12-08-2016, 11:05 PM
*** 9-Dec-16 World View -- China says its South China Sea military buildup is a boon to the world
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Philippines to reject US use of its bases for South China Sea patrols
****
![[Image: g161208b.jpg]](http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g161208b.jpg)
Chinese army soldiers plant vegetables on Fiery Cross Reef, which China has illegally annexed (Global Times)
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the country
would not allow the US military to use its base in the Philippines for
its freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea. In the
past, some US aircraft and ships stopped in the Philippines on the way
to the South China Sea patrols, but Lorenzana says that the US can now
instead use its bases in Guam or Okinawa.
The awkward statement comes from the policy of new Philippines
president Rodrigo R. Duterte. He announced a cutoff of relations with
the United States first by calling President Obama the "son of a
whore," and then he traveled to Beijing and sucked up to China's
president Xi Jinping.
China's claims to the South China Sea were eviscerated by a ruling of
United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in July.
In particular, the Tribunal said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"[The Tribunal] FINDS that Scarborough Shoal has been
> a traditional fishing ground for fishermen of many nationalities
> and DECLARES that China has, through the operation of its official
> vessels at Scarborough Shoal from May 2012 onwards, unlawfully
> prevented fishermen from the Philippines from engaging in
> traditional fishing at Scarborough Shoal."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Apparently Duterte ceded the Scarborough Shoal to China in their
meeting, but he was rewarded when China graciously decided to allow
Philippines fishermen to fish there again, as they had been doing for
centuries prior to 2012.
The new announcement by Lorenzana is consistent with Duterte's
policy of submission to China, but it seems unlikely to be popular
with the Philippines people who, as I've previously reported,
have a 92% favorable view of the US, but only a 44% favorable
view of China.
The mutual xenophobia between the Chinese and Philippine people is
substantial, and it would take just one accident or unpleasant
incident to stoke nationalist feelings in one country against the
other, and force Duterte to change his submissive policy. As I've
written many times, from the point of view of Generational Dynamics
it's the masses of people, the generations, not the politicians, who
decide a country's policies. Philippines Star and International Business Times
Related Articles
****
**** China says its South China Sea military buildup is a boon to the world
****
A Chinese military newspaper says that China's vast military buildup
in the South China Sea is a boon to everyone in the region, and to the
whole world. "China's construction in the South China Sea has turned
its islands into the best-equipped, most advanced bases in the region
with airports, hospitals, agriculture and 4G mobile signal."
Furthermore, there are more than 20 scientific research projects,
dealing with issues such as seawater desalination, refuse disposal,
and marine ecology protection.
However, the paper adds, "So this region is advantageous
geographically, and when conflict begins, who controls this region
will dominate." It also quotes a Chinese joke: "When the US sends
their warships to scare us, we just fill in one or two more islands to
make ourselves calm down." Global Times (Beijing)
Related Articles
****
**** Vietnam and Australia reject China's claims
****
The Vietnamese are not buying the message that China's annexation of
the South China Sea is a boon to the world.
Satellite imagery shows that Vietnam has begun dredging operations in
Ladd Reef in a corner of the Spratly Islands that China is now
annexing, along with the rest of the South China Sea. Although the
purpose of the dredging cannot yet be determined, it appears to
similar to China's activities in creating artificial islands and
military bases. However, the Vietnamese efforts are minuscule
compared China's vast militarization efforts.
Vietnam has also fortified five of its bases in the Spratly Islands
with rocket launchers -- a move described in August by China state-run
media as "a terrible mistake."
Vietnam has its own historic claim to the South China Sea. In 1836,
the King of Hue began dispatching soldiers once a year to the islands,
hunting for pearls, giant clams and salvaged treasure from passing
boats, often European, which sank on treacherous reefs. This regal
connection is significant. According to a Vietnamese official whose
family settled the islands in the 1600s, "Vietnam is the rightful
owner of the Paracels and Spratlys."
Australia is also not buying China's claim that its vast military
expansion in the South China Sea is a boon to the world. According to
one Australian analyst:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"China has built six large islands — three substantial
> air bases and three sizeable electronic surveillance
> installations. With this, China effectively has moved 1100km
> south towards Australia and deep into the geographic heart of the
> Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN].
>
> The new facilities’ size allows China to deploy off northern
> Borneo an air combat force larger and more capable than any
> current ASEAN air force. China can easily enforce an air defense
> identification zone across the South China Sea.
>
> More worryingly, China for the first time poses a realistic air
> threat to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and all of Borneo. With
> these new air bases, China today militarily dominates the central
> ASEAN region."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
The analyst recommends that Australia, the US and ASEAN "build
regional resilience to Chinese threats." Empty words, since no such
resilience is possible, short of full-scale war. Australian Broadcasting and The Australian
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, China, Philippines, South China Sea,
Delfin Lorenzana, Rodrigo R. Duterte, Xi Jinping,
United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration, Scarborough Shoal,
Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Vietnam, Australia,
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Philippines to reject US use of its bases for South China Sea patrols
- China says its South China Sea military buildup is a boon to the world
- Vietnam and Australia reject China's claims
****
**** Philippines to reject US use of its bases for South China Sea patrols
****
Chinese army soldiers plant vegetables on Fiery Cross Reef, which China has illegally annexed (Global Times)
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the country
would not allow the US military to use its base in the Philippines for
its freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea. In the
past, some US aircraft and ships stopped in the Philippines on the way
to the South China Sea patrols, but Lorenzana says that the US can now
instead use its bases in Guam or Okinawa.
