China Reassures Its Neighbors After Clashes in South China Sea

[xchrom]

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/china-reassures-its-neighbors-after-clashes-in-south-china-sea/445090

Singapore. China reassured Southeast Asia of its peaceful intentions following incidents with neighboring countries vying for oil and gas in waters it claims.

“China is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie told the annual IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore today. Security in the sea is “stable” and channels of communication with Southeast Asian claimant states remain “unimpeded,” he said.

China’s growing military strength has concerned the U.S. and regional powers with competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines protested after Chinese ships entered a disputed area and several hundred Vietnamese marched in Hanoi today after Chinese vessels sliced survey cables of a PetroVietnam survey vessel last week.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who spoke yesterday at the summit, warned that more clashes will occur in the sea if China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations fail to agree on a code of conduct in the waters. He reiterated a call for China to boost transparency while saying military ties have “steadily improved in recent months.”






exhibit A -- why gates announced we would 'enhance' our military presence in asia.

[malaise]

1. Ding ding we have a winner

And the Dick said this very recently
Answering a question about tax subsidies for renewable energy, Cheney said he's not opposed to renewable energy or conservation "contrary to what people might accuse me of," adding: "But I think ultimately our economy is built on conventional sources of energy. We've spent 100 years building one that runs on oil, natural gas, coal and uranium."

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7581785.html#ixzz1OOzpOHFD
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It's always about oil!

[formercia]

2. Gunboat Diplomacy Redux

One Trick Pony.