Geo-Strategic Trend - 167. page

Global Times recently reported that, during a TV interview, the Philippine President Aquino III publicly “laughed at” the Chinese South China Sea policies. Aquino commented that China proposed a “joint development” plan for the South China Sea resources while claiming sovereignty to all strategic regions. He called this “they are mine but we’ll share with you” plan “a joke.” In the interview, Aquino also refused one-on-one negotiations. He indicated that all other parties with sovereignty claims, such as Vietnam, should be present at the negotiations. In the meantime, Aquino highly praised the new national security bill Japan passed recently and reaffirmed the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. Chinese analysts thought that China invited all parties to the joint-development plan with an open heart. However, the Philippines has been trying to further complicate the situation by refusing one-on-one negotiations. 

Source: Global Times, September 24, 2015

http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2015-09/7558068.html

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that the New Zealand government officially announced that it vetoed a proposal that a Shanghai-based Chinese company acquire a farm in New Zealand. The Chinese company told the media that they were very much surprised by the announcement and were disappointed too. The company does not plan to give up immediately and is working with a consulting firm on the next step. The New Zealand government stated that the denial was based on the public’s concern about foreign capital owning land. The same Chinese company was stopped when it attempted to buy farms in New Zealand in 2012. There was a court ruling then. There have been reports saying that the opposition party, the New Zealand Conservatives, insisted that the Chinese deal was not in the best interest of New Zealand. 

Source: Sina, September 18, 2015

http://dailynews.sina.com/bg/news/int/int/chinesedaily/20150918/07156921360.html

The well-known new Chinese news site The Paper recently reported that the Philippine Election Committee announced that the voting machines to be used in the national election next May will be the ones made in Taiwan. The current voting machines were made in China. The Committee explained that the decision was based on the concern that the Chinese government may attempt to disrupt the coming election. The Election Committee Chairman, Christian Robert Lim, called China “the biggest threat” to the election, hence the switch in the supplier of voting machines. Lim claimed in a congressional hearing that intelligence revealed that “someone is planning to destroy the election.” Voting machines used to be manufactured in the City of Suzhou, China. The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines called this whole thing, “groundless nonsense.” He promised that China will stick to its policy of not interfering with other countries’ internal affairs. 

Source: The Paper, September 17, 2015

http://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1376098

09/09/2015 [issue 615]: Can the U.K. and France’s Bombing of IS Solve the Refugee Crisis? [The Answer is no.] 

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping called for resuming the halted Six-Party Talks, which included North and South Korea, China, Russia, Japan, and the United States. Xi made the suggestion when he met with South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Xi also said that China is against any activity that will intensify the situation on the Korean Peninsula. He emphasized that China sticks to the denuclearization of the Peninsula and to the process of using dialogue to resolve conflicts. All parties should make an effort to resume the Six-Party Talks. President Park Geun-hye’s office issued a statement advising that the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense.

Source: Sina, September 3, 2015

http://finance.sina.com.cn/money/forex/20150903/150723155741.shtml

“Recently, Japan officially launched the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s newest quasi-carrier ‘Kaga.’ It has the same name as the main ship known as the ‘devil ship’ aircraft carrier ‘Kaga’ that invaded China. In 2013, Japan’s quasi-carrier ‘Izumo’ followed the name of the old warships that invaded China. The Abe government’s excuse is very simple, ‘This is only the name of the ancient nation.’ There are so many names of ancient nations. Why pick the name of the battleship that was used for aggression in World War II and more than once. Japan used this name [of the battleship] again, totally ignoring the feelings of World War II victims. It adds insult to injury for the World War II victims. It is to summon the spirit of militarism and create more obstacles to Sino-Japanese relations.” 

On Tuesday, August 25, the São Paulo-based firm and Brazilian group, Triunfo Participações e Investimentos (TPI) announced that it had agreed to sell a controlling stake in three energy subsidiaries to China Three Gorges for up to 1.9bn reais (US$538 million).

In a statement, Triunfo said the divestment included all of its shares in Rio Verde Energia, Rio Canoas Energia, and Triunfo Negócios de Energia. Triunfo added that the deal is for 970mn reais plus 770mn reais in debt, with an additional 148.5mn reais payable "upon the achievement of certain events."

Rio Verde Energia is operator of the 116MW hydropower plant of the same name in Goiás state while Rio Canoas is responsible for the 192MW Garibaldi plant in Santa Catarina. Triunfo Negócios de Energia is involved in power trading. According to Triunfo, the operation is subject to conditions and approval from local regulators.

Excluding the latest acquisition, China Three Gorges Brazil holds interests in three hydropower plants and 11 wind farms totaling 687MW of installed capacity.

Source: Xinhua, August 26, 2015

http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2015-08/26/c_1116381781.htm

Xinhua recently reported that the Philippines’ Defense Secretary stated that, even if the United States military won’t be able to be stationed at Subic Bay, the government has decided to rebuild and reopen the military base for its own military. The Subic Bay Base used to be the United States’ largest overseas military base. The U.S. closed and left the Base in 1992. In order to support the activities in the South China Sea, last year the Philippines government signed an agreement with the United States for its temporary use of the Base. The Philippines left-wing political party filed a claim in the Supreme Court charging that the agreement was a violation of the nation’s Constitution. The case is still pending a Supreme Court final ruling. Subic Bay is an ideal location for a naval base. Its location is strategic to the South China Sea region. Currently it is a free port, but the local authorities had an agreement with the domestic military to rebuild part of the military base for the Navy and the Air Force. The Defense Secretary of the Philippines called the nearby Chinese activities “a threat,” and that’s “why the U.S. presence is needed.”

Source: Xinhua, August 15, 2015

http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2015-08/15/c_128132224.htm