IKONOKLAST

Wisdom/Spiritual Blogs:

BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com

Poetry & Art Blogs:

Mixed Blends Blogs:

Website:

PROF. ERLE FRAYNE ARGONZA: http://erleargonza.com

ASEAN-CHINA BILATERAL RELATIONS WARMING UP

ASEAN-CHINA BILATERAL RELATIONS WARMING UP

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

ASEAN-China relations has been warm all along, save for the nuisance obtaining from the disputed territories. China’s flexing of its muscles by releasing its first aircraft carrier—indicative of its naval evolution from ‘brown water’ to ‘blue water’ navy—worked to escalate the tensions and insecurities of China’s neighbors particularly ASEAN, Taipeh, and Japan, tensions that have undermined the cooperative ethos already building up among East Asian neighbors.

Incidentally, the effort towards creating greater connectivity and collaboration between ASEAN and China has been sustained across the years. Below is an update news from ASEAN about the sustained warming up with China.

[Philippines, 05 September 2011]

Source: http://www.asean.org/26470.htm

China Keen to Further Strengthen Bilateral Relations with ASEAN in the New Century

Bali, Indonesia, 22 July 2011

The agreement on the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea is a "momentous and historic" landmark, and a reflection that the ASEAN Regional Forum works, said the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan.

This sentiment was shared by Chinese Foreign Minister Mr Yang Jiechi, who described the agreement as a "very important" landmark.

The two leaders met at the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting in Bali, co-chaired by Viet Nam and China.

"China will actively cooperate with ASEAN in the drafting of the Code of Conduct," said Mr Yang. Quoting from the Chinese saying that "a thousand mile journey begins with the first step", he stressed that it was an important first step by China and ASEAN "towards practical cooperation, and building mutual trust".

The announcement of the agreement on the Guidelines on Wednesday, made headlines across the Asia-Pacific, with many media analysing its importance and impact to peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Dr Surin and Mr Yang agreed that 2011 is an important year for ASEAN and China, as it marks the 20th anniversary of bilateral ties. A series of celebratory activities have been planned in Beijing and ASEAN. Dr Surin pointed out that the focus to bring the celebrations to the people, dovetails with Indonesia's emphasis on a people-centred ASEAN.

Indonesia is the Chair of ASEAN this year, and Jakarta has virtually pulled out all stops to make sure its Chairmanship is a meaningful one.

On the future of bilateral relations, Dr Surin and Mr Yang agreed that an important cornerstone in its relations is the exchange among our youth - especially the exchange of students between ASEAN and China.

Both leaders are also looking forward to a successful summit this year to wrap up the celebrations.

Mr Yang noted that for the first decade of this millennium, China and ASEAN have jointly achieved the biggest free-trade area of the developing world, and the two sides should build on this and aim for another landmark achievement in the second decade.

The upbeat sentiments were also expressed by Viet Nam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr Pham Gia Khiem.

The Ministers expressed their commitment to work together in implementing the ASEAN-China Plan of Action, and in developing collaborative activities to strengthen ASEAN-China connectivity.

On the South China Sea issue, the Ministers noted China's exhortation to make the area "a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation". They also noted the importance attached by China to freedom of navigation and safety.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Come Visit E. Argonza’s blogs & website anytime!

Social Blogs:

Wisdom/Spiritual Blogs:

BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com

Poetry & Art Blogs:

Mixed Blends Blogs:

Website:

PROF. ERLE FRAYNE ARGONZA: http://erleargonza.com

Sunday, September 04, 2011

ASEAN-CHINA LANDMARK DEAL ON SOUTH CHINA SEA

ASEAN-CHINA LANDMARK DEAL ON SOUTH CHINA SEA

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

Gracious day to all!

All is well that ends well. Let us hope that this holds true for the territorial conflicts in the South China Sea or ‘West Philippine Sea’. The brewing conflict can erupt into a full-scale war if it remains to linger in hot caldrons of uncertainties, unresolved using diplomatic tools and methods.

