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| Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://politiktoons.blogspot.com and also at http://sacrava.blogspot.com) |
Showing posts with label Chinese interest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese interest. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Politiktoons No. 209: Bo Xilai
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Asia wary as China asserts territorial ambitions
9/23/2010
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse
As a newly assertive China confronts Japan and the United States over its territorial ambitions, other Asian nations are growing wary of being crushed between brawling powers.
China has a long list of disputes over land and sea, including swathes of the Himalayan plateau also claimed by India, and the islets and reefs of the Spratlys chain staked out by Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.
As Beijing's economic might grows, many of its neighbours now find themselves defending their own territorial ambitions against a giant they literally cannot afford to offend.
China's threats of unspecified "further action" against Japan, which has refused to release a trawler captain detained in an incident in disputed waters in the East China Sea two weeks ago, have rung out across the region.
And Beijing has warned the United States not to wade into one of its most complex disputes, the island chains of the South China Sea, during Friday's meeting in New York between President Barack Obama and Southeast Asian leaders.
As the old saying goes, smaller nations must ensure they do not become "the grass that is trampled when the buffalos fight," said Simon Tay from the Singapore Institute for International Affairs.
Tay said the new dynamic was potentially healthy, but if the competing powers "do start to push and pull", the 10-member Southeast Asian bloc must present a united front and not be split Cold War-style.
China vehemently opposes "internationalising" its territorial wrangles, preferring to deal quietly with each claimant country on a bilateral basis, a stance that gives it more clout.
So it was no surprise that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's proposal at July security talks in Hanoi for a multilateral approach on the South China Sea was met with a sharp rebuke.
"There was quite an interesting and sharp exchange between the Americans and the Chinese," said Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, recounting the discussion that followed with Clinton's Chinese counterpart.
"At some points, the atmosphere was just a little tense," he said with diplomatic understatement.
China insists it has complete sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea, a region rich in oil, gas and fisheries, as well as a strategic waterway linking East Asia with Europe and the Middle East.
But Clinton said that resolving competing claims there was "pivotal" to regional stability and the national interests of the US, which has flagged its concern over a looming threat to free navigation.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates in June called for free access to the South China Sea, and alluded to alleged threats against US oil and gas firms interested in offshore exploration in waters claimed by Vietnam.
Chinese vessels last year confronted US naval surveillance ships in stand-offs in the disputed region, which Beijing's critics say it views as a "Chinese lake".
India is also watchful over China's growing presence, particularly its heavy investment in ports being built in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, seen as part of its ambitions for a bluewater naval fleet.
Some regional nations, particularly Vietnam which fought a brief but deadly 1998 naval battle with China in the South China Sea, have welcomed the new US willingness to act as a counterweight to Beijing.
China has assured the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations it has no hegemonic ambitions, and so far shown no sign of military aggression, but fears remain that if left unchecked it will become a regional bully.
However, Li Mingjiang from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said non-claimant states were not as enthusiastic about Washington's attempts to reclaim its old clout in Asia.
Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore "really don't want to see any confrontation between China and the US because when you have that kind of situation, they may have to take sides and that is something they are very reluctant to do."
Some observers say China has been provoked to some extent, by the US and by Japan which itself is taking a more muscular approach by refusing to release the Chinese captain whose trawler collided with Japanese coastguard vessels.
Rodolfo Severino, a former ASEAN secretary-general, said regional nations would continue to firmly pursue their long-standing territorial claims despite the growing might of China.
"The interest of Southeast Asia in this is that there should be no disruption of peace and stability and freedom of navigation," he said.
"But at the same time, Southeast Asians don't want China and Japan to come to blows, or China and the US. China should not be provoked into taking violent measures."
With the new dynamic, "a great opportunity lies on the table, as does great risk," said Ernest Bower from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
"The question is whether diplomacy and Asian regionalism can succeed," he said... failure in this effort would represent unacceptable risk to Asia's continued economic growth, relative peace, and future prosperity."
China has a long list of disputes over land and sea, including swathes of the Himalayan plateau also claimed by India, and the islets and reefs of the Spratlys chain staked out by Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.
As Beijing's economic might grows, many of its neighbours now find themselves defending their own territorial ambitions against a giant they literally cannot afford to offend.
