Philippine Defense Forces [Archive] - Page 71

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 12:07 AM

Manila seeks int'l support in standoff with China (http://www.sbsun.com/ci_20459468/manila-seeks-intl-support-standoff-china)

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines warned Monday that China's sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea may eventually threaten freedom of navigation in the busy region and called on Western and Asian countries to take a stand against any such potential threat.

China's ambiguous territorial claims have brought it into a tense, 14-day high seas standoff with the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal, which both Asian countries claim. China's aggressive actions at the shoal—including ordering ships to leave and flying a Chinese plane low over one of them—show what it could do to the rest of the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

Chinese surveillance ships have told a lone Philippine coast guard vessel to leave the uninhabited but resource-rich shoal, which lies between the northwestern Philippines and the South China Sea, saying China has sovereignty over the area. The Filipino vessel has refused to leave, saying it's Philippine territory.

Only one Chinese surveillance ship remained in the area after two others pulled out on Sunday, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Manila was quoted as saying Monday by the official Xinhua News Agency.

"The withdrawal of the two ships proves once again China is not escalating the situation as some people said, but de-escalating the situation," Zhang Hua was quoted as saying.

He said
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China is prepared to settle the standoff through "friendly diplomatic consultations."

So far, the two sides have failed to resolve the tense impasse.

China, the Philippines and other countries have also been engaged in long-simmering territorial rifts elsewhere in the South China Sea, which is crisscrossed by one of the world's busiest commercial sea lanes, accounts for about 10 percent of the annual global fisheries catch and is believed to have rich oil and gas deposits.

China has claimed virtually the entire South China Sea for years. Now, it could aggressively assert its claims as shown by its actions at Scarborough, Hernandez told reporters. "This is a manifestation of a potential threat to freedom of navigation as well as unimpeded commerce in the area."

Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario said that with Beijing claiming almost everything in the South China Sea, the message is they "can set the rules for anybody."

"I think the current standoff is a manifestation of a larger threat to many nations," he told ABS-CBN TV network in an interview. "They should be concerned if they're interested in maintaining the freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce."

Del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will raise the Scarborough Shoal incident when they meet their U.S. counterparts in Washington next week, Hernandez told a news conference, adding that the United States has been concerned about ensuring freedom of navigation in Southeast Asian waters.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin reiterated China's sovereignty over the shoal, which Beijing calls Huangyan island, and added that involving other nations in the dispute would only complicate the problem.

The International Crisis Group, meanwhile, said in a report Monday that China's deployment of more surveillance and paramilitary ships, which are tasked to assert Beijing's unclear territorial claims, risks more confrontations in the South China Sea.

The Chinese ships have figured in major flare-ups, including in the standoff at Scarborough, the ICG said.

The Brussels-based group said China has so far refused to define the exact extent of its claims, causing confusion and fostering potential conflicts.

Some Chinese patrol ships were unaware of the limits of the areas where they were supposed to assert sovereignty, the ICG said.

Philippine officials have asked China to bring their disputes to the United Nations for arbitration, a process that would require both to delineate their claims. But Chinese officials have insisted on negotiating with other claimants individually.

The Scarborough confrontation erupted April 10 when a Filipino warship attempted to arrest Chinese fishermen who were accused of illegally entering and poaching endangered species at the shoal. Two Chinese surveillance ships prevented the arrests and the fishermen slipped away.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 12:16 AM

I must say, forumers in the Indian Defence Forum are really keeping tabs on this one :okay:

Chinese gunboat patrolling Panatag (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=800121&publicationSubCategoryId=63)
By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated April 24, 2012 12:00 AM Comments (4) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - A Chinese gunboat has arrived in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, escalating tension as the standoff entered its second week, Philippine officials said yesterday.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin called the deployment of the unnamed patrol boat another violation of the country’s sovereignty by China. He said the Philippines should strongly protest the incident.

“If there’s someone who acted with restraint, it is us Filipinos… They (Chinese gunboat) entered our territory. It is well within our territorial waters,” Gazmin told radio station dzRH.

“When we saw that our maritime laws had been violated, we called the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) and the Coast Guard came to enforce our maritime laws,” he added.

The report of the latest alleged intrusion came a day after Chinese embassy spokesman Zhang Hua declared that they have deployed only fisheries and law enforcement ships, not military vessels, in Panatag Shoal, located just 124 nautical miles from Zambales and well within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“We have been very restrained up until now. One of our surveillance ships has left,” Zhang said in a text message.

Gazmin noted that MY Sarangani, a vessel commissioned by the government to conduct archaeological surveys, had been harassed by a Chinese ship. He said the researchers left the area even without completing their task.

“They (passengers of MY Sarangani) were harassed and were told to leave by the Chinese. The French divers that undertook the archaeological survey were pressured. They felt so much stress that they left without completing their mission,” Gazmin said. He maintained that the Philippines has “absolute and indisputable sovereignty” over Panatag Shoal.

In an email message to The STAR yesterday, Zhang said only one Chinese vessel – a maritime surveillance ship – was in the shoal as of April 22. “Please kindly note that yesterday afternoon (April 22), the Chinese Fishery Administration Ship Yuzheng 310 and one of the two Chinese Maritime Surveillance ships with bow number 084 have already left the Huangyan Island area. Now there is only one Maritime Surveillance Ship remaining at the Huangyan Island for its law enforcement mission,” Zhang said, calling the shoal by its Chinese name.

“As we always said, China is ready to settle this difference through friendly diplomatic consultations. The withdrawal of the two ships proves once again China is not escalating the situation as some people said, but deescalating the tension,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, Northern Luzon (Nolcom) chief, said the Philippine Coast Guard has lost sight of Chinese Fisheries Law Enforcement Control (FLEC) vessel 310.

“The Chinese FLEC is longer in the area as per our latest monitoring report but we assume that the vessel is still within the general area,” Alcantara said.

The FLEC 310 is said to be the most advanced in its class.

Alcantara also revealed that BRP Pampanga has returned to Panatag Shoal to relieve BRP EDSA 2.

Aside from Pampanga, a vessel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is also heading for Panatag Shoal, Alcantara said.

He said two Chinese fishing vessels were spotted in the vicinity of Panatag Shoal.

“They’re outside the shoal with another Chinese maritime surveillance ship with bow No. 71. There’s no more visual for FLEC 310 but we assume it’s still there,” he said.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., meanwhile, said they are hopeful that the country will not have to engage China in a “small-scale war” as what a commentary in Chinese newspaper People’s Daily had suggested.

“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) respects their opinion. However, we hope that this will not affect the ongoing peaceful measures and diplomatic initiatives being undertaken to resolve the issue on Panatag Shoal,” Burgos told The STAR.

“We are confident that a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the current situation in the Panatag Shoal will soon be reached,” he added.

“We still maintain constant coordination and cooperation with concerned government agencies in closely monitoring and observing the latest developments in the area,” the AFP spokesman said. “The AFP will continue to perform our constitutional mandate of protecting the people and upholding Philippine sovereignty and integrity of our national territory.”

‘Show of flag’

Amid diplomatic initiatives, the Philippines will maintain its presence in Panatag Shoal through deployment of vessels as “a show of flag.”

“At the minimum, the Coast Guard will maintain the presence… We believe these are our waters, therefore our vessel has the right to be in our waters,” President Aquino said.

The President said the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have not called to express anything about the issue. “None to my knowledge or any communications… not yet,” he said.

The President said China’s nine-dash theory claiming the whole of the West Philippine Sea has serious implications.

“Look at what is excluded and what they are claiming. So how can the others not be fearful of what is transpiring? Will this become an exclusive claim?” Aquino said.

Asked about the naval exercises between China and Russia, the President said it would not really have any bearing on the current standoff.

“Does it heighten the tension? The tension is China is a superpower, it’s a nuclear power, it has almost 13 times our population. The Russian exercise does not really have anymore bearing than what is already there. By themselves, they are already very big. So does it add? No… There’s a need to go through the various international bodies to settle the dispute. The dispute has to be settled. It can’t be left hanging forever,” Aquino said.

“We’re talking of a nuclear entity, isn’t it? How much more muscles do we have to flex? They have the capability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles. We are in the same continent,” he said.

“I believe that every Filipino is riding on one boat and all Filipinos have the responsibility to paddle to reach our dreams,” he said.

He said he was happy to read stories about the Philippines in Newsweek and Time that seemed to favor the country’s position.

“In Newsweek, there is a photograph praising our position to defend our territory against China. You read the caption yourselves because I might be called rude if I use the very graphic of Filipino bravery. In Time magazine, one photo of the Philippines came out with the caption: ‘The laggard of Asia is recovering the dynamism it had in the 1960s’,” the President said.

“We saw the benefits reaped from helping each other,” Aquino told participants in the Philippine Press Institute’s 16th National Press Forum on Media Accountability and Public Engagement.

“If we sow doubts, this will lead to difficulties. But if we plant hope, we will reap progress,” Aquino said.

Wrong information

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs spokespman Raul Hernandez said Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing appeared to be relaying inaccurate information to Beijing.

“One thing that the Secretary (Albert del Rosario) was saying is that it seems that some information that should have been conveyed to the Chinese government in Beijing was not very complete and even misleading,” Hernandez said.

“He was referring to the agreement that both governments will decide to withdraw their ships but there was no such agreement yet because this was still being discussed between the two sides,” he said.

Beijing also appeared to have received inaccurate information on an agreement about the fishing boats that were poaching in the area and illegally collecting a big amount of endangered species.

“It is illegal as far as our fisheries code is concerned,” he added.

Lawmakers, for their part, called leaders of Congress to use the international parliamentary arena to muster support for the Philippines in confronting China over its intrusions into the country’s territory.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño called on Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to mobilize their counterparts as part of a “diplomatic full court press” against China on the Panatag Shoal issue.

“I am calling on Speaker Sonny Belmonte and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to use our international parliamentary networks in support of the Philippine position,” Casiño said.

“As standing members of the Asian Parliamentary Association (AIPO) and the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) we should use these venues to gather international support for our sovereign claim over Panatag Shoal,” he said.

“It will not be difficult to get the support of parliaments and their individual members because our exercise of sovereignty is based in international conventions and practices,” Casiño said.

“We may not win through military might but certainly we are strong in the legal, moral and diplomatic arenas. Let’s focus on that,” he added.

“We should urge individual parliaments and parliamentarians to voice out their concern because this is not simply an issue between the Philippines and China but a regional and an international concern,” Casiño said.

Zambales Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane, whose second district covers Panatag Shoal, warned that China might be intending to put up permanent structures in the area.

Ebdane said what is happening in Panatag, which is just 124 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine coastline, is familiar.

He recalled that Chinese fishermen refused to leave Mischief Reef in the Spratlys. Later, a few huts were put up ostensibly as shelter for Chinese fishermen.

“After some months, there was already a runway and other military structures,” Ebdane told The STAR, adding the structures in Mischief Reef expanded to include a dock for submarines.

“I think the government must do everything it can to prevent this from worsening. I think the Chinese vessels should voluntarily leave,” he said.

He filed House Resolution 2322 which expresses support for the claim of Zambales that Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal is part of the province.

He cited the Carta hydrograpica y chorograpica de las Islas Filipinas by Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde in 1734 that included Bajo de Masinloc as part of Zambales.

Ebdane said in 1900 a map published by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey also included the Panatag Shoal as part of Philippine territory. With Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee- Brago, Jaime Laude
/

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 12:22 AM

Aquino: These are our waters (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34503/aquino-these-are-our-waters)

On the 13th day of a standoff with Chinese vessels off Zambales province, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sent a craft to join a Philippine Coast Guard search and rescue ship at Panatag Shoal.

“It’s the showing of the flag,” President Benigno Aquino III told reporters on Monday. “We believe these are our waters. Therefore, our vessel has the right to be in our waters.”

But Mr. Aquino stressed that his government was seeking a diplomatic solution to the impasse and that he had appealed to partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to take a stand on the territorial dispute.

“The dispute has to be settled. It can’t be left hanging forever,” the President said.

Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command, said the BFAR ship hooked up with BRP Pampanga on Monday afternoon in the cluster of reefs and islands known internationally as Scarborough Shoal. China claims the area as part of its territory and calls it Huangyan Island.

Pampanga relieved BRP Edsa, which returned to base on Monday to replenish provisions and refuel.

Alcantara told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in a phone interview that the fisheries craft would “check on our marine resources there.”

Keeping watch

He said the lone Coast Guard vessel was keeping watch as Chinese fishing ships and a gunboat appeared intermittently in that pocket of the West Philippine Sea, known to the rest of the world as the South China Sea.

“We saw two Chinese fishing boats but these were outside the shoal. Our Coast Guard ship saw the CMS 71 but they had no visual contact of the other, the FLEC, 310 (gunboat)… but we assume it’s still there,” he said.

“Everything is normal,” he said, describing the situation as “stable.”

He said the BFAR ship had no intention of boarding the Chinese fishing vessels.

“That’s not their job. Their only job is just to check our fisheries resources and our marine resources,” Alcantara said.

In an interview on ANC television, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Monday the Coast Guard was staying in the shoal 220 kilometers west of Zambales.

“We will leave when we’re ready to leave, not when we’re told to leave,” Del Rosario said, referring to Beijing’s demand last week that the Philippines withdraw vessels from Panatag.

He warned that the Chinese moves were threatening freedom of navigation in the vital sea lane. “I think the current standoff is a manifestation of a larger threat to many nations,” he said. “They should be concerned if they’re interested in maintaining the freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce.”

Misleading information

Del Rosario expressed concern over “very incomplete and even misleading information” relayed to Beijing by Chinese Ambassador to Manila Ma Keqing, who had held two rounds of talks with DFA officials over the impasse.

DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said Del Rosario referred to a report by Ma that the two panels had agreed to withdraw from Panatag. “There’s no such agreement yet because it’s still being discussed.”

“Also, there’s no agreement yet about the fishing boats that were poaching and which have actually collected a big amount of endangered species,” said Hernandez.

Del Rosario also announced that he planned to recommend the appointment of a career diplomat as ambassador to China after the Commission on Appointments turned down the nomination by Mr. Aquino of businessman Domingo Lee for a third time last week.

Del Rosario joined Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in a meeting in Malacañang on Monday with Mr. Aquino.

The Panatag standoff was not discussed, according to presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, who said the talks centered on the visit by Del Rosario and Gazmin to Washington and their meeting on April 30 with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Del Rosario sprained an ankle before the Malacañang meeting and failed to attend a press briefing at DFA.

Indisputable sovereignty

In a radio interview Monday, Gazmin declared that “the Philippines has an absolute and indisputable sovereignty over Panatag island.” He said the standoff ensued because of illegal activities by Chinese fishermen.

“If you’re in the area, I’m sure you will feel the tension because you’re outnumbered and their ships are bigger than your ships,” he said.

The standoff at Panatag began on April 10 when two Chinese surveillance ships stopped the Philippine Navy flagship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, from investigating eight Chinese fishing boats for poaching marine life. With a report from Jerry E. Esplanada

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 12:34 AM

Funny pic, FAR from reality, though :lol:

http://spratlyforthephilippines.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/6526-onlinecart123.gif

jpdm

April 24th, 2012, 12:39 AM

More Philippine boats in Scarborough please...:cheers:

Aquino: These are our waters
But President says dispute has to be settled soon

By Christine O. Avendaño, DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:21 am | Tuesday, April 24th, 2012
share9485

President Benigno Aquino III. (Photo by: Jay Morales / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

On the 13th day of a standoff with Chinese vessels off Zambales province, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sent a craft to join a Philippine Coast Guard search and rescue ship at Panatag Shoal.

“It’s the showing of the flag,” President Benigno Aquino III told reporters on Monday. “We believe these are our waters. Therefore, our vessel has the right to be in our waters.”

But Mr. Aquino stressed that his government was seeking a diplomatic solution to the impasse and that he had appealed to partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to take a stand on the territorial dispute.
“The dispute has to be settled. It can’t be left hanging forever,” the President said.

Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command, said the BFAR ship hooked up with BRP Pampanga on Monday afternoon in the cluster of reefs and islands known internationally as Scarborough Shoal. China claims the area as part of its territory and calls it Huangyan Island.

Pampanga relieved BRP Edsa, which returned to base on Monday to replenish provisions and refuel.

Alcantara told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in a phone interview that the fisheries craft would “check on our marine resources there.”

Keeping watch

He said the lone Coast Guard vessel was keeping watch as Chinese fishing ships and a gunboat appeared intermittently in that pocket of the West Philippine Sea, known to the rest of the world as the South China Sea.

“We saw two Chinese fishing boats but these were outside the shoal. Our Coast Guard ship saw the CMS 71 but they had no visual contact of the other, the FLEC, 310 (gunboat)… but we assume it’s still there,” he said.
“Everything is normal,” he said, describing the situation as “stable.”
He said the BFAR ship had no intention of boarding the Chinese fishing vessels.

“That’s not their job. Their only job is just to check our fisheries resources and our marine resources,” Alcantara said.

In an interview on ANC television, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Monday the Coast Guard was staying in the shoal 220 kilometers west of Zambales.

“We will leave when we’re ready to leave, not when we’re told to leave,” Del Rosario said, referring to Beijing’s demand last week that the Philippines withdraw vessels from Panatag.

He warned that the Chinese moves were threatening freedom of navigation in the vital sea lane. “I think the current standoff is a manifestation of a larger threat to many nations,” he said. “They should be concerned if they’re interested in maintaining the freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce.”

Misleading information

Del Rosario expressed concern over “very incomplete and even misleading information” relayed to Beijing by Chinese Ambassador to Manila Ma Keqing, who had held two rounds of talks with DFA officials over the impasse.

DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said Del Rosario referred to a report by Ma that the two panels had agreed to withdraw from Panatag. “There’s no such agreement yet because it’s still being discussed.”

“Also, there’s no agreement yet about the fishing boats that were poaching and which have actually collected a big amount of endangered species,” said Hernandez.

Del Rosario also announced that he planned to recommend the appointment of a career diplomat as ambassador to China after the Commission on Appointments turned down the nomination by Mr. Aquino of businessman Domingo Lee for a third time last week.

Del Rosario joined Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in a meeting in Malacañang on Monday with Mr. Aquino.

The Panatag standoff was not discussed, according to presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, who said the talks centered on the visit by Del Rosario and Gazmin to Washington and their meeting on April 30 with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Del Rosario sprained an ankle before the Malacañang meeting and failed to attend a press briefing at DFA.

Indisputable sovereignty

In a radio interview Monday, Gazmin declared that “the Philippines has an absolute and indisputable sovereignty over Panatag island.” He said the standoff ensued because of illegal activities by Chinese fishermen.

“If you’re in the area, I’m sure you will feel the tension because you’re outnumbered and their ships are bigger than your ships,” he said.

The standoff at Panatag began on April 10 when two Chinese surveillance ships stopped the Philippine Navy flagship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, from investigating eight Chinese fishing boats for poaching marine life. With a report from Jerry E. Esplanada

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34503/aquino-these-are-our-waters

jpdm

April 24th, 2012, 12:44 AM

The Philippines always called the "Sick Man of Asia" standing up against a big voracious stupid bully Communist PIRATE! Yes!

The DFA should intensify it diplomatic and media offensives. Go to the US, UN and other friendly countries to solicit support or undestanding.

Show to the whole world that China is becoming a world class stupid PIRATE!:bash::bash::bash:

Foreign secretary follows Sun Tzu in dealing with China

By Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer
3:24 am | Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

The Philippines is standing up to China using the teachings of ancient Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu.

“Know when and how to fight,” Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario told Philippine diplomats, quoting from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” at a strategic planning workshop in Tagaytay City on April 14.

Del Rosario used the standoff at Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) as an example of delicate situations that Filipino diplomats might encounter.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea supports the Philippine claim, emboldening the Department of Foreign Affairs to challenge China to bring the dispute to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.

That, Del Rosario said, quoting from Sun Tzu’s teachings, is knowing the facts, knowing what is right and how to do it, and knowing when to seize the day.

This is the day. But China won’t go with the Philippines to the international tribunal, insisting dealing one-on-one with its rivals for potentially mineral-rich territory in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Del Rosario has asked the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to take a stand on the Philippine dispute with China.

That is following Sun Tzu’s teaching: Know how to pull people together. To which Del Rosario said he had added: Know how to get your people and yourself to reach beyond your grasp at all times.

The Philippines cannot fight China alone; it needs the support of friends in the region and in the global community.

“Expect the unexpected,” Del Rosario said, referring to the quiet departure on the night of April 13 of the eight Chinese fishing boats that had provoked the standoff.

The departure of the fishing boats greatly eased tensions. “After talking and guarding these vessels, now suddenly they disappeared. So expect the unexpected,” Del Rosario said.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34527/foreign-secretary-follows-sun-tzu-in-dealing-with-china

jpdm

April 24th, 2012, 12:48 AM

US, Vietnam start naval exercises

3:29 am | Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

HANOI—Vietnam kicked off a weeklong naval exchange yesterday with the US Navy amid percolating tensions in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) with China.

Three ships from the US 7th Fleet visited Danang during the five-day event that began on Monday. No live-fire drills were planned, but the two sides were expected to practice salvage and disaster training as they have done in recent years.

