blackshama's commentary on Philippine issues

The Noynoy administration by fiat has called a part of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea . All government agencies like PAGASA and the blurbs have followed suit. However I do not agree that the President had to make the name change at this time. It will just inflame the geopolitical situation with China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines having claims overlapping or otherwise in the possibly oil rich area. China has the most powerful military in the region and has warned all countries to desist in conducting oil exploration work. The Philippines has the weakest military in the region with very little capacity for external defence. China has been putting markers to claim its territory so close to Palawan and definitely within the country's EEZ.China bases its claim on historical grounds for the sea was a vital trade artery. It is still today. But if we look at the origin of the sea's name, it was named by European traders first by the Port...

Jordan, Guimaras - The hotel I am now has Solar Sports (which we don't have on SkyCable in Kyusi) which they get from Satellite TV. Back from a grueling field work day, we watched the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics . The ceremony not only was an important didactic tool for teaching the Party's version of Chinese history, but displayed the Middle Kingdom's technological savvy with that giant scroll on the Bird's Nest stadium's tarp. One thing is sure. This Olympics not only marked China's coming out party but belatedly inaugurated the Asian century. We have heard that this 21st century is Asia's but it was hard to believe that it really is until now. While Superpower Lame Duck Prez Dubya was on the reviewing stand, he didn't get as much airtime as backstage Russian Prez and now PM Vladimir Putin got when Russian athletes marched by. It was probably because as the Russians paraded along the track, their tanks paraded into Georgia ! Bush and Putin...