US ready to arm Philippines amid China tension - Yahoo! News
http://beta.news.yahoo.com/philippin...182220614.htmlThe United States said Thursday it was ready to provide hardware to modernize the military of the Philippines, which vowed to "stand up to aggressive action" amid rising tension at sea with China.
Speaks volumes!
A clear indication that the US is not abandoning allies 'for US national interests".
Last edited by Ray; 06-24-2011 at 05:12 AM.
It's all just words until something actually changes hands. Given the state of the Philippine Navy and Air Force, a whole lot would have to change hands to make much difference in the balance.
Who ever said the US was "abandoning allies"?
“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary”
H.L. Mencken
One also does not know the state of the Chinese Navy to take on a joint threat.
Not directly stated that the US was abandoning it allies, but implied that unless attacked, the Mutual Defence Treaty with Philippines was merely an exercise on paper.
Apparently, it is not so.
This could also be read in context;
US lawmakers plan TRA enhancement
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/fron.../18/2003506056
This is a news report dated 28 June 2011.US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, told a special hearing on Taiwan that she would soon introduce new legislation “to enhance the Taiwan Relations Act [TRA].”.....\
She said Taiwan inspired all victims of Beijing’s oppression and struck fear into the hearts of “the cynical old men who still rule Beijing.”
Ros-Lehtinen said the hearing, “Why Taiwan Matters,” was especially timely and necessary because “it has come to my attention that there is a new spirit of appeasement in the air.”
“Some in Washington policy circles are suggesting that the time has come to recognize the reality of a rising China and to cut our ties to Taiwan,” she added. “This would be a terrible mistake which would have far-reaching ramifications about how the US treats its democratic allies — its friends.”
Ros-Lehtinen said Taiwan needs the means to defend itself from threats and intimidation.
The US apparently means business.
This is just what I have been repeating to all the appeasement theories that were being stated:
“This would be a terrible mistake which would have far-reaching ramifications about how the US treats its democratic allies — its friends.
and now the US Congressmen have openly subscribed to it!
Last edited by Ray; 06-24-2011 at 07:43 AM.
As I was saying all along, the US aim at containment of China is evident and not merely a will o' the wisp.
Even erstwhile enemies, who should have never approached the US, are approaching the US. It would not have been possible if there were no favourable diplomatic exchanges.
Vietnam seeks US support in China dispute
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/05e83b34-9...#axzz1QB4IplIk
The Vietnamese government has ratcheted up its rhetoric in recent weeks amid growing public disquiet over perceived maritime bullying by China, which dominated Vietnam for 1000 years and fought a brief but bloody border war against it in 1979. At the weekend Vietnam’s foreign ministry said that it would “welcome” efforts by the US and other nations to help resolve the South China Sea dispute and maintain peace and stability.
Such sentiments are unlikely to go down well in Beijing, which insists that the long-running row over the South China Sea must be resolved on a purely bilateral basis.
China reacted angrily last July when Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, insisted that the South China Sea was of strategic importance to the US and offered to act as a mediator.....
Ray, what do you make of this? The more the merrier?Originally Posted by Ray
Vietnam and China to conduct a joint patrol in Tonkin Gulf - China Defense Blog - June 19, 2011.Vietnam and China to conduct a joint patrol in Tonkin Gulf
PANO - Two Vietnamese naval boats, the HQ375 and HQ376 (under Corps M62, Naval Region D), representing Vietnam People’s Navy and Army, on June 18th, departed to take part in a joint patrol with China People’s Liberation Navy’s boats in the Gulf of Tonkin.
This is the 11th joint patrol that has been conducted since the two navies signed an agreement on Joint Patrol Status in October 2005.
As scheduled, the joint patrol started at 8am on June 19th and will finish at 10.15am on June 20th (Hanoi time) with a journey of 306 nautical miles.
The joint patrol aims to promote the traditional friendly neighbourhood cooperation relationship between Vietnam and China, as well as enhance the mutual understanding and trust between the two armies and navies.
The timing of providing arms is important and not the arms itself.
The timing and the political message is what is loaded.
One does not see geo strategy and geopolitics in isolation or as a case by case issue. It is observe in the overall context. Ms Hillary Clinton pronouncement about the South Sea being of strategic importance to the US sums up the issue beyond any quibbling.
And add to it what you call political rhetoric of US Congresspeople.
Sabre rattling?
I wonder if one is to take the pronouncements in the US Congress lightly as if it was not material.
What may have slipped the observer who has not opened the link is that the statement was not made by any political lightweight.
It was stated by the chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee.
Am I to understand that a Chairman of a House Committee is taken to be a person prone to garrulity and is a flighty light headed person?
I am not too conversant as to how a Chairman of a Committee is selected in the US Congress, but I would be surprised if any old Tom, Di.ck and Harry can be the Chairman and that too who has the propensity to shoot his/ her mouth at the drop of a hat.
More the merrier was the aim of President Obama's visit to Asia and the earlier visits to Asia by Ms Hillary Clinton to Asia.
It shows that the US strong defence of its allies and others in the South China Seas has sent the message to China, so much so, that instead of bulldozing, it is trying to slow down and show 'maturity'.Vietnam and China to conduct a joint patrol in Tonkin Gulf - China Defense Blog - June 19, 2011.
China is a very careful country. It will not back down, but will use the prevailing parameters to calm the situation without 'losing face', and then will seek opportunities when it is in a position to seize the initiative.
The answer is simple.
This enemy - Vietnam - continues to be Communist - the raison d’ętre for the US intervention in Vietnam. Therefore, any rapprochement is not taken to be within the ambit of a day's work done.
I would be surprised if the US would not be the last country to forget Vietnam in a jiffy. Without going into details, suffice it so say that Vietnam does not evoke pleasant memories in the US.
Other enemies of the US have been soundly defeated.
That I presume could be the difference.
Last edited by Ray; 06-24-2011 at 04:46 PM.
Ray, it is trying to slow down and show 'maturity', I like how you seem to combine both optimism and cynicism there.
What does the discussion of providing armament have to do with the Mutual Defense Treaty?
Arms deals are not required by the treaty. They are not a treaty obligation. The US may of course elect to make such an arrangement if it feels that that the arrangement serves its interests, but it's not a treaty obligation.
We'll see what, if anything, comes of it.
I don't think the Chinese have any intention of taking on a joint or individual threat, so the capacity may not be all that important.
US legislators love to look tough on China, particularly given the desire of so many US voters to blame American economic problems on the Chinese. There's a clear political payoff for a US legislator in backing this kind of bill... how it will play out in practice is another story altogether. Most likely it will just fire off yet another round of words and a bit of transitory saber rattling.
Where has anyone stated an "appeasement theory"?
“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary”
H.L. Mencken
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks