Monday, November 7, 2016
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Keep China's faith in us; Relationship with China is crucial, says expert
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (L) and China's Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing. - EPAMalaysia is on the right track. We have had a head start by becoming the first Asean country to forge diplomatic ties with the giant republic. Let’s build on that.
IT’S no longer a topic that is discussed in hushed tones at functions attended by diplomats and businessmen – that relations between China and Singapore are strained. It is out in the open.
The irony is that Singapore is the Asean coordinator for ties with China – and the latter has literally told the island republic to buck up.
The latest salvo against Singapore reportedly came from Chinese vice-minister for foreign affairs, Liu Zhenmin, who warned that as a non-claimant state in the South China Sea dispute, the island should stay away from commenting on the issue.
China’s top diplomat urged the republic to focus on coordinating dialogue between China and Asean – in short, he is effectively saying that Singapore is not doing a good job in that department.
China’s impatience with Singapore has been simmering for a while although it has never been out in the open. But in June, Global Times ran a commentary by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences researcher Cheng Bifan under the headline “Singapore has picked the wrong target in its balance of power strategy”.
The newspaper, regarded as a mouthpiece of the Chinese communist party, is also a subsidiary of the powerful People’s Daily.
Basically, China is irritated with Singapore for seemingly siding with the United States over the South China Sea issue.
Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) has reported that Internet users in China have delivered stinging criticisms, labelling Singapore a sycophant of the US, threatening that China would teach the tiny South-East Asian nation a lesson.
Particularly painful is the phrase they often use to mock Singapore: Li Jiapo, a play on the island’s name in Chinese, substituting the first two Chinese characters “Li Jia” or the “Lee family”, it reported.
The problem started after a tribunal in The Hague rejected China’s claims in the South China Sea dispute with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong saying that the verdict delivered a strong statement about international law in maritime disputes.
During a recent trip to the United States, Lee also reportedly told US President Barack Obama that Singapore hoped Washington would “remain actively engaged in the region.”
It doesn’t help that Singapore has allowed the US to deploy its P8 Poseidon spy plane to the city state. The US also operates from Japan and the Philippines, its two other allies.
But since Rodrigo Duterte, whose ancestors came from Xiamen, China, became president, the Philippines has shifted its sights –and is looking at China.
As the unhappiness builds up, the Global Times accused Singapore’s representative at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Venezuela of trying – but failing – to add an endorsement of the Philippines’ international arbitration case against China’s territorial claims.
It added that the representative had become exasperated and made “sarcastic remarks” when the move was opposed.
The Singaporean envoy, however, hit back at the Global Times, for publishing an “irresponsible report replete with fabrications.”
His protestation, however, was met with defiance from the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, who stood by the article, accusing Singapore of “damaging China’s interests,” the Wall Street Journal reported.
According to envoy Stanley Loh, Singapore did not raise the South China Sea issue or the tribunal ruling at the summit. He said the proposal to revise the summit communique was made collectively by Asean, which wanted the document to reflect regional concerns over recent South China Sea tensions.
But Chinese diplomats and journalists, close to the communist party, have openly accused Singapore of “siding with the US to willingly play the troublemaker” over the thorny issue.
According to National University of Singapore’s Prof Wang Gungwu, it would not be in Singapore’s interest for China to doubt its friendship as the city-state has a big stake in China’s economic development.
Suspicion against Singapore is so great that, rightly or wrongly, some Chinese businessmen have blamed the island republic for holding back the building of the High Speed Rail between Malaysia and Singapore, suggesting that the island republic is “blocking and delaying” Malaysia’s readiness to award the project to China.
SCMP (owned by Chinese tycoon Jack Ma) which monitors events in China closely, quoted Wang Yiwei from the School of International Studies at China’s Renmin University as saying that he believed China’s “disappointment” with Singapore stemmed from Beijing’s initial hopes that the island state could play a role not just to bridge China and Asean, but with the US, the West and the global community.
Singapore had not adequately protected the overall and longterm interests of China and Asean, despite being the coordinator, he said.
“Instead, Singapore suggested that China accept the tribunal’s ruling. This was a huge turn-off for China,” Wang said.