Vietnam, China, the Philippines and other nations have competing claims to islands in the South China Sea, which is believed rich in oil and gas deposits. Many view the sea as a potential flash point of armed conflict.

Tensions have flared this month near a shoal north of the disputed Spratly Islands where two Chinese maritime surveillance ships blocked a Philippine warship from arresting Chinese fishermen on April 10. Chinese and Philippine vessels continued to face off at the shoal on Monday, each waiting for the other to pull out.

Earlier this month, five Vietnamese Buddhist monks traveled to the Spratlys to teach Buddhism and defend Vietnam’s territorial claim.

Tensions between Vietnam and China hit a low point last summer after Hanoi accused Beijing of interfering with its maritime oil exploration activities. Beijing denied the charge.

The last major clash in the sea involved China and Vietnam and left more than 70 Vietnamese sailors dead in 1988.

Beijing has named the South China Sea one of its “core interests,” meaning it could potentially go to war to protect it. :bash::bash::bash:(stupid Pirate!!)

The US has said it has a national interest in ensuring freedom of navigation in the sea, and analysts say Washington is expanding its military presence in Asia to counter China’s rising influence. AP

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34537/us-vietnam-start-naval-exercises

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 12:51 AM

The present day Chinese leaders forgot their ancient wisdom....

If they're gonna teach their ancient wisdom, the common Chinese people might revolt :lol:

(Bloody Pirates! - POTC style)

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 12:52 AM

Bakit probe lang? The senate needs to approve for more funds for acquisition of weapons
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34521/senate-to-start-probe-on-chinese-incursions
With Philippine sovereignty at stake, the Senate is flexing its muscles by holding an inquiry starting Friday into China’s incursions into the West Philippine Sea, known to the rest of the world as South China Sea.

“We should protect our maritime security, which also means food sustainability and environmental security. Let’s protect it at all cost,” said Senator Loren Legarda, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, in a phone interview yesterday.

The focus of inquiry is not just maritime defense, but also environmental security and protection of maritime resources and the livelihood of the fisherfolk, she said.

“But force should never be an option,” Legarda emphasized, even as she called on China to “respect our territorial integrity and sovereignty” by “preventing and avoiding any incursion into our territory.”

Instead of a “shooting war” and “show of force” between Chinese and Philippine Navy and Coast Guard vessels, Legarda wanted to “exhaust all diplomatic means.”

The committee is still drawing up the list of resource persons, although it is clear that Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials and experts in international law will be summoned to the inquiry.

Legarda supported a proposal by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to submit for UN arbitration the territorial disputes over the Spratlys and Panatag Shoal with China, a move spurned by Beijing, which favored bilateral negotiations.

“We have rights to our territory, the right to file a diplomatic protest and note verbale, and to issue a statement. Which is what we’ve been doing. We should internationalize both disputes,” she said.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 12:54 AM

Mabuhay mga kawal natin!

Filipino troops’ field ingenuity impresses US soldiers (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34435/filipino-troops%E2%80%99-field-ingenuity-impresses-us-soldiers)

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – If there is anything he admires most about Filipino soldiers in the field, it is their cleverness on the ground during unusual times.

Sergeant Major Arnold Curtis, in charge of United States soldiers at the Balikatan’s (shoulder-to-shoulder) live fire training exercises who had been with Filipino soldiers for three weeks now, said Filipino troops had “field ingenuity.”

For instance, local troops could make up “unique solutions” in a scenario when there were a lack of adapters, but they could still manage to fire weapons safely.

“They are quick, motivated…They make a good army,” he added.

The live fire exercises are part of the Balikatan field training activities, which aimed at improving the interoperability of both militaries.

“We talk about it and then see what we can improve,” said Captain Victor Villanueva, planner for the field training exercises, during its live fire training at Fort Magsaysay over the weekend.

“The scenario here (is) we pretend the enemy surprises a patrol unit…what’s the best response to outmaneuver our adversary,” he said.

He reiterated though that the exercise is not a competition and they do not keep scorecards.

Meanwhile, although he admitted that Filipino military gear is beneath the standards of the Americans, Curtis said the soldiers perform “above standards.”

But even then, he wished “equipment upgrades” for the Philippine military.

For the live fire exercises, local troops used M16, M14 and M203 grenade launcher, among others. The US soldiers’ weapons included an M249 light machine gun, which could shoot a range up to 750 meters, way more advanced than the 360-meter range of the Filipino soldiers’ M16.

The 2012 Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder), an annual joint war drill between Filipino and US soldiers, is the 28th of its series. About 4,500 US troops and 2,300 Filipino soldiers are participating in the event, which will end on April 27.

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 12:58 AM

PH-China hacker wars may affect banks, telcos (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/04/23/12/ph-china-hacker-wars-could-affect-banks-telcos)

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 1) – An IT expert on Monday said critical services relying on the Internet may suffer from the escalating tension between alleged computer hackers from China and the Philippines.

Ivan John Uy, former chairman of the defunct Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT), said critical services like banking and telecommunications may suffer in case the cyber war between alleged hackers from China and the Philippines continues.

“They (alleged Chinese hackers) can retaliate, and they can attack critical infrastructures, such as those of financial institutions, telecommunications facilities, ATM network,” Uy said.

:ohno::ohno:

the mood in this thread will turn from victorious, "ang galing ng pnoy hackers" chest-thumping to "we are being bullied" helpless victim mentality in 5, 4, 3, 2...

At least they have the balls to do it and fight for their principles. :lol:

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 01:00 AM

ngayon lang naman sa admin ni penoy henyo nagkaroon ng intensified intrusion.

friends kaya natin ang China nung panahon ni Madam GMA. naging bitter lang ang China lately. masyado yatang affected sa ngiting aso ni penoy nung bus hostage crisis. :lol:

sa mga bitter anti-Chinese dito...pwede ba, bago kayo magpatuloy sa inyong racist rants against the Chinese, pakisauli nyo muna ang milyon milyong dolyar na aid na binigay nila sa atin? wag masyadong mayabang kung nanlilimos lang naman

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2007-01/15/xin_30010415223763724088227.jpg

FRIENDS :):):cheers::cheers:

ngayon, atat na atat ang mga Tsino na tayo'y bombahin. i wonder why...

http://www.chinahush.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/20100826buskilling02.jpg

Not just friends - a very good one. Malakas tayo sa China, pati ang armed forces natin napabayaan. Of course, pag friends mo sila, dapat lahat ng didiktahin nila sundin mo. :lol:

Interes ba ng China o interes ng Pilipinas ang masusunod?

Okay lang, malaki naman ang tong nila diba? ;)

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 01:04 AM

Why to Forget UNCLOS (http://the-diplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2012/02/17/why-to-forget-unclos/)

The Obama administration seems determined to put political science theories to the test by “binding” China into the rules-based order over which the United States presides. Only this time, China is already a signatory to the rules in question. The Obama administration seems to think it is the United States that needs the binding.
The timing of this new push over the U.N. Convention on the Law of Sea, signed by President Bill Clinton and then defeated by the Senate in 1994, is curious. One need only scan the past three years of Chinese activities in the South China (http://the-diplomat.com/2012/02/04/beijings-south-china-sea-gamble/), East China, and Yellow seas to find evidence that China intends to change the maritime status quo in ways detrimental to U.S. interests. Despite ratifying UNCLOS, China’s maritime behavior in East Asia (http://the-diplomat.com/2011/11/19/ensuring-china%E2%80%99s-peaceful-rise/) runs contrary to international law and custom as they have been commonly understood for centuries.
Where customary international law has protected the traditionally expansive understanding of freedom of the seas – allowing open access to all but narrow bands of territorial waters along national coastlines – China is trying to curtail that access, fence off its peripheral waters, and deny to other maritime nations the freedom of navigation they have long and lawfully enjoyed. What’s the argument for signing UNCLOS when China itself doesn’t adhere to the law? When it turns out that the letter of the law is less clear than its proponents think? Given these problems, U.S. ratification of UNCLOS won’t resolve Sino-U.S. disagreements; it will only lead to endless legal and diplomatic wrangling.
rguments for UNCLOS ratification now are even more bizarre given that international law and the balance of power favor the United States. To ratify the treaty at this time would be to signal approval to other states of faulty interpretations of international law while committing the United States to endless dispute resolution in international bodies that haven’t historically favored its interests. Washington would put itself in a position where it might have to ignore the treaty’s dispute resolution clauses to further its interests. Why sign a treaty we will have to violate? In doing so, wouldn’t Washington cede the moral high ground it now holds by simply following established custom?

No, ratification of UNCLOS will not help Washington and Beijing resolve their maritime disputes. Rather, resolution lies in the United States’ continued exercise of its rights in international waters, diplomatic negotiations with China and American friends and allies, and continued military supremacy.

Through military and diplomatic pressure and “lawfare” China is trying to carve out a sphere of control in most of the South China Sea and parts of the East and Yellow Seas. Consider the following incidents:
....More (http://the-diplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2012/02/17/why-to-forget-unclos/#more-1963)

:)

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 01:08 AM

Saving face mode.... wag na sila magdeny. Their actions speak louder than words...! Sino inuuto nila? Kagat naman daw ang DFA. Damage control lang ginagawa ng mga yan!

Chinese envoy miscommunicated 'deal' on Scarborough withdrawal: DFA (http://www.interaksyon.com/article/30123/chinese-envoy-miscommunicated-deal-on-scarborough-withdrawal-dfa)

MANILA, Philippines - Information relayed to China regarding moves by both Manila and Beijing to withdraw from a standoff in a disputed territory off Zambales was "not complete" and "misleading."

This was announced by Raul Hernandez, the Philippines' foreign affairs spokesperson during a press briefing on Monday.

Information that Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing had relayed to Beijing about the agreement to withdraw from the Scarborough Shoal was "not complete" and "misleading," Hernandez said. The move to withdraw from the territory was discussed by both Ma and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

"There was no such agreement. That was still being discussed. There was also no agreement on the poaching of the Chinese fishing ships which illegally collected big amounts of endangered species in the area," Hernandez said.

The agreement between the two officials was for "no actions that would tend to escalate the situation," he added.

As of Monday morning, three Chinese fishing vessels were spotted inside the lagoon where eight similar ships were first seen on April 8, with one Chinese surveillance ship monitored in the Scarborough Shoal, Hernandez said.

During the previous day, four Chinese fishing vessels and two Chinese government ships were in the area.

The Philippine Coast Guard BRP Pampanga is also in the area monitoring the activities in the area, including poaching and other activities deemed illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) and the Philippines' own Fisheries Code, the DFA spokesman said.

The DFA has yet to receive any report of poaching and other illegal activities.

The DFA spokesman also revealed that since the meeting in Manila on April 16 and in Beijing on April 18, no additional meetings at the diplomatic level have been scheduled as the two parties are probably waiting for the right timing.

'Philippines ready to go to ITLOS alone'

While the Philippines is still pursuing a diplomatic solution to the two-week Scarborough standoff, it is now preparing for a legal solution--- raising the issue before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas or ITLOS, Hernandez said.

This track has been verbally and officially relayed to China some months back when the DFA Secretary was in China to meet with his counterpart, and again in the meeting on April 16 between Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio and Ambassador Ma in the hope of reaching an "enduring resolution."

Unofficially, Secretary del Rosario has publicly invited China to the ITLOS over the weekend.

Although the Philippines is still "looking into" putting the ITLOS option in writing, Hernandez said: "If China does not want to go to ITLOS, the Philippines is prepared to go at it alone. (When) the legal team is ready to file, then we will file."

The diplomatic tractkis still multilateral as the area is contested by other countries as well, he said.

Aside from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam are also claimants to parts of the West Philippine Sea (also known as South China Sea).

No new ambassador-designate to China yet

As the Scarborough standoff continues, Del Rosario has already "somebody in mind" to nominate as the Philippines' ambassador to China, said Hernandez, who added that he has not been told who this would be.

This person is from the ranks of career diplomats and knows about the issue and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas. Del Rosario was unable to attend the press conference at the DFA after spraining his ankle in Malacañang and has been advised to rest.

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 01:21 AM

basahin mo ang Republic Act 8792, which specifically mentions hacking as a crime. reading that law should hopefully stimulate growth of neurons in your stagnant brain. LOL

Look who's talking. :lol:

You're becoming too irrelevant and incoherent. You're too bookish to see everything. ;) :ohno: :ohno:

If hacking is a crime itself, then why would major software engineers around the world, particularly google and even the CIA employ them to hack through their systems to analyze the weakness of their data security which is intertwined with the national security?

Google even held their own Hacking competition (http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/03/07/with-1-million-on-the-line-chrome-finally-cracked-in-hacking-competition/). So if this is in the Philippines according to the law, those hackers should be arrested. :lol:

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 01:22 AM

^^ i never said about banning. I indeed am definitely not buying made in china even if the subs in more expensivr

Please dont twist things, k?

Ok let me rephrase my statement... :ohno:

Then don't boycott the store, boycott only the Chinese products! You don't want Uncle Sam to get mad at us and Juan Dela Cruz lose his job?

You used the word "boycott", right?

Main Entry: boycott

Part of Speech: verb

[B]Definition: ban; refrain from using

Synonyms: avoid, bar, blackball, blacklist, brush off, cut off, embargo, exclude, hold aloof from, ice out, ostracize, outlaw, pass by, pass up, prohibit, proscribe, refuse, reject, shut out, snub, spurn, strike, withhold patronage

Notes: a boycott is an organized popular protest, while an embargo is usually imposed by a government

Antonyms: buy, encourage, support, use

Boycott also means "ban" according to http://thesaurus.com/browse/boycott so am I twisting things or did I just school you? :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 01:25 AM

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 01:27 AM

inde marunong gumamit ng dictionary :lol:

Baket ikaw marunong ka ba? See my reply (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=90737232&postcount=732). :banana:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 01:27 AM

Ok let me rephrase my statement... :ohno:

You used the word "boycott", right?

Boycott also means "ban" according to http://thesaurus.com/browse/boycott so am I twisting things or did I just school you? :lol:

Ban

: to prohibit especially by legal means <ban discrimination>; also : to prohibit the use, performance, or distribution of <ban a book> <ban a pesticide>

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ban

Boycott = personal preference.

boy·cott
verb \ˈbȯi-ˌkät\
transitive verb
: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (as a person, store, or organization) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boycott?show=0&t=1335223627

Next time, use a dictionary, not a thesaurus. Thesaurus, tends give "close" words/sense but not the same meaning

Yes, you are twisting things.

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 01:33 AM

Ban

: to prohibit especially by legal means <ban discrimination>; also : to prohibit the use, performance, or distribution of <ban a book> <ban a pesticide>

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ban

Boycott = personal preference.

boy·cott
verb \ˈbȯi-ˌkät\
transitive verb
: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (as a person, store, or organization) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boycott?show=0&t=1335223627

Next time, use a dictionary, not a thesaurus. Thesaurus, tends give "close" words/sense but not the same meaning

Thesaurus like Merriam-Webster are both internationally known references so don't try to contradict my post because it's pointless... Boycott still means ban.

A thesaurus is a reference work that lists words grouped together according to similarity of meaning (containing synonyms and sometimes antonyms), in contrast to a dictionary, which contains definitions and pronunciations.

See the difference? Stop trolling because you're just getting schooled with your ignorance!

Yes, you are twisting things.

Aba may dinagdag sya, gusto mo ata ng gulo? Pagbutihin mo iho!

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 01:35 AM

Thesaurus like Merriam-Webster are both internationally known references so don't try to contradict my post because it's pointless... Boycott still means ban.

No. They are not the same. That is like saying a Skeptic is the same as Cynic! Do you know the difference between "thesaurus" and merriam webster?

Merriam Webster dictionary is not akin to "thesaurus". It is akin to Oxford.

Merriam Webster is a company. Oxford is a company (printing press)

Dictionaries and Thesaurus are tools.

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 01:36 AM

Not just friends - a very good one. Malakas tayo sa China, pati ang armed forces natin napabayaan. Of course, pag friends mo sila, dapat lahat ng didiktahin nila sundin mo. :lol:

Interes ba ng China o interes ng Pilipinas ang masusunod?

Okay lang, malaki naman ang tong nila diba? ;)
Not really:lol: Almost schooled by China.

China invites AFP for schooling

By AARON B. RECUENCO
July 7, 2011, 6:51pm
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been invited by China to send some local officials for schooling in its military school, a move that could bolster relationship between the two countries amid tensions brought by the alleged intrusions at the disputed Spratlys Island.
But Commodore Jose Miguel Rodriguez, AFP spokesman, was quick to clarify that China has been sending invitations in the past only that this year’s invite is being highlighted because of the Spratlys tension.
“China has invited us to send our students to take up the GSC and that is something that will build personal relations, the way we are doing it with other countries,” said Rodriguez.
GSC stands for General Staff Course, a requirement for promotion to colonel.
Such invitation, along with the visit of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario could ease the tension between the two claimant-countries according to Rodriguez.
The official would not comment on the talking points on del Rosario’s visit but said that the presence of the latter in China would stabilize the situation amid the issues raised by the Philippines that there have been at least six intrusions committed in Spratlys believed to be by China.
“We are just very hopeful that there will be a lot of positive results in the visit,” said Rodriguez...More (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/325856/china-invites-afp-schooling)

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 01:37 AM

Thesaurus like Merriam-Webster are both internationally known references so don't try to contradict my post because it's pointless... Boycott still means ban.

Aba may dinagdag sya, gusto mo ata ng gulo? Pagbutihin mo!

Pati ikaw. Pinalitan mo pa sentence mo

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 01:39 AM

Oxford
http://www.oed.com/

Merriam Webster
http://www.merriam-webstercollegiate.com/

ManilaBoy45

April 24th, 2012, 01:44 AM

The 60 meter (196 Feet) MV DA-BFAR has arrived at Scarborough Shoal as a show of flag and to assist the PCG vessel BRP Pampanga ...

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/30134/aquino-3-ph-vessels-to-stay-in-scarborough-as-a-show-of-flag

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/m335/filipinas40/DSC06312.jpg

Getting underway inside breakwater Manila Bay as seen from the 30th floor condo unit ...

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 01:44 AM

Not really:lol: Almost schooled by China.

Hmmm, Ease?

Uhhh, sure....

"Schooled by China". :lol:

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 01:51 AM

Hmmm, Ease?

Uhhh, sure....

"Schooled by China". :lol:

I just meant "Schooled by China" as in "school" (not the other pop culture meaning)

I wonder if Pinoys then and now would accept military to military relations with China:bowtie:

jpdm

April 24th, 2012, 01:52 AM

The present day Chinese leaders forgot their ancient wisdom....

If they're gonna teach their ancient wisdom, the common Chinese people might revolt :lol:

(Bloody Pirates! - POTC style)

Actually, the Communist Politburo,is doing what Chinese Limahong has done to the philippines in the past, act stupidly as a plundering Pirate!

jpdm

April 24th, 2012, 01:56 AM

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 01:57 AM

I wonder if Pinoys then and now would accept military to military relations with China:bowtie:

Even if our military is lesser than them, they will still need to spy on us especially if foreign forces are intervening with our current situation that China is not aware of and such relation will give China an easy access to the information that they need.

This should not happen, not now but may be in the future. :cheers:

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 02:14 AM

Tama!:lol::lol:

Pero friends ka rin nila, pag may Agni V (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/agniv-china-reacts-cautiously-says-india-not-rival/250218-2.html) ka rin tulad ng India. :D :lol::lol:

jpdm

April 24th, 2012, 02:16 AM

Pero friends ka rin nila, pag may Agni V (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/agniv-china-reacts-cautiously-says-india-not-rival/250218-2.html) ka rin tulad ng India. :D :lol::lol:

Putong amang piratang China!Pati pag-uugali malapirata rin.:bash::bash::bash:

hakz2007

April 24th, 2012, 02:22 AM

Arroyos push for creation of Peace department
TWO members of the Arroyo family in the House of Representatives are pushing for the establishment of a Department of Peace to further increase the number of tourists in the country.

Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her son, Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo, filed House Bill 5106 proposing the creation of such government agency to help create and foster lasting peace throughout the country. Read more (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/04/23/arroyos-push-creation-peace-department-217796)

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 02:34 AM

jpdm

April 24th, 2012, 02:55 AM

^^^^Ganun na nga. Kasi ship yan ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources BFAR) di ba?:lol::lol::lol:

LuckyLady

April 24th, 2012, 02:58 AM

deleted, nandon pala sa kabilang thread :lol:

hakz2007

April 24th, 2012, 02:59 AM

^^A show of flag?!!! I can't see any Philippine flag in there :D

LuckyLady

April 24th, 2012, 03:02 AM

wala ba tayong bagong pictures kung ano na nangyayari sa panatag?

LuckyLady

April 24th, 2012, 03:03 AM

Arroyos push for creation of Peace department
Read more (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/04/23/arroyos-push-creation-peace-department-217796)

After selling the country to the chinese Arroyo want to create "piss department":lol:

hakz2007

April 24th, 2012, 03:05 AM

Naval Exchange Stirs Troubled Waters in South China Sea
"By doing that it helps China divide the Philippines from Vietnam. The Philippines has been the most vocal and Vietnam has profited from it because, like an athlete on a bike race, it can sail behind the Philippines and get a lift higher with forward momentum without having to lose as much energy."Read the full story here (http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/04/24/2012042400514.html)

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 03:08 AM

LuckyLady

April 24th, 2012, 03:11 AM

Nab and GM pahinga muna :hi: :hug::cheers1:

ManilaBoy45

April 24th, 2012, 03:15 AM

The flag they have on it is too small , they should replace it with a bigger one so that it would be visible for miles away ...