Below is an update news about the landmark deal between ASEAN and China regarding the disputed territories.

[Philippines, 04 September 2011]

Source: http://www.asean.org/26468.htm

ASEAN-China Reaches Landmark South China Sea Deal

Bali, Indonesia, 20 July 2011

ASEAN and China have agreed on the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The landmark agreement was reached after talks between senior officials from both sides in Bali.

"This is a significant and good start for us to work together to continue dialogue and cooperation with a view to further promote this stability and confidence in the region," Mr Pham Quang Vinh, Assistant to Viet Nam Foreign Minister told reporters after the meeting.

Reflecting similar sentiments, China's Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said the officials would submit what they had approved to their Ministers for final endorsement.

"This is an important milestone document on the cooperation among China and ASEAN countries," said Mr Liu to reporters. "And we have a bright future and we are looking forward to future cooperation."

Although still at the early stage, the document raised hopes for a peaceful resolution to the overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

In his speech to the delegates yesterday, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stressed the importance of stability in the area.

"We need to send a strong signal to the world that the future of the South China Sea is a predictable, manageable and optimistic one. And we need to finalise that long overdue guidelines," he said, adding: "we need to get moving to the next phase, which is identifying the elements of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea."

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Come Visit E. Argonza’s blogs & website anytime!

Social Blogs:

Wisdom/Spiritual Blogs:

BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com

Poetry & Art Blogs:

Mixed Blends Blogs:

Website:

PROF. ERLE FRAYNE ARGONZA: http://erleargonza.com

Saturday, September 03, 2011

ASEAN ACTION ON TERRITORIAL DISPUTES

ASEAN ACTION ON TERRITORIAL DISPUTES

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

Good day from the Pearl of the Orient!

ASEAN has actively taken action in building peace and solidarity in the region. A gladdening fact, as the region is priming for greater roles as an emerging economic power.

The dispute between China and some ASEAN members regarding territorial overlaps in the South China Sea has generated various reactions, with China receiving flaks from diverse quarters. This is understandable, though in no way should this morph into senseless carnage of wars that could only lay waste to the prosperity visions of the great leaders and patriots of the region.

Below is an update news from the ASEAN headquarters about the concrete steps undertaken to build a zone of peace & prosperity in the foreseeable future. I salute the ASEAN leaders and experts in their prudent actions on the seemingly intractable territorial disputes.

[Philippines, 03 September 2011]

Source: http://www.asean.org/26467.htm

Initiatives on South China Sea, Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping Cooperation, People Engagement, Among Many Issues Noted in Comprehensive ASEAN Joint Communiqué

Bali, Indonesia, 20 July 2011

ASEAN will seek to finalise the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

In its Joint Communiqué, ASEAN stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, and the continued exercise of self-restraint by all parties concerned, and the promotion of confidence building measures in the area.

"In this regard, we look forward to the finalisation of the Guidelines at the upcoming ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on the Implementation of the DOC," it said.

The Communiqué also noted with appreciation, the proposal of the Philippines on a Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation, and tasked the ASEAN SOM - wth the assistance of maritime legal experts - to study the proposal.

The statement also "welcome the offer of the Philippines to host maritime legal experts meeting in 2011, report to the SOM, and make recommendations to the Foreign Ministers prior to the 19th ASEAN Summit."

Disputes over overlapping claims made the news again in recent months, with several claimant states accusing each other of intrusion. But at the same time, the claimant states also voiced support for peaceful resolution of their disputes through dialogue.

The Communiqué also welcome the establishment of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR).

"We emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation in capacity-building in the areas of conflict prevention, conflict management, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and post-conflict peace building, including demining activities, in order to strengthen the vital role of ASEAN Member States in supporting effective efforts in the maintenance of regional peace and security," it said.

