The Triumvirate Against China? By Erick San Juan
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> The return to Asia-Pacific by the world’s superpower can already be considered as a pretext to a possible regional conflict using proxy wars in the process. The next (not so) farfetched scenario is the possibility of a world war.
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> In the middle of 2009, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced to the world through the ASEAN Summit that the United States is back and will stay in the Asia-Pacific region. A region that was somewhat overlooked during the time of former President George Dubya Bush Jr.
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> And coincidentally, that same year, Australian government’s 2009 Defense White Paper contained a “secret chapter” that assessed “Australia’s ability to fight an air-sea battle alongside the United States against China” came out and was revealed recently in the newly published book by journalist, David Uren titled ‘The Kingdom and the Quarry: China, Australia, Fear and Greed’. (Source: James Cogan/4thmedia.org 6/4/2012)
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> Actually the controversial secret chapter (white paper) was omitted from the public version as it contained references to Australian forces assisting the US military to impose a naval blockade of China’s trade routes, and likely Chinese retaliation against targets on Australian soil. (Ibid) Translation – a good copy for a scenario that will lead to regional conflict.
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> Although this revelation was published on the front page of an Australian newspaper last June 2, 2012 (on the eve of Australia’s Defense Minister Stephen Smith’s visit to Beijing), the Defense Minister has denied the report.
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> As the saying goes, if there is smoke, there is fire. No matter how they deny such report, it is very clear that the confluence of events since the announcement of Secretary Clinton, many believed that Uncle Sam is into something.
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> Triumvirate against China?
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> As an observer of events, I have written the development of some important occasions wherein Uncle Sam (true to his words) inch his way in the region through his so-called economic partnership with several allies. The biggest recipient is Australia, and right there and then, Obama’s administration established its military base with hundreds of US troops in the said country. The transfer of US marines from Japan to other countries is in tune with Uncle Sam’s return to Asia-Pacific region and its renewal of “commitment to help” its allies in this part of the world.
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> Another beneficiary of Uncle Sam’s ‘goodwill’ is the Philippines through its efforts in helping the country with its military modernization program. The truth of the matter is – we did not get the war materiel for free. We bought it with the Malampaya revenues (which is quite small because we only own not more than ten percent) and what's worst, we were given some museum grade military hardware. What a way to treat a long time ally! But because the PNoy administration is a beneficiary of Uncle Sam’s blessings to whatever his undertakings here, the government is blind to such one sided deal. Again, people repeating history – we were shortchanged and the media hype was Uncle Sam is so kind to help us modernize our AFP and the whole country was taken for a ride here again…. and again. And again, we never learned our lesson from the mistakes of our past leaders and dealers!
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> Now that the predicate has been laid, our country wittingly according to pundits (through the present leadership) joined the triumvirate to undertake a pretext that will justify a conflict with China. The 2009 Defense White Paper in Australia contains the plan that was clearly being undertaken gradually with the help of Washington’s allies and China has every reason to be wary.
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> The continuing saber rattling in the region is making the whole world nervous and cautious that any moment from now until before the end of the year, the possibility of a real conflict may erupt and (again) we will be dragged to a war not of our liking. As long as we keep on kowtowing to a perceived master (through a perceived weak leadership), we will always be beholden and like a herd of cattle being drawn (willingly) to the slaughterhouse.
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> We have to be vigilant for the coming events will not be a walk in the park, the fuse has been lighted for a possible world war and I believe that more prayers can help us and the rest of the world to overcome this stupidity of some war hawks. God help us all.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Forever Beholden
Forever Beholden
By Erick San Juan
The incident that raised tensions at the Scarborough Shoal between China and the Philippines and how Uncle Sam took advantage of the event to pin us down even more under their whims, gave way to some nationalists and observers of events in revisiting the recent past. How on earth did we ever been so beholden to a perceived master despite the fact that our independence was rightfully granted to us? Did we really get what we deserve as a sovereign nation?
