Freedom of navigation in the regional seas has been harped by the
Americans in every occasion available to raise tension and fear among
the Asean countries. Hugh White, the Professor from Australian National
University has an article in the ST last week to demystify this rubbish
talk of the Americans.
Freedom of navigation in the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea
has never been an issue. There were a few cases of piracy that were
nothing more than mosquito bites and could easily be dealt with by the
coast guards of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. There is no need to
bring in the American Seventh Fleet and all the nuclear tipped missiles
to deal with the pirates. And even if the pirates were navy guys in
civilians, like the Pinoys in the South China Sea harassing and bullying
the fishing boats and kidnapping them for ransom, they can be easily
taken care of. The Taiwanese have shown the Pinoys that they would sink
their navy ships if they dare to attack their fishing boats again. China
is going to sink their biggest antique warship with compliments from
the Americans.
So what is the real issue of this freedom of navigation shit? When it
was the Straits of Malacca, the Americans were aiming at the Malaysians
and the Indonesians. In the South China Sea, the target is China. But
then, the whole thing is a hogwash. All the three countries have never
threatened freedom of navigation in the region. All of them, according
to Hugh White, needed freedom of navigation for trade. How on earth
would they threaten freedom of navigation against their national
interest?
The American humbug played at the highest key with the biggest orchestra
is all noise to deceive the countries in the region. The tension and
bickering by pesky countries like the Philippines and at one time
Vietnam and India, were all the works of the Americans egging them on.
Now with Vietnam and India backing out, Japan is now dragged into the
frying pan, willingly of course, with the new right govt of Abe aspiring
to rearm Japan as the new military power in the region. Under normal
circumstances the Americans would have objected after suffering from the
devastating sneak attack of Pearl Harbour and the thousands of American
lives lost. The Americans would want to continue to keep this barbaric
people under a pacifist constitution they imposed on Japan. But because
of its wild big power ambition and rivalry with Japan, they are willing
to use the Japanese card to give trouble to China. American is
consenting and helping Japan to rearm and return to its military past.
Hope the Japanese would be strong enough to return the Americans the
favour of two nuclear bombs to remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But
before that, the Americans would be using the Japanese to raise tension
in the region, with the Pinoys in tow.
So much for the fear of freedom of navigation in the Straits of Malacca
and South China Sea. When have the Indonesians or the Malaysians or the
Chinese done anything to threaten freedom of navigation? The real
threats of freedom of navigation is when the American Seventh Fleet is
here to choke up the passages and control the movement of ships through
the region, and to conduct searches as and when they like on the pretext
of intelligence reports of terrorism.
6 comments:
Some Chinese scholars had studied and written that most empires, even the greatest, historically have a life span of 250 to 300 years.
Uncle Sam is now in their 238th year since Independence in 1776, July 4th.
Coincidentally, when Adam Smith published arguably his greatest book of modern economics, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, it was in 1776.
Preceding modern Capitalism was Mercantilism, which spanned between the 16th to 18th century for about 250 years.
Juxtaposing both and you may get a discomforting picture.
It may not be that of a coincidence that China is economically organised in some form of capitalist mode but politically structured in communist modus operandi at its core.
Sooner or later, it has to converge and fuse.
Just like the fusion of food, what would be the synergised offshoot or by product of such a fusion of two opposite polarity ideologies but also operating in two different facets in the society?
Could it be that practically and going forward, an authoritative system is predominantly and probably the answer or way forward to build and sustain a strong, vibrant capitalist economy?
Can a society or any society be organised in this mode? Is there any example? Are we living in one?
In many ways, it is even obvious to the layman that China would challenge Uncle Sam in many aspects, not just politically or militarily.
China may soon be chipping away even more of the greenback's sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere and not just in the Asian trading bloc.
Obviously, this pivot by Uncle Sam may have implication far beyond military and geo-politics.
In the end, it may depend on who is on the right side of history.
Superstitious beans may say whose side is destiny on?
Hi PSS, really, democracy and communism, capitalism or dictatorship etc etc could work as long as the leader runs the country with the people's interest at heart. If not, whatever system would be just abused by corrupt leaders and the people got screwed.
I agree with your comment on being on the right side of history. When history or the mandate of heaven or destiny is on your side, everything just turns out right. When one is on the other side, everything will turn out wrong.
The USA has been a nation and an empire by accident. It fumbled all the way to its greatness. The British were very much smarter and charted their course to be ahead of time. In their heyday they control all the choke points in the sea route.
They scooted when they read that history was against them. They handed the Vietnam War to the Americans.
Some may scoff at destiny. Just look at the number of lucky fools that are enjoying life to the fullest without really having to work and you know what I meant.
Hi Uncle Red Bean,
Some may not think so for obvious reasons but I agree with you on destiny playing a big part on how well some are living with huge influence and power to boot.
As you mentioned before, there are some of the smartest guys around who are also poorer than even your office cleaners.
Obviously, it may be not forever when their luck turn and when they want or decide to make it somehow.
China is a classic example.
People only see how powerful it can be or is or will be but just 100 years ago, this was probably unimaginable.
That is why you and I and many others ended up Singaporean Chinese and not PRC Chinese because our great grand parents and grand parents have to escape from some certain starvation and disappearance from the face of this earth had they not sailed south to this "South Ocean or 南洋" to continue their journeys on earth.
If our forebears had landed in Thailand, we could have become SiamKias :) .
Destiny may have played a part for GWB to screw up in Middle East against counsel of people like his former Secretary of State Colin Powell. That probably by destiny enabled President Obama to get elected after the 2008 Lehman Bros debacle and the following crisis.
So, history may be on China side.
But on the other hand, there are severe underlying currents, deep seated social conflicts and enormous economic imbalances in PRC.
I certainly hope the 5th generation Chinese leadership under Xi and Li with other pivotal figures like Wang Qi Shan would be able to be on top of situations and developments domestically, geo-politically and globally.
There may be fireworks, big fireworks next year, geo-politically.
2014 is the 120th anniversary of the First Sino Japanese War.
In China, it is known as "甲午战争".
1894 was a 甲午 year in Chinese almanac. Next year is likewise. Year of the Wooden horse, typically full of gun powder make up.
It may not be the type of gun powder back in 1894 but of modern warfare.
May not be wise to go swimming or fishing in South or East China Sea in 2014.
Any country that partner with Japan will smell doom day. Japan is Jonah which also means jinx. Even the once upon mighty Germans cannot shake off that bad luck till today.
I don't understand why you share such hatred against the americans, were not the japs the ones that chop off our fore fathers heads, mine died that way, have we forgotten how many was killed, if theres one ally that needed to be blame, it should be the brits, no??,if the americans did not place the h bombs into japan, would the war have ended.
I have been to japan and germany on very long stint, and am wary of the riches they have, the army of japan has again risen to a very scary might, their people do not take kindly to the americans and the pinoys.
USA must fight cause thats the only thing that can steer them into gobal power as their industries and all their know how is place solely there, take that away they most likely become nothing.
If not the USA, then who should it be, China??.
Kaki
The thing about the USA is that we are living in their hypocrisy of goodness, in their lies and in their myths.
The Saudis finally called it a day with the American hypocrisy and treachery.
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