In another development, the AMM also welcome the progress of the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in the promotion and protection of human rights in the region in accordance with the ASEAN Charter, and Terms of Reference of AICHR.

The Communiqué also welcome the commencement of the drafting of an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, and took note of the annual report of AICHR.

To support ASEAN's increasing engagements with foreign partners, and to enhance its support for ASEAN's integration, the AMM further reiterated their support for the strengthening of the ASEAN Secretariat, "and agreed to undertake a comprehensive review by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, in collaboration with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) with a view towards reporting to the 19th ASEAN Summit, through the ASEAN Coordinating Council".

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Come Visit E. Argonza’s blogs & website anytime!

Social Blogs:

Wisdom/Spiritual Blogs:

BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com

Poetry & Art Blogs:

Mixed Blends Blogs:

Website:

PROF. ERLE FRAYNE ARGONZA: http://erleargonza.com

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

CHINA’S ULTRANATIONALISTS FAST-TRACKING BLUE WATER NAVY

CHINA’S ULTRANATIONALISTS FAST-TRACKING BLUE WATER NAVY

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

Good day to you fellow global citizens!

In previous articles, this analyst articulated on Chinese bullying of its neighbors over disputed territories and the rise of the ultranationalists within the Chinese state and communist party. I will add the matter of ‘blue water’ navy to the discussions, as the ultranationalists are now working triple time to transform China into a naval power.

In order that an emerging economic power must be recognized as a world power—which includes politico-military power at its zeneath—it must be able to build a powerful military. Since the heydays of the maritime powers of Southeast Asia and Venice, which grew almost simultaneously though independently of one another, it was demonstrated that politico-military clout can be had by building a ‘blue water’ navy in order to be regarded as a world power.

Navies don’t make for world power alone, but they are decisive in bringing a country to that state. The challenge for any emerging economy is to build ‘blue water’ navies that can maneuver in the vast oceans outside of its territorial confines for long periods, thus enabling that country sustained military engagements in case of conflicts with competing powers or adversaries.

But before that can happen, the emerging economy must first build a navy that is strong enough to defend its territorial confines. ‘Brown water’ navy in present day parlance, that is where both China and India are situated today. Both countries have territorial disputes with their neighbors, and such disputes served as impetus for military build-up by India’s neighbors, a reaction that could spill over to Southeast Asians.

For now, China is able only to send teams of frigates and submarines to maritime zones to its east and southeast. It still doesn’t possess aircraft carriers, which could decisively enable the shift towards ‘blue water’ capabilities.

China is building an aircraft carrier right now, which is an open secret. But expert observers better not rely on open secrets, as China could be secretly building aircraft carriers and state-of-the-art WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) in top secret sites.

What China and its love-hate nationalist partner Russia have perfected to date is the production of anti-aircraft carrier weaponry. This weapon is fearsome enough, which can disable even the USA’s military forces if applied to the max.

China still lacks an effective anti-missile defense system and anti-submarine weaponry. For as long as these systems are not in yet, there is still time for China’s neighbors to maximize the resort to international institutions to drumbeat their complains and make China yield to international pressures to show civility and respect international law.

As for an unsolicited advise to China’s neighbors, please maximize on diplomacy to pursue your territorial claims. Stop the ‘cry wolf’ reaction to the ‘China syndrome’ of ultranationalist bullying. China is no world power yet as far as politico-military criteria are concerned, it doesn’t have a ‘blue water’ navy yet, so calm down and take the rational route to redress international grievances.

[Philippines, 16 June 2011]

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Come Visit E. Argonza’s blogs & website anytime!