China's threats of unspecified "further action" against Japan, which has refused to release a trawler captain detained in an incident in disputed waters in the East China Sea two weeks ago, have rung out across the region.
And Beijing has warned the United States not to wade into one of its most complex disputes, the island chains of the South China Sea, during Friday's meeting in New York between President Barack Obama and Southeast Asian leaders.
As the old saying goes, smaller nations must ensure they do not become "the grass that is trampled when the buffalos fight," said Simon Tay from the Singapore Institute for International Affairs.
Tay said the new dynamic was potentially healthy, but if the competing powers "do start to push and pull", the 10-member Southeast Asian bloc must present a united front and not be split Cold War-style.
China vehemently opposes "internationalising" its territorial wrangles, preferring to deal quietly with each claimant country on a bilateral basis, a stance that gives it more clout.
So it was no surprise that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's proposal at July security talks in Hanoi for a multilateral approach on the South China Sea was met with a sharp rebuke.
"There was quite an interesting and sharp exchange between the Americans and the Chinese," said Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, recounting the discussion that followed with Clinton's Chinese counterpart.
"At some points, the atmosphere was just a little tense," he said with diplomatic understatement.
China insists it has complete sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea, a region rich in oil, gas and fisheries, as well as a strategic waterway linking East Asia with Europe and the Middle East.
But Clinton said that resolving competing claims there was "pivotal" to regional stability and the national interests of the US, which has flagged its concern over a looming threat to free navigation.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates in June called for free access to the South China Sea, and alluded to alleged threats against US oil and gas firms interested in offshore exploration in waters claimed by Vietnam.
Chinese vessels last year confronted US naval surveillance ships in stand-offs in the disputed region, which Beijing's critics say it views as a "Chinese lake".
India is also watchful over China's growing presence, particularly its heavy investment in ports being built in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, seen as part of its ambitions for a bluewater naval fleet.
Some regional nations, particularly Vietnam which fought a brief but deadly 1998 naval battle with China in the South China Sea, have welcomed the new US willingness to act as a counterweight to Beijing.
China has assured the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations it has no hegemonic ambitions, and so far shown no sign of military aggression, but fears remain that if left unchecked it will become a regional bully.
However, Li Mingjiang from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said non-claimant states were not as enthusiastic about Washington's attempts to reclaim its old clout in Asia.
Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore "really don't want to see any confrontation between China and the US because when you have that kind of situation, they may have to take sides and that is something they are very reluctant to do."
Some observers say China has been provoked to some extent, by the US and by Japan which itself is taking a more muscular approach by refusing to release the Chinese captain whose trawler collided with Japanese coastguard vessels.
Rodolfo Severino, a former ASEAN secretary-general, said regional nations would continue to firmly pursue their long-standing territorial claims despite the growing might of China.
"The interest of Southeast Asia in this is that there should be no disruption of peace and stability and freedom of navigation," he said.
"But at the same time, Southeast Asians don't want China and Japan to come to blows, or China and the US. China should not be provoked into taking violent measures."
With the new dynamic, "a great opportunity lies on the table, as does great risk," said Ernest Bower from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
"The question is whether diplomacy and Asian regionalism can succeed," he said... failure in this effort would represent unacceptable risk to Asia's continued economic growth, relative peace, and future prosperity."
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Cambodian police block Mia Farrow's Darfur rally
Sun Jan 20, 2008
By Ek Madra
Some 100 baton-wielding police blocked Farrow, who fronts the Dream for Darfur pressure group, and her fellow activists from entering the compound at Tuol Sleng, the Phnom Penh high school that became Pol Pot's main torture centre.
"Darfur has nothing to do with Cambodia. Go protest in Darfur," Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth told reporters after the brief stand-off ended without incident.
The group, which had planned to light a symbolic Olympic torch in the compound, has held similar events in Chad, Rwanda, Armenia, Germany and Bosnia as part of a campaign to persuade China to push Khartoum into ending the violence in Darfur.
The group, which included a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, were due to hold a press conference later in the day.
Beijing is hosting the 2008 Olympic Games and human rights groups have targeted China in the hope of using the spotlight thrown on the country to influence Chinese foreign policy.
China, a major investor in Sudan's oil industry, has been accused of breaching international rules and fanning bloodshed by selling Sudan weapons that have been diverted to Darfur.