In contrast, Malaysia-China relations have entered a new high. The “biggest deal” is not even the huge amount of businesses coming into the country but our commitment to buy four Chinese naval vessels, which are known as littoral mission ships (small craft that operate close to shore). Two are to be built in China and the other two in Malaysia.
Liu said the two countries were focusing on naval cooperation and that the deal marked a big leap in bilateral ties.
The defence deal also signalled that Malaysia wanted to have closer military-to-military relations with China.
The two nations also signed the framework for the RM55bil East Coast Rail Line, which will be China’s largest investment in Malaysia to date.
Najib, who was on a six-day visit to China, met President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
Malaysia Airlines Bhd also secured many direct flights from China, recently announcing that it would start flying to eight new destinations and 11 new routes in the republic from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Penang, from early 2017. MAS is also hoping to add a second daily flight between KL and Shanghai in April 2017.
Although Malaysia is the Asean coordinator with the US, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has played a remarkable role, balancing our link with the two superpowers.
And although Malaysia is a claimant to the territorial claims, Malaysia has restrained itself well, issuing cautious statements, without adding fuel to the rivalry between the two giants.
Najib’s diplomatic skills benefit Malaysia greatly. The domestic political fight should not be used to disrupt the strong ties between Malaysia and China.
Sarcastic innuendoes that “Malaysia is Red” does not augur well for Malaysia, which risks earning the wrath of China, at a time when the market is terribly weak.
Claims that the proposed ECRL project was overpriced, that the soft loan will come to RM92mil per kilometre, is nothing short of amusing.
China’s offer is said to be lower compared to what was offered by Japan and other European countries – and it comes with a soft loan.
The payment is over a tenure of 20 years and in the first seven years, Malaysia will not have to pay anything – neither interest nor repayment. Surely, that is attractive.
Najib has lobbied for China to increase its import of palm oil as it has dropped 50% in the first six months of the year.
Apparently, this was due to some negative reports and wrong perception of the nutritional value of palm oil, a common tactic used by Western countries to promote soy bean and other vegetable oils.
China used to be the largest importer of palm oil from Malaysia but it has fallen to third place, after India and Europe.
It is important that domestic politics should not come at the expense of losing the support of the Chinese. We are talking about the rice bowl of Malaysians and we don’t want selfish politicians to throw sand into our rice bowl.
It is one thing to score political points against Najib, by ridiculing his approaches to China for business deals, but it should not affect our economy.
For example, the number of Chinese visitors to Taiwan has reportedly fallen 22% since the island’s Beijing-sceptic government took office in May, with tourism operators saying that the industry is in a slump.
Hotels are only half full and thousands of tour buses are sitting idle, with observers saying the decline is due to China limiting tour groups to Taiwan amid rapidly cooling cross-strait ties, according to a report.
There was a boom in mainland tourists to Taiwan in recent years under former President Ma Ying-jeou’s Beijing-friendly government, with Chinese visitors accounting for about 40% of the total 10 million tourists last year, according to government figures.
However, in the months since President Tsai Ing-wen took office up to Aug 23, mainland visitor numbers have reportedly fallen 22.3% compared with the same period last year.
In Hong Kong, news reports of resentment against Chinese mainlanders and calls by some HK politicians for independence have resulted in a backlash with Chinese tourists staying away from HK.
The SCMP reported the decline in the month of the mini-golden week holiday – when Chinese tourists go on vacation – and this came as a blow to hopes that the city’s battered retail sector – which heavily relies on tourism spending – could improve soon.
Government statistics showed May retail sales decreasing 8.4% on a yearly basis after the April decline narrowed to 7.5%, from a 9.8% dip in March, marking the 15th consecutive month of contraction.
Hong Kong Retail Management Association chairman Thomson Cheng Waihung has predicted a double-digit decline in the first half of this year, which would be the worst in over a decade, as its members signalled that sales in June were “even worse than May”.
The reality is that China has become a economic superpower and we have had a headstart by becoming the first Asean country to forge diplomatic ties with China.
Through the efforts of the Chinese community here, the special ties have been further cemented, and that has allowed us to have a special place in the heart of China.
Malay extremists should learn to appreciate this special link, which has benefited Malaysia greatly, before they make careless and hurtful racist remarks that serve little purpose.
The billions pouring into Malaysia is staggering and surely, we are the envy of many other Asean countries. That is because China trusts us and we should keep and build on that faith in us.