Social Blogs:

Wisdom/Spiritual Blogs:

BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com

Poetry & Art Blogs:

Mixed Blends Blogs:

@FRIENDSTER: http://erleargonza.blog.friendster.com

Website:

PROF. ERLE FRAYNE ARGONZA: http://erleargonza.com

Monday, July 04, 2011

CHINA’S ULTRANATIONALIST FACTION BEGINS DOMESTIC HEGEMONY

CHINA’S ULTRANATIONALIST FACTION BEGINS DOMESTIC HEGEMONY

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

China’s impressive ascent from a struggling, poor, 3^rd world agrarian economy to the growing industrializing giant that is it today renders the country truly worth accolades the world over. China achieved development with nary an aid from external sources which makes the development challenge truly a daunting one.

Yet China was able to forge ahead with its development targets. With the growth of China’s economy also comes the growth of its military might, which is raising eyebrows in the entire Asian continent. For its neighbors that are now locked up in territorial disputes with the economic giant, the positive esteem has turned into a nightmare of sorts as China’s military began to flex muscles by intruding into those disputed islands.

I just hope that the foreign policy analysts of the affected Asian countries would get to know well the configuration of political forces inside China. Foreign policy and actuations by the giant state can be best explained precisely by identifying and assessing the strength of the most powerful political forces inside the Chinese state.

My thesis about the matter is that among all political factions vying for hegemony over the Chinese state, it is the Ultranationalists who are at the helm of that state today. These are not nationalists of the old Kuomintang mold, as the Kuomintang was largely expelled from the mainland in 1949 yet. The nationalists are Communist Party cadres who are only communist in name but nationalists in mold.

Remember that socialist China was first dominated by the Maoists, whose rule reached up to 1976, the last year of the chaotic Cultural Revolution era (1966-76) of the Gang of Four. It was the Maoists who tied down China to its agrarian state, and equalized poverty as a sort of Spartan virtue.

The Liberal faction of the Communist Party took over the reigns of power, by overthrowing the Maoists in a coup d’etat post-1976. The Liberals produced the leader Deng Shao Ping whose faction was pro-West. This faction began the market reforms in China that led to its present social market economy, which was made possible with the return to power of technocrats (who were purged by the Gang of Four).

During the latter phase of the Liberals’ hegemony, a new nationalist mold calcified inside the Party. While not allergic to market reforms, they strongly adhered to dirigist principles that were steeped in mercantilist doctrines. They resonated with the Liberals for a while, whom they served as core allies in building an industrializing China.

The past president Guang Zemin and premier Zu Rongji are examples of leaders who were nationalists of a moderate mold. Their economic policies strongly align with Roosevelt’s New Deal and John Meynard Keynes’ demand-side economics and interventionist tools. The present president Hu Jintao falls within this ideological frame, even as the top executives of the state are of the moderate mold.

There is another faction within the nationalists that is extremist though, which we will label as Ultranationalists for lack of a better term. They are now well positioned in the bureaucracy’s echelon including the military. Ultranationalists tend to be militarists, and under their leadership expect the Chinese state to scale up military budgets and heap up hysteria of a ‘state of siege’ by neighboring countries and traditional world powers.

Ultranationalism could well be the cementing force that will rally the young Chinese behind the 21^st Chinese state, a possibility that is worth watching. Ultranationalism is dreaded by Taiwan, a dread that is now spilling over to the other neighbors of China.

[Philippines, 15 June 2011]

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Come Visit E. Argonza’s blogs & website anytime!

Social Blogs:

Wisdom/Spiritual Blogs:

BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com

Poetry & Art Blogs:

Mixed Blends Blogs:

@FRIENDSTER: http://erleargonza.blog.friendster.com

Website:

PROF. ERLE FRAYNE ARGONZA: http://erleargonza.com

Sunday, July 03, 2011

EMERGING MARKETS JOCKEY FOR IMF ECHELON, FRENCH OLIGARCHIC PUPPET GETS POST

EMERGING MARKETS JOCKEY FOR IMF ECHELON, FRENCH OLIGARCHIC PUPPET GETS POST

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

Emerging markets are currently contesting for top posts in the Jurassic IMF. The downfall of Strauss-Khan, former managing director of the said bank, highlighted the deep crisis that has beset the bank lately, a crisis that threatens its very own legitimacy.

