Amber Chye
The US once again tried to play the role of the police of the World when it unilaterally backed Japan in the recent dispute the former World War 2 aggressor has with Russia.
U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said on Monday that the United States backs Japan on its islands dispute with Russia.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday morning visited Kunashiri Island, one of the Russian-held islands also claimed by Japan. Medvedev becomes the first leader from Russia or the former Soviet Union to travel to any of the disputed islands, which are called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia.
The visit has sparked strong reaction from Japan. Upon Medvedev 's arrival on the island, Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara summoned Russian ambassador to lodge a protest against the visit. The four disputed Pacific islands were occupied by the Soviet troops in 1945 and are currently under Russian control.
Russia and Japan have long been at odds due to the territorial dispute over these islands, which has blocked a peace treaty between the two countries since the end of World War II.
Japan was one of the main aggressor's that started World War 2. It committed numerous crimes against the people of the Asia-Pacific rim and was only defeated after the US bombarded it with Atomic bombs, and this while Russian troops landed in the disputed Islands to occupy them until now.
Japan has always followed the American lead in smashing all hopes for a peace treaty with the Russians on the Islands and now with the US beefing up Japan's foreign policy and military power - which is a terrible mistake by the US as Japan can easily be turned into an aggressor nation again with much damage to the world - the Japanese are once again sabotaging all peace efforts.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
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
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
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
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
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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 29th 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!
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