Monday, December 20, 2010

World Giants split over Korean Peninsula impasse

During the recent UN Security Council emergency meeting to tackle the Korean peninsula crisis, it seems that the five permanent UN Security Council members are having split over the crisis going on.
Russia and China would not want that the Council will characterize Pyongyang as the aggressor and urged the UN Secretary-General to send special envoy that would pacify the heating war of threats between the two Korea. On the other hand, the United States, France, Great Britain, and Japan are trying to make a certain point by trying to show the world that North Korea is bad and South Korea is good.
The picture that each side would want to imply to the nations of the world observing their diplomatic or pacifying intervention between the contending parties, does not likely amplify in no way what really is the real score!
Russia is joining with China to institute a unique display of diplomacy which the West would not like to honor as yet considering that the reclusive North is more inclined to defy the wishes of the majority. This is so because there is also something within its own agenda that the West fails to realize.
Meantime, we could not blame Russia for doing so because there exist an indifferent view among US legislators who refuse to ratify the US-Russia bilateral treaty.
The maximum restraint that China and Russia require of Pyongyang and Seoul is not quite symmetrically comprehensible when considering the damage that Pyongyang caused on Seoul. What the world wants to see is the equal treatment of the issues raised from both sides; but neither of these Giants would yield to every enticing that could influence their decision of what resolution is more appropriate in the circumstances.
Perhaps, the UN charter is now hanging in the balance; and it would take a different kind of leadership charisma that can convince all to consider the consolidation of issues that will reveal the true meaning of diplomacy. In fact, all the governments involved in this impasse are actively trying to win one over each other using the ultimate brilliancy available to weave the course of action.
Nevertheless, the selfish motive that each has to hold for themselves or their companions would slowly fade away while there exist a sign of willingness to institutionalize discussions and the voice of the aggrieved or the aggressor will be heard in court of international justice.
What the parties failed to realize is that the court of international justice has a wider jurisdiction over all concerns. It only takes the aggrieved party to file the proper complaint in court.
Now, blaming Pyongyang is not wise as yet. However, letting it go unscathed with the allowance of imposing what is required of justice will only bring out the problem into an insurmountable proportion.
The parties who are trying to mend the wound between the two contending countries should not put a gag on the mouth of those who are directly accountable for their actions.
I think it would be best to settle the problem of the two Koreas to arena of the international court of justice where each voice can be heard and their respective evidence be viewed and reviewed by the responsible Justices. Perhaps this would be a time that a country will be tried in court, and let’s see what it can make for all.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Belligerent attitude of North Korea may spark divisive action between giants

The reclusive North Korea again recently aired its malevolent intention of striking hard on its neighbor, South Korea, if the latter would continue to pursue its planned live-fire military drills on an island near the disputed maritime border.
This has prompted Russia to call on South Korea to discontinue the drill to ease the escalating tension that has been going on between the two Koreas. Of course, with Russia on the foreground of diplomatic settlement of the disputes between the Koreas, it would certainly give signal to the other goliaths that would lead them to intervene on the affairs of these davids.
As we recall last month, the 3-day biggest naval maneuvers were jointly conducted by the United States and Japan with South Korea as the observer. This event also was misconstrued by North Korea “somewhat” a provocative move of these countries that could have contributed to a much heightened situation in the region.
In another view, we can see how giant economies are now undertaking strategic moves that strengthens their relations with other sympathetic bigger or smaller countries. For example, Japan has recently agreed with the United States for the extension of the US military bases for another five years. This agreement was reportedly reached in anticipation to the escalating security concerns prevailing in the region while looking at the moves of China and North Korea.
Meanwhile, China has its own agenda. It strengthens its economic foothold to sustain its economic growth up to 2015 as it recently closed trade deals with India which amounts to $100 billion up by $60 billion in 2010. This bilateral agreement between these two Asian giants when viewed in a higher purview only implies a longer span of sustained economic progression that when taken into serious consideration would have relative complication on its effect to the world economy in some future times.
Although cooperation from economic giants can be expected to settle a consensus to slide down the rising tension in the Asian region, possibilities of future conflict is freakily absurd at this point in time, but it could spark out of the belligerent and defiant attitude of North Korea.
China is now on the verge of overtaking powerful edge to police the world as against the United States because it is now very confident that it can sustain its effort relying mostly on its robust economy with India in its rooster; while North Korea who relies economic aid from China, can continue making puissant distress to divert attention of the West from its major strategic foothold, which China of course could have wanted more.
Of course, other Asian countries that depend on the great opportunity that the Chinese economy can offer, their sympathetic view of taking every step of the way to grab a share will surely be their primary concerns.
The game that China play in continuing to push a 6-country dialogue on the Korean peninsula issue is only a part of its global ambition. Earlier, China has been reported to have strengthened its influence on the UN Security Council; and always has been a staunch supporter of North Koreas belligerent moves as showed by its continued refusal to condemn its ally’s notoriety against its neighbor, South Korea---China is pampering North Korea by allowing to do what it can undertake to do just as long as the “real value” of its action will turn out in favor to its own economic upliftment in the worldwide scheme.
This is the drama that these two communist countries are trying to draw and come out as an emerging two-tiered economic strategy which is a Maoist concept that was neglected to be realized by the West. Thus, the United States need to re-assess its global position in terms of economic base stronghold as China is also making its economy as the financial source while using the whole economy platform a drawn-out field of opportunities for rich countries to get attracted to. And China can only push through all these ambitious undertaking when one belligerent ally advances its own initiative of diverting a worldwide attention.
No matter what it takes, the Korean conflict hangs in balance the future of the world’s economy, a diversion that China and North Korea will continue to play. I just hope that those who were attracted to its domino move can find a way out from this quicksand attraction.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Philippines did not participate a Nobel Peace Prize ceremony?

