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| Manila vs Beijing in UN Arbitration | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 23 2013, 10:53 AM (462 Views) | |
| Pasta | Jan 23 2013, 10:53 AM Post #1 |
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Chief Engineer
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From the BBC with article copied below: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21137144 China has for a long time been a bully in many respects. She fiercely guards her sovereignty and those of other nations with questionable approaches to human rights, as one example. This I believe gives China, in her mind, the right to do whatever she wants internally and attack/defy any external criticism. China's growing economic might and vast foreign reserves give her a lot of clout and can intimidate even the mighty U.S. Her control of more than 80% of the production of strategic minerals including her recent statements of how China cannot supply the world, perhaps, due to domestic demand I viewed as a bit of a threat. China's territorial claims in the South China Sea are, in my view, absolutely bizarre. Completely unfounded and in contravention of the relevant UN agreements China is a signatory to. China blasts the U.S. and anyone else that offers any opinion that might support the legitimate claims of other SE Asian countries. Silly. Now the Philippines is the first of what I expect many actions asking the UN for arbitration on territorial claims. No doubt the U.S. and other ASEAN countries are behind this decision. There is a huge amount at stake and China stands to lose a massive amount of potential resources. Don't forget about the loss of face as well. I think if China went in better faith and negotiated with the other countries, instead of simply sending warships to protect the illegal fishing vessels it also sent, China might have gotten a better deal. I am not sure if China could appeal any UN arbitration decision, but this is a significant development. The UN must, in all probability, decide in favor of the 200 mile territorial claim as China herself agreed to. Well done Manila!!
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| H16 BRM | Jan 23 2013, 07:25 PM Post #2 |
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Refueller
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I looked at the maps and how China can claim those islands seems very imperialistic to me. Being British I know a lot about being an imperialistic power.
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| everythingoes | Jan 24 2013, 06:39 AM Post #3 |
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Aren't China also at loggerheads with Japan over similar issues? I read a report where China has closed doors to negotiations and has placed an implicit threat of war over it. I will try and find a link to the story last week. I think it was in the International Herald Tribune
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| Red Andy | Jan 24 2013, 08:47 PM Post #4 |
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There are lots of territorial disputes in that part of the world. The nearby Spratly Islands are disputed between China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. Naturally all of this has to do with various historical and cultural links, and nothing at all to do with the fishing and possible petroleum resources.
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8:57 AM Jul 11