Tensions Rising: West Philippines Sea

Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024

The situation in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) remains it the hands of diplomats. 

The Philippines has stared that it doesn't want a fight with China. 

Due to International Pressure resulting from proof of Chinese aggression, China has said it is ready to defend itself.*

A Chinese think tank reports that war is not going to occur soon because the USA doesn't want to take on China directly. 

You can read the current US policy on this matter here.

The State Department statement of 23 March 2024, reads, "The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea." 

The US and Japan are upgrading their defence agreement due to China's actions in the South China Sea. Japan is also reaching out to Vietnam because of Chin's actions. 

Chinese Threat Actors are using Cyberattacks on prominent US targets in attempts to bully the US into submission, according to Boozallen (see link). 

The actual response by US business is to hire more Screen Facing Cyber security agents. These front line operatives in cyber warfare. It's not just the US Space force.

In the meantime, back in Japan, upgrades to defense of airports and ports are getting underway. Does China really want to take on 

Japan yet again? Does Japan want to take on China again? They are getting ready to do just that. 

India is also allying with the Philippines against China in the South China Sea.

Just for the record, The Global Times (a Chinese publication) is blaming all of this on The Philippines. This is propaganda in the true spirit of Goebbels in 1938 Germany. It's quite the crock.

However, don't dismiss it, this is what China is telling themselves. 

*I can no longer locate this story. 

Hey China! Yoohoo!

This is for those who don't think the US will invade China; ISLAND HOPPING is back.

In our last episode I wondered if China wants to deal with Japan again? Well, it doesn't look like they are.

The Times of India seems to be concerned about the US nuclear arsenal. What does India have to gain in the US keeps up with China.  The articical pivots on the question of the ability of the US to keep up with China's expansion. There is a caveat here. China's corruption may very well make their advanced null. The US will do what the US will do, and The Times of India doesn't have to worry about it. 

Personal Note: Intermittent fasting

This is about what I've discovered over the past few years. I started intermittent fasting in 2019. My intentions were good by my commitment wasn't. 

Retirement 

After retiring in 2021, I looked into the process again. It occured to me that this, and a much faster metabolic rate, is the reason I was 175 lbs from High School to age 29, when I got married for the first time. For me regularly skipping meals was the norm. 

I realized I did not need three meals a day, or six small meals. 

My body was a true hunter-gatherer metabolism. A lot of walking, and little eating. 

I grew up in Chicago, and like the majority of city dewelers, I was dependent on public transportation.

I took the bus to the L, and took the L into the city to work. The Bus was the only way to school before that. And before that my main transportation was walking. 

I walked from N. Long Avenue and W Argyle Street to North Milwaukee Avenue and North Elston Avenue in Chicago; for the hell of it on a daily basis when I couldn't catch up with my friends. That is a 40 minute walk one way as the crow flies. Since I was walking I was wandering up and over different streets to get to the McDonalds there. Yes, I ate McDonalds. 

My slim physique was due to being fit, and fasting regularly, not from just being young. I didn't join a structured fitness program because I was already fit, but never really realized it, or appreciated it. Walking was just a way of life in Chicago.

Of course growing older and moving away took me away from walking, and into the sedentary life of a corporate citizen.

This brings me back to now. 

From 2021 (post COVID) until mid 2023, I tried Intermittent Fasting. It worked. I lost 40 lbs, and keep off 39 lbs after I stop fasting. I've got more to go.

I'm starting fasting again. My goal is 200 lbs. I need to be fit to face what the world has coming in the last years of my life. 

Allies Welcome

Japan and South Korea** are now publically on the side of the Philippines. The world is finally taking note of the bully tactics of China. 

China has no rights, whatsoever, over the West Philippine Sea. This was already decided in 2016. In 2016, PCA ruled "that China has 'no historical rights' based on the "nine-dash line" map."* The only change over the past 8 years is China's aggression and perfidiousness. 

They lie like a cheap Chinese toy with led based paint. 

I was in College in April of 1989, and I remember professors telling all of us that China would respond well to the Students' demand for more democracy because the world was watching. Yes, they drive tanks on them and killed them. 

