Trying to remember where we are in the Pacific and am not sure I have all locations.
We are in Taiwan and adjacent islands through Taiwan, in the Rok, Guam, Australia, American Samoa, the Marshall Islands, Japan or Okinawa, Hawaii and trying for the Malacca Straits and the Philippines. #msg-3585196
ASEAN says no to US patrolling Malacca Straits but we may not give them a choice. #msg-3415458 #msg-3542802
The Philippines so far say no to a planned U.S. deployment in the Philippines per a ‘private agreement’ with Filipino officials for a direct U.S. role in fighting terrorists. #msg-3643385
Right after the settlement of the incident of aircraft crash over the South China Sea and prior to the occurrence of the "9.11" terrorist attack, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Secretary of State Colin Powell as well as Commander of the Pacific War Zone together paid a visit to Australia, where the two countries prepared to set up a security forum comprising the United States, Japan, Australia and the ROK, that was aimed at containing China.
On the campaign against terrorism, the Australia and the US agreed that South East Asia was a key front, affirming the importance of working with regional governments against a common threat. #msg-3542419
-Am
Why America always picks at China?
UPDATED: 08:37, July 26, 2004
Recently, the US House of Representatives, in defiance of the three Sino-US joint communiqu¨¦s and the overall situation regarding US-China relationship, passed a congressional common resolution on so-called reiterating commitments to the "Taiwan Relations Act", which fabricates the story about China's military threats, preaches arms sales to Taiwan and upgrades US-Taiwan military relations. Such gross interference in China's internal affairs has aroused indignation among the Chinese people and caused people to have serious doubts about the sincerity of the US government policy statement that voices the "one-China policy" and "opposition to Taiwan independence". That's because people have noticed that this is by no means an accidental event.
The Sino-US relations have recently drawn much concern from the people, mainly because the US government is practicing fraud on the Taiwan issue overtly or covertly, and has directed a series of provocative events: First is a White House spokesperson expressed affirmation and appreciation of Chen Shuibian's speech made on May 20. On the same day, the House of Representatives passed the "National Defense Authorization Act 2005", authorizing the Pentagon to dispatch a general-level officer or the deputy assistant defense secretary to visit Taiwan, so as to "enhance Taiwan's ability to defend itself against the Chinese mainland". Shortly afterwards, the American government allowed Annette Lu to swagger through its territory, and arrangements for Chen Shuibian's transit is under planning.
The Pentagon has recently conducted a number of military drills around the Taiwan Straits. In the name of "testing the emergency response plan", America's seven major aircraft carrier strike groups will gather near the West Pacific. The "Annual Report on China's Military Strength 2004" released recently by the US National Defense Department once again exaggerated China's military strength and threats, on the basis of which it browbeat Taiwan into buying US$18 billion worth of US weaponry. People have noticed that the United States is wantonly expanding its bases at Guam in order to increase its deployment of cruise missiles, stealth bombers, nuclear power attack submarines and even an aircraft carrier battle group. An official with the US Defense Department says bluntly that these actions are aimed at dealing with China and enabling US forces to rush to the Taiwan Straits at the fastest possible pace.
Not long ago, America not only supported Taiwan to join the WHO, now it also supports the Island to become a permanent observer in the Organization of America States. America's words and deeds have completely exposed its hypocrisy. Senior American officials have turned ¡°pursuance of the one-China policy" and "observance of the three US-China joint communiqu¨¦s" completely into slogans and empty talks, they simply have no idea to put America's promises into practice. They just mouth these promises as high-sounding words to dodge the Chinese people. Meanwhile, the US government's connivance and support of "Taiwan independence" forces are manifested in both its words and deeds. From Sen. Bush to Jr. Bush administration, the weapons America sold to Taiwan are getting better and better whether in quantity or in quality, this is especially true of the case today. The Sino-US "817" communiqu¨¦ on limiting arms sales to Taiwan has long been treated as a scrap of paper and thrown into the wastepaper basket in the office of the Pentagon.