International experts estimate 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million others have been driven from their homes in years of fighting. The Sudanese authorities put the death toll at 9,000 and say the West has exaggerated the conflict.
Farrow said in an earlier interview that Phnom Penh was putting the interests of Beijing, one of its biggest donors, above the memories of the estimated 1.7 million victims of Pol Pot's 1975-79 reign of terror.
"We came here with the deepest respect," Farrow told Reuters, tears welling up in her eyes. "I am sad because I think it's a good thing to do."
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Khanarith had said Farrow's group would face "consequences", including possible deportation, if it pushed ahead with its plans.
"What they will be doing at Tuol Sleng is not to commemorate the victims of the Khmer Rouge, but to use Khmer skulls to pressure China. This is an insult to the Cambodian people," he told Reuters.
The U.S. actress called on China to use its influence to push Khartoum to halt the violence in its western Darfur region and admit international peace-keepers.
"Please, China, do everything in your considerable power to persuade Khartoum to admit the peacekeeping force," she said.
"They can effectively provide security for the people of Darfur and the innocent civilian population that is being ripped apart."
By Ek Madra
"Phnom Penh was putting the interests of Beijing, one of its biggest donors, above the memories of the estimated 1.7 million victims of Pol Pot's 1975-79 reign of terror" - Actress Mia FarrowPHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodian police barred Hollywood actress Mia Farrow and other activists from laying flowers at a "Killing Fields" museum on Sunday, as part of a campaign to end atrocities in Sudan's Darfur.
Some 100 baton-wielding police blocked Farrow, who fronts the Dream for Darfur pressure group, and her fellow activists from entering the compound at Tuol Sleng, the Phnom Penh high school that became Pol Pot's main torture centre.
"Darfur has nothing to do with Cambodia. Go protest in Darfur," Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth told reporters after the brief stand-off ended without incident.
The group, which had planned to light a symbolic Olympic torch in the compound, has held similar events in Chad, Rwanda, Armenia, Germany and Bosnia as part of a campaign to persuade China to push Khartoum into ending the violence in Darfur.
The group, which included a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, were due to hold a press conference later in the day.
Beijing is hosting the 2008 Olympic Games and human rights groups have targeted China in the hope of using the spotlight thrown on the country to influence Chinese foreign policy.
China, a major investor in Sudan's oil industry, has been accused of breaching international rules and fanning bloodshed by selling Sudan weapons that have been diverted to Darfur.
International experts estimate 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million others have been driven from their homes in years of fighting. The Sudanese authorities put the death toll at 9,000 and say the West has exaggerated the conflict.
Farrow said in an earlier interview that Phnom Penh was putting the interests of Beijing, one of its biggest donors, above the memories of the estimated 1.7 million victims of Pol Pot's 1975-79 reign of terror.
"We came here with the deepest respect," Farrow told Reuters, tears welling up in her eyes. "I am sad because I think it's a good thing to do."
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Khanarith had said Farrow's group would face "consequences", including possible deportation, if it pushed ahead with its plans.
"What they will be doing at Tuol Sleng is not to commemorate the victims of the Khmer Rouge, but to use Khmer skulls to pressure China. This is an insult to the Cambodian people," he told Reuters.
The U.S. actress called on China to use its influence to push Khartoum to halt the violence in its western Darfur region and admit international peace-keepers.
"Please, China, do everything in your considerable power to persuade Khartoum to admit the peacekeeping force," she said.
"They can effectively provide security for the people of Darfur and the innocent civilian population that is being ripped apart."
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Senior UN official: China can play leading role in Asia-Pacific region's development
By Shen Min
BANGKOK, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- As an emerging economic powerhouseand a growing player on regional and global issues, China is able to play a leadership role in the common development of prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, a high-ranking UN official said on Saturday.
In an interview with Xinhua before her scheduled visit to Chinaon Jan. 17-23, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, executive secretary of ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), said themajor challenges now facing the region are different kinds of "imbalances", such as the issues of economic imbalance, social imbalance and ecological imbalance.