By Wong Chun Wai The StarWong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 27 years in various capacities and roles. He is now the group's managing director/chief executive officer and formerly the group chief editor.
On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.
Relationship with China is crucial, says expert
Real talk: Dr Jacques delivering a public lecture on ‘China and the World in the 21st Century’, at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations.KUALA LUMPUR: The Sino-Malaysian relationship is crucial for the future of Malaysia, observed a China specialist.
“What is pivotal for Malaysia is to find the right way to engage China.
“There are going to be lots of problems and difficulties, and arguments within the country over this, but the key thing is that the process of engagement leads to the deepening of the relationship between Malaysia and China.
“There ain’t no escape route to Washington,” said Dr Martin Jacques.
Dr Jacques, the author of When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order, is in Malaysia to share his insights on the rise of China and its impact to the world.
He was speaking at a talk entitled “China and the World in the 21st Century” at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) yesterday, which was jointly organised by International Movement for A Just World and IDFR.
Analysing Malaysia-China ties, Dr Jacques said China liked and respected Malaysia, which was the first country in the region to recognise China in 1974, despite the fact that both were claimants in the resource-rich South China Sea.
“The Chinese do appreciate longevity in the relationship. You are seen as an old friend.
“I have never heard the Chinese leaders or people in its Foreign Ministry being critical of Malaysia.
“They always have good things to say, and even love to use Malaysia as an example of how you can have differences and a strong relationship at the same time,” he told reporters after the talk.
On balancing between the participation in China’s Belt and Road and in the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Dr Jacques’ advice for Malaysia was to make suggestions and take initiatives on the Maritime Silk Road as he did not think TPP is “going to happen”.
“I didn’t think it was a good move for Malaysia to sign up for TPP. That was a mistake,” he said.
Instead, Malaysia should “go for it” in terms of cooperation with China on the Belt and Road and think more strategically on what it wants with China, he added.
During Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s recent visit to Beijing, he witnessed the signing of 14 business-to-business memorandums of understanding (MoUs) valued at RM143bil, and the signing of 14 government-to-government MoUs to strengthen bilateral trade and economic, cultural and defence cooperation.
Financing for the RM55bil East Coast Rail Line was also secured from China
By Tho Xin Yi The Star
Martin Jacques: China's rise to power
https://youtu.be/7NiIv9Nje3o
"How China will Change the World" by Dr Martin Jacques
https://youtu.be/ULMjBzESySc
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Reel in the Chinese investments
BARELY after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ended his four-day official visit to China on Friday, The Star was told by an investment adviser that some businessmen in China could not wait to speed up their investment decisions in Malaysia.
Analysis by Joceline Tan
Game-changer from China visit
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s state visit to China has yielded an amazing buffet of MoUs that could set the momentum for an economic spur ahead of the general election next year.‘Malaysian firms ready to compete’
PETALING JAYA: The mega deals have been signed with China. Malaysia must deliver and Malaysian firms say they are ready to hit the ground running.
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Malaysian PM Najib given official welcome at China's Great Hall of the People https://youtu.be/v87tJF3uO7U Prime Minister ...
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Richard Tan
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Friday, November 4, 2016
Malaysia-China ties to a new high
Malaysian PM Najib given official welcome at China's Great Hall of the People
https://youtu.be/v87tJF3uO7U
BEIJING, China: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said his current visit to China will propel bilateral ties between the two nations to a new high.
"We have said that bilateral relations are at a historic high. I can say that with confidence.
"But more so, this visit will being it to a new high because the comprehensive nature of our strategic partnership has now been translated into meaningful action," he said in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting between Malaysia and China at the Great Hall of the People here.
Najib also thanked his counterpart Li Keqiang, seated across from him, for the warm welcome given to the Malaysian delegation.
"It's warm in the room, but outside it's a little cold," Li replied in jest. The weather in Beijing is currently chilly as winter approaches, with a high today of 11.7 degrees Celsius and an overnight low of - 2.2 degrees.
Najib was given earlier given an official welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People here.
Najib, who is on a six-day official visit, was welcomed on arrival by China prime minister Li Keqiang. Also present were ministers and government officials accompanying the prime minister's delegation.
The national anthems of both countries were played, followed by Najib's inspection of the guard accompanied by Li. The Malaysian prime minister was also given a 19-gun salute.