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 03:16 AM

The flag they have on it is too small , they should replace it with a bigger one so that it would be visible for miles away ...

Did we not have the "biggest flag" many years ago? They should use it..and duplicate it with the same size and it should be in ALL ships :D

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 03:20 AM

This is an interesting thought from Teddy Locsin. Found the link at Timawa

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/-depth/04/23/12/listen-kung-fu-panda
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/insights/01/31/12/teditorial-more-stake-ph-us-ties

ManilaBoy45

April 24th, 2012, 03:22 AM

It looks like a fishing vessel and it will patrol Scarborough Shoal! :lol:

It's a 60 meter (196 Feet) research and surveillance vessel of the BFAR agency ...

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m335/filipinas40/MVDABFAR.jpg

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 03:33 AM

BUT THE U.S.-PHILIPPINES MUTUAL DEFENSE TREATY HAS AMBIGUITY.

THEY CAN INTERRET THE WORD " PACIFIC AREA " IN DIFFERENT WAY IF THE AMERICANS IS AFRAID OF FIGHTING PRC CHINA - THE NEW IMPERIALIST, OR IF THEY THINK IT IS NOT IN AMERICAN INTEREST TO FIGHT CHINA.

*****************************************

Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines; August 30, 1951

Art 1 Art 2 Art 3 Art 4 Art 5 Art 6 Art 7 Art 8

ARTICLE IV
Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.

Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Security Council of the United Nations. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.

ARTICLE V
For the purpose of Article IV, an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the Parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific or on its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/phil001.asp

Actually, the only reason I posted that was to showcase the Come Papa Help me Mentality of Pinoys never mind if the issue is supposed to be a Philippine problem in the first place.

As for the MDT, I know very well that the US will only intervene if the issue starts to escalate into US' interests (such as freedom of navigation) Since we are talking about disputed territories, involving many claimants, it's certainly not in US' current interests.
Your post also goes to show that no one else can conclude or speculate either way what US official interpretation/action will be. Unless one happens to work for the US government.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 03:37 AM

Actually, the only reason I posted that was to showcase the Come Papa Help me Mentality of Pinoys never mind if the issue is supposed to be a Philippine problem in the first place.

As for the MDT, I know very well that the US will only intervene if the issue starts to escalate into US' interests (such as freedom of navigation) Since we are talking about disputed territories, involving many claimants, it's certainly not in US' current interests.
Your post also goes to show that no one else can conclude or speculate either way what US official interpretation/action will be. Unless one happens to work for the US government.

Dapat ito ang mentality natin :lol:

RkxqxWgEEz4&ob=av3e

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 03:43 AM

^^ Mahilig ang Pinas sa mga kanta gaya ni Whitney kaya

IBLaft6Mdwo

:nuts:

Anyway,. We can still warn.

Philippines warns neighbours about China (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-warns-neighbours-china-115351863.html)

Philippine President Benigno Aquino warned his country's neighbours on Monday they should fear Beijing's growing aggressiveness over its claims in the South China Sea.
Aquino stressed China's territorial claims spanned a huge area and were getting "closer and closer" to the Philippine archipelago.
"They claim this entire body of water practically. Look at what is excluded and what they are claiming," Aquino told reporters as he pointed to a map of the area. "So how can the others not be fearful of what is transpiring?"
Aquino's comments came shortly after his government said it would raise an increasingly tense dispute with China over the Scarborough Shoal at a high-level bilateral meeting with the US next week.
Manila and Beijing have been locked in a standoff over Scarborough, a group of islands in the South China Sea, since Chinese vessels blocked Philippine attempts to arrest eight Chinese fishing boats' crews earlier this month.
Aquino said Scarborough was within the Philippines' internationally recognised exclusive economic zone and questioned China's historical basis for its claims.
"Its like (their claims) are getting closer and closer" to shore, he said..

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 03:48 AM

^^ Mahilig ang Pinas sa mga kanta gaya ni Whitney kaya

IBLaft6Mdwo

:nuts:

Anyway,. We can still warn.

Hahaha.

Puede din ito :lol:

VFMvOqKvqrw

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 04:05 AM

This reminds me of an interview with Clinton when he was here once.

Ahem...Curtain rises:

The Life Story of Pinas : Papa & and I

Act 1 Scene 1

Pinas: Bat mo ba kasi kami nilayo kay Mama Spain?
Papa: You're right. I think adoption has not been good for the Philippines (paraphrasing Clinton here, someone actually had the delicadeza to ask him about the colonization of the Phils, putting the poor guy on spot to make a PC reply)

Act I Scene 2

Pinas: Papa! Papa! May siga akong kaklase. Ninanakawan ako!

:lol::lol::lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 04:09 AM

^^ I think I missed that one. Do you have a video or article link? Hahaha

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 04:18 AM

^^ I think I missed that one. Do you have a video or article link? Hahaha

Courtesy of *drum roll* Video is on the blog.

During the Q&A that followed the former US president’s half-hour talk, moderator Maria Ressa asked this question.
“You’ve been a long-time observer of the Philippines. You know first-hand each Filipino’s ability and potential. Why do you think our nation hasn’t yet, after People Power, after everything we’ve gone through, why haven’t we been able to fulfill that potential?”
http://www.jessicarulestheuniverse.com/2010/11/11/ex-president-clinton-on-the-whole-it-wasnt-a-good-advantage-for-the-philippines-to-have-been-colonized-by-the-us/

I agree with the blogger. She was angling for a bad impression. Too bad, Clinton is smart.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 04:23 AM

^^ This is odder than "how is your sexlife" Q&A with Ate Gloria :lol:

Addendum: By the way, Jessica Zafra is a known local writer :) This is her blog

Anyhow.... Is this the same Harvey Keh of Pathways? (He is ethnic Chinese from what I know. Ateneo Theology prof ata) Eto ata twitter nya: https://twitter.com/#!/harveykeh

Call to our government: Stand up to China’s bullying (http://opinion.inquirer.net/27203/call-to-our-government-stand-up-to-chinas-bullying)

The diplomatic problem that we are now experiencing in Scarborough Shoal is a good opportunity for our government leaders to show our children how to stand up to bullying by a bigger and more powerful person, which in this case is represented by China.

Our government should not allow China to get away with abusing our rich natural resources. It should stand up to China to show that country that we will not allow ourselves to be trampled upon. As we have learned in school, bullies will continue to push us around until we muster the needed courage to show them that we are ready to fight back.

Sadly, there have been many times in our history that we allowed other countries to push their weight around and abuse not only our national resources but also our people. It is no wonder why up to now, many Filipinos believe that we are inferior to other countries and cultures.

For lessons, we need not look farther than the experience of Vietnam during its war with the United States. The Vietnamese people gallantly fought and defeated the Americans who were trying to control their country. Now, that same sense of nationalism is propelling Vietnam to become one of the fastest-growing nations in Southeast Asia.

For us Filipinos, now is a good opportunity to teach our young people about the necessity of standing up to bullies and, at the same time, instill in them a sense of national pride.

—HARVEY S. KEH,

lead convenor,

Kaya Natin! Movement for

Good Governance

and Ethical Leadership,

harveykeh@gmail.com

I hope more ethnic Chinese speak out like him

Paging Alfredo Lim, Gokongwei, Henry Sy, Lucio Tan :lol:

CarltonHill

April 24th, 2012, 05:02 AM

The truth behind China’s nine-dash map

Even Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines, calls Communist China’s claim to Panatag Shoal a historical absurdity:

“Chinese historical claims since ancient times amount to an absurdity as this would be like Italy claiming as its sovereign possession all areas previously occupied by the Roman Empire.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Chairman Joma Sison are of one mind on the issue.

In response to a self-serving position paper where the Red Chinese Embassy claimed “Huangyan Island (China’s name for Panatag Shoal) has been the traditional fishing area of Chinese fishermen for generations,” and “It is China that first discovered this island, gave it the name, incorporated it into its territory, and exercised juristiction over it”, the DFA said:

“Historical claims must be substantiated by a clear historic title. Fishing rights are not a mode of acquiring sovereignty. Neither could it be construed that the act of fishing by Chinese fishermen is a sovereign act of a State, nor can be considered as a display of State authority.”

Chairman Sison adds that if Red China can cite historical records then the Philippines can cite pre-historic records:

“Archaeological evidence shows that the islands, reefs and shoals at issue have been used by inhabitants of what is now the Philippines since pre-historic times.”
So there.

But Red China stands by a map with a nine-dash line that it presented to the UN on May 7, 2007, the day after Vietnam and Malaysia asserted sovereignty over their respective continental shelves. The nine-dash line is a u-shaped squiggle between the southeast asian landmass and the Philippine archipelago. Red China claims it owns everything inside that wavy doodle.

The issue then is the provenance of the map and the u-shaped nine-dash line. I asked a forensic expert to look into it as my own little pro bono contribution towards easing tensions between the Philippines and Red China.

http://www.propinoy.net/2012/04/24/the-truth-behind-chinas-nine-dash-map/

Mercato

April 24th, 2012, 05:03 AM

I seriously doubt Lucio Tan would say those kinda things. I had heard him say up close that he admires his birthplace Xiamen and the work ethics of his native land, far far more than he does the constant "dancing and singing" which perplexes him. :lol: :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 05:05 AM

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 05:07 AM

More local Chines against mainland China aggression

Be Aware! Let’s Prevent Another Tibet! (http://sanaakosirickylee.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/be-aware-lets-prevent-another-tibet/)

I really debated whether I should be writing this piece…this post. It seems out of place, because most of the topics that I’ve written about are about Feng Shui, Buddhism, and Taoism. However, I don’t think I can keep quiet about this matter. I don’t think we should tolerate the harassment China is showing.

I will not go into details as to what really happened but you can just Google Scarborough Standoff/China/Philippines and you’ll see the full story. First found out about this when I was in Laoag for my extended vacation, at that time I thought it is something that will not escalate into a further harassment, but how foolish I was to think that. First, the one involve here is the People’s Republic of China, and they invaded Tibet and is gradually destroying and doing an ethnic cleansing in the said country, while they continuously to rape Tibet of their natural resources, and destroys their environment. Feng Shui wise, since we are in SouthEast Asia, calamity, disputes like these are expected because the Five Yellow Star and the Tai Sui are both in the SouthEast. But I’m not here to talk about the Feng Shui aspect of this crisis, but more of the harassment that China is currently doing to the Philippines.

While Scarborough Shoal is a disputed ‘property’ that’s being claimed by both China and the Philippines, most international land experts acknowledges that Scarborough Shoal is within the Philippine’s area of responsibility and that we have the right to this place.

While the Philippines continue to address the matter through diplomatic route, China has sent their big ships to ‘patrol’ the area. They fully know what is our naval capability, and sending 2 of their big ships would have been enough but they now had to send another bigger ship that is rumored to be a gunner and not just surveillance ship. This is really a harassment, furthermore, they even warned that should our local fishermen drift to Scarborough Shoal, they might be shoot.

China has always shown total disrespect towards international law and human rights. Filipinos need to be aware of this matter. We need to be prepared, I may over reacting but it is better to over react rather than be the next Tibet.

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 05:09 AM

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 05:13 AM

Except there are now Vietnamese nakiki-Papa Sugar sa atin:lol::lol:
As someone said on the Pak Defense forum, whose Papa is it?:lol:

Baka alam nila ang sagot...:lol:

-VLL9zEtgZE

sana hindi bawiin :lol:

wolfram74

April 24th, 2012, 05:14 AM

Look who's talking. :lol:

You're becoming too irrelevant and incoherent. You're too bookish to see everything. ;) :ohno: :ohno:

If hacking is a crime itself, then why would major software engineers around the world, particularly google and even the CIA employ them to hack through their systems to analyze the weakness of their data security which is intertwined with the national security?

Google even held their own Hacking competition (http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/03/07/with-1-million-on-the-line-chrome-finally-cracked-in-hacking-competition/). So if this is in the Philippines according to the law, those hackers should be arrested. :lol:

syempre, ite-test mo yung sarili mong systems para malaman mo kung secure ba siya against external attacks. TESTING is a normal part of any software or systems development.

pero, kung iha-hack mo yung network ng ibang companies, obviously crime yun. syempre, dahil naging unusable na yung systems; yung website hindi na siya functional, na-disrupt mo yung normal functions and processes, etc............nasaan na ba ang utak mo? pakihanap naman. Dali!!!!

and, by the way, your admission that you hacked your devices (which, interestingly, you deleted from your post)...that is also a VIOLATION of the licensing agreement of your device. pakibasa. you can also reveal your name and personal details here so we can report you to the proper authorities.

Redplane500

April 24th, 2012, 05:15 AM

China is careful not to antagonize the world because it is just counter-productive.

Not at this point in time so long as Wal Mart is keeping the Chinese factories busy. But I think within 5-7 years, The Chinese political leadership will not hesitate to take violent actions in order to shift their populations focus away from domestic problems.

Redplane500

April 24th, 2012, 05:49 AM

The American people has zero interest in much of the world given their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are increasingly becoming isolationist and for good reasons. Its almost election time in the US and right now most Americans are only thinking of who among the two candidates has the potential to put America on the right path. So for the moment, it would be prudent for the Philippines to do less chest thumping and to really think hard how it can get out of this sticky situation with China - peacefully.

xxxriainxxx

April 24th, 2012, 05:50 AM

It would be more prudent for China to leave Panatag Shoal.

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 05:50 AM

syempre, ite-test mo yung sarili mong systems para malaman mo kung secure ba siya against external attacks. TESTING is a normal part of any software or systems development.

pero, kung iha-hack mo yung network ng ibang companies, obviously crime yun. syempre, dahil naging unusable na yung systems; yung website hindi na siya functional, na-disrupt mo yung normal functions and processes, etc............nasaan na ba ang utak mo? pakihanap naman. Dali!!!!

and, by the way, your admission that you hacked your devices (which, interestingly, you deleted from your post)...that is also a VIOLATION of the licensing agreement of your device. pakibasa. you can also reveal your name and personal details here so we can report you to the proper authorities.

That's not just a simple software testing especially that Google sponsors hacking competitions. Now how is that a criminal activity?

Well, I jailbroke my Iphone. That is legal (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/feds-ok-iphone-jailbreaking/) and fun. I did it since its out of warranty anyway. :lol:

Also, I flashed my router with ddwrt and put some code with it so I can use my old USB hard drive as a NAS server. Is that illegal? :lol:

So are you saying that modifying the windows registry according to your taste is illegal? :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 05:52 AM

Island mentality (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/opinion/26203-island-mentality)
Monday, 23 April 2012 20:12 John Mangun / Outside the Box
E-mail Print PDF

THE Philippines follows the show business/sports happenings in the US as if it were her own. Yet the average Filipino and the “above-average” media and press pundits virtually ignore what is going on in the backyard.

Are you aware of the unprecedented events transpiring on the political front in China? Read any commentary lately about Bo Xilai who was recently ousted as Chongqing party chief. Bo Xilai is the son of Bo Yibo, one of the Eight Elders of the Communist Party of China who overthrew the government in 1948.

Look around the newspapers today and see if there is any comment about North Korea yesterday calling for the assassination of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and threatening to launch a “Sacred War”?

We often hear of colonial mentality or crab mentality but I think the actual mentality is “island mentality.”

The classical definition of this type of thinking is a feeling of being “superior or exceptional to the rest of the world.” As someone who has lived in many island-countries (Bahamas, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Hawaii before PHL), I completely disagree.

I know what I am about to say are generalizations. You cannot apply a generalization to one person but you can often apply it to a group.

My experience has been that “island people” tend to be less concerned about trash and waste. Coming from a time and culture where improper disposal was a legal and moral crime, it took me some getting used to. But dump the trash down the road and by next week the jungle has covered it up. Or wait for the next big storm and it is gone entirely. There might be some generational logic to that.

Island mentality also might mean that time takes on a new meaning. Preparing for the annual Junkanoo celebration between Christmas and New Year’s takes months of preparation in the Bahamas and Jamaica. This is a highlight of the year and requires long planning, perhaps like Christmas in the Philippines.

And like the Philippines, on most of these islands I have lived, you can find fiesta after fiesta, all taking weeks to prepare.

There is another side to island time that is not as pleasant. There is a strong tendency to never have a sense of urgency. The fence does not really need to be fixed right now. And by the time someone gets to it, the brush has grown around, it creating a natural barricade to keep the goats in or out, as the case may be.

The shed for the animals or the house for the humans is started with the foundation laid and a wall or two put up. But some other project comes along and the completed construction is put aside until later.

This lack of a sense of urgency is not something that islanders always ignore. They understand that certain situations are urgent but rather than taking action, they move their “urgency” to some other point of focus. Or they deflect the urgency by concluding that the problem needs more consideration. But the most damaging situation is when the sense of urgency is rationalized away in the belief or hope that no immediate action is necessary.

Asia, primarily because of China, is in a tenuous situation right now. North Korea does not saber-rattle without China’s actual or tacit approval. Relations between Japan and China are not good because of some supposedly “disputed” islands. The Chinese economic situation is far from stable and will affect all the surrounding countries one way or another.

The territorial issues that the Philippines faces with China are monumentally important and critical.

Yet, it would seem that there is not enough urgency for this problem. While the trees of Baguio that SM Corp. is removing is important, perhaps right now that concern is a luxury not vital to the nation’s interest.

Regardless of the official and unofficial spin, the Philippines and China are in a state of war. That is what happens when one nation invades another’s territory. Either China has invaded PHL, or the President sent a Philippine warship and invaded Chinese territory.

While many are calling for diplomacy, there had better be a Plan B. The cyber attacks on the UP web site may seem juvenile and unimportant, but an attack on the communications system or the banks would not be trivial.

“Let’s be friends with everyone.” “Let’s be peacemakers.” Nice thoughts but even the Lord overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the temple and I would imagine those people did not think his actions very peaceful.

As much as we would prefer win-win situations, thinking adults know that sometimes we are presented with win-lose scenarios. This may be one of those, I fear.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 05:54 AM

That's not just a simple software testing especially that Google sponsors hacking competitions. Now how is that a criminal activity?

Well, I jailbroke my Iphone. That is legal (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/feds-ok-iphone-jailbreaking/) and fun. :lol:

Also, I changed flashed my router with ddwrt and put some code with it so I can use my old hard drive as a NAS server. Is that illegal? :lol:

So are you saying that modifying the windows registry according to your taste is illegal? :lol:

The only "repurcussion" that you will get for hacking your devices is that it is not covered by warranty :lol:

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 05:58 AM

The only "repurcussion" that you will get for hacking your devices is that it is not covered by warranty :lol:

Well, those devices I hacked are out of warranty.

If they do break, I'll just get a new one because its cheaper to buy relative to its current value in the market. :lol:

Hacking could be fun as long as you don't cause damage to others - you can also learn something new that you could somehow use to let's say save money when buying devices. Something that the others simply do not get. ;) :lol:

By the way, this (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/turn-your-wifi-router-into-a-w-142547) is how you can turn your ordinary router into a wifi radio without spending too much money.

xxxriainxxx

April 24th, 2012, 06:04 AM

CNN uses 9 dash line on its weather reports.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:06 AM

Ayaw ni Escudero na panindigan natin na atin ang Scarborough pero tago din pala sya sa palda ng mga Kano :lol:

Tayo kaya makijoint exploration sa Hainan, noh?

Chiz: Yes to joint Scarborough exploration with China, no to confrontation (http://www.interaksyon.com/article/30164/chiz-yes-to-joint-scarborough-exploration-with-china-no-to-confrontation)

IPA CITY, Batangas -– Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero advanced his proposal for the country’s joint exploration with China, rather than taking a confrontational stand on the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal issue.

In a news conference with the Calabarzon media at the Hotel La Corona de Lipa here Monday, Escudero explained that although the Senate has its Foreign Affairs Committee chaired by Senator Loren Legarda, “foreign policy is within the sole power of the Chief Executive.”

The Senate’s role other than ratifying a treaty is to declare war which, Escudero said, is far-fetched and impossible. He elaborated that any armed confrontation, conflict or bullying has traditional approaches for a peaceful resolution.

“Ang pinag-uusapan natin ay sand bar. Ito ay lupain na ring maituturing, at baka wala sa jurisdiction ng (The subject is a sand bar...and may not be under the jurisdicion of the) United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos),” the lawmaker stated.

Recognizing how present mechanisms are adopted to resolve conflicts, Escudero objected to the government’s Unclos approach because the issue at hand is not about the seas.

He proposed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to conduct extensive studies on the matter, how and where to lodge the case to the proper international forum.

Citing “there are no treaties insofar as Scarborough is concerned, insofar as the Spratlys is concerned,” Escudero said he personally advocated for joint exploration, knowing China has offered the scheme then.

He batted to set aside overtures on the claim or ownership issue and the matter of sovereignty.