As what the late Renato Constantino (and other nationalists) has termed it, we are still a neocolony of the US because one of the conditions imposed by the US when it granted our independence was the approval of the Treaty of General Relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America signed on July 4, 1946. Basically, the treaty was to establish the legal basis for the continued existence of US bases in its neo-colony, and thereby the total nullification of Philippine independence. (Source: The Bases of Our Insecurity by Roland Simbulan)
According to the former RP ambassador to the US Salvador Lopez: “Our foreign policy was based on total alignment with the policies of the US on the simplistic assumption that our national security and welfare – the protection and advancement of our national interests – depended entirely on American goodwill and generosity.”
This is how it all started, after sixty-six years we are still beholden and obviously it shows why our past (and present) leaderships seems to be unaffected by how we were shortchanged and treated unequally in the process by a supposed friend and ally.
I am just citing here the contemporary history of how we were trapped and dumb down in this so-called mutual defense policy imposed on us by Uncle Sam. This is very important because we are living in crucial times where any moment now a pretext for a possible global war might erupt. I am not an alarmist, this is my humble but very significant reminder to PNoy administration and the whole Filipino race that we have to be extremely cautious of how we are being used as a pawn for a possible war.
For people repeating history, re-examine the past
The foundations laid by Uncle Sam were so deeply rooted in our history that even our nationalist solons had no choice but to preserve the status quo at that time. I am referring to the ratification of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) that was ratified in August 30, 1951 (the MDT was one of the offspring of that mother treaty I cited earlier). Despite the oppositions to this treaty, it was ratified anyway for lack of something better according to Senator Claro M. Recto who voted for its ratification with his ‘eyes open’.
Look at how we have been ratifying laws and treaty that are not ratified by our counterpart, the U.S. One example is the Law of the Sea Convention, in effect since 1994 and ratified by 160 countries to set an international freedom of navigation rules and guidelines for the use of deep-sea resources, including mining and fishing. The United States has NOT RATIFIED the treaty which was first completed in 1982. Without signing the agreement, then President Ronald Reagan announced in 1983 that the US would act "in accordance" with the convention's traditional uses of the oceans except for the deep-sea mining provisions.(Treaty on the seas is in Rough Senate Waters by Walter Pincus,5/28/12).
The treaty was amended in 1994 during the Clinton Administration. Both Clinton and George W. Bush administrations along with a bi-partisan group of senators supported the ratification but it failed to come to a vote.
But did we really had no better choice then? Was it really the lack of choices or the lack of stronger sense of patriotism and a true Filipino ideology that led our leaders in the past and more so of the present to enter into treaties that are so one-sided? Just asking.
As a sovereign nation, we have to learn from the past mistakes of our leaders so that we will not keep repeating history when we are treated as doormat and mere slaves in the process. Sadly, we cannot turn back the hands of time and undo the wrongdoings of the past administrations. We cannot ask them for accountability now but only history will always be the better judge of their mistakes. And as we learn from these, we can be wiser now and always be wary not to commit the same blunder.
We have to be kinder for the generations to come and give them the true meaning of the word sovereignty, this is the most essential legacy we can pass on to them.
By Erick San Juan
The incident that raised tensions at the Scarborough Shoal between China and the Philippines and how Uncle Sam took advantage of the event to pin us down even more under their whims, gave way to some nationalists and observers of events in revisiting the recent past. How on earth did we ever been so beholden to a perceived master despite the fact that our independence was rightfully granted to us? Did we really get what we deserve as a sovereign nation?
As what the late Renato Constantino (and other nationalists) has termed it, we are still a neocolony of the US because one of the conditions imposed by the US when it granted our independence was the approval of the Treaty of General Relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America signed on July 4, 1946. Basically, the treaty was to establish the legal basis for the continued existence of US bases in its neo-colony, and thereby the total nullification of Philippine independence. (Source: The Bases of Our Insecurity by Roland Simbulan)
According to the former RP ambassador to the US Salvador Lopez: “Our foreign policy was based on total alignment with the policies of the US on the simplistic assumption that our national security and welfare – the protection and advancement of our national interests – depended entirely on American goodwill and generosity.”
