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Threat of War in Asia

Thread ID: 19704 | Posts: 7 | Started: 2005-08-17

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edward gibbon [OP]

2005-08-17 23:15 | User Profile

With American interest on the Middle East other areas are ignored. This British newspaper is tremendously well informed. Their report should not be forgotten.

[QUOTE][I][B][CENTER]FINANCIAL TIMES[/CENTER][/B][/I]

Shippers to query Straits [B]‘war risk’ [/B] classification

By Jake Lloyd-Smith in Singapore Published: August 15 2005 14:22 | Last updated: August 15 2005 14:22

Shipping industry representatives are expected to express deep concern at a meeting with Lloyd's Market Association (LMA) on Tuesday over the underwriting group's recent decision to classify the Malacca Straits as a “war-risk” area.

The new designation of Asia's most important waterway angered regional governments and industry players who believe the decision which could lead to higher insurance rates was made without adequate consultation.

Among those attending will be the Federation of Asean Shipowners' Associations, which is urging Lloyd's Joint War Committee (JWC) to review the assessment. The JWC advises underwriters, but cannot compel changes in premiums.

“For someone who is based in London, the threat assessment in the Asean area or the Malacca Strait from such a distance can be wrongly perceived,” the regional industry grouping said of the war-risk tag, which highlighted the risk of terrorism.

Tuesday's meeting will also focus on the role played by Aegis Defence Services, a UK consultancy that won the tender to advise the JWC. The Federation has said the JWC's reliance on “only one report” was wrong.

However, the underwriters' decision does come against a background of rising official and unofficial concern over piracy and terrorism threats in the Malacca Straits, which link the Indian and Pacific oceans and carry a third of the world's total trade.

Last year, the three countries bordering the Straits - Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia - started coordinated naval patrols to combat piracy amid mounting claims, including from the US, that shipping industry protection in the waterway was inadequate.

Although the frequency of pirate attacks in the Straits declined in the first half of this year, the three countries will also from next month add air patrols over the area.

In addition, they have appealed for countries whose trade routes run through the region to donate much-needed equipment. Japan, which relies on the Straits for energy shipments, said last month it would hand over patrol vessels to Indonesia.

There are also a growing number of private-sector companies offering maritime protection services, a business unheard of two years ago.

“The degree of impunity, the numbers of attackers involved and the level of violence they used have all got owners worried,” said Michael Haughey, head of Singapore and Indonesia for security consultants Control Risk Group.

“It's that combination which is turning the industry towards seeking private-sector security solutions.”

At the high end of the scale, shipowners can hire armed ex-soldiers to ride onboard vessels and deter potential aggressors, whether pirates or terrorists.

The proliferation of such private-sector services “does tend to support the suggestion that it is an area of enhanced risk,” said Neil Roberts, a technical specialist in the LMA's marine section.

Clients taking the new services have included cable-laying companies and energy groups, whose slow-moving vessels and cargoes can be worth more than US$500m. Prices range from basic security work at less than US$50,000 to six-figure sums.

Find this article at: [url]http://news.ft.com/cms/s/32bb38d6-0d8d-11da-aa67-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=,s01=1.html[/url] [/QUOTE]

Sertorius

2005-08-17 23:32 | User Profile

Edward,

I have read elsewhere that Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have been having talks lately about establishing an alliance. You're right, people are so focused on the Iraq mess that they ignore this, much to the glee of the power to the North. They are worried, needless to say, about Red China. Not to fear, the average "conservative" and "liberal" would be hard pressed to locate these nations on a map, much less the Straits of Malacca. If they don't hear about it on tv or the radio, then, it doesn't exist in their minds.

Angeleyes

2005-08-22 03:00 | User Profile

Have you guys seen the remarks of Chi Haotian of China?