“Puwede ba, magsama muna tayo para i-explore yung area at sabay tayong makinabang dyan, habang inaalam at nireresolbahan kung kanino ba yan? (Can we just cooperate to explore the area and together benefit from it while we are finding out and resolving who owns it?)” the senator proposed.

He explained that it is best to undertake joint exploration to determine if there are indeed resources rather than quarrel over something that has yet to find its yield.

He also said that the country has in fact offered mining business operations that are undertaken by China inside Philippine territory and yet these have not been questioned.

He further stated, “So, there is no reason then to object for China to be a partner in our joint exploration in that questionable site.”

Senator Escudero also commented on China’s knee-jerk reaction to the Philippines-United States joint military exercises in Palawan.

He said the country has the sovereign right and responsibility to conduct these joint undertakings, especially in the areas at risk for potential conflicts.

According to Escudero, this is not offensive, but defensive maneuverings between the US and the Philippines.

He explained that these are positive indications that the U.S. respects, adheres and conforms to its obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:08 AM

CNN uses 9 dash line on its weather reports.

CNN world o CNN Asia? Kung CNN Asia, I believe HONG KONG ang base nila

xxxriainxxx

April 24th, 2012, 06:11 AM

Walang bayag yata yang si Chiz. Di ba iniwan ng asawa yan?

xxxriainxxx

April 24th, 2012, 06:12 AM

CNN world o CNN Asia? Kung CNN Asia, I believe HONG KONG ang base nila

Their weather centre I think isnt in Hong Kong but Atlanta.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:14 AM

Walang bayag yata yang si Chiz. Di ba iniwan ng asawa yan?

di ba bar girl asawa nya? :lol:

you can take a girl from a bar, but you can't take the bar from the girl :lol:

xxxriainxxx

April 24th, 2012, 06:15 AM

di ba bar girl asawa nya? :lol:

you can take a girl from a bar, but you can't take the bar from the girl :lol:

haha hindi ko lam yan...

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 06:17 AM

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:19 AM

It looks like he's on a joint. Come to Jamaica! :lol::lol:

pero tago din sya sa palda ng mga kano :lol:

bariQ

April 24th, 2012, 06:22 AM

'“Let’s be friends with everyone.” “Let’s be peacemakers.” Nice thoughts but even the Lord overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the temple'

this is WIN. even Jesus fought for what is right!

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 06:23 AM

Mercato

April 24th, 2012, 06:27 AM

nice madonna & papa youtube songs, @Nabartek et al, however, this might also be a catchy tune after all. :lol: :lol:

Instead of joining 'em in a Hainan exploration, how does a lunar exploration sound to ya? :lol:

UctriMuXYS0

Friends Forever. :D
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2007-01/15/xin_30010415223763724088227.jpg

FRIENDS :):):cheers::cheers:

Today's news. Sorry ayaw tumuwid and aking photobucket, try as I might. :lol: paki-google na lang for the complete story.
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k577/mercato2010/random/IMG_1121.jpg

Today, Scarborough & the Spratlys. Tomorrow, the world.
The decades after tomorrow, the MOON and the UNIVERSE beyond. ;) :lol: :lol: Oh btw, the name's Chang'e Lunar Project and they're gonna be taking lunar rock samples. Kinda like Mining Exploration, dont ya think so? :D
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k577/mercato2010/random/IMG_1122.jpg

Out of Africa. Starring Robert Redford, Merryl Streep and China. :lol: oh, thats the South Sudan story below.
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k577/mercato2010/random/IMG_1123.jpg

Template for the Diosdado Macapagal Int'l Airport High Speed Railway. Made in China, where else. :lol:
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k577/mercato2010/random/IMG_1001.jpg

:jk: :lol: :lol: :runaway:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:31 AM

^^So they're marching to the WPS, Indian Ocean, then Pacific Ocean, then to the moon?

Are they claiming the moon because they developed the "Lunar calendar"? :lol:

Mercato

April 24th, 2012, 06:35 AM

^^So they're marching to the WPS, Indian Ocean, then Pacific Ocean, then to the moon?

Are they claiming the moon because they developed the "Lunar calendar"? :lol:Yes, because they are getting lunar rock samples and start mining on the moon for rare earth este :lol: rare moon minerals na pala.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:35 AM

It just occurred to me. One prominent local Chinese is Teresita Ang Sy. She also wrote the paper "The China Factor (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=teresita+ang+sy+china+factor&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2F192.38.121.218%2Fissco5%2Fdocuments%2FAngSeepaper.doc&ei=Yi2WT_LlMKmfiAK0rOmgCg&usg=AFQjCNE57TXV1IHWKyUMg4ZZtQId6n5XxQ&cad=rja)" which puts mainland Chinese in a bad light. I wonder what she thinks of the current issue.

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 06:36 AM

^^So they're marching to the WPS, Indian Ocean, then Pacific Ocean, then to the moon?

Are they claiming the moon because they developed the "Lunar calendar"? :lol:

Bah. Papa Sugar has thought of that already:

Gingrich promises US moon colony by 2020 (http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/25/10237875-gingrich-promises-us-moon-colony-by-2020)

If not Newt, someone might still make that a reality, you never know:hi:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:40 AM

Bah. Papa Sugar has thought of that already:

If not Newt, someone might still make that a reality, you never know:hi:

What he gonna do on the moon... convert lunar species to Catholicism? :lol:

xxxriainxxx

April 24th, 2012, 06:43 AM

"if rape is inevitable, just lie back and enjoy it."- Raul Manglapus, Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Philippines.

Ganito ang pag-iisip ng ibang mga Pilipino dito.

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 06:44 AM

What he gonna do on the moon... convert lunar species to Catholicism? :lol:

Nah. It will be a haven for the million or so Pinoys and Mexicans who migrate every year legally and unlegally. Put a US flag on the moon and that'll solve the immigration problem:lol:
The dominant religion might as well be Catholic then. (Augh)

Mercato

April 24th, 2012, 06:45 AM

Buajajaja. IF Newt the sly silver salamander even makes it, that is. :lol: :lol: :lol: It so happens that my main man, Mitt Romney is leading with 577 total delegates. :hi:

http://2012.republican-candidates.org/

p.s. kinda tired of the namby pamby Obama anyway. The liberal media had successfully painted him in a corner to be so sickeningly sweet(-ick). :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:49 AM

Nah. It will be a haven for the million or so Pinoys and Mexicans who migrate every year legally and unlegally. Put a US flag on the moon and that'll solve the immigration problem:lol:
The dominant religion might as well be Catholic then. (Augh)

That is plausible :lol:

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 06:50 AM

Ganito ang pag-iisip ng ibang mga Pilipino dito.

Ain't that sad? :ohno::ohno:

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 06:50 AM

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:53 AM

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 06:55 AM

I'm going republican this time around. Obama does not have the appeal of the world's most powerful leader. Yup, and I'm rooting for Romney for the upcoming primaries as well.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:57 AM

Correction: looks like it is Romney vs Obama

http://2012.candidate-comparison.org/?compare=Romney&vs=Obama

Mercato

April 24th, 2012, 07:02 AM

I'm going republican this time around. Obama does not have the appeal of the world's most powerful leader. Yup, and I'm rooting for Romney for the upcoming primaries as well.Mr. Romney's rhetoric seems to be swinging to a much tougher stance against China. Much tougher and more confrontational than either Obama or Bush. Or at least in rhetoric... :D :D
It's gonna be most appealing to the American blue collar workers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/us/politics/mitt-romneys-stance-on-china-trade.html?pagewanted=all

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 07:02 AM

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:02 AM

I think the gauge for Filipinos and Filipino-Americans on their presidential bet is the candidates position of China

I think I will bear with Romney's Mormon roots. :lol:

China is one of the few issues that Romney appears to feel very strongly about. His comments concerning the communist nation have been intensifying over the last year, and he advocates an increasingly hardline approach in handling China.
“Well, China has an interest in trade. China wants to, as they have 20 million people coming out of the farms and coming into the cities every year, they want to be able to put them to work. They wanna have access to global markets. And so we have right now something they need very badly, which is access to our market and our friends around the world, have that same-- power over China. We-- to make sure that we let them understand that in order for them to continue to have free and open access to the thing they want so badly, our markets, they have to play by the rules.

They can't hack into our computer systems and steal from our government. They can't steal from corporations. They can't take patents and designs, intellectual property, and, and, and, and duplicate them, and duplicate them and counterfeit them and sell them around the world. And they also can't manipulate their currency in such a way as to make their prices well below what they otherwise would be.

We have to have China understand that like everybody else on the world stage, they have to play by the rules. And if they do, we'll have open trade with them and work with them. And they should in every way want to collaborate with us and not become a belligerent nation economically or militarily. But if you just continue to sit back and let them run over us, the policies of Barack Obama in China have allowed China to continue to expand their, their, entry into our computer systems, their entry… and, stealing our intellectual property…

And of course, their, their military capacity…

Well number one, on day one, it's acknowledging something which everyone knows, they're a currency manipulator. And on that basis, we also go before the W.T., the W.T.O. and bring an action against them as a currency manipulator. And that allows us to apply, selectively, tariffs where we believe they are stealing our intellectual property, hacking into our computers, or artificially lowering their prices and killing American jobs. We can't just sit back and let China run all over us. People say, "Well, you'll start a trade war." There's one going on right now, folks. They're stealing our jobs. And we're gonna stand up to China.”
November 12, 2011: CBS News/ National Journal's GOP Debate, Spartanburg, South Carolina
“I will label China as it is, a currency manipulator. And I will go after them for stealing our intellectual property. And they will recognize that if they cheat, there is a price to pay. I certainly don't want a trade war with anybody. We are going to have a trade war, but we can't have a trade surrender either…

I'm afraid that people who have looked at this in the past have been played like a fiddle by the Chinese. And the Chinese are smiling all the way to the bank, taking our currency and taking our jobs and taking a lot of our future. And I am not willing to let that happen.

I'm in this race to try to get America to make sure we're strong again and we're creating jobs where the best place in the world to be middle class again. And for that to happen, we have to call cheating for what it is.

And people say, we might have a trade war with China. Well, now, think about that.
We by this much stuff from China, they buy that much stuff from us. You think they want to have a trade war?

I mean, this is a time when we are being hollowed out by China, that is artificially holding down their prices, as you just said a moment ago, and that's having a massive impact on jobs here. It is the wrong course for us.

When people have pursued unfair trade practices, you have to have a president that will take action. And on day one, I have indicated, day one, I will issue an executive order identifying China as a currency manipulator. We'll bring an action against them in front of the WTO for manipulating their currency, and we will go after them. If you are not willing to stand up to China, you will get run over by China, and that's what's happened”

http://2012.republican-candidates.org/Romney/China.php

Obama views China as one of the rising powers of the 21st century, and believes a more conciliatory and pragmatic approach is the key towards improving the two nation’s relationship. He made his intent clear in 2009 when he nominated the Utah Governor at the time, Jon Huntsman Jr., to become the American Ambassador of China, convinced that the Republican’s experience in the region and fluency in Mandarin made him the perfect choice for the role.
I know there are many who question how the United States perceives China's emergence. But as I have said, in an interconnected world, power does not need to be a zero-sum game, and nations need not fear the success of another. Cultivating spheres of cooperation -- not competing spheres of influence -- will lead to progress in the Asia Pacific.

Now, as with any nation, America will approach China with a focus on our interests. And it's precisely for this reason that it is important to pursue pragmatic cooperation with China on issues of mutual concern, because no one nation can meet the challenges of the 21st century alone, and the United States and China will both be better off when we are able to meet them together.

That's why we welcome China's effort to play a greater role on the world stage -- a role in which their growing economy is joined by growing responsibility. China's partnership has proved critical in our effort to jumpstart economic recovery. China has promoted security and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. And it is now committed to the global nonproliferation regime, and supporting the pursuit of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

So the United States does not seek to contain China, nor does a deeper relationship with China mean a weakening of our bilateral alliances. On the contrary, the rise of a strong, prosperous China can be a source of strength for the community of nations.

And so in Beijing and beyond, we will work to deepen our strategic and economic dialogue, and improve communication between our militaries. Of course, we will not agree on every issue, and the United States will never waver in speaking up for the fundamental values that we hold dear -- and that includes respect for the religion and cultures of all people -- because support for human rights and human dignity is ingrained in America. But we can move these discussions forward in a spirit of partnership rather than rancor."

http://2012.presidential-candidates.org/Obama/China.php

Has the Scarborough incident reached the President or is he going "Hu-bama"?

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 07:06 AM

Yep it is him. Newt and Santorum were never really strong anyway. Plus Ron was laughable:lol:
I think the Pinas is ok with whatever mask Papa Sugar wears as long as he doesn't leave us for too long:lol::lol:

Pinas should really speed up modernizing its armed forces. Although that English/Canadian guy was banned here, I do agree with his previous posts that Philippines really need a decent, respectable water and air defense given that we are an archipelago.

Perhaps we can look up to Taiwan's defensive strategy as a way to counter these intrusions to our territory so we can depend less to Papa Sugar.

Nakakahiya sa isang sovereign country na umaasa nalang ng tulong pag may mga nangyayaring ganito dahil hindi naman Pilipinas ang nagbabayad ng tax sa kanila para idepensa ang bansa. :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:10 AM

7aP83BShAUs

This clip best represent the US-Phil relationship :lol:

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 07:11 AM

I think the gauge for Filipinos and Filipino-Americans on their presidential bet is the candidates position of China

I think I will bear with Romney's Mormon roots. :lol:

http://2012.republican-candidates.org/Romney/China.php

http://2012.presidential-candidates.org/Obama/China.php

Has the Scarborough incident reached the President or is he going "Hu-bama"?

I feel ya Mit. :lol::lol:

diz

April 24th, 2012, 07:13 AM

akala ko ba matalino ang mga intsik sa math, hang bobo naman pala! :lol::D:nuts:

Didn't know racist comments were allowed to fly in these forums.

hugodiekonig

April 24th, 2012, 07:14 AM

Funny pic, FAR from reality, though :lol:

http://spratlyforthephilippines.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/6526-onlinecart123.gif

ang cute! hehehehe

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 07:15 AM

Mr. Romney's rhetoric seems to be swinging to a much tougher stance against China. Much tougher and more confrontational than either Obama or Bush. Or at least in rhetoric... :D :D
It's gonna be most appealing to the American blue collar workers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/us/politics/mitt-romneys-stance-on-china-trade.html?pagewanted=all

and the Filipinos as well particularly at this time. :D

But wait, there is a downside - he might also pull out our BPO's on this. :ohno:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:17 AM

^^ On BPO, that is likely up to the legistative, I think. Unless he comes up with something like executive order

hugodiekonig

April 24th, 2012, 07:18 AM

pupunta ngayon si DFA sec del rosario sa Washington DC and isa sa mga pag-uusapan roon ang about sa Scarborough shoal. del Rosario hopes na hindi sana ma-offend ang China sa talks ng Pilipinas at US - napanood ko kanina sa ANC

skyion

April 24th, 2012, 07:18 AM

Philippine top secret weapon:

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u310/talbus23/manangalnacabatoroaddb8.jpg

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 07:18 AM

7aP83BShAUs

This clip best represent the US-Phil relationship :lol:

Teka may narinig ako
Taiwan, even without joining force with China will add to the legitimacy of the Chinese claims. It will also deters Uncle Sam from over meddling because she is a more important ally/customer for her than the other poor nations. Uncle always favors his better looking children.

http://www.defence.pk/forums/world-affairs/175026-taiwan-plans-buy-four-warships-us-report.html

Wut? Ang dami namin ata nating kapatid!!? So are we the ugly duckling now?

:eek2::rofl:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:22 AM

^^ Guguwapo din tayo. :lol:

Remember the ending? :lol:

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 07:22 AM

Teka may narinig ako

Wut? Ang dami namin ata nating kapatid!!? So are we the ugly duckling now?

:eek2::rofl:

^^ Guguwapo din tayo. :lol:

Remember the ending? :lol:

Isa pa, mas maraming resources ang Pilipinas - within the islands and the surrounding waters. Kaya nga pinag-aawayan yan dyan.

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 07:22 AM

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:25 AM

^^ Nagwithdraw nga ng vessels ang China nung sinabi nating magsusumbong tayo kay "Daddy" :lol:

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 07:30 AM

Buong linggo kaya tayo nagpaparining/sumbong kay Papa:lol:
Sorry, Taiwan 'but the baby is first to be fed. :lol::lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:31 AM

In the family hierarchy, bunso muna :lol:

Kapag di tinupad ng US ang MDT, eto ang magiging tema natin...:lol:

TR3Vdo5etCQ

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 07:47 AM

In the family hierarchy, bunso muna :lol:

Kapag di tinupad ng US ang MDT, eto ang magiging tema natin...:lol:

TR3Vdo5etCQ

Ito ang mas plausible na scenario :lol:

At ng tinig mo'y
Parang musika
Nagpapaligaya sa
Munting nagwawala
Ang sarap nitong pag-ibig
Lalo na noong sinabi mong

Dadalhin kita sa 'king palasyo
Dadalhin hanggang langit ay manibago
Ang lahat ng ito'y pinangako mo
Dadalhin lang pala ng hangin ang pangarap ko

GmJoVBDOvLc:lol::lol:

CarltonHill

April 24th, 2012, 07:51 AM

China lying about Scarborough deployments, says Philippine military officer

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City - The chief of the Armed Forces' Northern Luzon Command on Tuesday accused China of "not telling the truth" when it claimed it had withdrawn its vessels from disputed Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.

A statement from the Chinese Embassy on Monday said the Yuzheng 310, China's most advanced fishery patrol vessel - which is armed and has a helipad - and the surveillance ship CMS 84 had left Scarborough, where the Philippines and China have been engaged in a standoff that has entered its second week.

The standoff was triggered by attempts of the Philippine Navy flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar to take into custody eight Chinese fishing vessels loaded with contraband marine products.

Citing field reports, Alcantara said that as of 8 p.m. Monday, the Yuzheng 310 had been spotted about eight nautical miles southeast of the shoal.

"We're not doubting their claims; we're telling them they are not telling the truth," Alcantara said.

link (http://www.interaksyon.com/article/30188/china-lying-about-scarborough-deployments-says-philippine-military-officer)

:bash:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:54 AM

^^ Hahaha. Heart broken na heartbroken

Puede din ito

x5uzOuU6Z2c

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:56 AM

China lying about Scarborough deployments, says Philippine military officer

link (http://www.interaksyon.com/article/30188/china-lying-about-scarborough-deployments-says-philippine-military-officer)

:bash:

They are deliberately sabotaging the aim for peaceful talks :bash:

Christian_123

April 24th, 2012, 07:58 AM

Reading back, kakatawa naman ng Abnoynoy goverment. Humihingi na naman ng limos ng naval ships kay Uncle sam after the panatag shoal tension... Lagi nalang ba tayo ganito??

Bakit ba ayaw nalang bumili ng navy sa mga shipbuilding companies na nakabase sa atin? Hanjin subic, for example, is pretty much capable of building naval warfare ships.
Give them tax exemptions which in return gives our navy modern patrol boats and ships and since allies tayo with South korea and Japan, pwede tayo magpatulong sa naval technologies...

Gasgas na palusot na un "Walang pondo".

CarltonHill

April 24th, 2012, 08:01 AM

They are deliberately sabotaging the aim for peaceful talks :bash:

They copy, they fake, they smuggle, they bully, they LIE.... oh what a country.. I wonder how their people feel about these issues.... :ohno:

hugodiekonig

April 24th, 2012, 08:04 AM

Askal82

April 24th, 2012, 08:05 AM

They copy, they fake, they smuggle, they bully, they LIE.... oh what a country.. I wonder how their people feel about these issues.... :ohno:

Don't expect them to tell the truth.

hugodiekonig

April 24th, 2012, 08:08 AM

Sabi ni Sec Del Rosario sa interview sa kanya ni Karen Davila sa ANC yesterday, hindi makalapit ang nag-iisang maliit na ship nati sa lagoon ng Scarborough shoal dahil malalim doon (maybe because of the strong current there) eh yung mga Chinese vessels ay nakakalapit doon

Del Rosario was asked if paano kung may Chinese structure ang ipatayo roon, ang sabi niya Philippines won't allow that

Del Rosario was also asked if paano kung mag-"fail" ang talks niya with the US officials pero unfortunately hindi ko na naintindihan sinabi niya

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:09 AM

Philippine ambassador to China must be more than a career officer -- Aquino
(http://www.interaksyon.com/article/30192/philippine-ambassador-to-china-must-be-more-than-a-career-officer----aquino)
MANILA, Philippines -- President Benigno Aquino III said he prefers a career diplomat to be the country’s next ambassador to China, and has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to expand the shortlist it submitted to him.

“We have a different set of criteria now. It is not just basically (that the next ambassador be) career. (We need) somebody who understands the nuances of Chinese culture, how their system works, and has developed contacts left and right to be able to reach the opinion makers and those whose opinions really matter,” the President said.

“We have tensions now and that is our most important consideration. China is one of the biggest economic blocs and we have potential issues that can become bigger if we don’t handle it well. So you need somebody who knows the system, is mature, patient. There is so many criteria because it is for a very sensitive post. It will be good if our man there is a career diplomat,” he added.