This is how it all started, after sixty-six years we are still beholden and obviously it shows why our past (and present) leaderships seems to be unaffected by how we were shortchanged and treated unequally in the process by a supposed friend and ally.
I am just citing here the contemporary history of how we were trapped and dumb down in this so-called mutual defense policy imposed on us by Uncle Sam. This is very important because we are living in crucial times where any moment now a pretext for a possible global war might erupt. I am not an alarmist, this is my humble but very significant reminder to PNoy administration and the whole Filipino race that we have to be extremely cautious of how we are being used as a pawn for a possible war.
For people repeating history, re-examine the past
The foundations laid by Uncle Sam were so deeply rooted in our history that even our nationalist solons had no choice but to preserve the status quo at that time. I am referring to the ratification of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) that was ratified in August 30, 1951 (the MDT was one of the offspring of that mother treaty I cited earlier). Despite the oppositions to this treaty, it was ratified anyway for lack of something better according to Senator Claro M. Recto who voted for its ratification with his ‘eyes open’.
Look at how we have been ratifying laws and treaty that are not ratified by our counterpart, the U.S. One example is the Law of the Sea Convention, in effect since 1994 and ratified by 160 countries to set an international freedom of navigation rules and guidelines for the use of deep-sea resources, including mining and fishing. The United States has NOT RATIFIED the treaty which was first completed in 1982. Without signing the agreement, then President Ronald Reagan announced in 1983 that the US would act "in accordance" with the convention's traditional uses of the oceans except for the deep-sea mining provisions.(Treaty on the seas is in Rough Senate Waters by Walter Pincus,5/28/12).
The treaty was amended in 1994 during the Clinton Administration. Both Clinton and George W. Bush administrations along with a bi-partisan group of senators supported the ratification but it failed to come to a vote.
But did we really had no better choice then? Was it really the lack of choices or the lack of stronger sense of patriotism and a true Filipino ideology that led our leaders in the past and more so of the present to enter into treaties that are so one-sided? Just asking.
As a sovereign nation, we have to learn from the past mistakes of our leaders so that we will not keep repeating history when we are treated as doormat and mere slaves in the process. Sadly, we cannot turn back the hands of time and undo the wrongdoings of the past administrations. We cannot ask them for accountability now but only history will always be the better judge of their mistakes. And as we learn from these, we can be wiser now and always be wary not to commit the same blunder.
We have to be kinder for the generations to come and give them the true meaning of the word sovereignty, this is the most essential legacy we can pass on to them.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
PNoy's Gain, Pinoy's Lost
PNoy's Gain, Pinoy's Lost
By Erick San Juan
The past events that we have been writing about which culminated in the US visit of PNoy only proved that there was already a plan and the perception that PNoy has fooled his 'boss'- the Filipino people.
Before the Fukushima incident, we wrote about the implementation of the 2006 agreement between the US and Japan. They have to relocate the US marine base from the crowded urban area of Futenma to Guam. The local politics of Japan has suffered much in the process from Uncle Sam’s pressure, and so was the pressure from the Japanese living in the area.
Obviously, aside from Guam, Uncle Sam has to look for other places for the said relocation and where else that he can find such location which is nearer and cost efficient than the Philippines.
Since then, solons from the US Congress had their turns in visiting the country for a possible revival of the Subic naval base in particular. When US Senators, Daniel Inouye and Thad Cochran paid a visit to the Subic Bay Freeport (that we wrote right after their visit), a lot of speculations came out that Uncle Sam is eyeing the former bases for the said relocation from Japan.
No new bases, expanded coast watch.
We have been hearing a lot of rhetorics from the PNoy administration that there will be no new bases or basing rights that Uncle Sam will employ in the process. But now that the cat is out of the bag, there could be no denying that the present administration has opened former Subic and Clark military bases for the US troops to use.