[QUOTE]As everybody knows, according to the views propagated by the Western scholars, humanity as a whole originated from one single mother in Africa. Therefore, no race can claim racial superiority. However, according to the research conducted by most Chinese scholars, the Chinese are different from other races on earth. We did not originate in Africa. Instead, we originated independently in the land of China. The Peking Man at Zhoukoudian that we are all familiar with represents a phase of our ancestors’ evolution. “The Project of Searching for the Origins of the Chinese Civilization” currently undertaken in our country is aimed at a more comprehensive and systematic research on the origin, process and development of the ancient Chinese civilization. We used to say, “Chinese civilization has had a history of five thousand years.” But now, many experts engaged in research in varied fields including archeology, ethnic cultures, and regional cultures have reached consensus that the new discoveries such as the Hongshan Culture in the Northeast, the Liangzhu Culture in Zhejiang province, the Jinsha Ruins in Sichuan province, and the Yongzhou Shun Emperor Cultural Site in Human province are all compelling evidence of the existence of China’s early civilizations, and they prove that China’s rice-growing agricultural history alone can be traced back as far as 8,000 to 10,000 years. This refutes the concept of “five thousand years of Chinese civilization.” Therefore, we can assert that we are the product of cultural roots of more than a million years, civilization and progress of more than ten thousand years, an ancient nation of five thousand years, and a single Chinese entity of two thousand years. This is the Chinese nation that calls itself, “descendents of Yan and Huang,” the Chinese nation that we are so proud of. Hitler’s Germany had once bragged that the German race was the most superior race on Earth, but the fact is, our nation is far superior to the Germans. [/QUOTE] This fella makes Hitler look like a piker, and Tamberlane like a pacifist.

AE

[QUOTE=Sertorius]Edward,

I have read elsewhere that Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have been having talks lately about establishing an alliance. You're right, people are so focused on the Iraq mess that they ignore this, much to the glee of the power to the North. They are worried, needless to say, about Red China. Not to fear, the average "conservative" and "liberal" would be hard pressed to locate these nations on a map, much less the Straits of Malacca. If they don't hear about it on tv or the radio, then, it doesn't exist in their minds.[/QUOTE]

Ponce

2005-08-22 05:33 | User Profile

And how do you expect them to act? they see a crazy president declaring war on the whole world and you expect them to do nothing about it?

Rumfield was asking how come China is building up their armed forces, do you blame them?

What do you think that the US would do if China or Russia were to invade Australia or Argentina?.....if I see the guy living next to me shooting everyone on sight do you expect me to just sit back and wait for my turn? BULL.

edward gibbon

2005-08-22 16:14 | User Profile

[QUOTE=Angeleyes]Have you guys seen the remarks of Chi Haotian of China? [QUOTE]As everybody knows, according to the views propagated by the Western scholars, humanity as a whole originated from one single mother in Africa. Therefore, no race can claim racial superiority. [COLOR=Red][B][I]However, according to the research conducted by most Chinese scholars, the Chinese are different from other races on earth. We did not originate in Africa[/I].[/B] [/COLOR] Instead, we originated independently in the land of China. The Peking Man at Zhoukoudian that we are all familiar with represents a phase of our ancestors’ evolution. “The Project of Searching for the Origins of the Chinese Civilization” currently undertaken in our country is aimed at a more comprehensive and systematic research on the origin, process and development of the ancient Chinese civilization...[/QUOTE]This fella makes Hitler look like a piker, and Tamberlane like a pacifist.

AE[/QUOTE]The Chinese have never liked being denigrated and have never accepted American claims to the Mandate of Heaven. With no hesitation they will place their perceived interests first. I remind readers that China's rise was fostered by the United States from Carter through Reagan, Bush, Clinton and now the chimp. As Spengler noted, Americans lose all sight of political consequences when economic interests take precedence.[QUOTE][CENTER]Putin Meets Chi Haotian, Emphasizes Strategic Cooperation[/CENTER]

Russian acting President, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and vice-chairman of the Chinese Central Military Council, Defense Minister Chi Haotian held meeting in Putin's Kremlin office Tuesday, emphasizing further deepening and development of strategic partnership of cooperation between the two nations.

An admirable foundation has been laid for the broadening of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the 21st century, Putin said at the beginning of the meeting.

First Russian President Boris Yeltsin and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin accomplished a lot "for the revival and development" of bilateral ties, "an excellent" base was prepared said Putin.

This will enhance a resolution of border, economic, cultural and military-technical issues, he said.

Putin recalled his meetings with Chinese President Jiang Zemin last fall. He asked Chi Haotian to convey his best regards to President Jiang Zemin and thanked him for the invitation to visit China.

Chinese minister expressed support for Russia's current military operation in Chechnya and voiced a position against separatism and extremism that was identical with the Russian position.

Deputy chief of the Kremlin staff Sergei Prikhodko told reporters after the meeting that Putin said a trip to China will be one of his first foreign visits if he is elected president.

Putin and Chi Haotian also discussed joint international efforts, including work on building a multi-polar world.

Putin promised that Russia would follow decisions made at Russian-Chinese summits, stick to "One-China" policy and support China's efforts to achieve the country's reunification." Russian-Chinese strategic cooperation is deep, effective and is not prone to any fluctuations," Prikhodko said.

Putin and Chi Haotian not only discussed the Russian-Chinese weapons trade but also went through all areas of cooperation between the two states.

The Chinese ambassador in Russia Wu Tao, the political commissar of the strategic rocket force of the Chinese army Sui Mingtai, Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev, deputy head of Russian presidential staff Sergei Prikhodko, Security Council Secretary Sergei Ivanov and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin attended the meeting. (Xinhua)

Please visit People's Daily Online --- [url]http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/[/url] [/QUOTE]The American media preoccupied with Jews in Gaza will not discuss these events.

ewald steiner

2005-08-22 18:16 | User Profile

The real threat does not lie with the militarization of Asia, China, Japan, India, Pakistan. The mortal threat is unfolding itself by their stealthy immigration into what used to be hitherto white continents. If you don't stop this torrent of migrants and reverse the trend you are allowing a Trojan horse in our midst to be esconced. When you have colonies of Asians pullulating the white world, why do you need a military ? Who is going to fight them ? It is high time to wake up and smell the coffee and not waste time with military parity ,and other trivia. Asia's most lethal weapon is its demographic explosion, and they are using it and will continue to use it even more.

Angeleyes

2005-08-24 19:11 | User Profile

[QUOTE=edward gibbon]The Chinese have never liked being denigrated and have never accepted American claims to the Mandate of Heaven. With no hesitation they will place their perceived interests first. I remind readers that China's rise was fostered by the United States from Carter through Reagan, Bush, Clinton and now the chimp. As Spengler noted, Americans lose all sight of political consequences when economic interests take precedence.The American media preoccupied with Jews in Gaza will not discuss these events.[/QUOTE] Indeed, EG, they will put their own interests first, it is logical. They are also an 800 pound gorilla. (1.2 billion people?)

The restriction to critical technology being sold to China was lifted by the George H W Bush administration, and was expanded upon by the Clinton administration, while the Reagan administration, while warming where they could to China, were much better at keeping the tech transfer under far tighter control. American has been sold out for some time on that score, long before the general public started seeing the flood of job flight to China.

Put a different way, the book China, Inc, came out about 10-15 years too late.

The American media somehow presumes virtue in high cheekbones and black hair. Why, I don't know, other than a complete misunderstanding of the Chinese from being only familiar with China via restaurants. Or, maybe they all lusted after Connie Chung.

China, and the Chinese, have always believed themselves as the center or the universe, or "the middle kingdom" as some folks translate their own name for their country.

Why would they change their long term growth based on anything we want? I can't come up with a reason, they don't buy into our version of how the world is supposed to work.

Never have.

AE