Top candidate is 'too young'

Aquino said the top candidate was described by Foreign Affairs Secretary as “very gifted.”

“My impression is that he is too young. But our Foreign Affairs of Secretary was very impressed and I’m supposed to be interviewing him,” he said.

“But we have asked the DFA to look for other candidates,” the President added.

Aquino said he has another candidate in mind, but the person has some health considerations because he suffered from a stroke recently.

He said businessmen of Chinese descent are also being considered.

Businessman Domingo Lee has recently asked Aquino to withdraw his nomination as ambassador-designate to China after being bypassed by the Commission on Appointments thrice.

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 08:10 AM

Hindi makita yung flag ah.

There's our Philippine flag...

http://img.nauticexpo.com/images_ne/photo-g/oceanographic-research-vessel-shipyard-194390.jpg

To the right of the observation tower/mast shows only the red and white part of it.

Did we not have the "biggest flag" many years ago? They should use it..and duplicate it with the same size and it should be in ALL ships

Considering the size of ALL our ships, It will only get wet which is discouraged by law.

Philippine top secret weapon:

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u310/talbus23/manangalnacabatoroaddb8.jpg

Ano yan?

Mercato

April 24th, 2012, 08:26 AM

^^ :D that's a Manananggal = a half bodied carnivorous winged witch straight outta Filipino mythology. :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:28 AM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sites/default/files/a_images/slideshows/frontimage/20120423_balikatan_lechon-afp.jpg

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/image/images/04/23/12/us-marines-watch-lechon-being-roasted

http://www.filipeanut.com/images/post/boodlefight.jpg

Source: http://www.filipeanut.com/2010/04/boodle-fight/

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:38 AM

Caught this link at Timawa. Intersting timeline

http://www.cnas.org/flashpoints/timeline

M46Fr3D

April 24th, 2012, 08:41 AM

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:45 AM

^^ :lol:

The issue on BBC.....

I think it's merely because the US Military in the Pacific has spoken :lol:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17809914

skyion

April 24th, 2012, 09:00 AM

^^ Night Attack Force ng Philippine Air Force. Main base nila is Siquijor but deployed in all parts of the Philippines. Matipid sa fuel yan kasi coconut oil lang ang karga nyan tapos good to go na sila from night til dawn. Back to base na sila bago sumikat ang araw which shows that they are elite force. A force to be reckoned with.

they haven't reckoned the country's top secret ground assault counterpart yet, according to highly confidential reports the weapon is capable of transmutating from 2 legged to 4 legged in split second and equipped with shapeshifting organic technology that will render any present and most modern stealth weapons obsolete by thousands of years.

5a-IiCU8X9M

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 09:08 AM

^^ Nakakatawa naman na dramatization yan :lol:

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 09:14 AM

Breaking News: Chinese gunboat patrolling Panatag (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=800121&publicationSubCategoryId=63)!!!

^^ :D that's a Manananggal = a half bodied carnivorous winged witch straight outta Filipino mythology. :lol:

Filipino Mythology? But I have seen one in real life though it looked different!

^^ Night Attack Force ng Philippine Air Force. Main base nila is Siquijor but deployed in all parts of the Philippines. Matipid sa fuel yan kasi coconut oil lang ang karga nyan tapos good to go na sila from night til dawn. Back to base na sila bago sumikat ang araw which shows that they are elite force. A force to be reckoned with.

Ano yung nasa Capiz?

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 09:25 AM

Jamil Maidan Flores: A Lopsided Standoff (http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/columns/jamil-maidan-flores-a-lopsided-standoff/513389)

As I write this column, a lone Philippine coast guard patrol boat is in a standoff with three Chinese patrol ships, one of them a 108-meter highly sophisticated vessel that has just arrived on the scene.

The standoff is near a mud bank called Scarborough Shoal, Huangyen to the Chinese and Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal to the Philippines. Some 124 nautical miles from the west coast of the main Philippine island of Luzon, Bajo de Masinloc is part of the Philippine town of Masinloc but China claims the shoal and the seas around it.

The standoff began when the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippine Navy’s biggest and fastest warship, stumbled onto at least eight Chinese fishing boats poaching in the area. An inspection team from the Philippine ship found the fishing boats had been collecting coral, giant clams and live sharks in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

The Philippine battleship tried to detain the fishing boats but Chinese surveillance vessels blocked its way, making the intended arrest impossible without violence. The BRP Gregorio del Pilar has since left the scene, with a coast guard patrol boat taking its place.

If one side starts firing, there is no doubting the battle’s outcome. China has an estimated military budget of $160 billion, the Philippines less than $2.5 billion. China has 66 intercontinental ballistic missiles, three nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles and five more nuclear submarines; the Philippines has zero on all these counts. The BRP Gregorio del Pilar is its only decently clad naval vessel, a 47-year-old hand-me-down from the US Coast Guard. Filipino humorists are having a field day poking fun at the venerability of this “relic.”

The equalizer could be the mutual defense treaty between the Philippines and the United States. Many Asian diplomats have dismissed the treaty as a “paper tiger,” but after the US military pivot to East Asia, the treaty has begun to look stronger than that. A visiting forces agreement has increased the American military presence in the Philippines, and even as the impasse at Scarborough Shoal persists, Philippine and American forces are carrying out military exercises near the Spratly Islands, another disputed area.

But war is no solution. The Philippines is not equipped to fight anyone. If China fires the first shot, it would blast out of the water the notion of its “peaceful rise.” The other claimants to parts of the China Sea — Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam — would then regard China as the terror of the depths. And there would be political and economic costs that China wouldn’t be able to shoulder. If it can avoid a war over Scarborough Shoal, it will.

The United States doesn’t want its East Asia military pivot tested so soon — especially during a presidential campaign.

OK, nobody wants war. But so long as gunboats are facing off, one itchy finger on a trigger can start a conflagration.

Meanwhile the Philippines says it will bring the issue before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea. Since China won’t have anything to do with the tribunal, the Philippines may have to do it unilaterally — a desperate tack that probably won’t work.

After the cases of Sipadan-Ligitan between Malaysia and Indonesia, and Piedra Branca (Singapore and Malaysia), where the winner took all and the loser got nothing, disputants have grown wary of international litigation. Cambodia and Thailand broke that trend by taking their border dispute to the International Court of Justice.

Bilateral negotiations, on the other hand, can take forever and a year. But China insists on bilateral negotiations. “So when do we talk?” asks the Philippines. No answer yet.

What the situation calls for is some quick action from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Asean can be neutral on the bilateral disputes in the South China Sea, but it cannot be indifferent to the urgent need for a way of ensuring that armed conflict will not suddenly erupt in that theater.

It must now fast-track the process of formulating an Asean collective position on a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and then promptly invite China to negotiate. Once there is a legally binding Code of Conduct between Asean and China, all concerned can focus on the search for compromises that will resolve their territorial and sovereignty disputes.

All of this must be done fast — before somebody on a gunboat somewhere in the South China Sea squeezes that fateful trigger.

Jamil Maidan Flores is a poet, fiction writer, playwright and essayist who has worked as a speechwriter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1992.

hakz2007

April 24th, 2012, 09:31 AM

Scarborough Shoal, di pa rin Panatag ang sitwasyon hanggang ngayon...

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 09:36 AM

^^ Nice play of words...pero bajo de Masinloc na daw ulit yun :lol:

Meanwhile, Scarborough

http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=scarborough&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x487f254b19e38abb:0x69546c0179a47ac7,Scarborough,+North+Yorkshire,+UK&gl=us&ei=5FeWT8CdKsaniAKtqpinCg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDYQ8gEwAA

hakz2007

April 24th, 2012, 09:37 AM

We cannot just cede our territories to China just like what Tajikistan did last year in exchange for various projects :ohno:

Tajikistan cedes land to China
China and Tajikistan say that they have settled a century-old border dispute, after the Central Asian nation agreed to cede land to China.

The Tajik parliament voted on Wednesday to ratify a 1999 deal handing over 386 square miles (1,000 sq km) of land in the remote Pamir mountain range. Read more (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12180567)

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 09:42 AM

Wow...let's see countries in conflict with them

Tajikistan, India, Mongolia, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam

The CCP must think it's still 3000 BC :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 10:01 AM

This is a very interesting facebook page with all links. This is one curious video from the page

http://www.facebook.com/chinaforbiddennews

ojPI1W7Y0LE

ky_GfXlbvgo

LuckyLady

April 24th, 2012, 10:07 AM

Teka may narinig ako

Wut? Ang dami namin ata nating kapatid!!? So are we the ugly duckling now?

:eek2::rofl:

Buong linggo kaya tayo nagpaparining/sumbong kay Papa:lol:
Sorry, Taiwan 'but the baby is first to be fed. :lol::lol:

don't be duped by the posters there they're not even taiwanese. it's so funny sometimes these mainlanders act as if they're the voice of taiwan or they know what the taiwanese are thinking:lol: let's remember that almost 50% of the population is anti unification/china so would taiwan really unite with China in times of war? i don't think so! The very reason why i would like our country to maintain friendly ties with taiwan is that they would be strategically important to us and our allies during war. So let's not push taiwan to come to Big mama, the mainlanders:lol: let's help free them also from mama's abuse and bullying. No second Tibet please.

Damn I hate that Chen Shui Bian. The DPP should be governing Taiwan now if he was not embroiled deeply in corruption issues. And with DPP in Taiwan we don't need to worry on who's side they would be in times of war.

skyion

April 24th, 2012, 10:22 AM

^^ Nakakatawa naman na dramatization yan :lol:

laughter is also an effective weapon.

the PAF should activate reconnaissance flights over the disputed territory, preferably visible from Chinese navy nearby using the country's very own vintage WW2 tora-tora planes and inflict unto them effectively fatal result:

they will die from laughing uncontrollably.

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 10:47 AM

Based on Nabartek's posted video, Who seeks to control the army?

laughter is also an effective weapon.

the PAF should activate reconnaissance flights over the disputed territory, preferably visible from Chinese navy nearby using the country's very own vintage WW2 tora-tora planes and inflict unto them effectively fatal result:

they will die from laughing uncontrollably.

They already did, with the Islander aircraft which is used for maritime patrol and reconnaissance flights. FYI we no longer have vintage WW2 tora-tora planes.

hakz2007

April 24th, 2012, 10:47 AM

7 Chinese ships still in Scarborough area, says military commander
CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City, Philippines—The leader of the military’s Northern Luzon Command has belied China’s claim it had withdrawn most of its vessels in the Panatag Shoal.

Nolcom chief Lieutenant General Anthony Alcantara said the Chinese embassy was “not telling the truth” when it said that only one Chinese Maritime Surveillance Ship remained at Panatag—called Huangyan Island by China—for its “law enforcement missions.” Read more (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34545/7-chinese-ships-still-in-scarborough-area-says-military-commander)

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 10:54 AM

7 Chinese ships still in Scarborough area, says military commander
Read more (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34545/7-chinese-ships-still-in-scarborough-area-says-military-commander)

They can only count what is seen on the surface but how about underwater?

Talata.Productions

April 24th, 2012, 12:00 PM

Teka may narinig ako

Wut? Ang dami namin ata nating kapatid!!? So are we the ugly duckling now?

:eek2::rofl:

I don't want to be mean but if anyone forgot Taiwan IS supposedly a rouge state, we actually sorted our own misunderstandings with them without even issuing a single apology, remember the deported Taiwanese? That being said, Taiwan needed to align itself with others not others align with it. Seriously speaking, if Taiwan was anything lesser than what it is right now, China would just nom nom nom them so I don't see any particular reason why would America side with Taiwan when they would gain more by siding with us.

ManilaBoy45

April 24th, 2012, 12:02 PM

Scarborough Shoal standoff continues for the 15th straight days and shows no signs of ending anytime soon ...

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/331982/20120423/philippines-china-scarborough-shoal-update.htm#disqus_thread

scamingue

April 24th, 2012, 12:51 PM

^^bakit warships ang headline? akala ko ba BFAR boats lang. :ohno:

leofriends

April 24th, 2012, 12:54 PM

leofriends

April 24th, 2012, 12:55 PM

They can only count what is seen on the surface but how about underwater?

oo tama ka.. nabasa ko sa isang comment sa yahoo kanina.. meron daw 3 submarines na nakatenga sa Scarborough.. at pagaari yun ng mga stinky chinese.. pero wala na eh di ko na makita ung link...

scamingue

April 24th, 2012, 01:09 PM

amigo32

April 24th, 2012, 01:18 PM

XEhAXQ5QQzs

^^

scamingue

April 24th, 2012, 01:46 PM

XEhAXQ5QQzs

^^

:lol:

leofriends

April 24th, 2012, 01:56 PM

WTF....

North Korea Vows 'Special Actions' to Turn Seoul to 'Ashes'

ABC NewsBy Joohee Cho | ABC News – 21 hrs ago

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea vowed today in an alarming announcement to"soon" reduce parts of South Korea's capital to "ashes" for insulting North Korea's leadership.

Regular programming was interrupted on North Korea's state TV today by a special report declaring that "special actions" will be carried out "soon" and aimed at parts of the South Korean capital Seoul.

It said the military attack will use "unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style."

"All will be reduced to ashes in three to four minutes," and will involve "form of fire."

"The special actions of our revolutionary armed forces will start soon to meet the reckless challenge of the group of traitors," read the statement.

continue reading.....

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/north-korea-issues-unusually-specific-threat-152720861.html

nayki

April 24th, 2012, 02:00 PM

^^Then that will be the end of North Korea....takot lang nila...hehe

hugodiekonig

April 24th, 2012, 02:00 PM

LAPDRN

April 24th, 2012, 02:55 PM

LAPDRN

April 24th, 2012, 02:56 PM

dada lang nang dada north korea. stop talking just do it

hugodiekonig

April 24th, 2012, 02:57 PM

kawawa naman tayo, resulta yan nang many years of corruption. ni wala tayong mga defensive military hardwares. aagawain lahat nang china bansa natin kasi alam nila we have nothing. we just rely on uncle sam. unclesam wont risk his life for us. we should defend our own.

Corruption has come into fruition. Heto, we're defenseless, ang budget para sa national defense, binubulsa lang. For how many years na ganito nalang. Siguro matatapatan narin sana natin ang depensa ng China kung wala lang corruption

leofriends

April 24th, 2012, 03:50 PM

:wtf::wtf::wtf:

Chinese daily calls for 'small-scale war' against Philippines

Agencies : Beijing, Sun Apr 22 2012, 11:25 hrs

As the stand off between the Chinese and Philippine navies continue over the disputed islands in the South China Sea, a state run Chinese daily has said that Beijing should be prepared to wage a "small scale war" with Manila, besides imposing sanctions.

"China should be prepared to engage in a small-scale war at sea with the Philippines", state run Global Times said in an editorial over the ongoing stand off between the navies of China and Philippines over the Huangyan Island or Scarborough Shoal in the SCS claimed by both the countries.

"Once the war erupts, China must take resolute action and deliver a clear message to the outside world that it does not want a war, but definitely has no fear of it.

Nevertheless, such a war cannot put the SCS to an end", it said.

"Cold treatment to Manila should last for a certain period. China needs to undertake losses from ensuing sanctions on Manila. Protecting islands in the SCS is not an empty slogan. It calls for our patience, costs and perseverance", the editorial said.

SCS disputes involving China and a host of East Asian countries including Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan flared up in recent months as US extended its firm backing to the small countries ranged against Beijing to assert their maritime rights.

China has also protested to India and Russia over their companies taking oil exploration contracts in the blocs claimed by Vietnam in SCS.

The editorial in the daily came as China has sent its most advanced fishery patrol ship to the uninhabited island stating that its aim is to protect from the harassment of the Philippine naval gunboats.

The 2,580-tonne Yuzheng-310 set sail from the southern port city of Guangzhou to protect China's territorial waters and ensure the safety of Chinese fishermen a statement released by the SCS Fishery Bureau said.

"In the period of time that follows, the ship will go on regular patrols, help Chinese fishermen in the area and look into other issues concerning fishing activity there," it said.

The Yuzheng-310 is equipped with advanced marine technology and has the ability to carry helicopters.

Dai Yudao, a local official from the fishing town of Tanmen in China¿s Hainan province, said more than 700 of the town's fishermen have been arrested, robbed, assaulted or rudely asked to leave by the armed forces of neighbouring countries while fishing in the South China Sea over the last 12 years.

In the most recent case, twelve Chinese fishing boats were harassed on April 10 by a Philippine Navy gunboat while taking refuge from harsh weather in a lagoon near Huangyan Island, official China Daily reported.

The incident led to a diplomatic spat between the two countries with China lodging protest to Manila over the incident.

Meanwhile China released 21 Vietnamese fishermen and their two fishing boats after detaining them for over a month for fishing at Xisha/Paracel Islands claimed by both the countries.

The fishermen were released after they guaranteed in writing not to infringe on China's maritime rights in its territorial waters, the South China Sea Fishery Bureau said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/chinese-daily-calls-for-smallscale-war-against-philippines/940004/2

gmaer

April 24th, 2012, 03:54 PM

oo tama ka.. nabasa ko sa isang comment sa yahoo kanina.. meron daw 3 submarines na nakatenga sa Scarborough.. at pagaari yun ng mga stinky chinese.. pero wala na eh di ko na makita ung link...

Scarborough Shoal is in shallow waters so what could this submarine be?

leofriends

April 24th, 2012, 03:55 PM

Scarborough Shoal is in shallow waters so what could this submarine be?

it can be either far from the standoff.. as you said it cannot be detected.. but surely Chinese submarines are now roaming the area..:ohno:

M46Fr3D

April 24th, 2012, 04:15 PM

a typical chinese headline...

Philippines to send two warships and an anti-submarine aircraft to the Huangyan Island waters

Date:2012-04-22Author:adminCategory:China militaryComment:0

http://www.9abc.net/index.php/archives/77161

Wow meron na tayong anti-submarine aircraft. :) hahahaha. kakatuwa talga mga Chinese. Di na rin ako magugulat pag sa balita nila e meron na rin tayong nuclear submarine.

M46Fr3D

April 24th, 2012, 04:17 PM

Breaking News: Chinese gunboat patrolling Panatag (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=800121&publicationSubCategoryId=63)!!!

Filipino Mythology? But I have seen one in real life though it looked different!

Ano yung nasa Capiz?

Forward Operating Base nila yung sa Capiz sir.

thumbs up

April 24th, 2012, 04:20 PM

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 04:29 PM

WTF....

North Korea Vows 'Special Actions' to Turn Seoul to 'Ashes'

ABC NewsBy Joohee Cho | ABC News – 21 hrs ago

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/north-korea-issues-unusually-specific-threat-152720861.html

:lol::lol:Nokor and Chicoms should just shut up and put their money where their mouth is.

kJrhrXWun3U

eonynx

April 24th, 2012, 04:38 PM

oooh, I seem to have missed this one. Thanks @Avenger.

As I was lookin at the invasion forces of the pirate Limahong and how their invasion route was,.... twas 62 warships, 2000 sailors, 2000 soldiers, 1500 women and various artisans... They first set foot on Ilocos Norte and attacked Villa Fernandina (later to be called Vigan) and then landed in Paranaque and Cavite and marched to Manila. After their initial setbacks, they fled up north to set up a redoubt in Pangasinan until they were totally defeated.

Using 15th century technology at the time and starting off from the southern Chinese coast, they were able to attack many points along Western Luzon. Predictably from Ilocos all the way down to Cavite and then Manila. Does anyone want a dejavu in the 21st century and this time using 21st century technology from a distance of less than 150nautical miles only?

What were we saying about a Chinese Naval platform on Scarborough? With Scarborough only 138NM from the nearest point in Luzon? And with 21st century technology to boot? If any Filo would like to see a repeat of the siege of Ilocos down to Cavite/ Paranaque and then a march to Malate/ Manilal, why all he has to do is hand over Scarborough on a silver platter to President Hu Jintao... Like what Gloria Arroyo almost did.

bingo! these are the reasons why we should never let china have scarborough. aside from the fact that it is well within our maritime sovereignity, letting china have it will render us almost indefensible, if not outright. from a defensive and strategic standpoints, that would suddenly make us vulnerable. once china has dominion over the area, that would lead to a domino-like collapse of our defensive positions. interesting historical reference by the way!:cool:

eonynx

April 24th, 2012, 04:49 PM

Philippine top secret weapon:

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u310/talbus23/manangalnacabatoroaddb8.jpg

i'm sure this is very stealthy! its radar sigure should confuse chinese armed forces' command and control! LOL!

wynngd

April 24th, 2012, 05:03 PM

WTF....

North Korea Vows 'Special Actions' to Turn Seoul to 'Ashes'

ABC NewsBy Joohee Cho | ABC News – 21 hrs ago

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/north-korea-issues-unusually-specific-threat-152720861.html

funny reply from one of the readers:

Philf • 19 hours ago

North Korea says, "it would reduce South Korea 'to ashes' in less than four minutes." Was "South Korea" the name of their missile?

:lol::lol::lol:

leofriends

April 24th, 2012, 05:13 PM

In the news china is very proud to NoKor... :ohno:

China's senior official on foreign policy praised the leadership shown by North Korea's new young leader, Kim Jong Un.

