Press conference on Vietnam-US cooperation held in Hanoi

As part of the 17th ASEAN Summit, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chaired an international press conference on October 30.

The conference concentrated on the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and the US and US participation in the East Asia Summit.

Before answering questions, Deputy Prime Minister Khiem and Secretary of State Clinton witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements including the contract for Vietnam Airlines to buy B787-9 aircraft from the US Boeing Company and a commitment between the Vietnam Ministry of Information and Communication and the US Microsoft Corporation to improve the Vietnam’s information technology and protect intellectual property rights.

At the conference, Mr Khiem said that the meeting with his US counterpart gained significant results. The two sides agreed on many ideas to boost ties between the two countries in the future and discussed many international and regional issues.

Both officials agreed that the two countries continue to maintain a good relationship and ensure regional stability and prosperity.

After 15 years of normalised relations, the two countries now have close cooperation in many fields including the economy and trade. Two-way trade turnover between them has jumped from US$450 million to US$15 billion.

Vietnam and the US have also worked on health issues including controlling the spread of diseases, HIV/AIDS and resolving the consequences of Agent Orange.

The two countries have seen great improvement in educational cooperation and more than 13,000 Vietnamese pupils and students are currently studying in the US. Both countries also share interests in marine security and disaster search and rescue, and their two armies have agreed to work on natural disaster aid.

The last flood in central Vietnam has caused great losses and the US Secretary of State expressed her sympathies and said that the US and Vietnam will continue many cooperative programmes in the spirit of Trans-Pacific partnership.

She said that her second visit to Vietnam shows that the US values its relationship with Vietnam and its interests in the Southeast Asia and East Asia regions.

Mrs Clinton thanked Vietnam for inviting Russia and the US as distinguished guests to join in the East Asia Summit and said that the US President will attend the event.

Answering a VOV reporter’s question on why the US joins the East Asian Summit while it already takes part in the APEC and ARF summits, the US Secretary of State said that one of the highest priorities when Mr Obama became President was to boost relations with the Asia-Pacific region. The US is situated in a special location between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans and its wants to join dynamic regional institutions including the East Asia Summit. The US believes that the Summit will be an important forum for politics and security in the Asia-Pacific region and the place where the leaders of many countries meet and discuss important issues.

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/Press-conference-on-VietnamUS-cooperation-held-in-Hanoi/201010/120959.vov

Defence Minister meets Russian military official

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received M. A. Dmitriev, Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia, in Hanoi on October 30.

General Thanh praised military cooperation between the two armies over the past time and affirmed that Vietnam always attached importance to developing cooperation with Russia in military and national defence areas for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

M. A. Dmitriev, who accompanied Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Vietnam for an official visit, expressed his joy at witnessing Vietnam ’s achievements in national construction and defence, and expected that the visit would contribute to boosting the traditional friendship and cooperation in military-technical science between the two armies.
Vietnamplus 


http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/Defence-Minister-meets-Russian-military-official/201010/120949.vov

Party General Secretary receives Chinese and Lao PMs

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh received Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his entourage in Hanoi on October 30.

At the reception, the Chinese leader highlighted the thorough preparations and success of the 17th ASEAN Summit and related meetings including the ASEAN-China Summit. Premier Wen informed Mr Manh of China’s situation and the outcome of the fifth Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and expressed delight at the impressive developments in the Vietnam-China relationship. Cooperative relations among agencies and ministries have seen many positive developments, contributing to Vietnam-China Friendship Year and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

He emphasised that the Party, Government and people of China have always attached importance to the traditional friendship and strategic relations with Vietnam and will make joint efforts to resolve existing issues between the two nations.

Both sides will do their best to consolidate and develop the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with the motto “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-lasting stability and looking towards the future” and in the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners”.

Party leader Manh highlighted the attendance of Premier Wen at the ASEAN-China Summit and expressed delight at the new comprehensive development in the Vietnam-China relationship. He also congratulated the CPC on the successful organization of the fifth Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of CPC which put forth many important decisions on the development of China. Mr Manh expressed belief that under the leadership of the CPC, Chinese people will implement the resolution set in the 17th congress to fulfil socio-economic tasks and obtain more major achievements in building socialism.