The series of unfriendly actions taken by the American government are quite obscure to the Chinese common people, because over the past two decades since the start of reform and opening up, China has been consistently pursuing an active and constructive and friendly cooperative policy toward the United States: China has never done anything offensive to the United States; nor has it posed threats to America's security interest. However, what China has gained in return is US bombing of the innocent Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, US consistent sea and air reconnaissance in China's offshore areas and US crash of a PLA airplane. The US government not only accuses China of its human right records every year; but also frequently interferes in China's Hong Kong and Tibetan affairs; it repeatedly sends words saying that it would not give up "assistance in defense of Taiwan", and so on and so forth. Therefore, the Chinese people, while feeling indignant, cannot but raise the questions: How has China offended the United States? Why should the United States return evil for good by hurting an innocent China that is willing to get along with it peacefully and friendly. What's the reason for this? Chairman Mao once said: there is no hatred without reason in the world, nor is there love without reason. There must be reason why the United States has done so. Therefore, it is necessary to probe into the basis of America's general foreign policy, especially the base of its outlook on friend and foe. This makes it first necessary to begin with America's national goal, because a country's foreign policy is always directly subordinated to and serves its supreme national goal. Diplomacy is nothing but a tool for the realization of the supreme national goal.
What's America's supreme national goal? The "US National Strategy Report" published in the first year after the Bush administration's assumption of office set up two major goals: 1. The United States is to vigorously promote its values of democracy and freedom to the whole world. 2. to prevent any great power from rising and challenging its global leading position. The former concerns the problem of ideology and social system, while the latter bears on US world domination. A main purpose of the report is that the United States cannot allow any country or individual to pose challenge to it in theses two aspects. In fact, that is the origin of the half-century-long Coal War.
The United States and the Soviet Union were originally anti-fascist allies during WWII, however, soon after the war, the United States turned its back on the Soviet Union and regarded it as a sworn enemy for two reasons: 1. Different ideologies. The Soviet Union instituted a socialist system different from that of the United States; 2. The Truman administration believed that a strong Soviet Union would inevitably constitute a challenge to America's hegemony. Therefore America stirred up the 50-year-long Cold War on the pretext of Soviet threat, unscrupulously placing the whole world under the shadow of mushroom clouds. In March 1947, President Truman, in his State of the Union Message, clearly set "the choice of two kinds of lifestyles": One was the American style of freedom and democracy and the other was the Soviet communist system. He declared "the whole world should adopt the American system. Only when the American system became a world system could it continue to exist." The initiator of containment policy toward the Soviet Union, US diplomat George F.Kennan acknowledged in his article "I think the Soviet Union does not at all constitute military threats of any form to us. Obviously it would take a couple of years for postwar reconstruction alone. Russians have a strong desire for peace." However, because the Soviet Union instituted a socialist system, it became an "evil empire" in the eyes of Americans. Diamond, a senior researcher at Stanford University said in his summary after the Cold War, "Democracy wins the Cold War, the great struggle in ideology." The National Security Strategy of the United States of America' report begins with "The decisive battle between liberty and autocracy in the 20th century ended in a decisive victory for the forces of freedom, and for the sole mode for sustainable national prosperity-the spirit of liberty, democracy and enterprise freedom." It is thus clear that ideology has always served as the most important criterion for America to distinguish enemies from friends.
Although the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe have collapsed and the Cold War has ended, it is regrettable the Cold War mentality has not disappeared form the minds of the American decision-makers. They, like Cervantes Don Quixote, look for new enemies in illusions and finally they pick China, which adheres to the socialist road, as their potential rival. Immediately after he took office, President Bush announced openly that US relationship with China was not of "strategic partner" but of "strategic competitor". He claims the United States will "try its best to assist in defending Taiwan". Right after the settlement of the incident of aircraft crash over the South China Sea and prior to the occurrence of the "9.11" terrorist attack, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Secretary of State Colin Powell as well as Commander of the Pacific War Zone together paid a visit to Australia, where the two countries prepared to set up a security forum comprising the United States, Japan, Australia and the ROK, that was aimed at containing China.
Despite the fact that China has always prudently pursued a policy of peace and friendship toward the United States, which features "increasing trust, reducing trouble, developing cooperation and refraining from confrontation", the United States, however, obstinately sticks to its Cold War mentality, It insists on drawing line of demarcation between enemies and friends on the basis of ideology, continuing to contain friendly China as a potential rival. Why is this? Rumsfeld laid bare the secret in one remark made at a press conference during his visit to Australia. He said that the communist system China institutes is completely different from our two countries' (the United States and Australia) system, where will it head for? Whether or not it will develop as we wish? We are not clear about that, we have to guard against and contain it. From McCarthy's anti-communism hysteria, to Ronald Reagan's viewing communism as dreadful monster, and then to US neo-conservatives' obstinate anti-communism complex, it is not hard for people to see how deeply-rooted US prejudice against the socialist system is! It can be said that so long as China adheres to the socialist road, the American policy of containment and precaution against China will not have big, fundamental change. Because US decision-makers do not want to treat friendly China with their ideology-tinged spectacles taken off.
If difference in ideology and social system is US neo-conservatives' anti-China ideological root, then ensuring that the hegemonic status of the United States as the sole superpower is not subjected to challenge is the actual starting-point of the neo-conservatives' policy toward China. US neo-conservatives have repeatedly declared that a major strategic goal of the United States after the Cold War is to defend the hegemonic status of the United States as the sole superpower and to establish peace under US domination. In the eyes of the Americans, the world can only be one in which only the United States exercises supremacy over all, no individual or country is allowed to stand up to the United States as an equal and constitute a challenge to America's leading position, not even a potential challenge, no matter whether the challenge comes from Russia, Europe, or China. In fact, the Americans' leading complex has long been rooted in religious culture in the early stage of the country's immigration. However, due to limited national strength in the early period of its establishment, America could not make and carry out a grand plan. President Wilson once put forward a 14-point program designed to obtain the position as leader of an alliance after WWI, it's a pity that its ambition was unfulfilled because time was not ripe. By the end of WWII, the United States reaped a fisherman's profit and made a big fortune in the war and finally established its status as the world overlord. It has since been bent on expanding its exclusive hegemony. In the "US National Strategy Report", the Bush administration clearly stated: The United States is to maintain its super-class military strength in its advantaged position, so as to "stop the potential enemies who hope to surpass or rival US strength"; "we will ensure sufficient military force so as to fulfill our obligations and defend freedom. Our armed forces are strong enough to prevent armament expansion carried out by our potential rivals in order to catch up with and overtake our country". In his speech delivered at a military academy, which became world renowned because in which he put forward "the pre-emptive strike" military strategy, President Bush clearly indicated: "the United States possesses and intends to maintain its military power which is 'second to none'", thus the emergence of a "competitor of its equal" is absolutely impermissible.
So-called "competitors" in the mind of the United States is self-evident, they mainly refer to China, Russia, or perhaps the European Union. Although Russia has discarded the communist ideology and has the desire to return to Western civilization; although it has just recovered from its illness, its ability falls short of its wishes, in terms of military strength, however, Russia remains the only big power that can have a trial of strength with the United States, so Washington is always on the alert against Moscow.
China, in America's mind, is another major rival. From the White House's National Security Strategy of the United States of America, to the Pentagon's annual reports on China's military strength, and to Congress' reports of all shapes on the question of China-all deliberately exaggerate the negative effect of China's economic expansion on America and the world at large. Meanwhile, these reports fabricate the story about threats posed by China's military modernization to America and neighboring countries. From the reports, people cannot but come to the following conclusion: America doesn't want to see a strong China, still less wish to see the reunification of China. In the eyes of US neo-conservatives, a strong and unified China is necessarily a powerful competitor who will inevitably constitute a threat to America's superpower status. They think so despite China's repeated declarations that it will not be a superpower even when it becomes strong in the future; it will absolutely not seek world hegemony. Such declarations are not only determined by China's national character featuring peace and self-content and its historical and cultural tradition, but are also determined by New China's foreign policy featuring peace, independence, good-neighborliness and friendship.
