War

[chaychay644]

The Chinese newspaper The Global Times called a war against Philippines & Vietnam over South China Sea..

Let us all pray that this won't happen..

[jadegil6]

For many years China has been trying to gain control of the Spratly Islands, which is a chain of 190 islands, coral outcrops and reefs which are believed to be sitting atop of large deposits of oil and natural gas. There are 5 countries that claim rights to these islands. There are 2 other island groups in the South China Sea that China is also trying to gain control of.


The US Secretary of Defence, Hillary Clinton, stopped in Manila on November 15th to discuss the issues with the President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III, and to sign a declaration affirming the United States commitments under the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, which has reached it's 60 year anniversary this month.

The United States has been a trusted ally of the Philippines, and fought to defeat the Japenese in World War II, and drive them out of the Philippines. The US will be there again if needed.

I think this is more of a rattling of sabers, and it will never come to any military confrontations.

[eStu]

Though concerning, those words are not official policy, they're the opinion of an individual.

No doubt China is hungry for energy resources, but I don't think it would risk the negative reactions that could come from overt military action. China needs to stay friendly with countries in order to continue selling them products, at this point I can't see them threatening their export revenues by destroying relationships. I think that peaceful negotiations are more likely, but the fact that even individuals would be willing or able to publish such opinions is a worrying indication of an envirionment fostering unhealthy nationalistic ideas.

I think that such a suggestion of settling 'neighbourhood disputes' by force is insulting. Chinese officials should be having a stern word with the author - and he should limit himself to living out his military fantasies with his toy soldiers.

There is no doubt that Asia is now seen as a crucial region in world politics. US president Obama recently stated as much whilst visiting in Australia and Indonesia, and the US has made an agreement with Australia to base thousands of troops in Australia's northern-most capital. I can understand how that agreement might have caused some annoyance or discomfort to some Asian neighbours because the way it was announced and reported in the media was not very delicate or diplomatic.

[abufarsi]

just 2 months ago I saw a compliant reported on Yahoo that China arrested several Vietnamese fishermen. China admitted that Vietnam claims the water they were arrested in, but also claims that that same water was "under China's sphere of influence". In my personal opinion I think that China is doomed to fail due to the gross inequality between poverty in the countryside and relative affluence of the cities. The sooner the better for me and most of my Filipino friends.