Earlier, Najib had attended the Malaysia-China Business Forum, titled "Strengthening Cooperation, Building Opportunities". The luncheon was attended by more than 400 Chinese and Malaysian businessmen. - New Straits Times
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Beijing on Thursday, pledging to boost cooperation with the country in diverse areas and cement their all-round strategic partnership.
Xi hailed the progress of relations since diplomatic ties were established 42 years ago, citing mutual respect, trust, win-win cooperation and close communications.
He urged both countries to maintain frequent high-level exchanges, deepen political trust, keep to the right direction of bilateral relations and continue to support each other on issues related to each other's major concerns.
Xi called on the two sides to combine their development strategies, and to lay a solid foundation for stronger trade cooperation.
China welcomes Malaysia's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, and is ready to work with the country to increase cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, energy, technology, agriculture and finance, he said.
Xi also urged stronger bilateral cooperation in education, culture, health, media, and in fighting terrorism and cross-border crime.
Najib congratulated the successful convening of the sixth plenary session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee last week, and praised China's economic and social development.
It is proven in practice that socialism with Chinese characteristics is a correct choice for China, he said.
Calling the two countries friendly neighbors and trustworthy friends, he said Malaysia-China ties are currently at their highest level.
Malaysia is glad to see China's Belt and Road Initiative get a warm response, he said, vowing to facilitate the cooperation in trade, transportation, and port construction, with China under the Belt and Road framework.
Malaysia is committed to boosting ASEAN-China relations, he added.
Najib is on an official visit to China from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5. Xinhua
Malaysia has agreed to buy four Chinese naval vessels that operate close to shore, after the country's Prime Minister Najib Razak met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang early this week. Malaysia usually purchased military equipment from the US and the latest move marks its first significant defense deal with China. Some have called it a "new milestone." The two sides signed 14 agreements worth 231.8 billion yuan ($34.28 billion) on Wednesday, and Najib called it a "historic achievement."
Commentaries speculating that Najib is becoming the "second Duterte" in Southeast Asia and that Malaysia is "another Asian domino falling toward Beijing" have run wild in mainstream Western media. The New York Times contended that "American efforts to contain Chinese ambitions in the South China Sea depend on a ring of allies, but the region's united front may be crumbling."
Najib said in a Chinese media outlet recently that former colonial powers should not "lecture countries they once exploited on how to conduct their own internal affairs today." The tensions between Malaysia and the US brewed by Washington's interference in Malaysia's internal affairs are similar to those between the US and the Philippines caused by the former's accusation against Duterte's human rights abuses during its anti-drug campaign.
The US' sense of superiority in politics and morality often makes it point its fingers at developing countries. In 1993, it forcefully inspected a Chinese freighter suspected by its intelligence service of carrying weapons and ended up finding nothing. It launched attacks on Iraq over its alleged ownership of weapons of mass destruction, but faced the same fate.
Chinese people don't think that Kuala Lumpur is leaning toward Beijing. China and Malaysia are developing their ties steadily. China has been Malaysia's biggest trading partner and replaced the US to become its largest investor in 2015. The two have minor territorial disputes but have managed them well. China's relations with neighboring countries ought to be like this.
Friendly ties between China and Malaysia do not exclude a third party. Defense cooperation, which displays a higher level of strategic mutual trust, should not be labeled as "a turning point for the region."
The fears of US and Western opinion reveals that the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific is eyeing unrealistic goals, which are to form an alliance system in the West Pacific that includes most countries so as to contain China. The West views China as an expansionist imperial state like Japan used to be in the past, and requires regional countries to be "loyal" to Washington.
The rebalancing strategy does not hold water. China has never thought of military expansion as Japan did. It cherishes peace and stability like all regional stakeholders. China is sincere in tackling territorial disputes through peaceful negotiations. A "nightmare" in the South China Sea is nothing but an illusion created by the US and Japan.
Washington should reflect upon itself. It is an external country and its presence in the region should contribute to peace and stability. It will not stay long if it keeps driving a wedge between regional countries. - Global Times
https://youtu.be/v87tJF3uO7U
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and China's Premier Li Keqiang inspect honour guards during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, November 1, 2016. Reuters
"We have said that bilateral relations are at a historic high. I can say that with confidence.
