APEC Without Japan is Better for Regional Stability & Security

By MIKOspace

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2014 gathers this week in Beijing, China, against the backdrop of deep tensions between host China and neighboring Japan over the Diaoyo Islands and Japan’s continual honouring of her war-time war criminals at a Shinto Shrine. Oft-times over the recent decades, Chinese unhappiness at Japanese recalcitrance have raised unnecessary concerns of military confrontations between the emergent largest and the 3^rd largest economies. Japan has never apologized for its initiating role in World War 2 in the Asia Pacific and for her brutalities and war-time atrocities, including Chinese genocides, in the countries she conquered.   

Thinking the Possible – APEC Without Japan

APEC is important to Japan.  Japan is the 3rd largest economy and the eighth most populated nation in the world. Its role in the international community is also considerable as a major aid donor and a source of global capital and credit.

In a Joint Statement release last Friday, Japan continued to deny Chinese sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, and merely “acknowledging differing views” over Diaoyu status.

According to Japan's state minister of defence Akira Sato: "The Senkaku islands are an inherent part of Japan". Never mind that it was on Chinese Maritime Charts in early 13th century; but conspicuously absent on both the 1783 Japanese Maritime Charts & 1876 Official Imperial Japan Map. Japan occupied Diaoyu in 1895 after the 1st Sino-Japanese War, making it part of Okinawa, and renamed it Senkaku in 1900. So HOW is Diaoyu (Senkaku) an "inherent" part of Japan?

Tensions also remained strained from the regular annual visits by Japanese top politicians, including its Prime Minister, to Tokyo Yasukuni Shinto shrine honoring Japan's war dead, including executed war criminals. Such actions are evidence of Japan’s lingering expansionist militaristic tendencies as well as demonstrate Japanese insensitivity to China’s, the US’ and the APEC Countries’ suffering during the Pacific War started by the Japanese.

The continual visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese Leaders also insults the memory of the 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and marines killed on the USS Arizona during the Japanese cowardly surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. 

It is clear that Japanese persistent recalcitrance over Diaoyu Islands would merely postpone the Day of Confrontation between her and China. This does NOT augur well for APEC as a zone of peace and stability for economic growth and prosperity.

It is difficult to foresee any credible role for Japan in APEC, or in the whole world, unless her impugned integrity and shameless injustice over Diaoyu is reversed together with her militaristic mindset regarding her neighbours. Japan can of course continue to play bilateral roles outside APEC with individual APEC countries.

Kopi Level - Blue. Thank you.

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APEC Without Japan is Better for Regional Stability and Security

TPP versus FTAAP

The Americans from across the Pacific Ocean is pushing for the Trans Pacific Partnership. China is pushing for the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific from the Asia side of the continent. The latter is of course Asia centric. The TPP is Pacific or American centric. It does not even mentioned Asia and trying to exclude Asia’s largest economy from the pact. It is an American and Pacific power wrangling to have a foothold in Asia with a token of Asian countries in the pact. It is more political and strategic in geo political terms than an economic trade pact.
 
The Asian countries are giving the TPP a cold shoulder, knowing what it is. There is already several economic pacts in Asia. There is the APTA which is open to all members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. There is also the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) for the 10 states of Asean and the Asean Economic Community coming into force soon.
 
These are all Asian initatives primarily for the interests of Asian states and led by Asian countries. Why is there a need for the Americans to be on this side of the Pacific Ocean telling the Asian countries what is good for the Americans is good for Asians? Why should Asian states be always under the control and domination of the Americans and expected to kneel to the Americans as the warlord, the Emperor with Asian states as members of the Empire?
 
It is about time that Asian states break free from the clutches of the American Empire and take hold of their own destinies and decide what is best for themselves, and not what Americans say is best for them. Asian countries should not allow themselves to be semi colonies of the US like South Korea and Japan. Why are Asians so eager to be led and controlled by the Americans?
 
Asia is for Asians like Singapore is for Singaporeans, not Asia for Americans and Singapore for foreigners.
The Americans just simply announced that they are going to pivot to Asia and automatically assume the role of big brother, the Emperor of Asia. Remember how they were warmly received by the Red Indians and see what happened to the Red Indians? Look at the fate of South Korea and Japan, unable to remove the military bases on their land. Philippines were lucky to be another independent and respectable country without the presence of permanent American bases in the country. The colonial mindset of some Asian countries is still fertile and alive and wanting and longing to be colonies of the West again.

Kopi Level - Red

Playboy boss – Singapore can benefit form playboy shows

‘Countries with declining birth rates such as Singapore and China could benefit from pornographic TV programmes designed for couples to watch together, the Asia boss of Playboy has said.
 
In an interview with Mumbrella, Lanny Huang, the general manager of Playboy Plus said that there was an “important role” for channels such as Playboy’s Desire TV, which to date is only broadcasting in New Zealand.’
 
Copy the above from an article posted in TRE. I think the Playboy boss did make some sense. In a country that is run like brothel, oops, typing error, I mean like a monastery or nunnery, a little loosening up is good for fertility and the declining birth rate. Then there is no need to bring in so many foreigners using falling birth rate as an excuse.
 