My position about the IMF was clear since the middle of last decade yet: abolish the bank, and let the member nations concur a new global financial architecture. The IMF was used by Western financier oligarchs to bleed the 3^rd world to bone dry misery, it is a thug bank that clobbered member nations in order to fatten the purse of select financier families, and it continues to make members such as Greece suffer via forced austerity programs.

At any rate, just recently the French finance minister, Madame Legard, was selected to replace Strauss-Khan. What do we expect, that the evil Western financiers will permit the ‘Mandingo nations’ to get that juicy post?

Below is an update from the DevEx regarding the debates and actions by member nations regarding the Jurassic thug bank.

[Philippines, 03 July 2011]

From: DevEx – http://www.devex.com

In IMF Leadership Debate, Emerging Countries Renew Push for Greater Representation in International Forums

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the world’s top emerging economies, released on Wednesday (May 25) a joint statement where they dismissed as obsolete the existing convention of naming a European to the top job at the International Monetary Fund. The IMF directors from these countries stressed that the next IMF managing director should be the best candidate chosen through a merit-based and transparent process, not on the basis of nationality.

The joint statement is the latest, and perhaps most concrete and concerted, effort by emerging countries to assert their voice at IMF. Emerging and developing countries, particularly the so-called BRICS countries, have been pushing for more representation at IMF and a chance to have a candidate from their ranks lead the organization.

This push by emerging nations for a bigger say in IMF appears to be part of a broader campaign of middle-income countries for a more prominent role in the international community. China, for instance, continues to expand its assistance program in Africa, while India, Brazil and South Africa are also positioning themselves as “alternative” sources of development finance.

This campaign is not going unnoticed. The “traditional” donors, in particular, are beginning to recognize the changing global political and financial landscape: The United Kingdom recently indicated its intention to engage with emerging nations, while the United States has already entered into several partnerships with Brazil.

In IMF itself, emerging nations have been “victorious” in having European countries agree to cede some of their seats in the fund’s executive board in their favor. This deal, sealed in October 2010, increased the emerging countries' influence and voting power in the board, but they are still less influential than industrial countries, particularly the United States. Whether this increased clout will contribute to their campaign to end Europe’s dominance of IMF remains to be seen.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

ASEAN LANGUAGE: MALAY IS STRONGEST CANDIDATE

ASEAN LANGUAGE: MALAY IS STRONGEST CANDIDATE

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

Good day from Manila!

The matter of official language for the ASEAN is among the issues arising as the Southeast Asian confederation is tightening its reins towards a federation-type economic union by 2015.

The possibility of a political union will float to the surface once that economic union will be in place. Political integration will most likely see the constituencies galvanize across the region, people-to-people synergy will increase, and the need for a common language will be felt more strongly.

Among certain intellectual circles in the region, there are those who are now proposing that Malay be the language of ASEAN. Malay is spoken by the greatest number of ethnicities here, even as my country is marked by an overwhelming majority of people who speak Filipino, a Malayan language, more than English (common language during the American era).

Below is a summary report of the proposal.

[Philippines, 26 June 2011]

Source: http://www.brudirect.com

October 26th, 2010 10:40

Malay Can be “Language of Asean”

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam - Malay language has the potential to become "language of Asean", considering it is spoken in four-member countries.

The history of the language as one of the lingua francas and was once one of the predominant languages in the region, and is spoken by many minorities across the Southeast Asian region further strengthen its potential.

Dr Mataim Bakar, Director of Research, Development and International Affairs of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, stressed this at "Language Dialogue: Malay language as the language for Asean" at the Language and Literature Bureau yesterday.

Aside from Brunei, Malay is also spoken in other Asean member countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and certain parts of Thailand.

The director said these conditions create an opportunity to introduce the language in-depth to Malay speakers and non-speakers in the region.

