Why is the Aquino government suddenly being combative against China,
over the disputed Spratly Islands, and North Korea over its satellite
launch?
See also:
US, Aquino govts accused of hypocrisy over nuke issue
Philippine govt compromises own Scarborough claim
By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – Sudden “tension” at the
Scarborough shoal, seemingly
contradictory government statements over North Korea’s satellite launch
(such as the “highly unlikely but probable” danger being raised by
Defense Undersecretary Benito Ramos), government officials’ intermittent
discussions of the Chinese threat at the Spratlys – these are just some
of the security worries occupying the Aquino government as reported by
the mainstream media. But do these really constitute threats or, as some
critics asked, are these just preparations for justifying the arrival
of more than 4,700 US troops this month?
Until the Philippine government started arresting Chinese fisherfolk
at Scarborough shoal, Filipino fisherfolk living near and fishing at the
rich shoal told a TV interview that they and the Taiwanese and Chinese
fisherfolk have all been fishing together in that shoal. There was no
enmity and tension, based on their accounts. Some fisherfolk even said
that at times, when they have no catch yet, those Chinese or Taiwanese
fisherfolk would even share with them their catch. All the Filipino
fisherfolk pray is that they will not be barred from fishing in the
shoal.
As to the impending North Korean launch of a satellite, geopolitics
expert Prof. Roland Simbulan told Bulatlat.com that the government
warnings against the potential risks due to the launch, such as falling
debris, for example, are “exaggerated.” There is no truth to that, said
Simbulan, explaining that the debris from the rockets to be used for the
launch would shatter into small pieces as it falls into the earth.....
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Source: Bulatlat.com
URL:
http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/04/13/fomenting-anti-korean-anti-chinese-sentiments-meant-to-justify-increased-us-presence/