That was the Chinese civics lesson 101. Since it is China, it cannot be too shocking that there are no accurate numbers of fatalities from the events of June 1989 at Tiananmen Square. Yes, the world watch people resist Chinese tanks, and die for democratic reforms. 

Don't try to be an expert like those professors so long ago. 

The situation in the West Philippines Sea will end in an ill advised armed conflict.

Unlike Vietnam, and unlike Korea, no one is afraid of World War Three now. 

*"PCA Press Release: The South China Sea Arbitration (The Republic of the Philippines v. The People's Republic of China) | PCA-CPA"

** South Korea is Concerned about China's use of Water Cannons against The Philippines ships, and boats. 

West Philippines Sea -- March 26, 2024

Three Days ago, China used Water Cannons which are very capable of destroying properity and harming people to stop a Philippian Navy resupply ship in its way to the Second Thomas Shoal. These actions are the latest in the ongoing asymmetrical conflict between China, and The Philippines, Vietnam, Austraila, and India.

China continues to lie about their actions. "Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong... made stern representations on issues... [about the] transportation of supplies to the illegally "beached" military ship on Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands...." in the West Philopines Sea.

From 23 March 2024: "Chinese ships blasted water cannons at ships on Manila’s latest resupply mission to [the West Philippines Sea] outpost on Second Thomas Shoal." This is the West Philippines Sea region.

Manila chides China to take the disput to Arbitration. China knows it will lose its case.

Is China sincear about peace in the West Philippines Sea? This is the big question which the Philippines is asking.

From the perspective of this obsever, I have to say, "No, they don't want a peaceful resolutation of any kind." It looks like Japan may agree. According to The Manila Times Japan said, "South China Sea incidents legitimate concern of international community." I only wish they would also report it as the West Philippines Sea.

Personal Note

I have not written in a long time. I know it shows. My last book, on practicing the Solitary Craft of the Wise, was written in 2009. Since then, I've retired, and I am now living in The Philippines. I'd rather face the Chinese threat in The Philippines than the MAGA threat in the USA. At 66 years of age, I am way past the Ground Pounder Age.

Visit (and marching) with #OccupyChi

It started a few months ago. A post from AnonymousIRC. It was a re-tweet from a person going by the handle of @DOR. Over the course of time we tweeted back and fourth about the the aims of Days of Rage. It was summed up in the phrase "One Citizen. One Vote One Dollar." The idea was simple: Get the corrupting influences out of the U.S. Government. Needless to say this got my attention. It was not a Socialist agenda. It was not a Fascist agenda. It was not an Anarchist agenda. It was the simple idea that the Corporations are corrupting the government of the United States, and polluting the environment of this Democratic Republic.

As I wrote in 2007 ...

There is little incentive to pull in the reins of these corporations when they feed funds into the coffers of elected officials because the election process is expensive. The election process is so costly because the air-time for television and radio even at the lowest rate as prescribed by law are prohibitively expensive. There is no public forum which is not owned by, or beholden to, corporations. While it is arguable that NPR, PRI, and PBS are independent, their draw is limited at best. The corporations fund the candidates who will best serve their needs, and then collect the funds donated through the media outlets which they own.

The media is fully supportive of the corporations, since they are owned by the corporations. The current pundits of the globalized economy tell us that if a person is “good enough” they will find rewarding employment, and through shrewd investments in the corporations be able to accumulate wealth.

Once again, the corporations are paying money to those whom they find acceptable, in the form of wages, and collecting the excess, after the bills are paid to the corporations, in the form of “investments.” This allows the individual to think they have a vested interest in the corporations. One might consider this a rather incestuous monetary scheme. If those investments were put together for the collective good of the community, it may have some ethical viability, however, the investments are going into the rather large paychecks and rewards of the corporations, and reinvested into what might be called colonial expansion at the expense of the local community (Wealth, Women, and War, p 19).

To date, this is the message that still remains at the forefront of the #OccupyWallStreet movement. However, the same media outlets which depend so much on the "incestuous money" game are doing everything they can to muddy the waters and smear the message.

I have spent some time at #OccupyChi, and as you can see from the videos, the message has not changed.