The General Secretary for the Riau Jakarta Community Association Indonesia, Dr Abd Azis Tabligh, said there was flexibility in the usage of Malay language.

The Acting Director of Language and Literature Bureau, Hjh Aminah Hj Momin, said to realise the concept of making Malay language as the language for Asean, "there was a need to pool our resources and capabilities to achieve the objective."

"This resource pool should comprise literature figures as well as people from strategic and critical areas: economy, engineering, science and technology," she said.

"We want to empower our language. This empowerment can be realised by wise, brave and strategic political will by the relevant authorities."

Hjh Aminah suggested the need for a systematic channel that could encourage growth and stimulation of mind, musyawarah (discussion) and sharing of discourse.

She did not deny the need to learn other languages in an effort to gain as much knowledge as possible.

However, she emphasised that the knowledge should be conveyed or translated to Malay language.

"Malay language can play a role as the language medium for knowledge. Malay can expand to be a modern language with the concept of progressive nation based on an independent mind and strong identity of its people," she said.

The acting director added: "Development in economic, politics, education, culture and social does not merely depend on English language. Malay language can be the basis for nation’s development and civilisation."

Hjh Aminah asked all to look at countries such as Japan, German, Korean and Taiwan that practice their national language and became rich, developed and ambitious nations.

Meanwhile, Dr Abd Azis said the Malay language was the root of Bahasa Indonesia.

"Bahasa Indonesia is Malay language that is added with foreign languages as well as respective dialects in the provinces," he said.

The nation’s vast population is also united by its language. The language’s significance can be seen in many national events, said Dr Abd Azis.

Dr Abd Azis said like many Malay-speaking countries, the development of ICT had created a crisis for the preservation of the language, where many use English language as the medium.

"Our duty is to (evoke) the feeling of pride for the Malay language and its usage in our community," he said. Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Friday, June 24, 2011

MULTIPOLAR POWER ARRANGEMENT MUST BE ADVANCED!

MULTIPOLAR POWER ARRANGEMENT MUST BE ADVANCED!

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

The rugs under our feet are changing fast. Even before the changes, brought forth by globalization and rising new economic powers, took place in the early 1990s, this analyst was already of the mindset towards building a (a) strong ASEAN and (b) re-engineer the global context towards multipolarity.

At that time, the Soviet Union just collapsed, with Stalinist regimes crashing down infamy and erasure as once thriving states. ‘Tiger’ and ‘dragon’ economies of Asia were roaring sonorous waves that shuddered the enclaves of fascistic world powers. Open societies, multi-culturality, and new economic players were making waves world-wide.

By the late 1990s, the clamor for a multi-polar arrangement became stronger. That is where the world is heading to anyway, so the world powers may as well register in their elites’ mental banks the need to reconfigure the way they relate to developing countries.

Having witnessed how great powers—acting on the behest of their dominant elites (oligarchs, politicians, technocrats, military elites)—crash developing countries down to more appalling living conditions via public policy dictates, I could only but bite the bullet and feel ambivalent towards the North in particular. The northern elites have already ensured, using zero-sum game rules, that the south will never ever rise to economic prominence, much more to political prominence.

Philippines was made into a favorite guinea pig for IMF-sanctioned policies on currency decontrol, devaluation, and liberalization reforms. World Bank pressures ensured that PH can never install its heavy industries, notably steel, by shackling financing efforts from overseas to bankroll major industrial projects.

IMF austerity reforms lashed out with the fury of super-typhoons, tsunamis, and mega-quakes combined, assuring the rise of poverty to 60% when strongman Marcos was booted out in 1986. Virata & technocrats, all pro-World Bank-IMF, were the true power wielders in the country and made sure that the North gets its impositions going.

There is no better option than for the developing countries to do its best in surging ahead economically via sustained growth, equitable wealth distribution, and poverty reduction. Hence creating a large middle class, the DCs (developing countries) can then get together in global coalitions to promote mutual cooperation and protection against the predatory powers of the North.