Then again, one must remove the blinkers when making such a comment. This cit is not what it used to be. There are more than half a million single men here, away from their families and can easily get horny. Having Playboy programmes on the TV and easily available could create a very serious problems with these single men around. Our female folks could be put to high risk.
 
No, it is a good idea but will become a very serious problem if implemented. Our female folks will have no where to run and no where to hide when the foreigners are all horny and unrestrained. Take it as a wet dream for the Playboy boss...Unless you don't mind the new concoction without your input.

Kopi Level - Red

You are what you are, from the friends you keep

Han Fook Kwang continued with the discussion on the future of the PAP in his Sunday morning discourse. He said he had spoken to some people and the feedback, ‘there is a sizable group of Singaporeans who say they supported the PAP in the early years but now feel it isn’t the party they knew’. The Party thinks they are still the same party, wearing white and still with the same mission and fire in the belly as the Party in 1954.

Refreshing on what Ho Kwon Ping said last week, the people he talked to all did not want a change of govt, but would want to vote opposition. I too spoke to some people and the feedback was that many would rather vote the opposition. It is clear that the answer will depend on who you talk to or who are your friends.

The three different scenarios clearly show that it is who you are mixing with, the kind of people you keep as friends or acquaintance that will tell you the kind of things you want to hear. It is also a reflection of who you are comfortable with, what is inside your head. Sure, birds of the same feathers flocked together.

For people who are just crystal ball gazing, who are just observers of the political scene, there is nothing much to it to keep the companies they kept and sharing the same stories and political jokes. They would have their fun jabbing at one another and feeling good about what they said and their views.

For people who are making decisions based on things they heard from the friends or people that are feeding them the information, it is a very serious matter. For each group of people will tell a different set of stories. The doomsayers will tell them the end is near. The bootlickers will say more better years ahead, the ground is sweeter. But none will tell the whole truth, but what they believed or what they want to tell, or what they think the listener would want to hear. The important thing is to make the master happy with their anticipation of good news flowing freely and pleasing to the ears. George found out too late. At least he found out, the hard way.

You are what you are, from the company you keep. You are what you are, from what you hear and what and how you react to the whisperers.

One can also say a political party is the company it keeps. Woe behold the political party that is infested with fortune seekers and those that go with the flow. But the delusion, they believe they have the most righteous and morally upright people with them, selfless and not self serving, all eagerly and desperately wanting to serve the people.

Kopi Level - Red

What to do when shopping in Singapore? Caveat emptor!

Singapore built its name as a shopper’s paradise over several decades. This reputation is going into the gutters with the spade of abusive and ugly incidents involving tourists became cheated in Sim Lim Square. Case and the Tourist Board are stepping into the picture to warn tourists or anyone visiting the shopping centre to be careful when making purchases.

Apart from posting warning posters in the shopping centre, this is what Case executive director Seah Choon Seng said, “We hope that consumers will be able to stand firm and say ‘no’ to pressure sales tactics. The money is in their wallet, and they can choose not to sing the sales agreement and pay the money.”

In addition, the Mypaper reporter Cheryl Faith Wee added more precautionary measures needed to be taken as advised by Seah. These include checking the receipts for details like formulas, symbols, etc and how the price is presented, cancelling out empty spaces, asking questions if not sure, and getting the shop keeper to sign to show agreement on the receipt.

Seah also said, “Consumers should exercise their rights to ensure that all the costs are broken down before accepting the transaction . If you do not have the invoice, it is your word against the rtailiers and it is very difficult for organizations like Case to arbitrate.”

The Singapore Tourism Board also advised ‘consumers to do what is necessary to protect their interests, such as researching products, checking return policies and coverage of warranties before agreeing to purchases.’

I think someone should conduct a course on how to shop safely in Singapore to protect from being fleeced and cheated by unscrupulous merchants. Shopping in Singapore’s shoppers’ paradise is going to be very demanding today. The best advice is not to shop here if one is not prepared to take all the above precautions.

As rightly pointed out by an engineer, Ng Jian Min, “Singapore should be a safe environment for everyone to shop in. I find it quite ridiculous that I should have to check my receipts so closely.  There must be more severe laws to punish these shops.” What say you CASE, STB?

Personally I will not shop there, and if I do I will bring my lawyers along, and better still, bring two burly bodyguards to make sure that I am safe from being harassed.

I didn’t know that shopping in Singapore’s shoppers paradise has become so dangerous.

I read an article in the Sunday Times this morning on Jover Chew.  He was praised sky high as a very clever man and knew the law. The best part, he has not broken the law. What he did was legal. Eeeeeeeeee....mummy, Jover never committed any crime or done anything illegal! I think there is no case against him and he cannot be prosecuted. He has the law on his side, he is not outside the law. He is inside the law. Got shadow or not(this phrase should be read in Hokien).

I thought of changing the title of this post to , 'What Jover Chew did is legal'. And to nail  Jover, there must change the law. And Rip Van Winkles are talking about it now.

Kopi Level - Yellow