IT'S the Middle East that has been for decades which have seen the everlasting West versus Islamic nations fighting over the Holy Land that is now regulalr flashpoints of warring between Israel-US on the one hand, and the Palestinian Liberation Front fighting for the return of their holy land mainly supported by Islamic world concentrated in the Middle East.
Post 911 eleven years ago, the "war on terrorism" is essentially a war waged by the Wesyt led by the United States of America and crossing the Al-Queda hotbeds centering around the Middle East expanded to shores worldwide where any country with a predominant Muslim populace would become absorbed into the fraternity in the name of defending their faith. Witness the current HYSTERIA over an YouTube movie clip lasting merely 13-15movies produced by a (Jewish) American that has seen worldwide protests mostlky outside the US foreign missions/embassies, holding the American government responsible and accountable EVEN FOR THE "EVIL"DEED OF ONE MOVIE DIRECTOR/PRODUCER!
So the current spat over territorial claims by Japan versus China over Diauyu islands; also other islands claimed by South Korea, Japan et al are raising "war cries" in Asia. BUT IN DESI'S MINDS, such recent flashpoints are mere superficial demonstrations of a rising superpower that is China and other US-friendly allies who whose military might was/is/will be contained after the World War II as one term of surrender by Japan which has seen its economic power eroded tha past decade by rivals China and S. Korea, not much helped by "natural" disasters like tsunami, earthquake and nuclear generation plants exploded with the angry hand of God!?
I Think the following scenario is being "magnified" by the western media to take away the more dangerous wars between the US and its allies versus the Islamic extremists marked by Al-Quaeda nd the Taliban. In Malaysia we have seen little chicken heads in Al Mamunah and its fledging bastardly offshoots -- Perkosa -- trying to whip up an Islamic frenzy. But to no avail BECAUSE MALAYSIANS ARE BETTER EDUCATED AND INFORMED THAN TO FALL FOR SUCH re-enactments by EVIL FORCES!
Monday, 17 September 2012 07:53
Asian territory disputes could trigger WAR: US Defence Secretary
TOKYO - China and other Asian countries could end up at war over territorial disputes if governments keep up their "provocative behaviour", United States (US) Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters before arriving in Tokyo on a trip to Asia, Mr Panetta appealed for restraint amid mounting tensions over territorial rights in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
"I am concerned that when these countries engage in provocations of one kind or another over these various islands, that it raises the possibility that a misjudgment on one side or the other could result in violence, and could result in conflict," Mr Panetta said, when asked about a clash between Japan and China.
"And that conflict would then have the potential of expanding." The Pentagon chief's trip coincides with an escalating row between Asia's two largest economies over an archipelago in the East China Sea administered by Tokyo under the name Senkaku and claimed by China under the name Diaoyu.
Tensions have steadily mounted since pro-Beijing activists were arrested and deported after landing on one of the islands in August. Japanese nationalists then followed, raising their flag on the same island days later.
On Tuesday, Japan announced it had nationalised three of the islands in the chain, triggering protests in China. Tokyo already owns another and leases the fifth.
The uninhabited islands are in important sea lanes and the seabed nearby is thought to harbour valuable mineral resources.
Sometimes violent demonstrations have been held in China near diplomatic missions in the days since Tokyo's announcement, although there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries.
Mr Panetta said he and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "both strongly urge that these countries - rather than engaging in that provocative behaviour - engage in an effort to find ways to peacefully resolve these kind of issues."
Mr Panetta, who is due to hold talks on Monday with his Japanese counterpart before heading to China, predicted economic rivalry would lead to more feuds in the future over potentially resource-rich areas in the Asia-Pacific region.
"We're going to face more of this. Countries are searching for resources," he said, adding: "There's got to be a peaceful way to resolve these issues."
"What we don't want is to have any kind of provocative behaviour on the part of China or anybody else result in conflict." Territorial disputes in the South China Sea also have Washington worried, as China has refused to withdraw claims to virtually all of the strategic waterway and has been accused of bullying smaller states in the area.
The Philippines and Vietnam have alleged Beijing has used intimidation to push its claims in the South China Sea, through which around half of the world's cargo passes.
The United States has backed an effort by the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) to seek a code to govern access to the sea, which would establish rules and a formal dialogue to prevent incidents from escalating into full-blown conflict.
Mr Panetta's trip is part of a bid by President Barack Obama to shift Washington's diplomatic and military focus to Asia, amid concern over China's growing power and assertive stance.
But sceptics question if the Pentagon has the resources to exert sufficient influence in Asia, especially when it must contend with repeated crises in the Middle East.
-AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment