The White Paper titled, “The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces” was released as US State Secretary John Kerry completes his Asia visit (South Korea and Japan) re-affirming the “rebalancing” policy initiated by the Obama administration in its first term.
Under the rebalancing or “pivot” policy, the US shifts its military power and presence from the Middle East war zone to the Asia Pacific region.
Apparently, the shift in the America’s focus to Asia is a matter of concern to Beijing. “The Asia-Pacific region has become an increasingly significant stage for world economic development and strategic interaction between major powers. The US is adjusting its Asia-Pacific security strategy, and the regional landscape is undergoing profound changes,”the White paper said.
The White Paper touched on territorial disputes but didn’t mention the Philippines or Huangyan island (Bajo de Masinloc to the Philippines. Also known as Scarborough Shoal). But it mentioned Japan, which shows the seriousness that China puts on the territorial dispute over Diayu or Senkaku islands.
The White Paper said, “Some country has strengthened its Asia-Pacific military alliances, expanded its military presence in the region, and frequently makes the situation there tenser. On the issues concerning China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, some neighboring countries are taking actions that complicate or exacerbate the situation, and Japan is making trouble over the issue of the Diaoyu Islands.”
The Defense paper reiterated China’s policy of “We will not attack unless we are attacked; but we will surely counterattack if attacked.”
“ China’s armed forces unswervingly implement the military strategy of active defense, guard against and resist aggression, contain separatist forces, safeguard border, coastal and territorial air security, and protect national maritime rights and interests and national security interests in outer space and cyber space. ‘We will not attack unless we are attacked; but we will surely counterattack if attacked.’ Following this principle, China will resolutely take all necessary measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the paper said.
And to impress everybody that they mean business, the White paper gave some information on the People’s Liberation Army and its capability.
What should interest the Philippines is the building up of the PLA Navy ,China’s mainstay for operations at sea.
The White Paper said, “PLAN is responsible for safeguarding its maritime security and maintaining its sovereignty over its territorial seas along with its maritime rights and interests. The PLAN is composed of the submarine, surface vessel, naval aviation, marine corps and coastal defense arms.
“In line with the requirements of its offshore defense strategy, the PLAN endeavors to accelerate the modernization of its forces for comprehensive offshore operations, develop advanced submarines, destroyers and frigates, and improve integrated electronic and information systems. Furthermore, it develops blue-water capabilities of conducting mobile operations, carrying out international cooperation, and countering non-traditional security threats, and enhances its capabilities of strategic deterrence and counterattack.
“Currently, the PLAN has a total strength of 235,000 officers and men, and commands three fleets, namely, the Beihai Fleet, the Donghai Fleet and the Nanhai Fleet. Each fleet has fleet aviation headquarters, support bases, flotillas and maritime garrison commands, as well as aviation divisions and marine brigades. In September 2012, China’s first aircraft carrier Liaoning was commissioned into the PLAN. China’s development of an aircraft carrier has a profound impact on building a strong PLAN and safeguarding maritime security.”
This is what the Philippines has to deal with in case what everybody prays won’t happen- an armed confrontation- would happen in Bajo de Masinloc and in the Spratlys.
In my opinion, I think for the Philippines this is just a simple matter of defending our territories close to our mainland and not an all-out war to defeat the Chinese Armed Forces. With our present military capability we cannot do much against China’s transgression on our shores aside from diplomatic protest and some token display of bravado with our existing rusty warships.
But it won’t take much for our government to modernize to an extent that we could be able to defend the territories we want to defend, for example Bajo de Masinloc and/or Pag-asa Island. If we can have a dozen modern war jets and about six modern warships of the destroyer types I think would be enough to deter China from intruding in our shores, that is if our government can show enough resolve engaging Chinese intruder into a firefight if they come too close to a given red line. No amount of fire power can be effective if the government does not want to fight to defend its territories. So I think we have to modernize our military, and be determined to defend our sovereignty at all costs.
The US-led provocation of N. Korea by the Southern neighbor proxy is playing right into US hands. We should understand Nokor has been subjected to a long drawn trade (and aid) embargo we are not surprised they are arming themselves to their teeth. If we believe all the negative props we have been fed for decades, Nokor would’ve died in hunger. But no, they are resilient and survived the worst isolationist tactics ever employed in history.
A new approach to diplomacy is in order. But Kim Jong-Un’s response though a bit scary, was none the less expected, maybe instigated even.
US’ shift of it’s naval focus to Asia, the ongoing drama with North Korea, and the exponential rise of China’s military threat vis-a-viz the finite fuel resources getting scarcer by the day considering the area is sitting on a huge reserve of oil, gas, and other fossil and non-fossil fuel – all these feed the American urge (and opportunity) to encircle China with its unequaled Naval power, present power, that is.
The Americans may be superior today but the Chinese with all their money and technology are catching up fast.
Where is the Philippines in all these? My personal view is that we should start weaning from Uncle Sam’s dry breasts and begin opening our doors to our chinky neighbors. We have always been short changed by our Allies in the West, we should start being more independent and form our own circle of friends.
China is the new America.
Tongue, that’s not the direction the Aquino government is going. We never learn our lesson. America will not risk their interests with China to defend the Philippines.
The U.S. is using the PH to pressure China for their own interest.
^ May bobong Pilipinas pa kasing nagpapakasangkapan sa palubog (pero naghahanap ng gulo) na US.
I mentioned in previous discussions that in June last year, the cabinet decided to send back the BFAR ship to Bajo de Masincloc/Scarborough shoal.
When the U.S. was informed about this, they advised military and defense officials against it.
Take note of China’s policy: “We will not attack unless we are attacked; but we will surely counterattack if attacked.
You will not last being anti kano. You will be demonized. Thats just they way our society is built. We cant defend ourselves even if we can afford it.
China’s display of military might, impressive! Pinas gov’t response is that it may allow installation of US bases in the country again, brilliant. 🙂 Play it again, Sam.
Wala tayong magawa, Amboy presidente natin e. Laking Boston.
Speaking of Boston, did you notice that the first bomb exploded right in front of the Phil. Flag?
Galing ng mata mo, tongue. Balikan ko ang photos.
Ang Sabah re-claim ayaw ni Noy dahil sa ayaw ng tatay at nanay nya.
Bakit ang re-installation ng US bases open sya samantalang nanay nya ang nagpa-alis claiming nationalism as reason?
^ Anong pasintabi yan, TonGuE? Hanapin natin ang yagbols ni AbNoy sa Boston blast site baka sakaling nasama dun? 😉
LCSiao, malaman hard-boiled eggs yun kasi nga pressure cooker ang ginamit.
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Ano chi, confirmed ba yung Phil. Flag?
Again, the conspiracy theorists are saying, the Tsarnaev brothers are fall guys. You know, like the 911 attacks, even the moon landings.
But this time, many people are already convinced the brothers were patsies. The evidence being uncovered and uploaded to the net by citizen media are stacked against the US government.
First, the Feds have conceded the Tsarnaevs were acting alone and no links whatsoever to any foreign terror group.
Second, the photos show Dzhokhar carrying a white backpack and Tamerlan’s backpack was gray. The backpack in which the bomb exploded was black.
Third, the video showing someone looking very much like Tamerlan completely naked without any wounds as he was arrested and walking into the police car. The police claim this man was the carjack victim supposedly Chinese. Later pictures show Tamerlan in the morgue with a huge gash in his side and reports were saying he has explosion wounds in his belly. Mainstream media also reported that police said that the younger brother even drove over Tamerlan’s body as he escaped in a stolen SUV, yet someone came out with that video of him very much alive and looking unharmed, butt naked, in handcuffs, and surrounded by many police cars. Why would the police ask a carjack victim to undress and handcuff him?
Fourth, a photo of Dzokhar sitting on top of the boat without the throat wound. As he was arrested, police reported that he was shot in the throat and that medics had to insert a tube in his throat. Hmm. To prevent him from talking?
Fifth, several photos of CIA operatives and war contractors Craft International carrying black bags similar to the explosive backpack and another guy holding what appears to be a detonating device while another spotted with a listening device.
Sixth, the FBI denied having interrogated Tamerlan but Russia Today interviewed the Tsarnaevs’ mother in Dagestan confirmed that he was interrogated by FBI upon request of Russia. That day, FBI admitted they did contact him in 2011. The mother claims they have been tailed by FBI for 3 to 5 years.
Seventh, there was a supposed bomb drill in Boston that day. Witnesses claim it was announced over the PA system that people were told to keep calm and not be alarmed with the number of policemen roaming the marathon site. If the feds knew a bomb attack was bound to happen, why didn’t they evacuate those people at once?
Summing all of these together, the amount of skeptics’ distrust in their gov’t shows how imaginations can run wild and feed the people’s impatience for immediate info while main stream media does its own explanation of events not necessarily true. The alternative media is fast getting more credible because they are not motivated by income, making it more difficult for gov’t to wiggle out of sticky situations. False flags, the critics are saying.
I will keep monitoring to see how this develops.
(I was waiting for this issue to be blogged here. Sorry if it’s OT.)
^ Bravo, TonGuE! Yun din ang mga duda ko. So many loose ends; yet most people are allowing themselves to be herded like sheep in blindly following the official narrative. Ganyan din ang tingin ko sa 9/11. Have you seen ‘Loose Change 9/11’?
Btw, what alternative media do you follow (besides, I’m guessing, globalresearch.ca)?
Chi, tungkol sa US bases, di ba’t nag-martsa pa si Santa Corazon para panatiliin ang mga base militar ng Kano? Paano masasabing pinaalis niya ang mga ito?
Tanong ko lang: Si Macoy ba ang dahilan kung ba’t napaaga ang ‘expiration’ ng bases treaty? Pinalitan ba niya ito sa isang ‘lease agreement’ na may tinakdang katapusan sa 1991?
LCSiao, I actually found out first about these the day after the bombing, in infowars.com but all political fora were active, overactive in fact, like Reddit which was influencing the investigation towards the wrong suspect. As infowars analysts were starting to point at inconsistencies in mainstream media reports and building up evidence on certain persons in the scene, the FBI suddenly came out with the brothers as the suspects without even considering those clear suspects coming out of the vids and photos.
That made the followers of independent media suspicious of the FBI pronouncements. What followed afterwards is the real infowar between MSM and citizen media. The interest however was doused with cold water as soon as the captured suspect reportedly “admitted” that his brother was a terrorist. Yet that can’t be confirmed as Dzokhar was till in the hospital and cannot possibly issue an oral statement. Wow.
globalresearch.ca was also into it because Canadian police claims it has “foiled” a terrorist attack. I don’t know if Canadians believe the crap they’re spewing because as they refuse to divulge details, they are quick to name Iran-based Al-Qaeda as the source.
Civil rights defenders as well as conspiracy theorists now say the cooled-down war on terror was invigorated by the events and given new life and yes, fresh funds. That explains the presence of Craft International in the marathon. Infowars considers them as the real Boston bombing suspects.
This is fresh. And it’s getting warmer and warmer.
Intriguing, Tongue.
What is more intriguing is that Misha, the person government is claiming to be responsible for radicalizing the brothers, as expressed by Uncle Ruslan, has been found in Rhode Island and the whole claim is a dud. What indy media is saying is that Tamerlan had just attended a conference somewhere near Russia and guess who sponsored the conference? US. These reports are ignored by officials, like most other intriguing questions.
Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wpu6_kArb9U
Hay, naku. Sa susunod, al-Qaeda in Xinjiang, China na ang ipalalabas nilang bagong bogey.
The brothers or at least the older one was manipulated by FBi or CIA. Its funny that someone who is supposedly in their watch list is free to attend a conference in Caucasus of radical Muslims apparently with the guidance of Capitol Hill. And the ever efficient Russian secret service lets him do as he pleases?
Meanwhile, Misha, the supposed handler is suspected by Infowars as a gov’t agent who makes sure they have enough fall guys on inventory should the need for patsies arises.