"But more so, this visit will being it to a new high because the comprehensive nature of our strategic partnership has now been translated into meaningful action," he said in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting between Malaysia and China at the Great Hall of the People here.
Najib also thanked his counterpart Li Keqiang, seated across from him, for the warm welcome given to the Malaysian delegation.
"It's warm in the room, but outside it's a little cold," Li replied in jest. The weather in Beijing is currently chilly as winter approaches, with a high today of 11.7 degrees Celsius and an overnight low of - 2.2 degrees.
Najib was given earlier given an official welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People here.
Najib, who is on a six-day official visit, was welcomed on arrival by China prime minister Li Keqiang. Also present were ministers and government officials accompanying the prime minister's delegation.
The national anthems of both countries were played, followed by Najib's inspection of the guard accompanied by Li. The Malaysian prime minister was also given a 19-gun salute.
Earlier, Najib had attended the Malaysia-China Business Forum, titled "Strengthening Cooperation, Building Opportunities". The luncheon was attended by more than 400 Chinese and Malaysian businessmen. - New Straits Times
Xi vows to cement all-round strategic partnership with Malaysia
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Beijing on Thursday, pledging to boost cooperation with the country in diverse areas and cement their all-round strategic partnership.
Xi hailed the progress of relations since diplomatic ties were established 42 years ago, citing mutual respect, trust, win-win cooperation and close communications.
He urged both countries to maintain frequent high-level exchanges, deepen political trust, keep to the right direction of bilateral relations and continue to support each other on issues related to each other's major concerns.
Xi called on the two sides to combine their development strategies, and to lay a solid foundation for stronger trade cooperation.
China welcomes Malaysia's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, and is ready to work with the country to increase cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, energy, technology, agriculture and finance, he said.
Xi also urged stronger bilateral cooperation in education, culture, health, media, and in fighting terrorism and cross-border crime.
Najib congratulated the successful convening of the sixth plenary session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee last week, and praised China's economic and social development.
It is proven in practice that socialism with Chinese characteristics is a correct choice for China, he said.
Calling the two countries friendly neighbors and trustworthy friends, he said Malaysia-China ties are currently at their highest level.
Malaysia is glad to see China's Belt and Road Initiative get a warm response, he said, vowing to facilitate the cooperation in trade, transportation, and port construction, with China under the Belt and Road framework.
Malaysia is committed to boosting ASEAN-China relations, he added.
Najib is on an official visit to China from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5. Xinhua
Najib’s visit reveals feeble US rebalance
Malaysia has agreed to buy four Chinese naval vessels that operate close to shore, after the country's Prime Minister Najib Razak met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang early this week. Malaysia usually purchased military equipment from the US and the latest move marks its first significant defense deal with China. Some have called it a "new milestone." The two sides signed 14 agreements worth 231.8 billion yuan ($34.28 billion) on Wednesday, and Najib called it a "historic achievement."
Commentaries speculating that Najib is becoming the "second Duterte" in Southeast Asia and that Malaysia is "another Asian domino falling toward Beijing" have run wild in mainstream Western media. The New York Times contended that "American efforts to contain Chinese ambitions in the South China Sea depend on a ring of allies, but the region's united front may be crumbling."
Najib said in a Chinese media outlet recently that former colonial powers should not "lecture countries they once exploited on how to conduct their own internal affairs today." The tensions between Malaysia and the US brewed by Washington's interference in Malaysia's internal affairs are similar to those between the US and the Philippines caused by the former's accusation against Duterte's human rights abuses during its anti-drug campaign.
The US' sense of superiority in politics and morality often makes it point its fingers at developing countries. In 1993, it forcefully inspected a Chinese freighter suspected by its intelligence service of carrying weapons and ended up finding nothing. It launched attacks on Iraq over its alleged ownership of weapons of mass destruction, but faced the same fate.
Chinese people don't think that Kuala Lumpur is leaning toward Beijing. China and Malaysia are developing their ties steadily. China has been Malaysia's biggest trading partner and replaced the US to become its largest investor in 2015. The two have minor territorial disputes but have managed them well. China's relations with neighboring countries ought to be like this.
Friendly ties between China and Malaysia do not exclude a third party. Defense cooperation, which displays a higher level of strategic mutual trust, should not be labeled as "a turning point for the region."
The fears of US and Western opinion reveals that the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific is eyeing unrealistic goals, which are to form an alliance system in the West Pacific that includes most countries so as to contain China. The West views China as an expansionist imperial state like Japan used to be in the past, and requires regional countries to be "loyal" to Washington.
The rebalancing strategy does not hold water. China has never thought of military expansion as Japan did. It cherishes peace and stability like all regional stakeholders. China is sincere in tackling territorial disputes through peaceful negotiations. A "nightmare" in the South China Sea is nothing but an illusion created by the US and Japan.
Washington should reflect upon itself. It is an external country and its presence in the region should contribute to peace and stability. It will not stay long if it keeps driving a wedge between regional countries. - Global Times
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Rightways - Sowing the seeds of Success:
Think Global, Act Local; Change & Grow Rich; Sow as You Reap & Soar High!
Richard Tan
MBA(UK), BCA(NZ), AMA(USA),MMIM
Thursday, November 3, 2016
We need to come out against a third world war
https://youtu.be/EpF0U7lUVdk
IS A WAR in the making – a third world war? If there is much talk about such a possibility, it is mainly because of the tensions between the United States and Russia.
Tensions between the two most powerful nuclear states in the world have never been this high since the end of the Cold War in 1989 and the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991.
There are at least two flash points, one more dangerous than the other. In Eastern Ukraine, Russian backed rebels will not surrender to the US supported regime in Kiev because they see US control over Ukraine as part of a much larger agenda to expand Nato power to the very borders of Russia. This has been happening for some years now.
But it is the Washington-Moscow confrontation in Allepo, Syria which portends to a huge conflagration. The US is protective of major militant groups such as Al-Nusra which has besieged Eastern Allepo and is seeking to overthrow the Bashar al-Assad government.
Washington has also set its sight on "regime change" in Damascus ever since the latter's determined resistance to Israeli occupation of the strategic Golan Heights in Syria from 1967.
The drive for regime change intensified with the US-Israeli quest for a "new Middle East" following the Anglo-American invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003. It became more pronounced in 2009 when Bashar al-Assad rejected a proposal to allow a gas pipe-line from Qatar to Europe to pass through his country, a pipe-line which would have reduced Europe's dependence upon Russia for gas.
Russia of course has been a long-standing ally of Syria. Together with Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah, it is helping the Syrian government to break the siege of Eastern Allepo and to defeat militants in other parts of Syria.
It is obvious that in both instances, in Ukraine and Syria, the US has not been able to achieve what it wants. The US has also been stymied in Southeast Asia where its attempt to re-assert its power through its 2010 Pivot to Asia policy has suffered a serious setback as a result of the decision of the new president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, to pursue an independent foreign policy that no longer adheres blindly to US interests.
At the same time, China continues to expand and enhance its economic strength in Asia and the world through its One Belt One Road projects and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and via its leadership of BRICS.
China's regional and global economic role is leading to its pronounced presence in security and military matters. As a result of all this, the US's imperial power has clearly diminished. It is a hegemon in decline.
It is because it is not prepared to accept its decline that some US generals are threatening to demonstrate US's military might. If a hegemon is a danger to humankind when it is at its pinnacle, it becomes an even greater threat to peace when its power is diminishing.
Like a wounded tiger, it becomes even more furious and ferocious. A new US president may be inclined to give vent to this frustration through an arrogant display of military power.
How can we check such wanton arrogance? There will be elements in the elite stratum of US society itself who would be opposed to the US going to war.
We saw a bit of this in 2013 when those who were itching to launch military strikes against Syria based upon dubious "evidence" of the government's use of chemical weapons were thwarted by others with a saner view of the consequences of war. It is also important to observe that none of the US's major allies in Europe wants a war.
Burdened by severe challenges related to the economy and migration, the governments know that their citizens will reject any move towards war either on the borders of Russia or in Syria and West Asia.
This also suggests that a self-absorbed European citizenry may not have the enthusiasm to mobilise against an imminent war. Let us not forget that it was in European cities from London to Berlin that the biggest demonstrations against the war in Iraq took place in 2003.
Anti-war protests will have to be initiated elsewhere this time.