Recently, as Asian countries have gradually realized that a prosperous and strong China will bring about opportunity, not threat. The "China Threat Theory" is losing its market in the world. Only America still clings to its ideological bias and hegemonic psyche. It insists on singing the old tune of "China Threat" and refuses to quit the international stage. This is nothing strange because the religious fanatical, bigoted mindset of the neo-conservatives is determined by America's unique historical and cultural traditions and their national character. Perhaps it can be said that the root of the near religion-type outlook on good and evil and on friend and foe as manifested in the US foreign policy, as well as self-glorifying leader complex, can all be found in their traditions. The noted American writer Herman Melville expressed the nation's mission like this: "We Americans are the God's specially chosen people... we steer the Ark of world freedom. The God has predestined that human expectations and great things come from our race: We feel great things in our souls, other countries must quickly follow our footsteps", for more than 300 years, this innate mission and the concept of racial superiority have deeply stamped in the ideology of the American nation. The Americans, like fanatic missionaries, are trying to impose American freedom, democracy and concept of value on the world's "inferior" races and civilizations. This concept of towering above others is inevitably reflected in the American foreign policy.
An American historian once wrote:¡°To some American leaders, the sense of mission is interpreted as ethical and religious. We are chosen by the God to direct and educate other nations in the aspects of fairness and justice because of our moral conduct. While some other leaders think we are obliged to spread civilization to other regions in the world, or even rule the savage and ignorant nations for their benefit." During WWI, US President Wilson said, "America enjoys limitless privileges in fulfilling its destiny-related tasks and saving the world." Prior to the Gulf War, the then US President George Bush said that among various nations in the world, America is the only nation that has both moral standards and means to maintain world peace and lead the world. The current President Bush once called the anti-terror war "new crusade". This is the voice uttered from the bottom of his heart even though the remark was later withdrawn. From the interpretations of the American cultural tradition, we can understand why America calls the illegitimate war against Iraq an action to "liberate the Iraqi people". Why it imposes the "greater Middle East Reform" plan on the Arab countries. But unfortunately, the result of America's efforts in pushing its "ideals" by force often goes against its wishes and runs into a brick wall. Worse still, it brings misfortunes to the opposite side. "Foreign policy based on moral values, like what Wilson and Dulles had executed, doesn't make the world more moral. On the contrary, it leads to blind alley, or a series of catastrophes," commented Germen scholar Denhorf.
As an important part of US foreign policy, its China policy is certainly examined under the microscope of the decision-makers' world outlook and their concept of friend and foe. The examiners' adhesion to Cold War mentality, and insistence on differentiating enemies from friends on the basis of ideology determine that they inevitably find fault with and unscrupulously blame China. Meanwhile, neo-conservatives who grew up under the influence of America's innate mission-related religious culture are spoiled by the nation's super strength, and have fostered a hegemonic psyche characterized by "self-importance". They don't tolerate emergence of new competitors. So they keep on making a big fuss about human rights, utter irresponsible remarks on the issue of China's Tibet and Hong Kong, and practice fraud overtly or covertly on the Taiwan question, trying to prevent China from its advance toward reunification and mightiness. Probably this is the fundamental reason why China always sends peach and plum to the United States while the latter invariably gives China brambles in return.
Philippine army asks for help to fight militants from neighbours
Interesting that the Philippines are not asking for help from the U.S. who is itching to fight in the Philippines.
Background:
The Pentagon's leak of a "private agreement" with Filipino officials for a direct U.S. role in fighting the terror group triggered a political crisis in the Philippines, because the country's constitution forbids foreign troops from operating on its soil. The provision is implicitly aimed at the United States, which had to close down its local military bases in 1992.
The agreement has led to loud calls in Manila for the ouster of "traitorous" defense officials. Opposition parties are accusing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Americanizing the fight against domestic unrest, specifically against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the strongest Muslim rebel force, which has 20,000 fighters and controls "liberated territories" on the big island of Mindanao. http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=713013b4811f4cd741f2e3b2f805343f
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently ruled out the use of U.S. combat troops against the Abu Sayyaf terror gang, quieting speculations that the deadly March 3 bombing in the Davao City airport on the island of Mindanao could be used as a pretext for pushing through with the planned deployment.
However, the plan could spring to life again. With pre-emption driving the foreign policy of President George W. Bush, there is one reason Washington is eager to fight the ragtag band of kidnappers: location.
More important than delivering a coup de grace to the rebels, successful U.S. operations in the southern Philippines could give the United States a forward presence in the Southeast Asian sea lanes. These waters are critical to the movement of U.S. forces from the Western Pacific to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The United States lost a strategic position when Filipino opposition and the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo volcano forced the closure of American military bases in 1992.