Mr Manh affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people considered the development of the Vietnam-China strategic cooperative partnership a priority in its foreign policies, emphasizing that both sides should strengthen mutual trust and respect to promote cooperation in all fields and raise Vietnam-China relations to a new level for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

***The same day, Party leader Nong Duc Manh received Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh during his visit to Vietnam to attend the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi on October 30.

Present the reception were Chairman of the CPVCC’s Commission for External Relations, Hoang Binh Quan, Assistant to the Party General Secretary, Ho Tien Nghi, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bui Thanh Son.

Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh expressed his pleasure at meeting Party leader Nong Duc Manh and conveyed best regards from the leaders of Laos’ State and Government to their Vietnamese counterparts.

He also applauded the success of the 17th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, which showed the prestige and increased status of Vietnam in the regional and international arenas. He also expressed sincere sympathy for the great losses sustained by flood victims in central Vietnam.  

PM Bouasone Bouphavanh informed Party leader Nong Duc Manh of the preparations for local party congresses in the lead-up to Laos’ 9th National Party Congress.

He also talked about cooperation agreements between Vietnam and Laos and measures to increase effective cooperation in the future. He said he believed that the Vietnamese people will gain more achievements in their renovation process and confirmed Laos’ State, Party and people will do their best to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Party leader Nong Duc Manh warmly welcomed the Lao Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam, illustrating the country’s positive support for Vietnam as ASEAN chairman. He was very pleased with how Vietnam-Laos cooperation is developing and confirmed that the Vietnamese State and Party are making every effort to raise the Vietnam-Laos relationship to a new level.

He suggested the governments of both countries should focus on guiding ministries, departments, localities and businesses to implement agreements and prepare for the 33rd working session of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee.

Party leader Manh expressed his belief that the Lao people will continue to gain new achievements in their renovation process and effectively organise the celebration of the 450th anniversary of Vientiane and the upcoming National Party Congress.

He also conveyed best regards to Laos’ State and Party leaders.

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/Party-General-Secretary-receives-Chinese-and-Lao-PMs/201010/120944.vov

Malaysia want to get the most out of Hilary Clinton's Visit

Amber Chye, Kuala Lumpur

Hilary Clinton, the US State Secretary whose political future in the US is in doubt, is visiting Malaysia on the 29^th of this month, which is this Friday. She is scheduled to have talks with a number of Malaysian officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On the Clinton agenda will be the 'roping' of Malaysia's government as an ally that would support America's policies in the South East Asian territory. There is no doubt that the Americans are looking for total support from the Malaysians. The question to ask is total support for what? Is there not enough business deals between the Americans and the Malaysian nation? Is the US not the biggest trading partner of Malaysia?

One issue that could be discussed is Nuclear energy. Malaysia has already made it clear it will work with the US if it were to start a nuclear plant that may cost Rm13 billion. The only major problem the Malaysian authorities are facing is where to put such a plant since there seem to be no suitable places for a nuclear plant. Not in Selangor anyway which is a state run by the opposition and one can forget the other states run by the opposition, including Perak which is in limbo.

Pahang or Johor could be the two states that could see the implementation of the nuclear project if Malaysia and the US are to work together on an accord that would satisfy both nations. The US would surely want enough security and guarantee from Malaysia that it will not help in the 'proliferation' of nuclear technology. The Malaysian nation has a dark past in this matter, being accused by the US and some watchdogs of attempts at exporting 'nuclear' parts made in Malaysia to nations that are on the American nuclear watch list.

A foreign businessman was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for allegedly attempting at exporting nuclear parts – mainly centrifuges it is said – to Libya and these parts could easily have been directed towards North Korea or Iran in the past. The parts were seized by the Americans and the supposed plot was thus crushed in the bud. Malaysia had a bad name for this episode with then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi taking the blame for allowing such an incident to happen.