In one of the news report published in Maxinews, an online news blog, it quoted the Philippines as the “most confused nation” in deciding whether to accept the invitation to attend the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo, Norway or not.

It was learned that the country finally decided to reject the invitation and did not attend the ceremony. The news report further underscored that it is so unfortunate for a democratic country lead by Pres. Aquino whose parents’ lives were dedicated for the cause of democracy in the Philippines.

Indeed, it was unfortunate for a leading democratic country in Asia whose people espouse the so-called People Power Revolution in 1986 and caught the world in awe for its touted “bloodless revolution.”

It was Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino’s blood that was spilled in the tarmac of then Manila International Airport that triggered a nationwide awakening from the two decades of Marcos dictatorship. In fact, it brought the world a new beginning of the so-called “People Empowerment” and many other political concepts that uplifted the whole country into the highest summit of democratic ideals and aspiration.

And I believe that Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III owes to the people a clear-cut explanation why he snubbed the invitation to attend the most important ceremony that symbolizes the ideals and aspiration his parents were fighting for.

In one perspective, I should like to suspect that Pres. Aquino was manipulated by certain “people” who are in close connection with the Chinese embassy in Manila and are responsible for feeding “information” and are in control with certain area of protocol.

What I mean is that some of the President’s people are probably making fun and/or playing the “spin and span circle” with Chinese investors in the Philippines, or blatantly speaking, these people are not really working for the interest of the Filipino people but on their own “sacks and pockets”.

As I learned, the Chinese community of the Philippines controls about 85-90 percent of big-time businesses. Just imagine when these people withdraw their investments. Thus, I can say that the Philippine government is now under the clutches of a new “dictator”---the Chinese businessmen.

This has long been known.

As you can see, the Philippine economy has never really improved nor it has given so much for the welfare of its people in terms of real economic benefits. It’s the Chinese who’s been in control of every big businesses ranging from the oil industry, to garments, food chains, banking institutions, computer industry to even, by far, the smallest particle of business engagements, you can name all.
 
But truly, I am disgusted with how things are being handled by the Aquino administration and even flabbergasted with its decision to snub the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. It is a shame for us, ordinary Filipino, to see our country beginning to shift from light to dark.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Nobel Peace Prize's significance to World Stability

The event that transpired just recently with an empty chair receiving the Nobel Peace Prize award can be perceived as one that transforms the normal awarding ceremony that should have been participated in by countries whose ideals, culture and tradition, are universally aimed to uplift the human value of individuals who are willing to render noble sacrifice for the good of many.


China's outrage on the Nobel Peace award only manifest its reclusive ideals, outright disregard and disrespect of the vision that the international community has been espousing. Such unfortunate reaction also implies how the Chinese community prefers to close the opportunity of growing maturely and become responsible either to its success or failure without looking at a mirror where the reflection of others can surely help realize its own weaknesses.


Being conservative to the modern pacing of times, and instead protect the very essence of its own spirit with the intent of surviving by their own, is one good virtue. But the world has changed a lot. The lines that demarcates favorable from unfavorable should only be perceived as the starting point for a better perspective. Of course, it should not be made an instrument to suppress freedom, neither that it should be an arm to threaten or to kill.


I believed that China has been overwhelmed by the success of their economy without realizing that it becomes an overpowering wave-like tsunami that is getting started to squeeze its own opportunity to the limits and renders its neighbor a pauper of their unperturbed arrogance.


It also fails to realize the value of criticisms because the leaders who are holding the cudgels of governments are living within the means of their doubting hearts and sumptuous meals, and doesn't care about the welfare of their neighbors. These are what analysts say that China is living within the curtain of their own walls and is afraid to face the realities of the world outside it.


With this perspective at hand, I believe that the Nobel Peace Prize award to its own citizen is rightly the significant difference to China’s world perspective.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

A Changing World Environment

For the past few months, the world has been put into a test. There was a continued plague on the world economy and imbalances of trade and industries have caused the whole world economy shaking at the mercy of a few industrialized nations.

Europe, for example, has been afflicted with malignant shortcomings in terms of managing its financial economy. Countries under its umbrella organization are trying to cope with the rapid pace of turn-downs in its own economy; and a rebuilt of its economic system to suit its robustness will likely be a difficult undertaking.