Governments in Moscow and Beijing, in Teheran and Jakarta, in Pretoria and La Paz, should come out openly against war. They should encourage other governments in the Global South and the Global North to denounce any move towards a war that will engulf the whole of humanity.
Citizens all over the world should condemn war through a variety of strategies ranging from signature campaigns and letters to the media to public rallies and street demonstrations.
In this campaign against an imminent war, the media, both conventional and alternative, will have a huge role to play.
It is unfortunate that well-known media outlets in the West have supported war in the past. It is time that they atone for their sins!
By Chandra Muzaffar
Dr Chandra Muzaffar is the president of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST). Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
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World doubts the leadership of Uncle Sam: expert
IS A WAR in the making – a third world war? If there is much talk about such a possibility, it is mainly because of the tensions between the United States and Russia.
Tensions between the two most powerful nuclear states in the world have never been this high since the end of the Cold War in 1989 and the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991.
There are at least two flash points, one more dangerous than the other. In Eastern Ukraine, Russian backed rebels will not surrender to the US supported regime in Kiev because they see US control over Ukraine as part of a much larger agenda to expand Nato power to the very borders of Russia. This has been happening for some years now.
But it is the Washington-Moscow confrontation in Allepo, Syria which portends to a huge conflagration. The US is protective of major militant groups such as Al-Nusra which has besieged Eastern Allepo and is seeking to overthrow the Bashar al-Assad government.
Washington has also set its sight on "regime change" in Damascus ever since the latter's determined resistance to Israeli occupation of the strategic Golan Heights in Syria from 1967.
The drive for regime change intensified with the US-Israeli quest for a "new Middle East" following the Anglo-American invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003. It became more pronounced in 2009 when Bashar al-Assad rejected a proposal to allow a gas pipe-line from Qatar to Europe to pass through his country, a pipe-line which would have reduced Europe's dependence upon Russia for gas.
Russia of course has been a long-standing ally of Syria. Together with Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah, it is helping the Syrian government to break the siege of Eastern Allepo and to defeat militants in other parts of Syria.
It is obvious that in both instances, in Ukraine and Syria, the US has not been able to achieve what it wants. The US has also been stymied in Southeast Asia where its attempt to re-assert its power through its 2010 Pivot to Asia policy has suffered a serious setback as a result of the decision of the new president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, to pursue an independent foreign policy that no longer adheres blindly to US interests.
At the same time, China continues to expand and enhance its economic strength in Asia and the world through its One Belt One Road projects and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and via its leadership of BRICS.
China's regional and global economic role is leading to its pronounced presence in security and military matters. As a result of all this, the US's imperial power has clearly diminished. It is a hegemon in decline.
It is because it is not prepared to accept its decline that some US generals are threatening to demonstrate US's military might. If a hegemon is a danger to humankind when it is at its pinnacle, it becomes an even greater threat to peace when its power is diminishing.
Like a wounded tiger, it becomes even more furious and ferocious. A new US president may be inclined to give vent to this frustration through an arrogant display of military power.
How can we check such wanton arrogance? There will be elements in the elite stratum of US society itself who would be opposed to the US going to war.
We saw a bit of this in 2013 when those who were itching to launch military strikes against Syria based upon dubious "evidence" of the government's use of chemical weapons were thwarted by others with a saner view of the consequences of war. It is also important to observe that none of the US's major allies in Europe wants a war.
Burdened by severe challenges related to the economy and migration, the governments know that their citizens will reject any move towards war either on the borders of Russia or in Syria and West Asia.
This also suggests that a self-absorbed European citizenry may not have the enthusiasm to mobilise against an imminent war. Let us not forget that it was in European cities from London to Berlin that the biggest demonstrations against the war in Iraq took place in 2003.
Anti-war protests will have to be initiated elsewhere this time.
Governments in Moscow and Beijing, in Teheran and Jakarta, in Pretoria and La Paz, should come out openly against war. They should encourage other governments in the Global South and the Global North to denounce any move towards a war that will engulf the whole of humanity.
Citizens all over the world should condemn war through a variety of strategies ranging from signature campaigns and letters to the media to public rallies and street demonstrations.
In this campaign against an imminent war, the media, both conventional and alternative, will have a huge role to play.
It is unfortunate that well-known media outlets in the West have supported war in the past. It is time that they atone for their sins!
