Filed under: China / SE Asia | Tags: china, dalai lama, jiaboa, obama, prc, taiwan, yuan
In a few short months Barack Obama has bungled and bumbled any strategic advantage the U.S may have possessed in international diplomacy and has seriously jeopardized long-term relationships with all 4 major powers of the East. Departures with India on Copenhagen, missile shields threatening Russia and China and loss of support in Japan among the new government are just a sample of the diplomatic missteps which have occurred. Even if the Obama administration’s disposition wasn’t militaristic and threatening, which it certainly is, their arrogant diplomatic behavior is enough alone to drive support away from the U.S on the international level. In this arena, the Chinese are clear in their assertion that the U.S has “grossly violated the norms governing international relations.”
Reuters: China foreign minister says U.S. ties “disrupted”
Business Week: China Says U.S. ‘Entirely’ to Blame for Strained Ties
Roman Tomberg: Stalemate in China-US Relations
This winter has been a cold one for China-US relations. So many serious disagreements between the two countries have not surfaced simultaneously for decades: the US is exerting unprecedented pressure on China to revalue the Yuan, a cyber war erupted between Google and the Chinese administration, Washington intends to sell weapons worth $6.4 bn to Taiwan, China dumped US bonds worth $34.2 bn, both sides threaten to introduce punitive import tariffs, and US President B. Obama received 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso in the White House. In the past China and the US avoided taking harsh measures against each other serially, but evidently things have changed beyond recognition over the past several months.
Notably, the round of tensions came as a surprise – just recently US analysts used to churn out totally different predictions concerning the relations with China. US economist and the director of Peterson Institute for International Economics Fred Bergsten coined the term G-2 as the new global economy formula in his The United States and the World Economy (2005). In the early 2009, the concept was upheld by such US foreign politics gurus as former Secretary of State H. Kissinger and former White House National Security Adviser Z. Brzezinski. Their idea was that China should shoulder the burden of global hegemony jointly with the US, which implied that Obama’s Administration would be steering a course generally benign to the country. Continue reading
Filed under: The Pacific, War | Tags: china, hatoyama, japan, korea, obama, okinawa, us
World News: President Obama and the Rise of Japan’s Pacifists (Again!)
With the recent election of Japan’s Prime Minister Yuko Hatoyama, President Barack Obama might have received a warmer welcome in Tokyo’s Suntory Hall by claiming to be America’s first Pacifist President, instead of America’s first Pacific President. Prime Minister Hatoyama, after all, has promised to halt its nations naval mission supporting the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. He is also reviewing basing agreements and the stationing of 50,000 U.S. troops, including those in Okinawa. It is obvious, that America’s militarist tradition and imperial presidency-which Barack Obama inherited-is in stark contrast to the rise of Japan’s Pacifists, again! In fact, it might be a more important component to U.S.-Japan relations than that of trade and commerce…
…Could this be the reason President Obama warned Prime Minsiter Yuko Hatoyama, along with pacifists in his Democratic Party of Japan, of serious consequences if it reneges on its military realignment plans? North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, Taiwan’s movement towards autonomy, and the geopolitical importance of the Strait of Taiwan have only added to a strong U.S. military presence in the region. And with uncertainty over military bases in Okinawa-making it improbable for America to contain China and other nations in the area-U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has notified Japan that relations may “fracture” and “lead to a standstill in the nation’s security policy…
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NY Times: On Obama’s Asia trip, not much adulation
NY Times: In Japan, Obama says US will study status of Okinawa base
Asia Times: Space is suddenly on the agenda
United States President Barack Obama is preparing to make his first official trip to Asia this week, and a growing list of important economic and defense-related issues are on his agenda. From the time he touches down in Tokyo on Thursday until the time he flies home from Seoul – stops in Singapore, Shanghai and Beijing are also planned – Obama is going to be watched closely back home.
Obama’s visit to China is going through some last-minute changes due to recent remarks about China’s plans for space by General Xu Qiliang, commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Air Force. On November 1, in advance of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Air Force, Xu was interviewed by China’s PLA Daily.
“Only power could protect peace. Superiority in space and in air would mean, to a certain extent, superiority over the land and the oceans,” he said. “As the air force of a peace-loving country, we must forge our swords and shields in order to protect peace.”