Heyzer, who is also under-secretary-general of the United Nations, said the region not only enjoy fast economy growth, but also has half of the world's population in poverty. "Uneven economic development in different parts of countries and between countries, growing inequality in income, the existence of poverty and social exclusion, the sustainability and pollution issue -- all need to be seriously addressed by the ESCAP and its members," she said.
The UN official said one of the areas ESCAP is known for is the area of "Green Growth", to which China has shown its appreciation, by integrating the approach in its 11th strategic plan for national social and economic development, and in fact setting a target of reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP by20 percent by the year 2010.
"It is one of the examples that China can play a leading role through cooperation with the ESCAP, in helping the ESCAP addressing these challenges in the region," she said.
Heyzer said the ESCAP would like to see the partnership betweenthe ESCAP and China be further broadened in the future, especiallyin the follow-up of the Bali conference last December on the global issue of climate change.
Commenting on China's progress in the past three decades, she said, "China is a big economic powerhouse. The target of 'halving the population in poverty', one of the 'Millennium Development Goals' that the UN has drafted for the common development of the world, is met mainly thanks to China."
She also noted China's achievement on South-South cooperation, that China has lent huge support to East Timor, Cambodia and Laos,and outside Asia, China has played a big role in development of Africa.
"I would encourage China to continue its contribution and to beactually a major donor to the South-South cooperation, and to not just focus on bilateral level, but to use multilateral system to enable more countries to share the experience of China in this area."
Citing as an example of the impact of China's development in the region, she referred to an article she recently read which depicts how the cheap motorbikes produced by China in Laos have increased the assets of poor households, as well as allowing market access by improving connectivity to other parts of the country.
"My role as head of ESCAP is to identify different strengths ofour member countries in order to move towards common sustainable development. I would like to stress that I really look forward to China's leadership role for the region to continue on the path to common prosperity." the ESCAP chief said.
China is a member of ESCAP, the regional arm of UN in Asia and the Pacific.
In an interview with Xinhua before her scheduled visit to Chinaon Jan. 17-23, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, executive secretary of ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), said themajor challenges now facing the region are different kinds of "imbalances", such as the issues of economic imbalance, social imbalance and ecological imbalance.
Heyzer, who is also under-secretary-general of the United Nations, said the region not only enjoy fast economy growth, but also has half of the world's population in poverty. "Uneven economic development in different parts of countries and between countries, growing inequality in income, the existence of poverty and social exclusion, the sustainability and pollution issue -- all need to be seriously addressed by the ESCAP and its members," she said.
The UN official said one of the areas ESCAP is known for is the area of "Green Growth", to which China has shown its appreciation, by integrating the approach in its 11th strategic plan for national social and economic development, and in fact setting a target of reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP by20 percent by the year 2010.
"It is one of the examples that China can play a leading role through cooperation with the ESCAP, in helping the ESCAP addressing these challenges in the region," she said.
Heyzer said the ESCAP would like to see the partnership betweenthe ESCAP and China be further broadened in the future, especiallyin the follow-up of the Bali conference last December on the global issue of climate change.
Commenting on China's progress in the past three decades, she said, "China is a big economic powerhouse. The target of 'halving the population in poverty', one of the 'Millennium Development Goals' that the UN has drafted for the common development of the world, is met mainly thanks to China."
She also noted China's achievement on South-South cooperation, that China has lent huge support to East Timor, Cambodia and Laos,and outside Asia, China has played a big role in development of Africa.
"I would encourage China to continue its contribution and to beactually a major donor to the South-South cooperation, and to not just focus on bilateral level, but to use multilateral system to enable more countries to share the experience of China in this area."
Citing as an example of the impact of China's development in the region, she referred to an article she recently read which depicts how the cheap motorbikes produced by China in Laos have increased the assets of poor households, as well as allowing market access by improving connectivity to other parts of the country.
"My role as head of ESCAP is to identify different strengths ofour member countries in order to move towards common sustainable development. I would like to stress that I really look forward to China's leadership role for the region to continue on the path to common prosperity." the ESCAP chief said.