On the other hand, the United States is still entangled with issues on China's currency valuation. China is now ranked as the second largest economy of the world followed by Japan. China's currency is undervalued that affected world economic balance in terms of trading and industry.

Meanwhile North Korea has become a villain against its neighbor South Korea because of  its recent bombardment on Yeonpyeong Island located near the disputed sea boundary between the two countries. Significantly, the move of North Korea against South only indicates that there would be changes in the central leadership of the North, and many perceived that Kim Jong-un, the heir-apparent of Kim Jong-il is about to take place in no longer period of time.

Any leadership changes in the Korean peninsula would only highlight the sensitive position of the United States, South Korea and Japan in pressuring China to take its own initiative to control the belligerent behavior of its ally. Nevertheless, all that we can expect is that these circumstances prevailing in our world community would only give us a point of contemplation.

How long will it take peace to survive in this changing world environment?

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

U.S. diplomatic acumen assures the world of peace and prosperity among nations

The undaunted revelations published at the WikiLeaks website where U.S. diplomatic cables were laid open to the eyes of a shocked world had greatly stirred the stage of diplomacy between countries having diplomatic relation with the United States, or in-between countries where the U.S. has steered diplomacy as its instrument to a worldwide influence over world peace issues.

The very daunting venture of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is now the seed of possible worldwide chaos that would likely arise from its disclosures of secret U.S. sites having national security implications on the U.S. This would also give the opportunity for U.S. adversaries to take action to advance their stern plan of terroristic atrocities of getting rid off Washington’s influence over those nations having indifference with U.S. foreign policies. They can even launch terroristic advances covertly and blame it to the U.S. or whatever scheme that they could devise just to discredit the U.S. diplomatic efforts in policing the world.

On the other hand, this unfortunate event has opened the “Pandora box” that the U.S. has been keeping, which of course revealed its provident intention of helping out nations to take charge their political and economic endeavors with the U.S. offering help and assistance while on the sidelines. I believe that this event would clearly reveal what the U.S. government has been doing its very best to protect peace and stability in every region of the world and to dispel doubts and opened the pages of truth of its worldwide diplomatic stage as against those who are trying to discredit its own intention.

However, this would not mean to subscribe to the illegal pretensions that WikiLeaks has been intending to spoil. As I look at the way things are given out from its vintage, WikiLeaks can be viewed as an instrument of coercion, a sign of end-time conflicts as soothsayers would predict, or parting chapter of worldwide peace after the Cold-War between superpowers.

The emerging petulance that the rising nuclear-armed nations like Iran in the Middle East and North Korea in Asia would only set a new pace of world order that the United States is trying to appease just to maintain balance of power among nations which the United Nations could hardly accomplish without its presence.

The move also of China in trying to improve its influence over the U.N. Security Council can be viewed as a great opportunity to take a higher plane of advancing its own economic power. However, although during the Cold-War, the country was touted as a sleeping giant. Democratic countries like the U.S. would not just let a communist giant making fun of diplomacy while giving the cudgel of tolerance to its small but recalcitrant ally, the North Korea.

I believe that China is just making some critical diplomatic moves that would put into the center stage the rule of its Communistic state and tradition in balancing the configurative value of its economy to the whole part of the world economy. Nevertheless, as former Australian Prime Minister Rudd suggested, the U.S. would have to prepare to use force in case China’s intention will go out of its proportionate share in world power.

I do perceive the same area of strategic balance, but what concerns everyone is the apparent paranoia among the present Chinese leaders in dealing with Taiwan and Tibet, which when handled the harsh way would likely trigger a world conflict by the time that China is on the helm of world power sharing with the United States. I say that China could not be trusted yet with police works in the world stage. It has to undertake several stages of “world police training”, if I may say, so that it could become a very effective world authority who can wield its power not only for its own welfare but also to nations depending on him as a "big brother". It has to learn that the world is a democratic stage that allows every nation a place of peace and prosperity, and the willingness to share the bounty of its own harvest.

Now, WikiLeaks have provided a new avenue of reflections for nations having diplomatic ties with the United States. I’m not even thankful for what WikiLeaks have done nor happy about what it has accomplished because soon the consequence of its malevolent action would likely put the whole world economy into a decrepit shamble.

Meantime, it is hoped however that the United Nations, where the community of nations relies on the maintenance of world peace and prosperity, together with the United States and other democratic countries, would have to undertake extra precaution in dealing with China and its allies. It would be a great mistake to take lightly the abounding economic implications that China can entreat every time that North Korea attacks South Korea or any Asian nation, for that matter, and when this aggrieved nation will come to the UN to air its grievance, China would always be there to defend its ally.

Nevertheless, I have this gut feeling that the U.S. diplomatic acumen assures the world of peace and prosperity among nations as it is revealed to the leaked documents. Adversely, U.S. absence would cause so much trouble when even a small nation with a destructive nuclear arm will surely make all subject to fears and threats.

Nobody is safe. Nobody is secure when the U.S. and its allied nations fail to police the world, and the U.N. will just be there as a rubber stamp of a reigning evil world. I hope that it would not come to that point, neither others would allow it too.