We know that the US has agreed in principle that Malaysia will have its own nuclear plants to be used for peaceful purposes. The Najib Tun Razak administration at Putra Jaya has gone to great length to please the Barack Obama administration in Washington, even almost crash-gating the White House to have a million dollar 'photo' shoot with the American president. During their meeting, the Malaysian premier bowed to Obama's demands for Malaysia to kowtow the US in Afghanistan and in its overall Asian policy. Malaysia has indeed agreed to supply troops to Afghanistan – be they medics or logistic support troops – where the US is fighting an almost illegal war in the Muslim country.

Malaysia has also agreed that it will follow the US on Myanmar – thus breaking-away from the ASEAN principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.

With this, Malaysia has also agreed that it will close its eyes on the US marines involvement in the Southern Philippines where American troops are helping the Philippines army hunt down suspected – they are only suspected – terrorists.

Henceforth, it must be said that the Americans has already imposed itself on a country that was known for its resilience to bend to the American needs and was more or less reserved in supporting the US outright in its Asian policies. Malaysia was always interested in the money making opportunities, such as FDI and other investment opportunities from the US, but the wheels have changed upon the orders from Washington and today Malaysia is becoming a partner in the 'global' mission of the US. A global mission of dominating the poor nations and of subjugating the rest of the world to America's demands.

Gone are the days of Tun Mahathir Mohamad who was once the most ardent critic of the US and its foreign policies. Welcome the era of greater cooperation between the Americans and the Malaysians, cooperation such as the one we are seeing in Afghanistan where the at least 40 armed forces personnel of Malaysia are helping the 'ISAF' or Nato in 'establishing' peace in Afghanistan. A mission which we all know is doomed to fail as it involves taking up arms against the Taliban if the Malaysians are under fire!

United Nations subservient to NATO in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: The change of guard in the top hierarchy of the United Nations in Afghanistan has visibly brought the policies of the international body into subservience to the US and NATO in the country.

Unlike in the past when the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) had a strong role in Afghanistan’s strategic and geopolitical affairs, the international body presently has nothing more than a titular presence in Afghanistan.

The arrival of Steffan Di Mistura in Afghanistan as UNAMA Chief in March this year had brought a major shift in its strategy that is seen as a deviation from opposition to subordination in the policy line of UN Afghanistan towards NATO and US.

Former UNAMA Chief Kai Eide had strongly opposed the US policy to encourage India in Afghanistan. Eide, being himself the architect of the peace process with Taliban although he had categorically disapproved of the inclusion of terrorist groups and banned foreign militant leaders, except Taliban, in Afghanistan's peace process. 
....
Kai Eide had introduced the idea of involving Afghanistan's immediate neighbours - Pakistan and Iran - for the redressal of the Afghan crisis....





http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/24-Oct-2010/United-Nations-subservient-to-NATO-in-Afghanistan

US, Israel conclude four-day Juniper Falcon exercise

Simulation tests the level of coordination between the two countries in the event of future conflicts

[T]he IDF and United States Military concluded a four-day-long simulation exercise called Juniper Falcon on Friday which tested the level of coordination between the two countries in the event of future conflicts.

The exercise is part of a long standing agreement between the US and Israel to hold bilateral training exercises on a regular basis....

'This is an important part of our ability to operate in different scenarios at sea, on the ground and in the air,'IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said during a visit to the base where the exercise was held. 'œIt emphasizes the deep, intimate relations between us and the United States when facing mutual enemies....I get the impression that officers from both sides feel these improvements and that we have interoperable capabilities,†he added.

The Israeli team was headed by Brig.-Gen. (res.) Nizan Nuriel, who also serves as head of the National Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Bureau. The American side was led by Maj.-Gen. Craig Gourley, who serves as an assistant to the commander of the US Air Force in Europe.

“The real purpose of this exercise is to make sure that in real time, if necessary, we will be well trained and fully prepared, Nuriel said. 'We know it's about friendship, brotherhood and these kinds of exercises can create this level of relationship that in real time may be needed.





http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=192509

Divide and Rule is the game for US in South East Asia

Amber Chye, Kuala Lumpur

The United States of America and its military ally, the Nato, are trying to pull South East Asia into a wider community of warring factions with the sole intent to control the rest of the world and with it the major strategic sea and air routes that comes with it.