China is a member of ESCAP, the regional arm of UN in Asia and the Pacific.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Chinese oil exploration ship arrives in Cambodia
Chinese oild exploration ship, the BINHAI 517, is seen docking in the Sihanoukville seaport (Photo: Ta Som, Koh Santepheap)Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
An oil exploration ship belonging to the People’s Republic of China has arrived in the port of Sihanoukville, in the afternoon of 07 January 2008 to conduct an oil exploration in the Cambodian seas. The ship will perform its exploration, based on an agreement with the Royal Government of Cambodia, in Cambodia Bloc F, extending from in front of the seaport built by Oknha Mong Riththy to Koh Rong Islands. The ship will conduct its exploration for a 20-day period, starting from 08 January. Exploration in Cambodia Bloc F revealed that natural gas was found and can be exploited, this is the reason of the Chinese ship visit. The Chinese ship will also provide a more accurate account of oil estimate prior to official oil extraction. The ship is manned by 37 Chinese experts who will be participating in the exploration.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Malaysia Bidding For Oil And Gas In Cambodia [-Hun Sen's regime likely to give away 50% of Cambodian oil and gas in overlap area to Thailand]
From D.Arul Rajoo
The Indo-Chinese nation is expected to begin oil production in 2011, with an initial estimate of 700 million barrels in Block A.
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said other bidders include China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
They have shown interest to drill oil and gas at Block A located 200km southwest of Sihanoukville, encompassing 6,278 sq km in total size area.
Currently, the US' Chevron is assessing the amount of commercial reserves, while there are also 27 more potential wells, he said.
Chevron discovered oil in 2005 off the Cambodian coast, southwest of Sihanoukville.
"We can only start production in the next decade as the processes from exploration to production take time.
"We need more studies to determine how to come out with the best formula between the companies and the government," he told the Cambodia Investment, Trade and Infrastructure conference here today.
Sok An also said there are several other potential areas, including an area of 27,000 sq km in the Gulf of Thailand, where Cambodia was involved in an overlapping claim with Thailand, as well as in Ton Sap Lake.
He said Cambodia is likely to opt for a 50-50 sharing agreement with Thailand to resolve the overlapping claim.
According to energy industry officials, the Cambodian Government is highly expected to back Chinese and American companies to undertake oil and gas productions, than regional players like Petronas and Thailand's PTT.
Petronas is currently operating two petrol stations in Cambodia.
Sok An said Cambodia was excited over the oil discovery as the country was now a net importer and was feeling the pinch of the high oil price, which was close to US$100 per barrel, with retail price above US$1 a litre here.
Besides oil and gas, Cambodia is also rich in minerals, among them are bauxite, gemstones, coal, gold and limestone.
Among companies engaged in the mining sector are world-class players like BHP Billiton and Oxiana.
"Cambodia is likely to opt for a 50-50 sharing agreement with Thailand to resolve the overlapping claim" - Sok AnPHNOM PENH, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is among dozens of countries vying for a share of oil and gas reserves in Cambodia.
The Indo-Chinese nation is expected to begin oil production in 2011, with an initial estimate of 700 million barrels in Block A.
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said other bidders include China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
They have shown interest to drill oil and gas at Block A located 200km southwest of Sihanoukville, encompassing 6,278 sq km in total size area.
Currently, the US' Chevron is assessing the amount of commercial reserves, while there are also 27 more potential wells, he said.
Chevron discovered oil in 2005 off the Cambodian coast, southwest of Sihanoukville.
"We can only start production in the next decade as the processes from exploration to production take time.
"We need more studies to determine how to come out with the best formula between the companies and the government," he told the Cambodia Investment, Trade and Infrastructure conference here today.
Sok An also said there are several other potential areas, including an area of 27,000 sq km in the Gulf of Thailand, where Cambodia was involved in an overlapping claim with Thailand, as well as in Ton Sap Lake.
He said Cambodia is likely to opt for a 50-50 sharing agreement with Thailand to resolve the overlapping claim.
According to energy industry officials, the Cambodian Government is highly expected to back Chinese and American companies to undertake oil and gas productions, than regional players like Petronas and Thailand's PTT.
Petronas is currently operating two petrol stations in Cambodia.
Sok An said Cambodia was excited over the oil discovery as the country was now a net importer and was feeling the pinch of the high oil price, which was close to US$100 per barrel, with retail price above US$1 a litre here.
Besides oil and gas, Cambodia is also rich in minerals, among them are bauxite, gemstones, coal, gold and limestone.
Among companies engaged in the mining sector are world-class players like BHP Billiton and Oxiana.
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