As what Travis J. Tritten wrote : “The announcement of an expanded military relationship this week comes after months of talks between Washington and Manila, and appears to be another step forward in the U.S. plan to bolster forces in the Asia-Pacific region.” (Published @Stars and Stripes, 6/7/2012)
It is quite obvious that this permission of using the former bases has already been planned for some months and culminated between PNoy and Obama in Washington just recently. Technically, there is no new bases for they will use the old bases. What a deception to the entire Filipino race!
Another “plan” that we are closely watching and wrote about in the recent past was the Coast Watch South (March 2011 @ericksanjuan.blogspot.com). To wit: Also (like the VFA) with the US Pacific Command, this US funded project plus the assistance from the Australian government, will guard the southern backdoor used by alleged international terrorist groups. Specifically, they are going to assist us in putting up radar stations in the Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi archipelago and the eastern part of Mindanao. (from my article Sans South, Sans Sovereignty)
Now, after PNoy’s “fruitful” US visit, Washington has pledged to support the National Coast Watch Center which was created in September 2011 under Executive Order 57 signed by the President , which calls for the establishment of a National Coast Watch Center headed by the Philippine Coast Guard to implement and coordinate maritime security operations in the country. Translation – expanded intel operations a.k.a. listening post.
It is truly an expanded military relationship that has made the whole country as Uncle Sam’s “outpost and doormat.” So, what else is new?
After our 114th commemoration of the country’s independence, this development from PNoy’s US visit is a slap on the face to every Filipino hero that has fought for Philippine Independence!
May PNoy have the conscience,wisdom and be transparent to avert a war that will assure the annihilation of the Filipino people. God bless us all...
By Erick San Juan
The past events that we have been writing about which culminated in the US visit of PNoy only proved that there was already a plan and the perception that PNoy has fooled his 'boss'- the Filipino people.
Before the Fukushima incident, we wrote about the implementation of the 2006 agreement between the US and Japan. They have to relocate the US marine base from the crowded urban area of Futenma to Guam. The local politics of Japan has suffered much in the process from Uncle Sam’s pressure, and so was the pressure from the Japanese living in the area.
Obviously, aside from Guam, Uncle Sam has to look for other places for the said relocation and where else that he can find such location which is nearer and cost efficient than the Philippines.
Since then, solons from the US Congress had their turns in visiting the country for a possible revival of the Subic naval base in particular. When US Senators, Daniel Inouye and Thad Cochran paid a visit to the Subic Bay Freeport (that we wrote right after their visit), a lot of speculations came out that Uncle Sam is eyeing the former bases for the said relocation from Japan.
No new bases, expanded coast watch.
We have been hearing a lot of rhetorics from the PNoy administration that there will be no new bases or basing rights that Uncle Sam will employ in the process. But now that the cat is out of the bag, there could be no denying that the present administration has opened former Subic and Clark military bases for the US troops to use.
As what Travis J. Tritten wrote : “The announcement of an expanded military relationship this week comes after months of talks between Washington and Manila, and appears to be another step forward in the U.S. plan to bolster forces in the Asia-Pacific region.” (Published @Stars and Stripes, 6/7/2012)
It is quite obvious that this permission of using the former bases has already been planned for some months and culminated between PNoy and Obama in Washington just recently. Technically, there is no new bases for they will use the old bases. What a deception to the entire Filipino race!
Another “plan” that we are closely watching and wrote about in the recent past was the Coast Watch South (March 2011 @ericksanjuan.blogspot.com). To wit: Also (like the VFA) with the US Pacific Command, this US funded project plus the assistance from the Australian government, will guard the southern backdoor used by alleged international terrorist groups. Specifically, they are going to assist us in putting up radar stations in the Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi archipelago and the eastern part of Mindanao. (from my article Sans South, Sans Sovereignty)
Now, after PNoy’s “fruitful” US visit, Washington has pledged to support the National Coast Watch Center which was created in September 2011 under Executive Order 57 signed by the President , which calls for the establishment of a National Coast Watch Center headed by the Philippine Coast Guard to implement and coordinate maritime security operations in the country. Translation – expanded intel operations a.k.a. listening post.