According to Xu, “a country without adequate power would have no say when faced with challenges posed by the militarization in the space and air.” [1]
Xu also said that, “military competition has shifted towards space. Such a shift is a major trend now, and such expansion is a historical inevitability.” [2]
A few days later, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) made clear that Xu’s comments were incomplete and had to be taken in context.
“I want to point out China has all along upheld the peaceful use of outer space. We oppose the weaponization of outer space or a space arms race,” said MFA spokesman Ma Zhaoxu. “China has never and will not participate in an outer space arms race in any form. The position of China on this point remains unchanged.” [3]
Filed under: Central Asia, China / SE Asia, Resource Wars, Russia / Caucacus, War | Tags: china, iran, russia, sco
Press TV: Iran Offers SCO Alternative To U.S. Control Of World Resources
VOA News: Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit Concludes in Beijing
Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states agreed to work together to combat the global economic crisis and find ways to increase cooperation on financial issues.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, meeting in Beijing Wednesday, brought together the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO is a regional security grouping. However, this time, economic difficulties took center stage.
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Filed under: Central Asia, China / SE Asia, Russia / Caucacus, War | Tags: china, india, iran, NATO, nuclear, obama, russia, us, venezuela, War
The force of NATO’s operational doctrine of continual expansion and disruption of opposing forces is now extending their presence into Asia. The battles for the favor of India and the so-called “string of pearls” around the eastern coast of China have set the stage for potential future conflicts. Now, with deepening ties to Western power, India represents another potential wedge for the U.S/NATO, bent on establishing strategic positions on the periphery of their two main economic and political rivals–China and Russia. Historical and geographical considerations also compel the Indians in their current position, to adopt a policy of “superalignment” with the West as opposed to “counteralignment”; represented by the Russia, China, Iran and the Bolivarian alignment based around Venezuela.
Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya: Geo-Strategic Chessboard: War Between India and China?
Here is another great article from Rick Rozoff at ‘Stop NATO’. This also discusses U.S/NATO presence in Asia being used as a bulwark against Russia and China in a variety of arenas.
Rick Rozoff: Dangerous Crossroads: U.S. Expands Asian NATO Against China, Russia
Here is an article from Foreign Affairs in 2006 which suggests that the U.S could use preemptive first strikes against the arsenals of Russia and China.
“For four decades, relations among the major nuclear powers have been shaped by their common vulnerability, a condition known as mutual assured destruction. But with the U.S. arsenal growing rapidly while Russia’s decays and China’s stays small, the era of MAD is ending – and the era of U.S. nuclear primacy has begun.”
“It will probably soon be possible for the United States to destroy the long-range nuclear arsenals of Russia or China with a first strike.”
Filed under: Russia / Caucacus, War | Tags: china, medvedev, nuclear, obama, oil, putin, russia, sco, War
There are several developments coming out of the Russian Federation: calls for a new European Security Plan, moving away for dollar denominated trading, persistent rejection of Iranian sanctions and preparing for military engagement on multiple fronts. Here are some articles detailing some of these recent developments.
Yahoo! News: Russia uses ambiguity to boost its power
Space War: ‘Too early’ to focus on Iran sanctions: Putin
Asia Times: Putin lays down the law for Clinton
RIA Novosti: Russia ready to abandon dollar in oil, gas trade with China
Space War: Russia to adopt first strike nuclear policy
Remember the U.S has several plans put into operation under Bush that are similar to this. Check out the 2002 Nuclear Policy Review and it’s discussion of “adaptive nuclear capabilities” or COMPLAN 8022, reported by Washington Post writer William Arkin.
Global Research: Russia Renews Call For Multipolar World, New European Security System
Russia is currently reaching out to the European community in a concerted effort to boost their prestige and friendlier relations without the assistance of the United States as an intermediary.
Filed under: Empire, Middle East, Russia / Caucacus, War | Tags: china, iran, medvedev, nuclear, obama, putin, russia, War
The Russians understand that the U.S is attempting to placate them into supporting new sanctions by offering hollow conciliations like the “moving” of European missile shields and the EU recognizing Georgia as the aggressors of the 2008 conflict— and thus far they are not participating.
Space War: Washington readies fresh Iran sanction
The United States is ready to slap fresh sanctions on Iran in the event international negotiations over its suspected nuclear weapons program fail, a senior US Treasury Department official said Tuesday…
At the same hearing, Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said efforts to rally other veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council behind fresh sanctions, most notably Russia and China, were making progress.
