The U.S. and Phillipines leadership would like to portray their new relationship as rosy, strategic and deep. On the street though, talking to the average Joe, one might get a very different impression. Billed as the cornerstone of growing US and the Philippines strategic partnership and of the U.S. pivot back to Asia, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation … [Read more...] about On the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) Between the U.S. and Phillipines
Archives for April 2014
A Buried History of Taiwan
This is the preface of the book titled Memoir of Chen Mingzhong (陈明忠回忆录) written by Lu Zhenghui (吕正惠) who is a university professor at Taiwan Tamkang University (淡江大学), the editor was Lin Na (李娜). Chen Mingzhong has been an activist in Taiwan since the 1950s. I feel that this part of Taiwan's history is so well buried that it needs to be better known. In the following … [Read more...] about A Buried History of Taiwan
Obama Asia tour: US-Japan treaty ‘covers disputed islands’ – A Case of Dipping into One’s Savings to Live Large?
It's never good to dip into one's savings just to live large. Gluttony and largess - when one can ill afford it - is foolish ... and a sign of decadence. To me, the U.S. so-called pivot to Asia - emblemized by President Obama's trip to Japan - represents just that. The New York Times - even with its usual spin PR in over-drive - already calls the trip a "setback." In an … [Read more...] about Obama Asia tour: US-Japan treaty ‘covers disputed islands’ – A Case of Dipping into One’s Savings to Live Large?
Helmut Schmidt: won’t sell Democracy to China
The following link is an interview of Helmut Schmidt. It’s rare and refreshing to see a Western politician speaking so freely and honestly about Democracy. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/01/china-democracy_n_5067120.html Based on the above interview, Bill, a thoughtful friend of mine, pretends to be an interlocutor shadowing Herr Helmut Schmidt with his own comments, … [Read more...] about Helmut Schmidt: won’t sell Democracy to China
Malaysia Airline MH370 – American Media Fanning the Flame Wars
April 15 is tax day for most Americans. It is the deadline for Americans - rich or poor - to file and pay their taxes. But this year, it appears, it is also smear China day. You may think with so much things going on in the world, things to do, that perhaps for this one day, China might be spared unnecessary smearing. But it is not to be so. Last week, on April 15, both … [Read more...] about Malaysia Airline MH370 – American Media Fanning the Flame Wars