Such are the reasons for my pro-ASEAN advocacy. Relatively sovereign as a confederation, the ASEAN can become a global power in the short run provided that the union and its policies develop a strong constituency where there is none today. The true constituents are the citizens of member states, they should develop the regional consciousness and the sense of responsibility for advancing and defending the nascent union.

The ancient days of world power hooliganism, which accompanied power relations with wars of destruction and sustained global chaos, should be put to rest. The North should quickly learn the emerging ways of the globalized community, and cease from treating the South as populated by sub-humanoids or ‘colored monkeys with no tails’.

China, India, Brazil, ASEAN are rising to global economic and political prominence. Old powers Britain, America, France, should better pay attention well to the emerging reality, while Russia can swing its allegiance towards the emerging powers (Russia is itself ancient).

Multipolarity will enable the further growth of cooperation, multi-national exchanges, trust and mutual respect. It should. The South is now showing the way for such ideal states to happen.

[Philippines, 03 June 2011]

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Come Visit E. Argonza’s blogs & website anytime!

Social Blogs:

Wisdom/Spiritual Blogs:

BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com

Poetry & Art Blogs:

Mixed Blends Blogs:

@FRIENDSTER: http://erleargonza.blog.friendster.com

Website:

PROF. ERLE FRAYNE ARGONZA: http://erleargonza.com

Monday, June 13, 2011

CHINA BULLIES NEIGHBORS OVER DISPUTED TERRITORY

CHINA BULLIES NEIGHBORS OVER DISPUTED TERRITORY

Erle Frayne D. Argonza

Good afternoon to fellow global citizens!

East Asia has been hit with the fever of the ‘China syndrome’ symptomatic of a giant that is just awakening. Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan were the specific neighbors that complained about Chinese forces’ incursion into their claimed island territories.

China’s bullying of its neighbors is symptomatic indeed of a growing malaise in the awakening giant. Too far yet is that stage when China will become a wealthy over-developed economy, yet its state players have begun to flex muscles that are arrogant displays of colossal military might.

With a population of 1.5 Billion and a navy that is now on transition to a ‘blue water navy’ (capable of maneuvering in oceans past its water territories), the flexing of military muscles over disputed islands proves to be bothersome behavior for its neighbors. Southeast Asians built their mutual trust and esteem through cooperation and consensus for many decades, so that Chinese intrusive behavior just resonate with that built-in synergy among them.

So arrogant were the Chinese state players, particularly the chiefs of defense and diplomacy, that they lectured their neighbors with pontifications about territorial integrity and diplomacy, with the presumption of course that their neighbors were barbarians who lacked the savvy for understanding questions of ethical and political propriety.

For some time now, this analyst openly expressed his stand for a stronger ASEAN, precisely because a unified region comprising of small states can stand up to big neighbors such as India and China in case that the latter will bully their way to success. ASEAN was in ancient times the averred and esteemed Majapahit Empire, and it is time to reconstruct that ‘empire of the Sun’ that was the world’s wealthiest during its peak.

Within the frame of ASEAN military arrangement, an ASEAN-wide military which will have a command structure of its own distinct from the national armed forces of constituent nations, will prove to be very instrumental in securing the region against economic & military giants of the planet.

Meantime, the Asian countries bullied by China should become more assertive of their rights to their clamed territories by maximizing on the use of diplomacy and institutional channels such as the United Nations and attached agencies. Regional issues such as the present territorial disputes involving China should be converted to global issues so that the entire humanity will be involved in judging errant nations and making them tow the line of international law.

[Philippines, 13 June 2011]

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Come Visit E. Argonza’s blogs & website anytime!

Social Blogs:

Wisdom/Spiritual Blogs:

BRIGHTWORLD: http://erlefraynebrightworld.wordpress.com

Poetry & Art Blogs:

Mixed Blends Blogs:

@FRIENDSTER: http://erleargonza.blog.friendster.com