More immediately, the United States could stake out a staging area for future strikes against Islamic extremists in Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, and possibly in Malaysia -- each just hours away by smuggler speedboat. Widespread anti-U.S. sentiment makes stationing American troops unlikely in either country. http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=a6fd6ed7f7ea38531ed7f7853ae7c383 #msg-3643385
In excess of one million tonnes of oil a year -- well over 80 percent of China's imports -- are shipped through the Strait of Malacca, if the U.S. gains control through the Philippines China would be in big trouble. Beijing is distinctly uneasy about the risk of blockage should fighting with the United States break out over Taiwan. #msg-3700480
Philippine army asks for help to fight militants from neighbours 09/09/2004 -- 11:10(GMT+7)
Jakarta (VNA) - The Philippine army has asked its Indonesian and Malaysian counterparts to help fight the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist organisation, Indonesia's new agency Antara reported on Wednesday.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the 14th ASEAN Armies Riffle Meet (AARM) on Wednesday in Cilodong, Western Java province, Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Efren L. Abu stressed that JI in Southeast Asia and MILF led by the Abu Sayyaf Muslim group in Mindanao island and other areas in southern Philippines have killed many innocent people. The militants and terrorists, he warned, are likely to expand to neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.
Indonesian Army Chief Gen. Ryanmizard Ryacudu said the fifth ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM) that ended on Tuesday in Jakarta aimed to stop the spread of terrorist and separatist activities in the region.--Enditem
The United States is trying for control of the Strait of Malacca. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during a visit to Singapore that he hoped to have US troops fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia "pretty soon". His comments fuelled speculation that the United States wants to deploy US forces in the Strait of Malacca, the narrow and busy shipping lane straddled by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore that is seen as a likely terrorist target. More than one million tonnes of oil a year -- well over 80 percent of China's imports -- are shipped through the narrow strait. #msg-3404130 #msg-3542419
RP, China sign $1.6-B accords Hu cites ‘golden age’ of ties at Congress joint session
He said they would discuss the possibility of joint sea border patrols and even joint military exercises.
This will not please Bush who is itching to fight in the Philippines.
With pre-emption driving the foreign policy of President George W. Bush, there is one reason Washington is eager to fight the ragtag band of kidnappers: location.
The Chinese are becoming masters of indirect influence—by establishing business communities and diplomatic outposts, by negotiating construction and trade agreements. Pulsing with consumer and martial energy, and boasting a peasantry that, unlike others in history, is overwhelmingly literate, China constitutes the principal conventional threat to America's liberal imperium.
RP, China sign $1.6-B accords Hu cites ‘golden age’ of ties at Congress joint session
By GENALYN D. KABILING
Largest chunk goes to Surigao mining project
The Philippines and China yesterday invigorated economic cooperation with the signing of 14 agreements worth at least $1.6 billion in investments and loans, wherein the two largest deals seek to develop the railway and mining sectors in the country.
The two countries also agreed to cooperate in maritime safety and marine environmental protection and to explore other areas of defense teamwork, possibly including joint military exercises on anti-terrorism in the future.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Chinese President Hu Jintao witnessed the signing of the 10 bilateral and four business accords covering $1.10 billion investments, $524.2 million in loans, and $2.5 million in grant to fund several infrastructure projects.
The business deals were inked by top Filipino and Chinese government and business officials after a 45-minute closed-door bilateral meeting between Mrs. Arroyo and Hu in Malacañang. It was the second day of the three-day state visit of Hu in Manila, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines.
The biggest investment is the $950 million dollar investment by Jinchuan and Shanghai Baosteel Company to rehabilitate a nickel and cobalt mining plant in Surigao province. This is considered the largest foreign mining investment since the Supreme Court recently opened the country’s mining sector to foreign ownership.
Beijing, seeking to expand its economic and security influence in the region and secure resources for its booming economy, also agreed to provide $500 million in loans for the construction of the second phase of North Railway project linking Manila to the Luzon provinces.
In her remarks at the state banquet in the Palace, President Arroyo hailed the beginning of the "golden era" in the RP-China relations with the state visit of Hu, citing the renewed cooperation in political, economic, and cultural fields.
Mrs. Arroyo said she is looking the Philippine-China trade will likely climb to $30 billion by 2010 from the current level of about $10 billion a year.
The China-based Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd also signed an accord to provide $27 million in equipment to upgrade the existing telephone networks of the Digitel Mobile Philippines.
The state-run China National Offshore Oil Co. inked a pact with Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) on a $10 million in prospective investment in oil and gas exploration off the coast of northwest Palawan.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri said the bilateral meeting between Mrs. Arroyo and Hu "shows that China is very much willing to finance the development projects of the Philippines."
"They are showing their willingness to help us out especially in our infrastructure projects," Neri told reporters shortly after the signing ceremony.
The two countries also agreed to open a Chinese consulate in Laoag and establish consultation mechanism to facilitate China’s commercial investments in infrastructure covering the fields of railway, electric power, energy and construction.
Other bilateral pacts signed were the promotion of trade and investment cooperation, the early harvest program allowing Philippine tropical fruit exports to China, special treatment for Philippine rice, and cooperation on youth affairs.
On security, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Ministry of Communications of the China also signed a memorandum of understanding for bilateral cooperation in maritime safety, marine environmental, port state control, human resources development and information exchange.
Another $24.2 million in loan was given for the acquisition by the Bureau of Customs of non-intrusive scanning equipment from China.
Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. said the Philippines and China agreed to explore the possibility of forging military ties in the future.
In a news briefing in the Palace, Cruz said the security officials from both countries will hold dialogue next month to explore possible cooperation in anti-terrorism and disaster management.
He said they would discuss the possibility of joint sea border patrols and even joint military exercises.
Cruz immediately downplayed the renewed RP-China military relations might irritate the United States, Manila’s traditional military ally. "This will not affect our strong relations with the United States...It’s better to foster good relations to avoid misunderstanding in the future," he added.
Beijing agreed to give the Philippines $1.2 million in military assistance when Cruz visited Beijing last year and agreed to increase exchanges between military officers. The two countries have rival claims on the Spratly island group as well as the Scarborough Shoal, both in the South China Sea.
Early in the day, Malacañang gave a red carpet welcome for Hu and his delegation, starting with full military arrival honors with 21-gun salute at the Palace grounds.
Welcoming the guests were President Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and several cabinet officials, including new Philippine Ambassador to China Teofisto Guingona Jr.
Following the review of the military troops, the two leaders took the ceremonial walk at the Palace gardens while the 27-member Lostrobadores Rondalla of Cainta Elementary School serenaded them with folk songs.
Afterwards, the two leaders went inside Malacanang for their bilateral meeting while First Gentleman accompanied China’s First Lady Liu Yongqing for a separate tour of the Palace.
President Arroyo also presented to Hu a souvenir frame of special Philippine stamps to commemorate his visit and to highlight the three decades of diplomatic ties between their two countries.
Last night, the President hosted a state banquet of salmon and lobsters in honor of the visiting Chinese leader and his party in the Palace.
Attending the grand banquet were former Presidents Fidel Ramos, Corazon Aquino, House Speaker Jose De Venecia, several cabinet members, and a number of Filipino-Chinese taipans.
China’s trade and investment ties with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries have grown rapidly in recent years. China ranks as the fourth biggest trade partner of the Philippines with volume of $13.3 billion in 2004 from 12th biggest in 2001.
Hu exhorts Congress to ‘seize the opportunities’
By BEN R. ROSARIO
Stressing that political mutual trust has strengthened the 30 years of diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines, Chinese President Hu Jintao yesterday called on leaders of the two countries to "seize the opportunities" in adding a new chapter to the fruitful relationship.
In his 20-minute address before the Joint Session of Congress, President Hu cited the successes of the bilateral relations between China and the Philippines, saying he fully agrees with President Arroyo who described the two countries’ diplomatic ties over the past 30 years as a "golden age."
Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia jointly welcomed the Chinese leader and his delegation and took turns in expressing their appreciation for his acceptance of the Congress invitation to address the Joint Session.
President Hu arrived with his wife, Madame Liu Yongqing, who was separately welcomed by Mrs. Mila Drilon and Mrs. Georgina de Venecia.
