to use their the airbase in Manila to fight back the Filipino troops.

Furthermore, the Filipino troops which sent to the North Borneo to take back the land gain no support from the USA inspite of the signed agreement and promises that the US will support the Philippines. The Britain sent their aid troop to Malaysia and used the American Airbase in Manila which American allowed them to use the airbase in the Philippine soil. According to most Filipinos it is a betrayal of America to the Philippines and they were right, the America betrayed the Philippines.

Filipino netizens agree with the statement of Rebecca Thomson saying that the Philippines must not count the USA if there is an invasion in the Philippine Waters. Adding recommendations that the Philippine government must stand alone as being independent country and must not depend on American. In purchasing weapon, the Philippines will not just rely on American Made weapon instead, Russian and Ukraine made are also reliable and more affordable. Also, not to consult America what weapons to be purchase because the USA will only give limit on what kind of weapon that would not level the capability to destroy enemy as what they have. In fact, China buildup their arm without the USA and China is ready to invade any country around them. It could be unfair if the Philippines will rely on the USA and when invasion will happen, there is no Washington power will show up but it’s just a promise which made to be broken and another possible betrayal again. Poor Philippines to rely on America if they will not really support the country. The past experienced is a wake up reminder to the Philippines to make the independence into reality. Stop depending USA, move forward and buildup your arm to protect your own territory.

After the USA saw the reaction of the Philippines for their doubtful stands to support the Philippines or not which not affect the courage of the Filipino, suddenly US embassy for Manila Harry Thomas Jr. Speak out and assured the Philippines that the US will support the country for whatever will happen, thinking that their alliance with the Philippines will totally lost as Filipinos lost their confidence with the US power, but do you think that the US will really support the Philippines or will make another betrayal as what they did before?

 

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USA will Support the Philippines' Spratly issue but Filipinos - cautious might betray again

A United Nations convention is clear on what constitutes sovereign territory, and the United States is prepared to do whatever is asked of it by the Philippines in connection with the South China Sea / West Philippine Sea dispute, US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said Monday (June 13, 2011) in Makati. Thomas Statement is absolutely opposite of the statement of Rebecca Thomson; US spokesperson saying “The US will not support the Philippine Spratly Issue as they are out of the Issue. Even USA is not united of their stands for the Spratlys issue.

 “We will do whatever we’re asked,” Thomas told The STAR during a visit to the newspaper office, when asked if the US would be willing to participate in the settlement of the territorial dispute.

But he quickly added, “What we want to say is right now we believe consistently that is not something for us to do. We have not been asked to do that. And we can’t deal with hypotheticals.”

Later, when pressed about US participation in negotiations, he said, “We have not been invited.”

Thomas spoke as China warned external powers to stay out of the overlapping territorial claims in the Spratly Islands.

Reuters reported Monday (June 13, 2011) from Beijing that the warning was contained in a commentary in the main military newspaper Liberation Army Daily, which is controlled by China’s Communist Party, and where articles are vetted to reflect official thinking.

President Aquino welcomed Thomas’ statement as he noted the military power of China and its huge population.

“We don’t want any hostility to break out,” Aquino said at Malacañang, even as he reaffirmed that islands in the West Philippine Sea are within undisputed Philippine territory under an international convention.

“Perhaps the presence of our treaty partner, which is the United States of America, ensures that all of us will have freedom of navigation, will conform to international law,” Aquino added.

Earlier Monday (June 13, 2011), Thomas said the US would stand with the Philippines in all issues.

“I want to assure you – on all subjects, we in the United States are with the Philippines. The Philippines and the United States are strategic treaty allies. We are partners,” Thomas said at the launching of the US-supported National Renewable Energy Program in Makati City.

“We will continue to consult and work with each other on all issues, including the South China Sea and Spratly Islands,” Thomas said.

The Philippines has protested Chinese military activities in the West Philippine Sea, which is within the country’s territory as defined under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The UNCLOS, Thomas said, is “pretty clear on what is Philippine territory.”

Thomas mentioned that US President Barack Obama has said Washington supports the 2002 Code of Conduct in the South China Sea under UNCLOS.

Among other things, the Code of Conduct calls for all claimants to sit together and settle the dispute, he said.

President Aquino is so thankful

President Aquino welcomed Thomas’ declaration.

“We are grateful to the (US), especially when they reiterated that we are strategic partners, we have a treaty between us,” Aquino said when asked for his reaction to Thomas’ statement in a press briefing later at Malacañang.

The President stressed the importance of adhering to international laws, specifically UNCLOS.

“What that law says is that you have exclusive economic authority or exclusive economic zone extending 200 (nautical) miles from your continental shelf,” Aquino said.

“Reed (Recto) Bank, which is the subject of incidents lately, is located 80 (nautical) miles off Palawan, the closest of our contention in the Spratlys, the closest China (has) is 576 (nautical) miles if I remember correctly - 576 is obviously greater than 200,” he added.

“Why should there be a dispute if we are conforming to international law?” Aquino asked.

