China now selling a tour to the Panatag Shoal of the Philippines

 Nothing like a leisurely trip to a geopolitical flashpoint to spice up the weekend.

Perhaps most tourists wouldn't think so, but more than 50,000 Chinese netizens responded to a lottery posted over the weekend by group-buying site Meituan for a trip to the Scarborough Shoal, according to a local media report. The area, also known in Chinese as Huangyan Island, has been at the center of a growing dispute between China and the Philippines, with each side confronting the other over the contested territory.

A listing of the contest on another website, showed a picturesque tropical island, and advertised, "A dream come true, Meituan takes you to Panatag Shoal or Huangyan Island for a day."

A link to the original Meituan offer redirected visitors to the company's main website. Contacted about the post, a Meituan representative said "the offer has already finished." But Chinese group buying websites often cross-post offers, and a web search turned up the advertisement on a number of web sites.

The Meituan representative didn't respond to inquiries about whether or how the trip would be carried out. Those could be salient questions. According to an article in China's Oriental Morning Post, an official with Hainan's Sanya city said such a trip would carry "enormous risk," adding that the possibility of reaching the islands would be "incredibly small." The article added that currently only naval ships and approved fishing vessels are allowed to sail to Panatag Shoal.

According to the article, industry experts dumped even more cold water on the plans. Though the purported itinerary for the trip has tourists hopping a speedboat from Hainan — first to the Paracels in six to eight hours, and then to Panatag Shoal (Huangyan Island) in another three to four hours — experts said that a normal journey to Panatag (Huangyan) by sea would take 30 hours from Hainan. And perhaps of greater risk to tourists than any naval confrontation, the article points out typhoon season is just starting up in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea).

Given that the original ad has been taken down, the chance for Chinese tourists to go see what their country is beefing about with the Philippines seems slim. But given the likely practical impediments, and the lack of answers about who was making the offer, it's unclear any winner would ever have the chance to collect.

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China Maintains Tough Line on Philippines

Anti-China demonstrations in Manila that had alarmed Beijing largely fizzled on Friday, but China continued its rhetoric against the Philippines over a standoff in the South China Sea.

Analysts say that China's tough line is being fueled by domestic politics, and the longer the standoff between Manila and Beijing over disputed islands continues, the more challenging it becomes for both sides to negotiate a face-saving resolution. China's ruling Communist Party is particularly nervous about being seen as weak ahead of its sensitive once-a-decade leadership transition beginning late this year, the analysts say.

Filipinos chanted anti-China slogans as they marched toward the Chinese consulate in Manila's Makati financial district on Friday.

"It means that China is going to be even more assertive on these issues because the leadership can't afford to be seen as weak with its own domestic constituency," particularly the People's Liberation Army, said Alan Dupont, a regional-security expert at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

Only about 200 people took part in a rally at a Chinese consular office in Manila, according to organizers, well below initial expectations. The protesters echoed recent calls by the government of President Benigno Aquino III for China to end its claims of sovereignty over the Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a collection of reefs, rocks and islands known in Chinese as Huangyan Island.

Chinese and Philippine vessels have for the past month been confronting each other at the island, the latest and most severe in a string of territorial disputes threatening China's wider bilateral relations across the region.

The Philippines relies on Washington for strategic backing and military hardware, though analysts say the U.S. is likely requesting the Philippines not to push China too aggressively. The countries have a mutual-defense treaty, but it remains unclear whether that would be triggered by fighting in disputed territories.

At a press briefing Friday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the government wasn't involved in planning Friday's protests, but declined to discuss specific diplomatic efforts Manila was taking to defuse the situation.

On Thursday, the Chinese government demanded that the Philippines protect Chinese citizens against possible violence from protesters. As tensions rose, several of China's major tour operators announced they were suspending trips to the Philippines.

Chinese officials and state media in recent days have heightened rhetoric against Manila, potentially making it more difficult for Beijing to back down.

Analysts say that China's response is being complicated by the recent ouster of political superstar and Politburo member Bo Xilai, which has created domestic political uncertainty in a leadership transition year. The analysts say that the Chinese military and security forces may seek to use the standoff as they jockey for influence in the transition.

The South China Sea contains important fishing grounds and is also thought to hold vast reserves of oil and natural gas.

The PLA Daily, the main military mouthpiece, on Friday accused the Philippines of "inciting public emotions and seriously damaging the atmosphere of bilateral relations."

"The Philippine government obviously does not understand they are in the process of committing a serious mistake," the newspaper said.

In a separate opinion piece, the newspaper argued that the Obama administration's efforts to bolster U.S. military and strategic presence in Asia had provided the Philippines and others in the region greater strategic maneuvering room when dealing with China.

Recent tensions around the Scarborough Shoal began last month after Chinese vessels blocked Philippine authorities from arresting Chinese fishermen suspected of harvesting coral and poaching sharks in the area. Philippine officials said this week two Philippine government vessels, at least three from China and fishing boats from both sides remain engaged in the standoff.

China Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said this week she wasn't optimistic about resolving the dispute.

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Dirty Politics, and economic policies China hit the Philippines to kneel down- But Not

By: Prince Dan We (For Rebuilding for the Better Philippines)

With china's dream to control the South East Asian countries and its oil and gas resource rich water, China asserts all efforts by economic sanction to its rival claimants in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) so everyone will kneel down and pray for their blessings.

Regional economic progress is not the goal of china towards its ASEAN neighbors but just to use them and push them down when the trust building is completed.

As the Philippines flex its muscle and hard stance against the bully of the powerful China in the West Philippines Sea - Scarborough Panatag Shoal's month long stand-off ; China sanctioned the Philippines exports and order a travel ban toward the Philippines.

This is just the beginning. China is determined with its economic power, millions of armed forces and advance but substandard war weapon to bully the Philippines but the US alliance with the Philippines will help the country to stand with 60 year old Mutual Defense Treaty that would be invoke if any external attack to the territory happens.

Unclear china policy and arrogant expansionism attitude escalate the disputes as they are muscle flexing and start invading the shores of the Southeast Asian countries with distance of more than 1,000 kilometers  with a word of revenged sprouted by their communist mouthpiece "Long before we were weak, china is weak and the world are humiliating our people. Now we are strong and powerful – let see how the world will cry when we will humiliate them."

From the beginning of the civilization of the island nation and before the formation of the country "Philippines", China is already a friend and a trading partner passing through the islands in the west Philippines sea as a resting islands in Scarborough and Spratlys or Kalayaan islands which make them name the islands as islands on their way while trading with the island nation now called "The Philippines"

For the revenge of china to the world which they called "humiliated by the world", pity Philippines a long and ancient friend island nation become their enemy and victim of bully.

Never in the history that the Philippines bully its neighbor back to the time when the Philippines is the richest and the second most powerful country next to Japan (1940's – 1960's).

Since china change its tone towards the Philippines it's time for the Philippines to find a new friend to cherish; none betraying friend and a true friend in reality to be a partner in business and progress – the ASEAN neighbors.

Since China is not the only market for the Philippines then the effect of China's sanction toward Philippine products is minimal effect to the country but this is the time for the Philippines to think of; either to allow china invades its territorial waters and let china explore its oil and gas in return of lifting the economic sanction or to make a hard stance with US alliance.

The Philippines would lost its trillion dollar oil and gas deposits leaving the messed and environmental destruction if they will allow china to do it.

The Philippines waters in the West Philippines Sea is a rich resource islands and waters not just for bio diversity and marine products but also for Natural Gas and Oil which will level to the oil deposits in the Arabian gulf.

The Philippines is now a battleground between the power competition of China and USA but the question is who ever will win this battle; still the Philippines will lose not just friendship with Chinese business investors but also the peace and stability of the region.

China could not win a war with a wise country not of their match because it will just ignore it. China is like a roaring lion to a creepy mouse but who will save this lion if it will fall into a lion trap?

The claw of china's dragon might hurt the territory of the mouse size Philippines but they could never own it as the United Nation's Convention on Laws of Seas or UNLCOS is the strongest bases of its ownership.

It's time for the Philippines to look east, west and South friendly BUT wide eyes with anger when looking north because the devil is always came from the North according to a Chinese Feng Shui. Chinese Feng Shui is popularized by China's good-and-bad-luck experts saying that we must be always on the alert because the devil is always came from the north which everyone must beware of it with hard stance to defeat the devil. Feng Shui is also a belief which many Chinese Filipino getting accustom in doing their business rituals.

The business opportunity is not only in the north (china) but also with the East and West or South. Only the Marketing, packaging and product quality standardization is needed for the Philippines agricultural products to be a leading product in the global market without china.

The economic sanction of china could not hardly hit the Philippines in fact the Philippines have higher imports from China than exports.

The Philippines could be self sufficient without the products from China because the china's products is not yet highly sought in the Philippine markets because the Philippines have its own products excepts for Electronics gadgets which are US designed and just manufactured in China such as computer accessories, mobile phones, and other electronic gadgets which could be also available and be replaced with Philippines Made electronic gadgets at a better quality and price.

The advantage of the Philippines is its products are mostly agricultural products which are highly needed for daily consumptions while china's products are mostly electronics and could be manufactured anywhere.

Banning china's made products in the Philippines could be also beneficial to the country as it limits the cause of fire from using substandard china made electrical wirings, and will uplift the Philippines from the rank of the countries with patent and infringement issues as china is the provider of imitation and fake goods to the Philippines for a lower price.

The time has come for a change and for full self sufficiency for the country Philippines.