The awkward statement comes from the policy of new Philippines
president Rodrigo R. Duterte. He announced a cutoff of relations with
the United States first by calling President Obama the "son of a
whore," and then he traveled to Beijing and sucked up to China's
president Xi Jinping.
China's claims to the South China Sea were eviscerated by a ruling of
United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in July.
In particular, the Tribunal said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"[The Tribunal] FINDS that Scarborough Shoal has been
> a traditional fishing ground for fishermen of many nationalities
> and DECLARES that China has, through the operation of its official
> vessels at Scarborough Shoal from May 2012 onwards, unlawfully
> prevented fishermen from the Philippines from engaging in
> traditional fishing at Scarborough Shoal."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Apparently Duterte ceded the Scarborough Shoal to China in their
meeting, but he was rewarded when China graciously decided to allow
Philippines fishermen to fish there again, as they had been doing for
centuries prior to 2012.
The new announcement by Lorenzana is consistent with Duterte's
policy of submission to China, but it seems unlikely to be popular
with the Philippines people who, as I've previously reported,
have a 92% favorable view of the US, but only a 44% favorable
view of China.
The mutual xenophobia between the Chinese and Philippine people is
substantial, and it would take just one accident or unpleasant
incident to stoke nationalist feelings in one country against the
other, and force Duterte to change his submissive policy. As I've
written many times, from the point of view of Generational Dynamics
it's the masses of people, the generations, not the politicians, who
decide a country's policies. Philippines Star and International Business Times
Related Articles
- Philippines humiliates China in harsh Hague Tribunal ruling over South China Sea (13-Jul-2016)
- Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte in comic dance with China (23-Oct-2016)
- China's media 'accidentally' claim Philippines as part of China (10-May-2012)
****
**** China says its South China Sea military buildup is a boon to the world
****
A Chinese military newspaper says that China's vast military buildup
in the South China Sea is a boon to everyone in the region, and to the
whole world. "China's construction in the South China Sea has turned
its islands into the best-equipped, most advanced bases in the region
with airports, hospitals, agriculture and 4G mobile signal."
Furthermore, there are more than 20 scientific research projects,
dealing with issues such as seawater desalination, refuse disposal,
and marine ecology protection.
However, the paper adds, "So this region is advantageous
geographically, and when conflict begins, who controls this region
will dominate." It also quotes a Chinese joke: "When the US sends
their warships to scare us, we just fill in one or two more islands to
make ourselves calm down." Global Times (Beijing)
Related Articles
- China's 'ironclad proof' of South China Sea claims revealed as hoax (22-Jun-2016)
- China's military deploys bombers and closes part of the South China Sea (19-Jul-2016)
****
**** Vietnam and Australia reject China's claims
****
The Vietnamese are not buying the message that China's annexation of
the South China Sea is a boon to the world.
Satellite imagery shows that Vietnam has begun dredging operations in
Ladd Reef in a corner of the Spratly Islands that China is now
annexing, along with the rest of the South China Sea. Although the
purpose of the dredging cannot yet be determined, it appears to
similar to China's activities in creating artificial islands and
military bases. However, the Vietnamese efforts are minuscule
compared China's vast militarization efforts.
Vietnam has also fortified five of its bases in the Spratly Islands
with rocket launchers -- a move described in August by China state-run
media as "a terrible mistake."
Vietnam has its own historic claim to the South China Sea. In 1836,
the King of Hue began dispatching soldiers once a year to the islands,
hunting for pearls, giant clams and salvaged treasure from passing
boats, often European, which sank on treacherous reefs. This regal
connection is significant. According to a Vietnamese official whose
family settled the islands in the 1600s, "Vietnam is the rightful
owner of the Paracels and Spratlys."
Australia is also not buying China's claim that its vast military
expansion in the South China Sea is a boon to the world. According to
one Australian analyst:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"China has built six large islands — three substantial
> air bases and three sizeable electronic surveillance
> installations. With this, China effectively has moved 1100km
> south towards Australia and deep into the geographic heart of the
> Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN].
>
> The new facilities’ size allows China to deploy off northern
> Borneo an air combat force larger and more capable than any
> current ASEAN air force. China can easily enforce an air defense
> identification zone across the South China Sea.
>
> More worryingly, China for the first time poses a realistic air
> threat to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and all of Borneo. With
> these new air bases, China today militarily dominates the central
> ASEAN region."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
The analyst recommends that Australia, the US and ASEAN "build
regional resilience to Chinese threats." Empty words, since no such
resilience is possible, short of full-scale war. Australian Broadcasting and The Australian
Related Articles
- Vietnam deploys rocket launchers in South China Sea to confront China (11-Aug-2016)
- US Navy's Freedom of Navigation Ops in South China Sea to grow in scope and complexity (03-Feb-2016)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, China, Philippines, South China Sea,
Delfin Lorenzana, Rodrigo R. Duterte, Xi Jinping,
United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration, Scarborough Shoal,
Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Vietnam, Australia,
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