“Of course, they are a superpower, more than 10 times our population, we don’t want any hostility to break out. Perhaps the presence of our treaty partner which is the United States of America ensures that all of us will have freedom of navigation, will conform to international law,” the President said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing that the statement of the US ambassador “reaffirms even more our commitment to finding diplomatic and a peaceful resolution on the issues that we have in the West Philippine Sea.”

Valte said the statement was welcome because “everybody knows that we always have good relationship with the United States and so with other countries as well, even if we have issues with them.”

But Valte said there was no need to elaborate on the kind of assistance that the US is prepared to offer in the event of armed hostilities with China.

“We are in the process of trying to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict that we are in the middle of. So we do not want to make any statement that would be contrary to that position,” she said.

“I think with or without that clear statement, we have always been firm on our position on the issue. I don’t think anybody can doubt our resolve to have a resolution, a peaceful and diplomatic resolution on the issue,” Valte said.

“Our resolve cannot be questioned and that we will do so, we will pursue such resolution through diplomatic moves,” Valte said.

Valte said there should be no talk of military assistance yet because all claimant-countries were talking and seeking a peaceful resolution to the issue.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao said on Saturday that “military means” was not an option for China.

Authorities have recorded six to seven incursions into Philippine-claimed areas by Chinese vessels and aircraft.

Drilon appeal for Peace in Spratlys

Sen. Franklin Drilon, an administration ally, called for an end to incendiary statements on the West Philippine Sea issue.

“All sides should exercise calm and avoid issuing statements because this is a very sensitive issue. We must defend our sovereignty but we must also be very careful in issuing statements,” Drilon said.

Drilon emphasized that only the Department of Foreign Affairs should be allowed to issue statements because the issue involves diplomacy and foreign relations.

Drilon also said the country’s relations with China cannot be easily set aside. He was apparently referring to a call by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda for a boycott of Chinese products.

He also stressed that the issue should be discussed multilaterally, or taken up before the International Court of Justice.

The Philippines and other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he added, may take a united stand against China’s alleged bullying.

“This cannot be resolved on a bilateral or one-on-one basis. China is too big so the discussions should be multilateral, meaning the claimants in ASEAN should form a body to face China,” Drilon said.

Senate committee on foreign relations chair Loren Legarda also pushed for diplomacy in resolving the issue.

“It is to the region’s and the international community’s collective interest that the parties remain committed to exploring ways for building trust and confidence on the basis of equality and mutual respect,” Legarda said.

Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr., for his part, called for sobriety.

“Let the concerned agencies do the talking instead of (Palace) spokespersons who may not have a full grasp of West Philippine Sea, diplomacy, conflict management, and negotiations,” he said.

“When it comes to foreign policy, we should speak with one voice. We cannot compromise our foreign relations from interpretations made by spokespersons who muddle the handling of a potential conflict,” he said.

Enrile decried the apparently contradictory statements made by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda and Valte, his deputy, on the Spratlys issue.

He said that while Lacierda was quoted as saying that the country is “committed to a multilateral approach to the resolution of claims in the Spratlys,” Valte invoked the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

Enrile said the agencies that should speak for the country on the issue are the DFA and the Department of National Defense.

Enrile’s father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Joker Arroyo and other senators have expressed doubts on whether the MDT can compel the US to help the Philippines in case of an armed confrontation with China.

Enrile said the best way to resolve the conflict would be through negotiations under the framework of the UNCLOS.

Boycott All Chinese Product

Rep. Enrile also chided Salceda for calling for a boycott of Chinese-made goods. Salceda belongs to the ruling Liberal Party.

“Why on earth are we calling for a boycott of Chinese goods? China is bigger than the Philippines in terms of consumer market, so how can we, as a neighbor, even contemplate about it?” he asked.

“As responsible elected officials, we should refrain from instigating a trade war with the third biggest buyer of Philippine exports. The saber rattling is uncalled for. Let’s put a stop to that,” Rep. Enrile said.

“We should instead focus on setting up our national coast defense system to protect our baselines and buy and patronize Filipino products so that we help our economy,” he said.

Sen. Ralph Recto also slammed Salceda for his boycott call.

“The right response is to increase our trade and investments with China and perhaps, maybe with the right growth formula, we can get even economically years from now,” he added.

He said that it would be a “big economic victory” for the Philippines if it closes its $900-million trade deficit with China.

The country imported $7 billion worth of goods from China in 2010 as against its exports of a little over $6 billion.

Recto likewise noted that as part of the emerging economies and touted by respected global bodies as among the Top 25 countries with strong economies by 2025, the Philippines should “act accordingly” and should not be “boycott happy.”

“We should not only engage China diplomatically but also through business,” Recto stressed.

“The Spratlys question should be settled peacefully. You can’t be saber rattling with China. It’s our biggest trading neighbor,” Recto said.

“An action like that (boycott call) has repercussions. They can tell all you Filipino people in China, go home. They can call for a boycott of all Filipino products. I don’t know who will lose in this one. So we should take it easy,” Sen. Enrile said.

Recto said the Armed Forces of the Philippines should beef up its arsenal and capability “not for arms race but to protect our coral reefs and fishermen.”

Recto said the AFP should start buying modern equipment and fleet.

“We should start buying some of these equipment and I don’t care if we buy them from China,” he said.

 

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