M46Fr3D

April 24th, 2012, 05:30 PM

^^Love your own. :) hahahaha.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 06:33 PM

I don't want to be mean but if anyone forgot Taiwan IS supposedly a rouge state, we actually sorted our own misunderstandings with them without even issuing a single apology, remember the deported Taiwanese? That being said, Taiwan needed to align itself with others not others align with it. Seriously speaking, if Taiwan was anything lesser than what it is right now, China would just nom nom nom them so I don't see any particular reason why would America side with Taiwan when they would gain more by siding with us.

Interesting points

a typical chinese headline...

Philippines to send two warships and an anti-submarine aircraft to the Huangyan Island waters

Date:2012-04-22Author:adminCategory:China militaryComment:0

http://www.9abc.net/index.php/archives/77161

Wow, may sub na pala tayo... :lol::bash:

mukhang ibang scarborough ata yan. dapat ito:

http://g.co/maps/hmtrv

WTF....

North Korea Vows 'Special Actions' to Turn Seoul to 'Ashes'

ABC NewsBy Joohee Cho | ABC News – 21 hrs ago

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/north-korea-issues-unusually-specific-threat-152720861.html

Naku, rocket na nga lang, di pa nila mapalipad. NK forgot that SK is not what it used to be in the 50's.

funny reply from one of the readers:

Philf • 19 hours ago

North Korea says, "it would reduce South Korea 'to ashes' in less than four minutes." Was "South Korea" the name of their missile?

:lol::lol::lol:

:lol::lol::lol:

waraywaray architect

April 24th, 2012, 06:34 PM

China is conditioning the minds of their robot citizenry to get a positive feedback and support, hence all the misleading news that they wanbt out to the Chinese public. The same communist propaganda as usual. Communism is a real evil their leaders love lies and deceit. That's why it will soon implode and self-destruct as the great Pope John Paul said. It's only a matter of time. No wonder their own "enforcers" of maritime boundaries doen't know to what extent they want to "enforce" maritime laws in the Spratlys. They are all guessing. That's why all these troubles in the SCS.

dashalvin

April 24th, 2012, 06:44 PM

Tajikistan cedes land to China

China said the move thoroughly resolved the border dispute.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei gave no details on the treaty.

But he said the dispute was solved "according to universally recognized norms of international law through equal consultations".

An opposition leader described the deal as a defeat for Tajik diplomacy and a violation of the constitution.

China is the biggest investor in the Tajik economy, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

^^ How unfortunate was this for the Tajiks. :(

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:06 PM

^^ Found this. Laki din ng ginive up na ibang bansa na land sa China...gahaman...sana sila nalang tinatarget ng Taliban :lol: mga -stan nation ang ninanakawan nila eh :lol:

China plays long game on border disputes (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/MA27Ad02.html)
By Sudha Ramachandran

BANGALORE- A Sino-Tajik border agreement that was ratified recently by Tajikistan's parliament flies in the face of images of China being a "bullying" and "belligerent" power that "will go to any length to fulfill its territorial ambitions".

The agreement, which resolves a 130-year-old territorial dispute, requires Tajikistan to cede around 1,000 square kilometers of land in the Pamir Mountains to China. It means that China will receive roughly 3.5% of the 28,000 square kilometers of land it laid claim to.

China's territorial concession has been hailed by Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi as a "victory for Tajik diplomacy".

This is not the first time that China has made concessions to settle its territorial disputes. Under its border agreements with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, for instance, China received just 22% and 32% respectively of the land disputed with these countries.

China's boundaries with Central Asia were originally drawn up under what China describes as "unequal treaties". It alleged that as a result of these treaties, Czarist Russia gained territory at its expense. It therefore refused to recognize these boundaries. Although the Soviet Union and China began negotiating a mutually acceptable border, a settlement remained elusive. With the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990, the new Central Asian Republics - Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan - inherited the disputes with China.

In the 1990s, China began negotiating settlements with these countries. Border agreements with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan were reached in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Border talks with Tajikistan were delayed by the civil war there. However, talks gathered momentum in the late 1990s and an agreement was reached in 2002. It was this agreement that was ratified recently.

Analysts have drawn attention to the territorial concessions that China extended to resolve its many disputes. Of its 23 territorial disputes active since 1949, China offered "substantial compromises" in 17, usually agreeing "to accept less than half of the territory being disputed," M Taylor Fravel, associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pointed out in the article "Regime Insecurity and International Cooperation: Explaining China's Compromises in Territorial Disputes," published in the journal International Security.

However, there is more to it than meets the eye. The territorial concessions that China is believed to have made are not quite as substantial as they appear to be. Srikanth Kondapalli, a China expert at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi pointed out that China's strategy of stepping up territorial claims and then settling for less has enabled it to appear to be making a major territorial concession to reach a border resolution agreement. In several disputes, "whether China actually gave up territory or made a substantial concession is a debatable question," he told Asia Times Online.

Still, in the quest for regional stability China overall "has been liberal in border dispute resolution", he said.

What has prompted Beijing to seek compromise and extend concessions with regard to territorial disputes involving its land borders? Regime insecurity appears to have been an important motivating factor. According to Fravel, "China's leaders have compromised when faced with internal threats to regime security - the revolt in Tibet, the instability following the Great Leap Forward, the legitimacy crisis after the Tiananmen upheaval, and separatist violence in Xinjiang."

The territorial concessions it made to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in order to reach border agreements with them was prompted by a sharp surge in separatist violence in Xinjiang province in the early 1990s.

The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the emergence of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as independent republics stoked long-smoldering Uighur nationalism in Xinjiang and fueled Uighur aspirations for independence. This triggered apprehension in Beijing that Xinjiang would break away. Coming close on the heels of the Tiananmen uprising of 1989, which had undermined the Chinese government's legitimacy, the separatist violence in Xinjiang compounded Chinese regime insecurity, as it posed a threat to China's territorial integrity. This made it imperative for Beijing to nip Uighur unrest in the bud.

China's strategy to deal with Uighur separatism has involved ruthless suppression of separatists and economic development of the Xinjiang region. However, the success of this strategy hinged on support from countries bordering Xinjiang - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Their cooperation was essential to get them to crack down on Uighur separatists taking sanctuary on their soil as well as to build robust trade ties that were needed for economic development in Xinjiang. Beijing thus traded territorial concessions for support from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in its strategy to quell Uighur separatism.

With the exception of its territorial disputes with India and Bhutan, China has settled all its other land-border disputes. In contrast, it has resolved none of its maritime border disputes, although the dispute in the Gulf of Tonkin with Vietnam is being discussed and those discussions are at an advanced stage of resolution.

China's strategy for resolving its border disputes and the nature of its border-resolution mechanism provide useful pointers to what lies ahead. In the past, "it is when the contestant state is weak that China has moved quickly to resolve the dispute," points out Kondapalli. The way it went about handling its territorial disputes with the Soviet Union is indicative. Although China did discuss them with the Soviet Union, it was only when the USSR disintegrated that Beijing moved quickly to achieve resolution.

This has implications for the resolution of the Sino-Indian territorial dispute.

Kondapalli warns that as India's economy grows, China could drag its feet. A rising India could stall China's pursuit of a negotiated settlement of the border.

What is more, "the increasing strength of the [Chinese] state in the frontier regions [Tibet] suggests that regime insecurity may be less likely to create incentives for compromise" with India, Fravel points out.

Kondapalli says there are lessons for India from the Sino-Tajik border agreement. "China will claim more before settling for less," he said. "The so-called territorial concessions that it will probably extend while settling the dispute will not merit being regarded as concessions."

Explaining this point, Kondapalli said that in 1960, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai had put forward a proposal under which China would recognize India's sovereignty over territory south of the McMahon Line in the eastern sector in return for India recognizing China's sovereignty over Aksai Chin in the western sector. However, China has since extended its claims to include territory south of the McMahon Line.

"It will possibly settle for parts of Tawang, dropping its larger claims on Arunachal," Kondapalli said. "But this scaling down of its claims cannot be regarded as a concession, as it will be getting territory south of the McMahon Line."

A former Indian diplomat told Asia Times Online that unlike in the case of its border agreements with the Central Asian states, where internal factors pushed Beijing to make the concessions it did to settle borders, in the case of the Sino-Indian border dispute, "domestic developments in China could constrain it from diluting its territorial claims" to reach settlement. "Rising nationalism in China could impede the capacity of future Chinese leaders to compromise on territorial disputes," he said.

China has six unresolved territorial disputes left. It is likely to be far tougher and much less generous in extending concessions to settle these disputes than it has been hitherto. Negotiations led to resolution of territorial disputes so far, although it has used significant force against other states on the territorial issue. Will it use force to settle its outstanding territorial disputes? Taiwan and the dispute with Japan over the Senkaku Islands are perhaps the most volatile, with potential to erupt in violent conflict. The US support for Taiwan and Japan and its military ties with them could provoke such conflict.

The possibility of China using force to impose a settlement of its territorial claims with India seems low. A dialogue process is on with India and while it is moving at a glacial pace, the two countries have signed an agreement on the guiding principles for settling their long-standing dispute. Besides, economic ties are robust. However, these Chinese calculations could change should India's growing relationship with the US evolve into one that is more threatening to Beijing.

Sudha Ramachandran is an independent journalist/researcher based in Bangalore.

pi_malejana

April 24th, 2012, 07:10 PM

ganyan talaga pag may pera... pag mayaman na tayo baka ung Sabah eh sumama na sa atin..:lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:15 PM

^^ Kahit nung masmayaman tayo sa Malaysia, di natin nakuha ang Sabah

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:34 PM

Pinoy hackers scale up attacks on China websites (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/04/24/12/pinoy-hackers-strike-back-china-websites)

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Filipino and Chinese hackers are engaged in a raging battle on the Internet amid the 2 countries' dispute over Scarborough Shoal and the Spratlys.

On Tuesday, members of "PrivateX" and "Anonymous #OccupyPhilippines" took down more Chinese websites in response to an attack allegedly made by Chinese Internet users on Philippine websites.

The Palace on Monday said the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) monitored a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDOS) on www.gov.ph, www.pcdspo.gov.ph, and www.malacanang.gov.ph that caused the government's servers to momentarily lag.

"Information gathered through our data analysis indicated that the attack originated from IP addresses assigned to Chinese networks," Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in statement yesterday.

Suspected Chinese hackers also defaced the University of the Philippines website over the weekend while another attack early Tuesday allegedly targetted the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs website.

In reaction, Filipino hackers launched a series of attacks on Chinese websites starting Monday.

In an operation dubbed "#OpChinaDown," Filipinos attacked the following websites:

http://www.ocex.com.cn
http://www.teawindow.com
http://www.higvod.cn
http://www.lzrk.gov.cn
http://lppm.bigc.edu.cn/Pr1vX.htm
http://xxb.leiyang.gov.cn/Pr1vX.htm
http://en.founder.com.cn
http://dxswl.cn
http://www.cord.cn
http://fmprc.gov.cn
http://www.3322.net.cn
http://wahsangtech.com/index.aspx

"They want Distributed Denial Of Service let's give them DDOS," said the Facebook page administrator of "Anonymous #OccupyPhilippines."

They also warned that they have not yet started a full-blast hacking spree.

"Di pa nagi-init upuan namin sa tapat ng computer. Sabi kasi dahan-dahan daw para ramdam ang sakit," said the Facebook page administrator of the "PrivateX" hacking group.

The same group was behind the attack on Vice-President Jejomar Binay's website on New Year's day.

"The recent defacements occurred on certain Chinese websites were just a simple response to what happened to the UP site. You may continue bullying our country's waters but we will not tolerate you from intimidating our own cyber shores," said a message left by Filipino hackers on some of the websites they defaced.

"Those defacements are just a mere response to what you have initially started. We are not trying to start anything. We are just trying to tell you that we do not want to be bullied in our own cyberspace too," the message added.

"#OpChinaDown is not a threat. It will be a response. A response to future attacks within our cyberspace. We will leave our country's disputes to our government's hands. Yet this does not mean we will not support them," said the hackers, who are allegedly associated with the Anonymous global hackers group.

"One Truth Prevails, Scarborough Shoal is ours," they said. "We are Anonymous. We are legion. We don't forgive. We don't forget. United as one, Divided by zero. Expect us."

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez earlier condemned the cyber attacks and called on hackers from both sides to stop the online war.

"We denounce such cyber attacks regardless from which side they are coming from," Hernandez said.

"We think they are counter productive and only add to the tension. We call on both Filipino and Chinese netizens to be more responsible and encourage dialogue rather than discord," he said. - with a report from Agence France-Presse

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sites/default/files/a_images/topics/others/chinahack2.jpg

The recent defacements occurred on certain Chinese websites were just a simple response
to what happened to the UP site.
You may continue bullying our country's waters but we will not tolerate you from intimidating our own cyber shores.

Those defacements are just a mere response to what you have initially started.
We are not trying to start anything.
We are just trying to tell you that we do not want to be bullied in our own cyberspace too.

#OpChinaDown is not a threat. It will be a response. A response to future attacks within our cyberspace.
We will leave our country's disputes to our government's hands. Yet this does not mean we will not support them.

One Truth Prevails, Scarborough Shoal is ours.

We are Anonymous,
We are legion, We don't forgive,
We don't forget, United as one, Divided by zero,
Expect us.

United as One
Divided by Zero
Expect Us

#PrivateX | Anonymous #OccupyPhilippines

Ang bangis ng mensahe. Naintindihan kaya ng mga Chinese? :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:46 PM

China won’t be allowed to conquer Scarborough, says military official (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34551/china-can%E2%80%99t-conquer-scarborough-shoal%E2%80%94military)

CAMP AQUINO, Philippines – China won’t be allowed to conquer Scarborough Shoal, a military official said Tuesday, reiterating their mission “to take care of our territory and sovereignty”.

“We will not allow them. They cannot conquer Scarborough Shoal,” Lieutenant General Anthony Alcantara told reporters in a press briefing in response to a query about the possibility of a Chinese takeover of the disputed shoal.

“Our mission is clear: Take care of our territory and sovereignty, ” he said.

Alcantara described the situation in the area as “stable” with “no untoward incident.”

He added that the Naval Forces in Northern Luzon were constantly in touch with the Philippine Coast Guard.

“Our Navy is always on standby to help, ” he said.

Alcantara also said that the Chinese were not telling the truth when it claimed Monday through reports that their vessels Yuzheng 310 and maritime surveillance ship 84 have left the shoal.

“We are not doubting their claims. We are telling them they are not telling the truth,” he said.

As of 8p.m., Monday, the BRP Pampanga replaced the BRP Edsa, which stocked up on provisions. A Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources maritime control ship, MCS 3006, was also anchored within the shoal, which he said could be conducting inventory.

Meanwhile, two small Chinese fishing boats were sighted inside the shoal, and another three outside. Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (Yuzheng) vessel 310, a Chinese fishing gunboat, was located eight nautical miles southeast of BRP Pampanga, and the Chinese maritime surveillance ship (CMS) 71 was within 12 nautical miles also southeast of the BRP Pampanga, said Alcantara.

The CMS 75 and 84 were not sighted, and have probably refuelled, he said.

The vessels “are bent to stay within the shoal,” as they have been taking turns and changing their positions from time to time, he added.

All Chinese water vessels were within the 200 nautical mile-exclusive economic zone, he said.

Despite signifying the military’s preparedness for any situation that may arise, Alcantara echoed the government’s desire to settle the dispute by diplomatic means.

“That’s what we’re hoping for,” he told reporters.

Japanese media said the Japanese Self-Defense Forces or the long-term presence of U.S. military bases of the Philippines
(http://www.cnmilitary.info/japanese-media-said-the-japanese-self-defense-forces-or-the-long-term-presence-of-u-s-military-bases-of-the-philippines/)

BEIJING, April 24 Xinhua China Press reported, 23, Japan and the U.S. hold talks, the two sides reach a consensus on common U.S. military base in the Pacific Ocean. Reported that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces of possible future long-term presence of U.S. military bases in the Philippines.
In the talks, Japan and the U.S. government common use of U.S. military bases of the Pacific Ocean to reach a consensus. In addition to the base of the US-collar Guam Northern Mariana Islands, the Japan Self-Defense Force also possible to use U.S. military bases in the Philippines island of Palawan or Luzon.

the U.S. government to prepare the U.S. military in Okinawa in the form of a “round robin” stationed in Hawaii, Guam, the Australian city of Darwin. As part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces will be stationed in the Philippines, with the U.S. “echoes”. The three parties are in active negotiations.

In addition, conditions of use as a base, Tinian Island, Japan will U.S. military bases to provide a huge amount of preparedness fee. In addition, the Philippines, the use of base fee amount is currently under discussion.

Japan Self-Defense Forces abroad in recent years have become increasingly frequent. Sweeping sea boat from the first dispatch of the Gulf War to the Persian Gulf, to the 2008 allocation warships to combat piracy. Japan many times the name of “support” under the banner of the Self-Defense Force sent overseas mission.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 07:47 PM

China says—‘with finality’—it won’t go to court over shoal (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34557/china-says%E2%80%94%E2%80%98with-finality%E2%80%99%E2%80%94it-won%E2%80%99t-go-to-court-over-shoal)

MANILA, Philippines—China’s decision not to join the Philippines in bringing the Scarborough Shoal dispute to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas (Itlos) is final, according to the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

Zhang Hua, the embassy’s spokesman, insisted on Monday night that the shoal, which Beijing calls Huangyan Island, “is China’s inherent territory on which we have sufficient legal basis.”

The Philippines, on the other hand, variously refers to the shoal, located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales, as Bajo de Masinloc, Panatag and Scarborough, and insists it belongs to the Philippines.

In a text message to the Inquirer, Zhang said the Philippines should “fully respect China’s sovereignty.”

He said the Philippine government must “commit to the consensus we reached on settling the incident through friendly diplomatic consultations, and not to complicate or aggravate this incident so that peace and stability in that area can be reached.”

Last week, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario dared Beijing to bring the dispute to Itlos, which is based in Hamburg, Germany.

China, however, brushed aside Del Rosario’s call. It maintains that historically, the shoal is part of its territory.

China daily warns of ‘small-scale war’ with Philippines (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34627/china-daily-warns-of-small-scale-war-with-philippines)

One of China’s most popular newspapers has warned of a potential “small-scale war” between Beijing and Manila as a result of their standoff at Panatag Shoal, or Scarborough Shoal as the area is known internationally.

The Global Times, in an editorial published in its Chinese and English editions, said over the weekend that “China should be prepared to engage in a small-scale war at sea with the Philippines.”

“Once the war erupts, China must take resolute action to deliver a clear message to the outside world that it does not want a war, but definitely has no fear of it,” the tabloid said.

Malacañang and Philippine military officials were unfazed by the toughly worded editorial.

In a speech at Xavier School in Greenhills, San Juan City, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said his administration was raising international awareness on the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China to show the global community how Beijing was treating Manila.

Same treatment

Mr. Aquino said the Philippines wanted to take the issue to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea but China’s cooperation was needed to resolve it.

“Our weapon really here is for the world to know what we are doing,” the President said. “These nations could start thinking if this is how we are being treated—whether they are as big or as small as us—maybe there will come a time that they will get the same treatment [from China],” he said.

He maintained it was not his intention to escalate the problem with China.

“We own the shoal,” Mr. Aquino said, referring to Panatag, which lies about 200 kilometers west of Zambales province. “For so long a time we own it and [we are] recognized by international law, especially under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). That’s the only thing that we’re asking.”

Asked for comment on the Chinese paper’s editorial, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez said that “such irresponsible comments do not merit a response from us.”

The Global Times is owned by the Chinese Communist Party’s mouthpiece, The People’s Daily. It has a reputation for publishing nationalistic editorials that are often highly critical of foreign governments and even Chinese officials.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario urged Beijing to concur with Manila’s proposal to resolve the territorial disputes between the two countries in accordance with the Unclos.

‘They’re lying,’ ships still there

In Camp Aquino in Tarlac City, the head of the military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) accused China of lying when it claimed it had withdrawn most of its vessels at Panatag Shoal.

“We are telling them they’re not telling the truth,” Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara told visiting defense reporters.

In a press briefing, Alcantara said at least seven Chinese vessels remained in the vicinity of Panatag, including two small fishing boats anchored on the lagoon and three other fishing vessels off a sandbar.

Alcantara said two Chinese maritime ships—the gunboat FLEC 310 and the surveillance ship CMS 71—had been sighted in the Panatag waters as of 8 p.m. Monday.

Two more surveillance ships, the CMS 84 and 75, are believed to be replenishing provisions and refueling somewhere in the Chinese mainland, he added.

Chinese statement

The presence of the ships, according to Alcantara, belied a statement from the Chinese embassy that only one Chinese surveillance ship remained in the area, and that the two others had been recalled.

Chinese embassy spokesperson Zhang Hua said only one Chinese surveillance ship remained at Panatag for “law enforcement missions.”

“The withdrawal of the two ships proves once again China is not escalating the situation as some people said, but de-escalating the situation,” Zhang said.

On the Philippine side, a Coast Guard ship, the BRP Pampanga, and a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship, the MCS 3006, are in the Panatag waters to stand guard, Alcantara said.

Last night, the DFA said that “contrary to the Chinese embassy’s claim, two of their vessels—the maritime surveillance ships CMS 71 and FLEC 310—are still in the area, along with five Chinese fishing vessels.” The information came from the Coast Guard, it said.

War of netizens

In Manila, the science and technology department’s Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) has warned Filipino techies against defacing Chinese websites. It said trading barbs online would not help in the government’s efforts to ease tensions with China.

Philippine websites have been defaced by Chinese nationals, and vice versa, as netizens took the quarrel between both countries online.

“The recent alleged defacement of foreign websites by local hacker groups is not condoned nor encouraged by the Philippine government,” ICTO executive director Louis Casambre said. With a report from Paolo G. Montecillo

Christian_123

April 24th, 2012, 07:59 PM

With the tension rising between china and the philippines, i guess its time to buy a high powered rifle and go to a firing range. Its better to be prepared in-case those chinese invade the philippines..

Dapat ang mga pinoy ay mag horde na ng mga high powered rifles at iba pang armas.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:04 PM

^^Their lack of sincerity should be enough to raise concerns. I think ROTC should be implemented in colleges ASAP, just in case.

Our military personnel active duty and reserves are a less than 300,000 (125,000 active + 130,000 reserves).

Christian_123

April 24th, 2012, 08:06 PM

Isang small question lang, magkano ba ang isang high powered rifle tulad ng M4 Carbine? :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:11 PM

^^ There are some answers here:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090813014353AAuAdKE

Looks like one cost over a thousand dollars. (Php40,000 and above)

Edit: also here

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/60386

Ewan ko lang yung bulk price

Lilyr

April 24th, 2012, 08:16 PM

China won’t be allowed to conquer Scarborough, says military official (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34551/china-can%E2%80%99t-conquer-scarborough-shoal%E2%80%94military)

Japanese media said the Japanese Self-Defense Forces or the long-term presence of U.S. military bases of the Philippines
(http://www.cnmilitary.info/japanese-media-said-the-japanese-self-defense-forces-or-the-long-term-presence-of-u-s-military-bases-of-the-philippines/)

Don't get any cards from HSBC or do banking

China manufacturing contracts again in April: HSBC (http://news.yahoo.com/china-manufacturing-slowdown-eases-hsbc-054038923--finance.html)

unless you want an already well-funded PLAN:nuts:

Mercato

April 24th, 2012, 08:17 PM

sige,sige,sige, gyera ulit World war 3

Russia,China,North Korea,Iran

VS

USA,France,Germany,Spain,Canada,South Korea,Japan,India,Canada,Australia,Philippines,other ASEAN nations

sarap siguro magkagyera ulit, para masubukan kong sino at ano ang malakas at mahina, matalino at bobo, totoong lakas at yabang ang lakasFunny you mentioned Iran, one of China's close pals. I read somewhere that Iran had stepped up tensions in the Arabian Gulf over a disupted island with the United Arab Emirates. The UAE had also sought support from the other members of the Gulf Cooperation Councial. Just what is it with these China client bully states? There is always an island involved, it always happens on a busy commercial maritime area, needless to say there is always a China aligned bully and there is always the smaller state surrouned by equally small fry. All too familiar story which almost sounds like a telenovela.
bingo! these are the reasons why we should never let china have scarborough. aside from the fact that it is well within our maritime sovereignity, letting china have it well render us almost indefensible, if not outright. from a defensive and strategic standpoints, that would suddenly make us vulnerable. once china has dominion over the area, that would lead to a domino-like collapse of our defensive positions. interesting historical reference by the way!:cool:China seems to like following patterns. Unfortunately for us the smaller states, the pattern China wishes to follow is heirarchical with the Chinese nation at the centre and on a higher plain. All other surrounding states must pay homage like Vassal states which is what Cambodia, Thailand and patchay excel at. :lol:
ganyan talaga pag may pera... pag mayaman na tayo baka ung Sabah eh sumama na sa atin..:lol:^^ Kahit nung masmayaman tayo sa Malaysia, di natin nakuha ang SabahHave we heard any peep or sound at all from our illustrious generals? All we hear are Philippine diplomats and government officials on high profile in the news. But what of those from the defense side? What of the Dept of Defense, what of the generals? Have they got nothing to say? Why are they behaving like ostriches? Dost they think they can hide their heads in the sand and pretend this deadma game and wish that public focus on their shady activities would just go away? Like I always say again and again, until such time that their culture of plunder and thievery are diminished, the AFP will continue on being the Lampa of Asia. No amount of grandstanding and bleating on media and on the net sites can change that. Someone must really crack the whip this time on these pompous asses.

I am sure some of the regulars on this thread must have some kamaganak na general or on the defense department otherwise why such a fascination with defense and military hardware. Otra vez, have your generals and defense officials got nothing to say? And by something to say I mean serious efforts at cleaning up their acts, taking serious steps to crack down on corruption.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:25 PM

^^ The funniest thing, former militarymen in the Senate either hide under the saya of the US or kowtowing to China's interest (or both). No provisions to hasten to "jack up" funds for our military and making sure they go to equipment. After all, politicians still control the military

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:26 PM

Don't get any cards from HSBC or do banking

unless you want an already well-funded PLAN:nuts:

Sana di mangyari sa BoA :lol:

Stick to BPI for those in the Philippines. Safest kasi they are not owned by China-born tycoons :lol:

Christian_123

April 24th, 2012, 08:30 PM

^^ Buti nalang at nag BPI ako :lol:

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 08:33 PM

To avoid: Banco de Oro, China bank, HSBC...:lol:

Puedeng magPNB na rin...

LAPDRN

April 24th, 2012, 08:40 PM

BDO DIN WAG MAG SHOP SA SM.

Christian_123

April 24th, 2012, 08:51 PM

^^Pwede pa SM. Henry sy recognises himself as FILIPINO and not a chinese :nuts:

LAPDRN

April 24th, 2012, 08:56 PM

Pag war tayo with China paano mga insik sa Phil. lol

pi_malejana

April 24th, 2012, 09:12 PM

Internment camps??:shifty:

Redplane500

April 24th, 2012, 09:30 PM

It would be more prudent for China to leave Panatag Shoal.

But what can the Philippines do in the event China decided to accelerate its oil and gas development in the disputed area? Will the Philippine military attack an oil rig? Is it capable of winning a shooting war with China? Does the Philippine government has the capacity to wage a protracted war with an economic and military power?

I am not questioning anybody's sense of patriotism but IMO...in order to be a patriot, you need to sacrifice your life for a cause. I would rather be alive by negotiating with China rather than be dead and not knowing how this story ended.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 09:55 PM

^^ Their claims is so on our coast to negotiate. The next thing you know, their are shooing away our fishermen and any oil spill and man-made disaster, we are left on our own. Also, one danger is the freedom of navigation. Not one nation has absurd claims as China.

There are certain things that are NOT negotiable. Like BariQ posted earlier, Jesus even got mad at the traders in the temple despite his pacifist teachings.

Christian_123

April 24th, 2012, 10:00 PM

I wonder what will happen to China if ALL of the foreign investors pull out of their county. :nuts:

M46Fr3D

April 24th, 2012, 10:00 PM

But what can the Philippines do in the event China decided to accelerate its oil and gas development in the disputed area? Will the Philippine military attack an oil rig? Is it capable of winning a shooting war with China? Does the Philippine government has the capacity to wage a protracted war with an economic and military power?

I am not questioning anybody's sense of patriotism but IMO...in order to be a patriot, you need to sacrifice your life for a cause. I would rather be alive by negotiating with China rather than be dead and not knowing how this story ended.

:) That remains to be seen. I would love to see their rigger burning in WPC.

"in order to be a patriot, you need to sacrifice your life for a cause. I would rather be alive by negotiating with China rather than be dead and not knowing how this story ended." <-- That means you are not a patriot right? Because you afraid to die for a cause.

China may rule air and sea confrontations but when it comes to land, i would bet my life with our boys without hesitation.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 10:02 PM

I wonder what will happen to China if ALL of the foreign investors pull out of their county. :nuts:

How I wish....di naman masama mangarap

Christian_123

April 24th, 2012, 10:14 PM

^^Sana mag pullout sila at sa atin nalang sila lumipat. Tutal naman, mas high quality ang gawang pinas kaysa gawang tsina :D

Hinde masama mangarap :D

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 10:17 PM

^^ Yung di kilalang brand na nabili ko sa Walmart na pambahay, made in the Philippines matibay pa rin, yung binili kong warmer na made in China na di kilala na brand din, every washing machine, lumiliit! :lol:

waraywaray architect

April 24th, 2012, 10:25 PM

Filipino hacker soldiers strike back at China according to abs-cbn! More Chinese sites hacked.

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 10:31 PM

Filipino hacker soldiers strike back at China according to abs-cbn! More Chinese sites hacked.

According to the hackers, parelax relax na hacking yan. Anu kaya gagawin nila kapag nasagad pasensya nila sa China....:lol:

Christian_123

April 24th, 2012, 10:35 PM

Nabartek

April 24th, 2012, 10:44 PM

^^Oh yeah, that 1998 love bug that even penetrated some US agencies...

Our hackers should aim at their military and steal their records to send to the AFP and US Military :lol:

Mercato

April 24th, 2012, 10:56 PM

I just don't understand the stance of the ultra-pacifists (for lack of a better term at the moment, or would they accept the word "white flaggers"?). Why do these people keep on insisting that it is the Philippine side that is most wanting on the negotiations and diplomatic fronts? Really now, how much denser can one get?

1. Is this concept too hard to understand? China has been aggressive with its neighbours in Central Asia and had forced concessions with the borders of the former Soviet states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tadjikistan?

2. Or this? That China consistently rejects to be under the arbitration of the International Court of Justice? Because the reality is, it knows that its legal case is very weak vis-a-vis the Philippines? And secondly, it is also to show that it refuses to submit to the jurisdiction of the ICJ because it sees itself as superior. Any nation who knows that it's case is very strong and watertight would head straight to the ICJ, in the case of the Celestial Empire, it refuses.

3. Now who has been wanting on the negotiations and diplomacy? The white flagger's answer - the Philippines. :doh:

4. Do not confuse the phrase "negotiations on equal terms" with "abject surrender unconditionally". These are 2 different terms.

5. The Philippine side had been bending backwards already too much and its backside is almost touching the ground. How much more do the white flaggers want the Philippines to bend? Do they want the Philippines to bend until it is 6 feet under the ground??

6. It is common knowledge that the nation is no match for a military and economic power. The nation's ability at self defense has been compromised seriously due to its own doing and that of its greedy politicos and generals. China's diplomacy is reminiscent of the gunboat diplomacy in the 19th century. It refuses to submit to the ICJ because it believes that might is right.

7. Do the white flaggers advocate to do a Neville Chamberlain type of diplomacy? Appeasement to achieve "peace in our time" like what Chamberlain conceded to Hitler? Then you really do believe that might is right? Thence we must really part ways because we do not share the same beliefs.

8. Many simpletons also underestimated the educated Ilustrados during their time as being all talk. The driving force behind the Philippine Revolution against the then world power Spain and the then rising power United States were the Ilustrados, mind you. Not just one, but two world powers versus a captive indio native people. Think about it. Why risk death when subservience was far easier?

9. Also come to think of it. If the white flaggers were in the majority in the early 1890s, why,, the Propaganda Movement and the Philippine Revolution would have collapsed on Day 1 itself. :lol: :lol: The white flaggers would accuse Rizal, Bonifacio, Aguinaldo and Mabini of not doing enough negotiations and of being warmongers. Aye, there's the rub. :colgate:

Sou-jiro

April 24th, 2012, 11:16 PM

^^Oh yeah, that 1998 love bug that even penetrated some US agencies...

Our hackers should aim at their military and steal their records to send to the AFP and US Military :lol:

If our hackers hit the jackpot kung ma hack nila military programs nila sa Chicom then provide it to Uncle Sam then maybe Uncle Sam may be more enticed to rapid action lalo na kung important at alarming information makuha ng hackers natin :D:lol:

LAPDRN

April 24th, 2012, 11:34 PM

If our hackers hit the jackpot kung ma hack nila military programs nila sa Chicom then provide it to Uncle Sam then maybe Uncle Sam may be more enticed to rapid action lalo na kung important at alarming information makuha ng hackers natin :D:lol:

nice idea
:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Lilyr

April 25th, 2012, 12:36 AM

Part one of

62XIBhKqh7g is playing right now:lol::lol::lol:

Africa | Americas | Asia | Europe | Middle East
Philippines to seek counsel from the U.S. in standoff over Chinese ships (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/04/the-philippines-plans-to-seek-counsel-from-the-united-states-military-over-its-two-week-standoff-with-chinese-ships-operating.html)
April 24, 2012 | 4:00 am

Protesters in Makati, Philippines on April 20, 2012
BEIJING -- The Philippines plans to seek counsel from the United States military over its two-week standoff with Chinese ships operating in the Scarborough Shoal, a new step in the simmering dispute.

Chinese officials have repeatedly expressed their commitment to resolving tensions in the area through diplomatic channels. China recently removed two ships from the area to mitigate the conflict, stressing that it was deescalating the situation.

Philippine leaders said Monday that they would bring up the issue when they met with U.S. officials next week. The ruling Chinese Communist Party strikes a tougher note when U.S. involvement in the disputes is concerned: After the U.S. launched into two weeks of annual military drills with the Philippines last week, one commentary argued it was a clear provocation.

“Anyone with clear eyes saw long ago that behind these drills is reflected a mentality that will lead the South China Sea issue down a fork in the road towards military confrontation and resolution through armed force,” argued the recent commentary in the Legal Daily, a mouthpiece of the People’s Liberation Army.

The Pentagon maintains that the drills are not related to the territorial dispute.

The Scarborough Islands dispute began when China blocked a Filipino warship from arresting Chinese fishermen in the area, a group of islands and reefs about 140 miles from the Philippines shoreline. Manila requested to take the issue to international court last week. Beijing refused, maintaining that the area is an indisputable part of Chinese territory.

On Friday, Chinese hackers defaced the University of the Philippines’ official website in protest, according to the state-run China Daily. The hackers posted a map to the website with a caption reading, "We come from China! Huangyan Island is Ours.” Huangyan Island is the shoal’s Chinese name.

The South China Sea has been at the center of long-running territorial disputes involving China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines. The sea is vital for the fishing industries of nearby countries. Some speculate that it could also contain vast oil and natural gas reserves, but surveys have yet to show any large-scale deposits.

Official Chinese maps use a U-shaped dotted line to demarcate most of the 1.4-million square-mile sea as China’s own. Within the last year, China has sent fishing boats, military patrols and even sightseeing tours to disputed areas of the sea, eliciting official protests from Vietnam and its neighbors.

According to a report released on Monday by an influential think tank, many territorial conflicts in the area are motivated by jockeying among Chinese agencies rather than high-level strategic maneuvering.

The report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group said that at least 11 state-controlled ministries -- and beneath them, five law enforcement agencies -- share management of the South China Sea.

“The conflicting mandates and lack of coordination among Chinese government agencies have stoked tensions in the South China Sea, many of which use this issue to try to increase their power and budget,” said the report, called “Stirring Up the South China Sea."

“Ultimately, the ability to manage relations in the South China Sea and resolve disputes will present a major test of China’s peaceful rise,” it said.

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 12:42 AM

Part one of

62XIBhKqh7g is playing right now:lol::lol::lol:

Does it help that FPJ is "half American"? :lol:

M46Fr3D

April 25th, 2012, 12:56 AM

On Friday, Chinese hackers defaced the University of the Philippines’ official website in protest, according to the state-run China Daily. The hackers posted a map to the website with a caption reading, "We come from China! Huangyan Island is Ours.” Huangyan Island is the shoal’s Chinese name.

:D Why didnt they say that their asses were fucked 12x by Filipino hackers after they hack the UP web site? :) Damn commies!! hahahaha. :lol

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 12:57 AM

source: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=4444

China's Skewed View of South China Sea History
Contributed by Our Correspondent
Monday, 23 April 2012

•

Lots of other mariners were there first
The dispute between China and the Philippines over ownership of the rocks and reefs variously known as Scarborough
Shoal/Panatag Shoal/Huangyan Island is at one level very petty. But at another it demonstrates what can best be
described blatantly racist bravado on the part of Beijing.
Manila would do well to learn up some of its own pre-Spanish history so as to better expose the arrogance of a nation
which regards other, non-Han people and their histories as non-existent or irrelevant. Han chauvinism is writ large in this
tale, which should be a reminder to the Malay peoples whose lands border more than half the South China Sea –
itself a name created by westerners and does no more than describe a sea south of China – that they may yet go
the way of the Tibetans, Uighurs and Mongols and find themselves oppressed minorities in a Han empire.
Beijing’s aggressive stance is doubly unfortunate given the positive role that individual Chinese migrants and their
descendants have played in the Philippines for several centuries. When China was closed, its entrepreneurial coastal
people found opportunity in the Malay world. Is that era of fruitful interaction to be ended as an open China becomes a
threatening China?
The Chinese claim to Scarborough Shoal (to use a relatively neutral word derived from a ship which sank there) is
ridiculous on a whole number of grounds yet it persists in trying to enforce it in the correct belief that the Philippines is
poor and weak and that ASEAN solidarity is non-existent – for which Malaysia is particularly to blame.
China claims to have “discovered” the island, included it in its territory and exercised control over it. The
basis for this claim is simply a map dating from the time when China was under the thumb of a foreign dynasty –
that of the Mongol Kublai Khan whose capital was in modern Mongolia. The fact that it is on a map is anyway
meaningless in terms of ownership rights – though China often claims that the mere presence of Chinese traders
in a place or the payment of taxes to be allowed to trade with China amounted to “tribute” and acceptance
of Beijing’s hegemony.
The fact that China stated a claim to Scarborough Shoal in 1932 and again in 1947 is neither here nor there. It is even
more outrageous than the actions of British seafarers in the 19th century going around the world planting the British flag
and claiming it as theirs. In the case of Scarborough there was not even a planting of a flag and setting up of a
permanent settlement. The fact is that Scarborough is uninhabitable and thus fails qualify as an island which would
support a claim to surrounding sea.
Asia Sentinel
http://www.asiasentinel.com Powered by Joomla! Generated: 25 April, 2012, 06:55
China also makes the extraordinary statement that its stated claims predate the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea it
is not bound by it. This must surely be one of the most self-serving pieces of nonsense that even Communist-ruled China
has produced. It is in the old tradition of Imperial China that all other nations are inferior and thus it cannot submit to any
outside or independent questioning of its claims.
Scarborough lies some 135 nautical miles from the coast of Luzon and thus well within the Philippines 200-mile Exclusive
Economic Zone within which only it has the right to fishing and to seabed resources. It is approximately 350 miles from
the mainland of China and 300 miles from the tip of Taiwan.
China’s reference to a 13th century map merely shows up the ignorance that accompanies the Han version of
history, which does not bother with the deeds of “lesser” peoples. China was actually a very late comer to
overseas navigation. For more than a thousand years before its own ships were venturing beyond coastal waters,
China’s trade with and travelers to the Malay lands, India, Arabia and the west were being carried on foreign ships
– Malay, Indian, Arab. When the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Fa Hsien visited Sri Lanka in the 4th Century he
travelled in Malay vessels from China to Sumatra and then on to Sri Lanka. The ancestors of today’s Filipinos
were trading with the kingdom of Funan, based on the Mekong delta, around or before the year 300 of the present era.
About the same time seafarers from Indonesia were crossing the Indian ocean to settle Madagascar – where the
language and 50 percent of the gene pool is of Malay origin – and probably have settlements on the African coast.
China loves to regale its own people and gullible westerners of the achievements of Zheng He and his huge
“treasure ships” which sailed around Asia and across to Africa in the 15th century. But the main
distinguishing feature of Zheng He’s voyages was the size of the vessels and numbers of soldiers they carried,
enabling China to impose its will on some lesser territories. It accomplished nothing in navigational terms that other
Asians had not done centuries before.
Given the history of pre-Chinese trading and fishing it is simply absurd to claim that China discovered Scarborough
Shoal, which lies so close to Luzon and close to sailing routes to southern Vietnam and beyond. The claim that only
Chinese have traditionally fished in these waters is even more spurious. Until very recent times of rampant overfishing of
the South China Sea there was no reason for Chinese to venture so far to find a good catch.
In another effort to back its claim Beijing has resorted to a treaty between two western colonial powers who at the time
were dividing up Asia without regard to any interests but their own. China’s Foreign Ministry cites the Treaty of
Paris in 1898 which brought an end to the Spanish-American war and ceded to the US the Philippines – and Cuba
and Guam.
The treaty referred to the “Philippine archipelago” but did not mention specific islands with that vast
collection. It described a series of straight lines on maps which were clearly done to keep it simple and without regard to
the actual geography.
One of those lines ran northwards from 116E to 118E leaving the Scarborough Shoal, at 117.5E a few miles outside
Philippine territory as defined by the treaty. But clearly the shoal is part of any normal definition of archipelago, not to
mention its vast distance from any Chinese-inhabited island. That China has to cite a treaty in which Filipinos played no
part is evidence of the bankruptcy of its claims which would be dismissed out of hand by any independent tribunal acting
on the basis of the UN Law of the Sea Convention.
Asia Sentinel
http://www.asiasentinel.com Powered by Joomla! Generated: 25 April, 2012, 06:55
But while other countries in the region – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore – have been willing to submit to
third party judgments of conflicting claims, China believes it is bound by no international rules and will deal only with
individual countries. Most obviously it has picked on the Philippines as the weakest of the four Southeast Asian countries
facing China’s imperial designs.
The Malay countries, meanwhile, seem hobbled in replying with details of their history to trump China. The Philippines
has largely forgotten its pre-Spanish history, partly because the Spanish missionaries imposed use of Latin and Spanish
in place of the old local scripts – scripts of whose existence most Filipinos are unaware.
Indonesia and Malaysian both have problems addressing their pre-Islamic past, which to most historians were rather
more glorious than their post-Hindu/Buddhist records of art, kingship and navigation. Malaysia worries that a strong stand
against China’s South China Sea push will be bad for business, and local Chinese votes.
But the Scarborough Shoal issue shows just how blatant China’s expansionism has become. It is time in
particular for Malaysia and Indonesia to show some mettle and stand with the Philippines and Vietnam, the front line
states in the Malay battle against Han hegemony.
Asia Sentinel
http://www.asiasentinel.com Powered by Joomla! Generated: 25 April, 2012, 06:55

skyion

April 25th, 2012, 01:09 AM

^^I guess china forgot that the philippines has expert hackers. Afterall, it was a filipino that made the love bug virus that wrecked havoc on the entire planet.... :lol:

Sana yun mga hackers natin ay i-hack un military systems nila para tumahimik sila....:lol:

I remembered while sharing ideas on an international physics chatroom years ago, biglang nagdagsaan yung mga chatters gusto sigurong makinig (got avant-garde ideas :lol:), pero nang sinabi ko yung love bug virus originated from the country I'm in, biglang nagsi-alisan hanggang 2 na lang kaming natira, ako at yung kausap kong physicist :nuts: :lol:

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 01:11 AM

I remembered while sharing ideas on an international physics chatroom years ago, biglang nagdagsaan yung mga chatters gusto sigurong makinig (got avant-garde ideas :lol:), pero nung sinabi ko yung love bug virus originated from the country I'm in, biglang nagsi-alisan hanggang 2 na lang kaming natira, ako at yung kausap kong physicist :nuts: :lol:

Baka "mahawaan" daw sila :lol:

Anyhow, since it's election again next year..please remember NOT to vote for these sissies/Chicom ass kissers na nagtatago sa palda ni Papa Sugar

Escudero is one. Another is yung asawa pa man din ni "Darna" :lol:

Recto urges Palace to seek joint exploration with China in Spratlys
(http://www.interaksyon.com/article/29701/recto-urges-palace-to-seek-joint-exploration-with-china-in-spratlys)
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE: 4:21PM) Senator Ralph Recto urged Malacanang on Wednesday to seriously consider forging a joint exploration agreement with China in the disputed Spratly Islands, which are believed to lie atop rich mineral and fuel resources. Palace officials, however, are not keen on the proposal, calling it 'a non-starter' that will get mired from the start on the issue of what set of laws will govern the accord.