“The Russians seem to be more open to additional sanctions,” Steinberg said pointing to recent comments made by President Dmitry Medvedev.
“You’re seeing a coming together of countries around the world to recognize that this is Iran’s last opportunity and if they fail to take it there is a greater openness to this.
Washington Times: Russia resisting Iran sanctions
Russian FM Lavrov: “At the current stage, all forces should be thrown at supporting the negotiating process,” he told reporters at a joint news conference with Clinton. “Threats, sanctions and threats of pressure in the current situation, we are convinced, would be counterproductive.” …
….U.S. officials said they were disappointed that Lavrov had come out against even the threat of new penalties.
AP: Russian general challenges US on missiles
Pressing Russia’s position on another prickly issue, Shvaichenko criticized plans aired during the Bush administration to fit some U.S. strategic missiles with conventional non-nuclear warheads, saying the launch of such missiles could provoke a mistaken nuclear strike in retaliation.
A state that detected such a missile heading in its direction “would determine the risk it faced according to a worst-case scenario,” RIA Novosti quoted Shvaichenko as saying — meaning that it would likely respond with nuclear weapons. He said such a shift “would seriously undermine … international security as a whole.”
Filed under: Technology, War | Tags: ai, china, cyber, nano, obama, robotics, russia, space, transhumanist, War
Clearly the focus of the U.S military is the increased technological development of electronic weaponry and other offensive and defensive capabilities which will offer them a decided advantage in the conflicts of the future–those to be fought in traditional arenas as well as those to be fought in space and cyberspace. For years technological development for use in military operations have centered around cybernetics, robotics, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, cognitive science and other paradigm shifting possibilities. But, while H-plussers and transhumanist ideologues salivate about the possibilities of enhanced cognition and an extropian future, the U.S military establishment are developing these radical technologies for overwhelming destructive purposes and to be used in the prosecution of operations designed to promote continued “full spectrum dominance.” But of course it’s only to protect soldiers from IED’s.
Space War:US Army’s Electronic Warfare Needs Receive Heightened Emphasis
Independent (UK):Threat of next world war may be in cyberspace: UN
“…they will be versed in a much more complex challenge of controlling the electromagnetic environment in land warfare by tactical employment of the three major EW tenets: electronic attack, electronic protection, and electronic warfare support – to gain an advantage in support of tactical and operational objectives across the full spectrum of operations.”
Filed under: Arctic, Central Asia, China / SE Asia, Empire, Latin America, Middle East, Resource Wars, Russia / Caucacus, War | Tags: afghanistan, Arctic, china, iran, NATO, obama, russia, War
The United States is continually expanding the presence of their forces to several points throughout the globe. The locations of these engagements form a “belt of conflict” which stretches the length of the globe. Now, the conflict in these areas is escalating to a point at which, some time in the future, the possibility of an international conflict with nuclear overtones can be seen. From military bases in Colombia, destabilization of Bolivia and Venezuela, funding and arming separatist groups in Africa, manufacturing humanitarian precepts for Sudanese involvement, the continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, NATO expansion in Eastern Europe, strategic maneuvering in the Caspian basin, attempts to gain control of the “string of pearls” and the escalating competition over Arctic resources– the U.S is pursuing a policy of confrontation for the sole purpose of gaining access to natural resources, subverting potential international coalitions and securing freedom of international military deployment.
RIA Novosti: U.S. could deploy missile shield in Arctic – Russia’s NATO envoy
Ice News: US could launch missiles from the Baltic Sea
GeoPoliticalMonitor.com: U.S weapons end up in al-Qaeda hands
Telegraph: NATO commander warns of conflict with Russia in the Arctic Circle
Rick Rozoff: U.S., NATO Poised For Most Massive War In Afghanistan’s History
Filed under: China / SE Asia, War | Tags: china, gates, naval, obama, us
China’s increasingly advanced weaponry could undermine US military power in the Pacific, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Wednesday.
Echoing US intelligence guidelines released on Tuesday that warned of Beijing’s military modernization, Gates said US naval carriers and air bases in the Pacific faced new threats from China.
“In fact, when considering the military-modernization programs of countries like China, we should be concerned less with their potential ability to challenge the US symmetrically — fighter to fighter or ship to ship — and more with their ability to disrupt our freedom of movement and narrow our strategic options.”….Full article here
Duty Now For The Future 