It is truly an expanded military relationship that has made the whole country as Uncle Sam’s “outpost and doormat.” So, what else is new?
After our 114th commemoration of the country’s independence, this development from PNoy’s US visit is a slap on the face to every Filipino hero that has fought for Philippine Independence!
May PNoy have the conscience,wisdom and be transparent to avert a war that will assure the annihilation of the Filipino people. God bless us all...
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
No Real Independence
No Real Independence
By Erick San Juan
The U.S. has eleven aircraft carriers with attached strike group. The world now has super aircraft carriers and all but one of its twelve nuclear-powered carriers. (France has the other.) The eleven American sophisticated supercarriers are the largest warships ever built.
It has 61 guided missile destroyers and 22 guided missile cruisers, all of which are part of or can be upgraded to join the Aegis Combat System, thereby being capable of participating in Washington's worldwide interceptor missile program.
The U.S. Navy also possesses 72 submarines, 18 ballistic and 53 attack models, and 24 frigates, nine amphibious assault ships, seven amphibious transport docks, 12 dock landing ships, four littoral combat ships and scores of other vessels.
Washington has pledged to deploy 60 percent of the above to the Asia-Pacific region in the imminent future. (from the article of Rick Rozoff posted @ Global Research, June 3, 2012)
With the abovementioned statistics, will Uncle Sam be threatened by any country perceived as its enemy? Or is it the other way around?
I have chosen this excerpt from Rick Rozoff’s piece to emphasize the rhetoric by no other than the US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta at the 11th annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore last week. The mere fact that the Pentagon stated that they want to establish a strategic trust between US and China, it should be reflected also in their action or plan of action.
The deployment of the 60 percent of Uncle Sam’s military might in this region is no joke and it is not only China that will be uncomfortable here but other countries that the US considers as threat to their homeland’s security.
Although, some pundits in the field of national defense and foreign policy found out that even China has its own military-industrial complex and actually selling some war materiel to other countries. Even if this is true, it is still no match to Uncle Sam’s hi-tech war machine.
As a writer and keen observer of events unfolding here and abroad, we are closely monitoring possible scenario that might lead to conflicts, may it be regional or global. That is why we will never get tired reminding the present administration to be very careful with its dealings with a perceived master and stop kowtowing to its every whim.
PNoy’s US visit should be an opportunity for clearing out things when it comes to our relationship with US and how our country should be treated as an ally in the region. Again and again, get what's due us. PNoy must not forget what happened in the recent past when our leaders betrayed our country and always think of ‘what’s in it for me’ instead of what our country’s benefits from such an alliance.
From the same article of Rozoff - AMERICA THREATENS CHINA: Pentagon Prepares for Confrontation in the Asia-Pacific, and he wrote : The Philippines is the third Asia-Pacific nation where the Pentagon is securing new bases to contain and ultimately confront China.
In April the U.S. and the Philippines conducted the latest Balikatan military maneuvers with 4,500 American Marines and 2,500 Philippine troops which included an amphibious assault at Ulugan Bay on Palawan Island to rehearse the "recapture" of an island near the Spratly Islands contested by the Philippines and China.
Out of the blue, while PNoy is in the US to meet with US president Barack Obama, the banner headline of the Philippine Star, a major daily said, that the US troops can use Clark air and Subic naval bases facilities. Defense undersecretary for defense affairs Honorio Azcueta told media after his meeting with Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff on Monday, June 4, 2012.
With the 13-year-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) still intact with the long overdue report by the VFA Commission regarding its so-called review still nowhere in sight, our country will remain as US colonial outpost and military doormat. The observation by Rozoff which I cited here may be the image we are actually projecting to the rest of the world because sad to say, the leadership of this country are perceived like puppets-on-a-string.
We must gather our act together and once and for all we have to show to the world that we are a truly independent nation. The task is not easy but if PNoy will practice transparency with all his dealings abroad, the whole nation will support him and we can free this country from the US doormat image.
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