“Every stand-off, the territorial tension only escalates and we’re not gaining anything -- zero. We could pursue a different tack by working out a possible joint exploration without impinging on our sovereignty,” Recto, a member of the Senate committees on national defense and security and on foreign relations, said.

His statement comes amid the continuing standoff between the Philippines and China at another disputed territory, Scarborough Shoal.

Recto said the Philippines should no longer wait for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for support in the standoff since most of the regional bloc’s members also trade with China.

Several ASEAN member-countries are also claimants to the Spratlys.

“I’m not saying that we backtrack from our claim. In fact, we should do it relentlessly,” Recto said, but added that “a joint exploration (deal) appears to be the more logical engagement with China.”

“The engagement policy should be pegged on how both countries could benefit from the subterranean wealth of Spratlys -- not on how fast each country could annihilate each other in case mad men from both sides take over,” he added.

Palace rejects Recto proposal

Malacañang has rejected Recto’s proposal, saying it was a “non-starter” proposal.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Secretary Ramon Carandang said it would be difficult to consider Recto’s proposal because from the start, China and the Philippines would have to reckon with the issue of which law should govern the joint exploration.

“It’s a non-starter,” Carandang said. “Certain issues have to be settled first before something like that can happen. Even if we offer a joint exploration, the first question would be: under whose governing law will the joint exploration be covered? Right away, you are going have a difference of opinion.”

“China says that that area is theirs and then they’ll insist that we use Chinese law. We insist that area is ours, we will insist that any license, any explorations be done under the auspices of Philippine law,” Carandang added.

The Palace official said the government will eventually “want to get to that point” where a joint exploration with China can be done but for the moment, “but we believe that certain issues need to be resolved first.”

Recto said the stand-off with China leaves both claimant parties without any gains.

“We could pursue a different tack by working out a possible joint exploration without impinging on our sovereignty,” said Recto, a member of the Senate committees on national defense and security and on foreign relations.

jpdm

April 25th, 2012, 01:32 AM

^^^^^^Recto is a stupid turncoat and a political butterfly. He should just run as governor of Batangas. :bash::bash:

Lilyr

April 25th, 2012, 01:41 AM

Baka "mahawaan" daw sila :lol:

Anyhow, since it's election again next year..please remember NOT to vote for these sissies/Chicom ass kissers na nagtatago sa palda ni Papa Sugar

Escudero is one. Another is yung asawa pa man din ni "Darna" :lol:

Recto urges Palace to seek joint exploration with China in Spratlys
(http://www.interaksyon.com/article/29701/recto-urges-palace-to-seek-joint-exploration-with-china-in-spratlys)

I am not surprised. I still find it hard to forgive Pangilinan for being "garapal" and myopic" (jealous of Pakistan:lol:)

Why are we settlling for bread crumbs from the US?

By Veronica Uy on October 20, 2010 3:01 PM | 46 Comments (http://blogs.inquirer.net/insidescoop/2010/10/20/why-are-we-settlling-for-bread-crumbs-from-the-us/#comments) | No TrackBacks (http://blogs.inquirer.net/insidescoop/2010/10/20/why-are-we-settlling-for-bread-crumbs-from-the-us/#trackbacks)

By Senator Francis Pangilinan
I have been in favor of abrogating the VFA for some time now, especially after seeing how lopsided the treaty has become. Here is the statement I issued today to the press on this matter:
After over a decade of the VFA, are we more secure as a nation? Are our armed forces better-equipped and trained to address security issues? Have we benefitted militarily as envisioned by the agreement? Or has it been a lopsided arrangement favoring the Americans, who have been able to stay here indefinitely, enjoying basing arrangements without paying up?:nuts:

My message is this: Pay up or leave. If they don't put their money where their mouths are then they should pack up and leave. They are enjoying 'first class amenties' yet are paying dirt cheap rates. Umuupa sila ng mansyon pero ang bayad nila pang barung-barong.
If I recall, Pakistan receives billions of dollars in military aid just to allow US troops access to their territory. We get a few used Huey helicopters and one or two C130 airplanes that have seen better days...

Typical of our lawmakers. Why don't we just hand over the country to the Americans again kung ganyan lang naman sila? Iasa lahat na lang kay Papa Sugar.:nuts::nuts:

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 01:44 AM

I am not surprised. I still find it hard to forgive Recto for being "garapal" and myopic" (jealous of Pakistan:lol:)

Typical of our lawmakers. Why don't we just hand over the country to the Americans again kung ganyan lang naman sila? Iasa lahat na lang kay Papa Sugar.:nuts::nuts:

Why don't they increase the budget for our AFP, that is the MUCH MORE valid question. Why are we settling for our own lawmakers crumbs? :lol:

kenken94

April 25th, 2012, 01:55 AM

^^ Mother America is still where most of our hopes lie. Don't know if it's a good thing or something negative.

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 01:59 AM

^^ It depends on how we take it... if we see them as merely "support", I don't think it is bad. But if we see them as our "only savior", then it's bad.... :lol:..

especially with our politicos ranting how much we do not get as much as country X, but doing nothing about our own defense :lol:

gmaer

April 25th, 2012, 02:02 AM

TheAvenger

April 25th, 2012, 02:05 AM

Lots of other mariners were there first

The dispute between China and the Philippines over ownership of the rocks and reefs variously known as Scarborough Shoal/Panatag Shoal/Huangyan Island is at one level very petty. But at another it demonstrates what can best be described blatantly racist bravado on the part of Beijing.

Manila would do well to learn up some of its own pre-Spanish history so as to better expose the arrogance of a nation which regards other, non-Han people and their histories as non-existent or irrelevant. Han chauvinism is writ large in this tale, which should be a reminder to the Malay peoples whose lands border more than half the South China Sea – itself a name created by westerners and does no more than describe a sea south of China – that they may yet go the way of the Tibetans, Uighurs and Mongols and find themselves oppressed minorities in a Han empire.

Beijing’s aggressive stance is doubly unfortunate given the positive role that individual Chinese migrants and their descendants have played in the Philippines for several centuries. When China was closed, its entrepreneurial coastal people found opportunity in the Malay world. Is that era of fruitful interaction to be ended as an open China becomes a threatening China?

The Chinese claim to Scarborough Shoal (to use a relatively neutral word derived from a ship which sank there) is ridiculous on a whole number of grounds yet it persists in trying to enforce it in the correct belief that the Philippines is poor and weak and that ASEAN solidarity is non-existent – for which Malaysia is particularly to blame.

China claims to have “discovered” the island, included it in its territory and exercised control over it. The basis for this claim is simply a map dating from the time when China was under the thumb of a foreign dynasty – that of the Mongol Kublai Khan whose capital was in modern Mongolia. The fact that it is on a map is anyway meaningless in terms of ownership rights – though China often claims that the mere presence of Chinese traders in a place or the payment of taxes to be allowed to trade with China amounted to “tribute” and acceptance of Beijing’s hegemony.

The fact that China stated a claim to Scarborough Shoal in 1932 and again in 1947 is neither here nor there. It is even more outrageous than the actions of British seafarers in the 19th century going around the world planting the British flag and claiming it as theirs. In the case of Scarborough there was not even a planting of a flag and setting up of a permanent settlement. The fact is that Scarborough is uninhabitable and thus fails qualify as an island which would support a claim to surrounding sea.

China also makes the extraordinary statement that its stated claims predate the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea it is not bound by it. This must surely be one of the most self-serving pieces of nonsense that even Communist-ruled China has produced. It is in the old tradition of Imperial China that all other nations are inferior and thus it cannot submit to any outside or independent questioning of its claims.

Scarborough lies some 135 nautical miles from the coast of Luzon and thus well within the Philippines 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone within which only it has the right to fishing and to seabed resources. It is approximately 350 miles from the mainland of China and 300 miles from the tip of Taiwan.

China’s reference to a 13th century map merely shows up the ignorance that accompanies the Han version of history, which does not bother with the deeds of “lesser” peoples. China was actually a very late comer to overseas navigation. For more than a thousand years before its own ships were venturing beyond coastal waters, China’s trade with and travelers to the Malay lands, India, Arabia and the west were being carried on foreign ships – Malay, Indian, Arab. When the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Fa Hsien visited Sri Lanka in the 4th Century he travelled in Malay vessels from China to Sumatra and then on to Sri Lanka. The ancestors of today’s Filipinos were trading with the kingdom of Funan, based on the Mekong delta, around or before the year 300 of the present era. About the same time seafarers from Indonesia were crossing the Indian ocean to settle Madagascar – where the language and 50 percent of the gene pool is of Malay origin – and probably have settlements on the African coast.

China loves to regale its own people and gullible westerners of the achievements of Zheng He and his huge “treasure ships” which sailed around Asia and across to Africa in the 15th century. But the main distinguishing feature of Zheng He’s voyages was the size of the vessels and numbers of soldiers they carried, enabling China to impose its will on some lesser territories. It accomplished nothing in navigational terms that other Asians had not done centuries before.

Given the history of pre-Chinese trading and fishing it is simply absurd to claim that China discovered Scarborough Shoal, which lies so close to Luzon and close to sailing routes to southern Vietnam and beyond. The claim that only Chinese have traditionally fished in these waters is even more spurious. Until very recent times of rampant overfishing of the South China Sea there was no reason for Chinese to venture so far to find a good catch.

In another effort to back its claim Beijing has resorted to a treaty between two western colonial powers who at the time were dividing up Asia without regard to any interests but their own. China’s Foreign Ministry cites the Treaty of Paris in 1898 which brought an end to the Spanish-American war and ceded to the US the Philippines – and Cuba and Guam.

The treaty referred to the “Philippine archipelago” but did not mention specific islands with that vast collection. It described a series of straight lines on maps which were clearly done to keep it simple and without regard to the actual geography.

One of those lines ran northwards from 116E to 118E leaving the Scarborough Shoal, at 117.5E a few miles outside Philippine territory as defined by the treaty. But clearly the shoal is part of any normal definition of archipelago, not to mention its vast distance from any Chinese-inhabited island. That China has to cite a treaty in which Filipinos played no part is evidence of the bankruptcy of its claims which would be dismissed out of hand by any independent tribunal acting on the basis of the UN Law of the Sea Convention.

But while other countries in the region – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore – have been willing to submit to third party judgments of conflicting claims, China believes it is bound by no international rules and will deal only with individual countries. Most obviously it has picked on the Philippines as the weakest of the four Southeast Asian countries facing China’s imperial designs.

The Malay countries, meanwhile, seem hobbled in replying with details of their history to trump China. The Philippines has largely forgotten its pre-Spanish history, partly because the Spanish missionaries imposed use of Latin and Spanish in place of the old local scripts – scripts of whose existence most Filipinos are unaware.

Indonesia and Malaysian both have problems addressing their pre-Islamic past, which to most historians were rather more glorious than their post-Hindu/Buddhist records of art, kingship and navigation. Malaysia worries that a strong stand against China’s South China Sea push will be bad for business, and local Chinese votes.

But the Scarborough Shoal issue shows just how blatant China’s expansionism has become. It is time in particular for Malaysia and Indonesia to show some mettle and stand with the Philippines and Vietnam, the front line states in the Malay battle against Han Chinese hegemony.

http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4444&Itemid=206

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 02:09 AM

^^Speaking the non-Hans in China, there are some "tribes" that have close similarity i culture to some of our Igorot brethens. There are hanging coffins in China like that in Sagada and they also have the "rice terraces" that looks like the ones we have in Ifugao

http://sirmartin.wordpress.com/2007/01/20/the-secret-of-the-banaue-rice-terraces/

LAPDRN

April 25th, 2012, 02:15 AM

mayaman Phil. yon lang lahat nang yaman nasa mga elected and appointed officials. kaya wala tayong pambili nang armas, barko, eroplano.LOL

kenken94

April 25th, 2012, 02:16 AM

^^ China is broiled with racism and delusions of grandeur. Racism echoes out of every act they do in dealing with what they see as 'lesser peoples'. Perhaps they have not learned much from history. It would be better off for them to understand why a supposedly powerful Nazi Germany ended up in a big catastrophe even for its own people. The Han Hegemony must be stopped at all costs. They are detrimental to world peace and desire only domination and asserting what they view as the superiority of their race.

I hope the West learned their lessons well that appeasement of an aggressive racist country will not end good for them. They have to learn that Britain and France's acts of appeasement to Germany did nothing to stop it from grabbing more territories and eventually flaring up WWII.

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 02:19 AM

This is quite funny, but then, I wonder why Texas? :lol:

http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Business/images/us-china-map.jpg

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 02:22 AM

Askal82

April 25th, 2012, 02:24 AM

I am not surprised. I still find it hard to forgive Pangilinan for being "garapal" and myopic" (jealous of Pakistan:lol:)

Typical of our lawmakers. Why don't we just hand over the country to the Americans again kung ganyan lang naman sila? Iasa lahat na lang kay Papa Sugar.:nuts::nuts:

These equipments should be purchased, not begged for. Now it becomes clear why they don't have the urge to modernize our capability. We have a bunch of incompetent, greedy myopic idiots running the country. :bash::bash:

Tapos gusto pa ng iba na joint exploration? It seems that they only mind about their pockets than the national interest. Maybe we should all deport them to China.

The only solution to that problem is : give up their pork barrel so we can spend them in our defense programs. Gasgas na ang alibi na walang pondo ang Pinas.

Nabartek

April 25th, 2012, 02:26 AM

These equipments should be purchased, not begged for. Now it becomes clear why they don't have the urge to modernize our capability. We have a bunch of incompetent, greedy myopic idiots running the country. :bash::bash:

Tapos gusto pa ng iba na joint exploration? It seems that they only mind about their pockets than the national interest. Maybe we should all deport them to China.

AGREE! Sana constitutionally possible. Dapat any traitor should be stripped of his citizenship :lol: esp if they hold government positions

kenken94

April 25th, 2012, 02:32 AM

^^ Diba may may batas tayo laban sa sedisyon at pagta-traydor sa bansa? Mas palawigin pa sana ang scope nun to include those politicos.

Lilyr

April 25th, 2012, 02:36 AM

I told you guys we could build our own ships/armaments if we had the support and funding for it:ohno:But no, the only R & D they want is REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT:lol::lol:

Btw, anyone know if Angara is also a pacifist/ Uncle Sam skirt chaser?
Documents back claim, says lawmaker (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/34369/scarborough-belongs-to-ph-old-maps-show)

By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAJO SCARBURO European cartographers named Scarborough Shoal as “Bajo Scarburo” in this 1820 map from the book “Mapping the Philippines: The Spanish Period.”

Old maps dating back to Spanish colonial times may hold the key to the claim of the Philippines to Scarborough Shoal.

Known as “Bajo Scarburo,” the shoal now called Panatag by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has been part of the known world since 1734, when European cartographers began to map the world in an age of conquest.

In fact, Bajo Scarburo appeared on a map of the “Archipelago Filipino” as a constituent part of Sambalez (Zambales province) in a topographic map of the country “drawn under the direction of Ildefonso de Aragon on April 15, 1820.”

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, who has a collection of ancient maps of the country, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday that the maps would easily disprove the territorial claim of China to the shoal and its surrounding waters, which, he said, had no historical or legal grounds under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (Unclos).

“It’s clear that Scarborough Shoal is part of our cartography during the Spanish colonial times,” he said. “We have maps (reproduced) from the original, which was made in 1734. During that time, Scarborough is already part of the Philippines.”

The DFA has asked Beijing to resolve the dispute through arbitration in the United Nations-backed International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, but China swiftly rejected this.

As in the dispute over the Spratly Islands involving six nations, including the Philippines and China, Beijing has always preferred bilateral, where it has a clear advantage over smaller nations, over a multilateral approach.

But the DFA is standing by its decision to seek international arbitration with or without China.

The manuscript maps can be found in full-color in the hardbound book titled, “Mapping the Philippines: The Spanish Period,” authored by Angara, Jose Ma. A. Cariño and Sonia P. Ner, and published by the Rural Empowerment Assistance and Development in September 2009.

The book contains another map, which was published in Madrid in 1875 and republished by the US Department of War in 1899, a year after the Philippines was ceded to the United States in the Treaty of Paris. It bears the description: “This is a general map of the Philippine Archipelago arising from the work of the Hydrographic Commission of the Philippines under the command of Claudio Montero y Gray.”

‘Mother of all maps’

The 1875 map was the “product of the most comprehensive mapping and charting work in the Philippines lasting more than 20 years (1849-1870).”

Angara said the original maps were deposited at Spain’s Museo Naval de Madrid.

A Jesuit scholar, Pedro Morillo y Velarde, came up with the first “complete map of the Philippines,” said the senator. This was later known as the “Morillo Map,” which delineated the Philippine territory under Spanish rule, and which became the basis for the Treaty of Paris.

Three original copies of the Morillo Map are kept in Madrid, Paris and Washington, which were parties to the treaty.

For US$20 million, the treaty gave away the Philippines to the United States following the humiliating defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War, which ended Spain’s empire in the Americas and the Pacific and set the stage for US colonial hegemony.

“We have a historic title to it (Scarborough Shoal) as early as the 17th century. It’s already on our map. All the cartographic maps subsequent to 1734 were based on the Morillo Map. It was the mother of all maps,” Angara said.

Strong evidence

“That should be a strong evidence of our ownership of Scarborough,” he said.

He noted that Scarborough Shoal’s “extreme proximity” to Zambales, 220 kilometers, compared to 840 km from the nearest coast of China in Hainan province.

Asked whether the maps would establish beyond any doubt the Philippine sovereignty over Scarborough, Angara said: “It’s one strong evidence, and we have other pieces of evidence.”

Angara, who coauthored Senate Bill No. 2181, which defines the baseline of the Philippine archipelago, said maps had always interested him.

“This fascination extends to collecting old maps. I think I was initially attracted to them out of curiosity and because of their age and rarity. Maps define our territory and our sense of nationhood. As a student of history, I realize how maps determine the fate of both the colonized and the colonizers, and how even to this day, the matter of geographic boundaries and the desire to expand or defend them underlie most of the turmoil in the world,” he said.