De Venecia conferred to the visiting Chinese leader the Congressional Medal of Achievement in recognition of Hu’s espousal of market economies with former leaders Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin that "delivered 400 million of their people from poverty."
Hu, who delivered his speech in Mandarin, underscored the "sound momentum" taken by the China-Asean strategic partnership which had shown "marked increase of political trust and steady elevation of cooperation level."
Vowing to fully support the plan of action for the implementation of the China-Asean Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, the Chinese leader said his country will move to carry it out "in a more comprehensive, systematic, regular and pragmatic manner."
Hu said China is looking forward to the launching of the comprehensive tariffs reduction. His government, Hu said, will encourage more Chinese enterprises to initiate joint business ventures in Asean countries and participate actively in the development of the East Asian Growth Area of which Philippines is a member.
"China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and sticks to the path of peaceful development. It stands for a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, seeks to settle existing differences through dialogue and promotes common security through cooperation," he stressed.
Hu said development and cooperation are priorities that could guarantee prosperity and peace in Asia.
"As economic globalization and regional integration develop in depth, more Asian countries have realized the importance of cooperation," he said while pointing out that Asia accounts for a quarter of the world economy.
"However, we must not lose sight that threats of terrorism, separatism and religious extremism continue to render Asian peace and stability uncertain and that uneven development, poverty, infectious diseases and others remain severe challenges to Asian economic and social progress," he added.
On China-RP relationship, the Chinese chief executive noted that the two countries "have taken the lead in making the breakthrough" for the joint development in the South China Sea which had previously been considered as a major problem in diplomatic relations among countries contesting territorial ownership of the Spratlys group of islands.
According to Hu, such move transformed the South China Sea into a "sea of friendship and cooperation."
"Practice over the past 30 years of diplomatic ties shows that political mutual trust is an important basis for the development of China-Philippines relations, mutually beneficial cooperation their driving force and promoting peace and common development in strategic direction," he said.
He said, "Both sides should give full scope to the respective advantages, further expand trade, increase cooperation in agriculture, fishery, infrastructure, development, mineral development, tourism and other fields and bring our economic cooperation to an even higher level."
De Venecia expressed his gratitude to Hu for his support to Philippine agriculture, fisheries and mining; and the modernization of the Philippine railways.
"Our two countries commitment to stability and development brings closer the hundred years of peace we envision for the Asia Pacific," De Venecia said.
He cited Hu for quietly resolving bilateral tension with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
"In the visit to Beijing of Kuomintang leaders, we hope the ruling party in Taiwan will appreciate the recourse to party-to-party diplomacy to resolve contentious issues across the Taiwans traits," De Venecia added.
Among those who welcome Hu upon his arrival at the Batasan Pambansa building in Quezon City were Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan; Senators Alfredo Lim, Juan Flavier and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona.
The House welcoming delegation was composed of Majority Leader Prospero Nograles; Reps. Rodolfo Bacani (Manila); Cynthia Villar (Las Piñas); Cecilia Jalosjos-Carreon (Zamboanga del Sur); Edcel Lagman (Albay); Ignacio Arroyo (Negros Occidental) and Mikey Arroyo (Pampanga).
Former President Fidel V. Ramos was also present, joining foreign dignitaries in the gallery.
Meanwhile, Speaker De Venecia said President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the Philippines and his speech before a joint session of Congress opened the door to a golden age in RP-China relations.
"Our two countries’ commitment to stability and development brings closer the hundred years of peace we envision for the Asia Pacific," de Venecia said.
Likewise, De Venecia noted China’s vital influence and efforts that may eventually "bring the six powers involved back to the negotiating table" and break the nuclear stalemate on the Korean Peninsula.
Noting Hu’s statesmanship in the quest for peace, De Venecia cited the Chinese President’s meeting in Bandung, Indonesia with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, "quietly" resolving the recent bilateral tensions.
The House leader also praised China’s "peaceful rise" in the greatest emancipation that history has ever seen —- delivering some 400 million people from poverty.
Congress confers highest award on Hu
Visiting President Hu Jintao of the Peoples’ Republic of China yesterday was conferred the Congressional Medal of Achievement as Speaker Jose de Venecia and other senior leaders of the House of Representatives extolled Hu’s "statesman’s role in guiding China’s peaceful development."