By Chandra Muzaffar
Dr Chandra Muzaffar is the president of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST). Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
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Wednesday, November 2, 2016
J-20 stealth fighter, Y-20 transport plane show China's advances in technology
https://youtu.be/Tk73hQ51JBk
J-20 stealth fighter makes public debut
The latest J-20 stealth fighter jet
during a demonstration flight at Air Show China in Zhuhai city, South
China's Guangdong province, on Nov 1, 2016. The J-20 stealth fighter jet
is said to be the third stealth fighter jet in the world to be used
after the United States' F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. [Photo by
Feng Yongbin/China Daily]https://youtu.be/i-lv-mHR3v0
China's
new-generation military transport aircraft, the Y-20, sits on the
tarmac in preparation for the China International Aviation &
Aerospace Exhibition 2016, which opens Tuesday in Zhuhai, Guangdong
Province. Photo: Cui Meng/GT
A number of civilian aircraft and military jets, including the J-20 stealth fighter plane, will be showcased for the first time during the six-day China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition 2016, or Airshow China, in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province.
The exhibit's organizer, Zhuhai Airshow Co. Ltd, said this year's air show features over 700 domestic and foreign exhibitors from 42 countries and regions. Foreign exhibitors include those from Russia, Ukraine, France, Czech Republic and the US, and it's the first time an Austrian delegation will attend the show.
The air show has attracted eight out of 12 major Chinese national military companies (except those in the shipbuilding and nuclear industry), including the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
AVIC president Tan Ruisong told a press conference Monday that this year's exhibit marks Airshow China's 20th anniversary, so AVIC will unveil a series of "20s," including the heavy-load transport aircraft Y-20 and the J-20 stealth fighter. Probably the biggest draw at this year's air show, the J-20 will put on a flight exhibition.
Song Zongping, a Beijing-based military expert who served in the Second Artillery Corps of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) (now called the Rocket Force), told the Global Times on Monday, "Normally, a product series contains at least three to four products. We have seen the Y-20 and J-20, and in the future, we will also have the Z-20 utility helicopter and perhaps the H-20 strategic stealth bomber, although they are very unlikely to appear in this year's air show."
Previous reports said the J-20 is China's domestically built fifth-generation fighter jet, which represents the most advanced technology and combat capability of Chinese fighter jets. Currently, only the US (F-22 and F-35), China (J-20 and J-31) and Russia (T-50) have fifth generation stealth fighter jets.
The J-20's debut in Zhuhai will showcase Chinese Air Force technological strength, which has quickly been advancing, Song said.
"The J-20 will be handed to Chinese Air Force very soon," Zhang Xinguo, AVIC vice president, said at Monday's press conference..
Zhang stressed that "our research and development on the fifth generation fighter jet is based on China's strategic and defense needs," so the J-20 is very different from the US' F-22 and F-35. "Our country's strategic purpose is to defend our territory and maintain peace rather than a global strategy, and we don't require global deployment."
Zhang said "if other countries have similar strategic needs as we have, then I believe they will come to us [to purchase the J-20]."
Chinese drones
The CH-5, a China-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drone, which is a new CASC product, will also make its first public appearance. The past few years have seen the quick development of China's UAVs, Song said, "not only from State-run military companies but civilian ones as well, who also joined in the research and development."
In the past, only the US had the capability to use UAVs for targeted strikes on its enemies, but because Chinese UAVs have been exported, many countries also have this capability.
Shi Wen, the CH-5's chief engineer, told the Global Times that "the CH series UAVs are very popular in countries involved in the "One Belt and One Road" initiative. "Countries facing conflicts such as Syria and Iraq have already been using Chinese UAVs to strike terrorist strongholds," Song said.
Dozens of military and civilian UAVs will also be displayed at the air show.
Zhuhai Airshow Co. Ltd stressed that the fast developing UAV market is a result of "civilian-military integration and the peaceful use of military-industrial technology."
As the highlight of Airshow China, military aircraft from China and abroad will perform.
This year, five exhibition flight teams from China, Russia, Pakistan and the UK will perform. Russia sent two teams, and this will be the first time that the British Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team, dubbed the Red Arrows, will perform in Zhuhai.
Newspaper headline: Latest aircraft debut at air show
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