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Geo-Strategic Trend - 204. page

China News: U.S. Defense Secretary Visited the Philippines to Arrange Expanded Presence

China News recently reported that, when the U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was in Manila, he advised that the United States is expected to expand the scale of its rotational deployment in the Philippines. However, Hagel claimed that the U.S. had no plans to establish a permanent military base there. Hagel had visited Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei before landing in the Philippines. He expressed the belief that the new military cooperation model will benefit both the U.S. and the Philippines while providing support for President Aquino’s defense modernization plan. The Philippines is a military ally of the United States. The two countries are in the middle of negotiating a new framework agreement which, once approved, will allow the United States to use all military facilities in the Philippines. Currently the U.S. military can only operate in Subic Bay. 
Source: China News, August 30, 2013
http://www.chinanews.com/gj/2013/08-30/5228382.shtml
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Huanqiu: China Should Not Be Bullied by Small Countries

On August 27, 2013, Major General Wang Haiyu, a senior advisor at the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, published a commentary on Huanqiu on establishing strategic buffer zones around China. 

On North Korea, Wang stated that, compared to the time of the Korean War, North Korea’s military value to China has greatly decreased, while its geo-strategic value remains. China should “not only strive to maintain stability in the peninsula … and urge North Korea to completely abandon its nuclear program. … It should also firmly stop any attempt by external forces to create chaos on the peninsula.” 
In addition to North Korea, China should establish a strategic buffer zone to the west of China. When its dignity is challenged, China should “dare to impose necessary ‘discipline’ and should not continue to tolerate the ‘small country bullying a large country’ phenomenon. Otherwise, China cannot successfully build strategic buffer zones needed for safeguarding its national geopolitical security.” 
Source: Huanqiu, August 27, 2013 
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_world/2013-08/4288662.html
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Huanqiu: Obama Needs to Take Time and Think More before Taking Military Action against Syria

On August 25, 2013, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an editorial titled, “Military Strike against Syria? Obama Needs to Take Time and Think More before Taking Action.” The article stated, “Because of Russia and China’s objections, the UN Security Council cannot possibly pass a mandate authorizing military strikes against Syria. If the United States and NATO want to attack Bashar Assad’s regime, they may use the ‘Kosovo Model’ and air strike on Syria without a UN mandate.”

According to the article, even if Western countries can oust Bashar from his leadership position; it does not mean that a stable situation will arrive in Syria.

Source: Huanqiu, August 26, 2013
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2013-08/4284175.html

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BBC Chinese: Chad Put Chinese Oil Prospecting Operations on Hold

BBC Chinese recently reported that the government of the Republic of Chad ordered a pause in the oil prospecting work contracted to the China National Petroleum Corporation (PetroChina). Chad’s Minister of Energy and Oil, Djerassem Le Bemadjiel, suggested at a press conference that the government stopped the operations in the Koudalwa Oil Field (200 kilometers south of the capital city of N’Djamena) after an environmental protection law compliance inspection. The Minister said the Chinese company intentionally performed drilling without the use of required spill clean-up equipment in order to cut the cost. Afterwards the company ordered the local workers to clean the spill without proper protection. The Chad government did not provide a date when the work can resume. PetroChina started oil prospecting work in Chad in 2009.
Source: BBC Chinese, August 13, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/08/130813_china_chad_oil.shtml
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China News: Never Allow External Forces in the South China Sea Talks

China News recently reported that Wang Yi, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced at a press conference that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to begin discussions on the South China Sea Code of Conduct. In addition to emphasizing the point of eliminating “external interference,” Wang expressed the belief that four principles are required: (1) All parties must establish a reasonable expectation of how soon an agreement can be reached; (2) All parties should work hard on the widest common ground for an agreement that will fall within most countries’ comfort zones; (3) The process of the talks should eliminate interference; (4) The talks should take a step-by-step approach for continuous improvements under the framework established in the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea.
Source: China News, August 5, 2013
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/08-05/5125577.shtml
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BBC Chinese: Beijing Built US$500 Million Large Container Terminal in Colombo, Sri Lanka

BBC Chinese reported that China invested US$500 million in a large container terminal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the first large cargo ship harbor in Sri Lanka. The official start date for the terminal to be in operation was Monday August 5. According to the report, in addition to this investment, Beijing signed an agreement in January to take over management of the Gwadar seaport. China also invested US$14 million to construct a dry port in Larcha in Nepal and in June 2012, provided financial and technology assistance to build a deep water harbor in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka. By cutting through Sri Lanka, the route in the Indian Ocean is supposed to shorten the water time by four days. Also, historically, Sri Lanka has been considered an important stop in the maritime silk route.

Source: BBC Chinese, August 4, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/business/2013/08/130804_china_srilanka_port.shtml

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Global Times: Japan Opposes China’s Oil Development in East China Sea

Global Times recently reported that Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga issued strong statements at a press conference on July 18. Yoshihide stated that Japan “absolutely opposes” the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) attempt to develop seven new oil and natural gas fields in the East China Sea. The seven new sites are located near the so-called “middle line.” The Japanese government has not yet received any “clear reply” from China on its official inquiry about this new development plan. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that China never accepted the so-called “middle line,” which was solely an invention of the Japanese government. Chinese legal expert Xin Guangmei suggested that there has never been a legal sea-based borderline between China and Japan. China has its own opinion on how to draw the border which is different from the Japanese “middle line.” The Japanese “media show” of finger-pointing at China on the new oil development plan is just another attempt to destroy the foundation of a healthy border negotiation. 
Source: Global Times, July 18, 2013
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2013-07/4146196.html
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China to Build Railway Connecting Xinjiang and Pakistan for Strategic Energy Channel

China Review News (CRN) recently reported that, in addition to highways, China and Pakistan have decided to build a railroad connecting Xinjiang Kashgar and Gwadar Port located on the Arabian Sea and at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. CRN stated, “Following the China-Myanmar Oil Pipeline, this project carries a strategic significance. It indicates that China has another channel it can use to have direct access to an energy source in the Arabian Sea which connects to the Indian Ocean region.” China has signed a series of collaboration agreements with Pakistan to build an economic corridor between the two countries. From 2002 to 2006, China invested US$200 million to turn Gwadar Port into a deep water harbor. In February 2013, China Overseas Holdings Ltd. officially gained operating rights to the Gwadar Port.

Source: China Review News, July 21, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1025/7/3/7/102573708.html?coluid=136&kindid=4730&docid=102573708&mdate=0721003247

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