In solemn ceremonies before Hu’s address before theJoint Session of Philippine Congress, De Venecia said the Chinese leader is turning his country from the "pursuit of pure growth to the building of a harmonious national society focused on social justice and the well-being of those whom development is leaving behind."
On the second day of his three-day state visit, Hu and his official party arrived at 4 p.m. at the Batasan complex.
In the House citation for Hu read by Rep. Antonio Cuenco, the House recognized the espousal of market economics by Hu and the reform-minded Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin that "delivered 400 million of their people from poverty."
Hu was also cited for his leadership in helping "integrate China and the Southeast Asian states in an ASEAN-10 plus one free-trade area," and in "supporting Japan and Korea into an Asean plus Three Economic Community."
Hu was also recognized for his support of the tri-nation seismic program in the South China Sea between the Philippines, Vietnam and China. De Venecia said the program would likely lead to a "peaceful settlement and development in the disputed areas and unimpeded maritime traffic in the China Sea."
RP may award Palawan oil contract to China
MANILA (Reuters) — The Philippines expects to award a service contract to China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) to drill for oil in the western part of the country, the head of the Philippine state oil firm said yesterday.
Officials from the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) and state-owned CNOOC signed an agreement earlier to study prospects for oil and gas in the Calamian area off the northwest coast of Palawan island.
"We are now conducting studies in view of awarding a service contract by September to China’s National Offshore Oil Company," Eduardo Manalac, PNOC president, told Reuters.
"We are just reviewing existing studies on a 6,000-10,000 square kilometer area near the Malampaya gas fields. Hopefully, we start drilling for oil wells in one or two years."
The Calamian area is part of Philippine territory.
CNOOC, PNOC and Vietnam’s state oil firm signed a separate agreement in March to conduct seismic studies in the disputed Spratlys in the South China Sea.
The Philippines, which imports nearly all of its oil requirement, has opened about 46 oil and gas blocks around the offshore Malampaya natural gas field in Palawan for foreign bids.
There are 16 sedimentary basins with a potential of 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the area, according to a resource assessment conducted by the government.
Had the Philippines not pulled more troops from Iraq there would have been a strong possibility of increased terrorists’ attacks in the Philippines which would have been used as a pretext for pushing through a planned U.S. deployment in the Philippines per a "private agreement" with Filipino officials for a direct U.S. role in fighting terrorists.
The U.S. foray into the Philippines is just the first step in a wider operation envisioned against Islamic insurgencies in Southeast Asia.
On the campaign against terrorism, the Australia and the US agreed that South East Asia was a key front, affirming the importance of working with regional governments against a common threat. #msg-3542419
The United States, however, may be underestimating the risks of engaging in combat in the region for the first time since the Vietnam War. Already, the White House has stepped into a quagmire of unintended consequences.
The Pentagon's leak of a "private agreement" with Filipino officials for a direct U.S. role in fighting the terror group triggered a political crisis in the Philippines, because the country's constitution forbids foreign troops from operating on its soil. The provision is implicitly aimed at the United States, which had to close down its local military bases in 1992.
The agreement has led to loud calls in Manila for the ouster of "traitorous" defense officials. Opposition parties are accusing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Americanizing the fight against domestic unrest, specifically against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the strongest Muslim rebel force, which has 20,000 fighters and controls "liberated territories" on the big island of Mindanao.
Why the U.S. is Itching to Fight in the Philippines News Analysis, Rene P. Ciria-Cruz, Pacific News Service, Mar 05, 2003 A deadly bombing came in the wake of Washington's decision to shelve its plan to send special forces to the Philippines to directly engage the Abu Sayyaf. However, the desire to stake out a U.S. military presence remains, and the plan could be revived in the future.
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently ruled out the use of U.S. combat troops against the Abu Sayyaf terror gang, quieting speculations that the deadly March 3 bombing in the Davao City airport on the island of Mindanao could be used as a pretext for pushing through with the planned deployment.
However, the plan could spring to life again. With pre-emption driving the foreign policy of President George W. Bush, there is one reason Washington is eager to fight the ragtag band of kidnappers: location.
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