While this seems far fetched since there are a few nations in South East Asia that are Muslim majority states, the fact on the ground remains implacable. 
The United States is definitely at work in South East Asia and has taken hold of the ASEAN in particular in a bid to fracture the movement and cause a major split among the neighboring nations. 

The only reasons why the US would want a split in the Asean and among its member states are as follows: 

A divided house is easier to handle as there will be no unity among the Asean member states. The unity that currently exist between the Asean member states has hampered the US from pushing forward its military agenda of conquest of the sea routes and the air routes of the countries that are of interest to American 'security'. This unity has cemented the presence of other 'super powers' such as China and Russia in the ASEAN with which the Asean member states still has good relations, and this too is not in favor of the US agenda in the area. If these are not sufficient to expose the current attempts by the US to break down the Asean grouping into a kowtowing one, instead of the one that is solid and is unitary towards its members, is the fact that the US has launched or is sponsoring a series of 'military exercises' in the South East Asian region as well as within the South Asian seas where China and Russia are mostly concerned. 

It has to be noted that four days after US state secretary Hilary Clinton left Seoul, South Korea, the U.S. launched the Invincible Spirit joint war games in the East Sea/Sea of Japan with South Korea, the following  month the latest of annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercises with 30,000 American and 56,000 South Korean troops, and in September anti-submarine drills in the Yellow Sea.

Following this, the US supported the June and October 2010 naval and air exercises involving Malaysia, a largely Muslim nation member of the Asean forum, and  code named the exercise 'Bersama Shield' and the 'Bersama Padu', which was intented to comfort the Malaysian authorities that the exercises were to help the malaysians
secure their seas and protect their territorial integrity. These exercises has been seen with frowning eyes from Indonesia, the largest Muslim populated nation on earth with which the Americans are making 'secret deals' that could undermine the Indonesian-Malaysian relationships further. The double dealings by the US with Malaysia and Indonesia serves only the interest of the US in the Asean as it is intended to deeply divide Malaysia and Indonesia on military and diplomatic lines. The Bersama Padu exercises involving Australia is altogether another attempt by the US and Britain this time, to undermine the already soured relations between Malaysia and Indonesia as the Indonesians views the Australians as the powerhouse in South East Asia that has an eye on its territory, including remote Islands and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) that Indonesia has difficulty protecting.

World Future Online or WFOL.TV, the Malaysian based website campaigning for a demilitarized Asean region and against Nato's penetration in the area wrote: 
"Washington is using the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional group for a bigger military purpose and this strategy is becoming clear  to observers due to the U.S. push for greater influence in Asia.

By reaching out to nations like Vietnam, Laos and even Myanmar (Burma) as it has lately - ASEAN consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam - "The United States is fomenting a long-term strategy to contain both China and  Russia in Southeast Asia....Before the Afghan war, the Americans could count on Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia along with Brunei in the region. Today the U.S. has Vietnam and Cambodia on its side." (In July U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Army Pacific led the Angkor Sentinel 2010 multinational exercises in Cambodia.)

Furthermore, Washington's recruitment of ASEAN nations, initially over territorial disputes with China, will lead to "turn ASEAN into a...military corps to fight for American causes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and surely Georgia and North Korea....Once the U.S. has achieved such goals, it will control the Malacca Straits and the seaways of the region."
The only way for the US to have a better control of the Malacca Straits, which is a very busy and strategic commercial sea route, is to divide Indonesia and Malaysia further diplomatically and create a military tussle between the two Muslim states. This is what is being achieved with the various military exercises and the many diplomatic efforts by the US to woo Malaysia while it keep Indonesia in the waiting for better deals...at least this is what the Indonesians are hoping to get from the US.

By putting Australia and Malaysia together on the same line of defense in the seas and the air, the Americans with their British partners are playing a dangerous game that could spark unprecedented military conflicts along the Malacca Straits. And it is by sparking such a conflict that the US and Britain with their minion partners Singapore will be able to have a definite and long term military control of the sea routes in South East Asia, including the South China Sea.