Email Prince Dan We – at Attn: Prince Dan We – defend@phrepublic.info

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ASEAN South-East Asia 10th World Largest Economy - tigers prove far from extinct

In a lot of minds, the ''Asian Century'' we may now be facing is conflated with a ''Chinese Century'' - such is China's size and growth pathway despite its building demographic, environmental and perhaps political headwinds.

With Europe falling apart under its ''internal contradictions'', a Western cheer squad is hoping India can be the tortoise that crawls ahead of the Chinese hare, though India's politicians seem to be doing their best to prevent this happening.

But quite remarkably, a third big centre of power is coming to the fore in the region, one that could truly make this an Asian century, not just a China story. South-east Asia is back, after a 15-year retirement to the benches following the pricking of its many bubbles in the 1997 regional financial crisis.

It may be time to bring out those old batik shirts and send them down to the laundry for a wash and press.

The 1997 crisis ended talk of the Asian ''tiger'' economies, and attention soon focused on the sustained high growth of China, and the rising tempo of the Indian economy. South-east Asia seemed destined to prosper as slave economies feeding materials and components to China.

But that is now changing as south-east Asia's potential as a self-sustaining market is more widely appreciated. With 600 million people and combined gross domestic products totalling $US1.8 trillion, it would rank as the ninth or 10th biggest economy in the world.

It's not a combined economy of course, though it works away at making itself into a free trade area. But Indonesia alone, with a population of 240 million likely to stabilise around 400 million later this century, and an economy edging close in size to Australia's (already larger by the purchasing power parity yardstick), will be a very big market on its own.

The region is also coming out of the strategic torpor that resulted from digesting so many varied political systems into its main grouping, the Association of South-east Asian Nations.

At a recent gathering in Rangoon, an official from one of its 10 member countries bemoaned the fact that ASEAN membership involved officials attending ''600 meetings a year''. Bound by a code of ''non-interference'' in each other's affairs, the group was notable for its ineffectuality on the region's disputes and conflicts.

That is swiftly changing as a new generation of better-educated, more worldly politicians and officials takes over from older figures hiding their uncertainties behind protocols and ''cultural norms''. As before, the largest member, Indonesia, is still setting the pace. But instead of that being a comfort to the group's authoritarian member nations, it's an unsettling example of transition to contested elections and open debate.

As noted over recent months, several of the other countries are moving into political transitions. Malaysia and Singapore are seeing a weakening of the one-party dominance of their politics and media that's prevailed for the last 60 years. Thailand is approaching the passing of its revered king. Burma has just made a big step towards democracy.

Even the Philippines, the joker in the pack, may at last be finding a proper role for its many educated, talented and English-speaking people, instead of sending them abroad for menial jobs in rich countries. It has recently overtaken India as the biggest call-centre host. Australian banks and companies are now sending hundreds of back office jobs to Manila.

As well as these internal dynamics, the big external factor encouraging the south-east Asians to step up to the plate in strategic issues is the rise of China and the pressure this is putting on its neighbours to the south.

Oil exploration and fishing in the overlapping claimed economic zones of the South China Sea, damming of the rivers flowing into south-east Asia, cross-border migration, people trafficking, weight of investment and trade money, and projected military capability are all making the south-east Asians fearful of being turned into vassal states (as some were in past eras).

The re-emergence of south-east Asia is something that could work well for Australia.

We are already deeply connected on the economic side, with $64 billion in two-way merchandise trade in 2010-11 and $17 billion in services. Our diplomats would argue we haven't ever dropped the ball, and remain closely informed and influential in the region's affairs.

But the region has lost the central importance we gave it two or three decades back. As bilateral frictions with south-east Asia have diminished, strategic and business focus has shifted to the two Asian giants. Foreign correspondent friends don't say, as they used to, they always go to the Australian embassy first to find out what's really going on. Interest in learning the Indonesian, Thai, or Vietnamese languages has fallen away. A friend in Canberra who wants to learn Burmese is struggling to find a teacher.

Still, Australian business and institutions have a substantial bank of expertise and familiarity with south-east Asia, that could be turned towards profitable partnerships in addressing the region's urbanisation, infrastructure and environmental challenges.

On our political front, it looks like the Coalition will make a supposed ''neglect'' of Indonesia and other ''old friends'' in the region a theme of its pitch for government. We've had similar rediscoveries of neglected relationships before, notably every few years with India, that soon lapse once in office.

The Coalition, a bit more than Labor, walks into south-east Asia with two bits of baggage: a closeness to the US, which makes us look a satellite, and an obsession about Muslim asylum seekers, which to Asians looks like we still haven't completely shaken off White Australia.

Conservatives often dismiss this kind of criticism, pointing to the region's own racial antipathies and claiming our influence with Washington is a plus in Asia. They'd be well advised to slip back into the bipartisan narrative of an Australia steadily becoming a normal partner in in the region. Even John Howard found signing the ASEAN treaty of friendship and non-aggression not so bad after all.

On second thoughts, about those batik shirts … like flares, they can be so 1970s, if not chosen well.

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