| Topic: |
Science > Prophecies-Of-Nostradamus |
| User: |
"Arnold Holbrook" |
| Date: |
03 Jun 2004 09:20:15 AM |
| Object: |
Surging oil prices, increased demand to fuel territorial tensions in South China sea? |
Comments: One of the consequences of an invasion of North Korea will
be more hostile behavior against China by her traditional regional
enemies. This will agrevate hostilities towards China over the
Spratlies and other disputes since the regional powers will see China
and America at logger heads, especially if China backs continued North
Korean guerilla resistance after an invasion. They will take advantage
of their non coopeartive mode and press their claims. Taiwan may
decide that it is an excellent time to declare statehood.
Perhaps the spark of a Sino-Taiwan war will be a Taiwanese move to
occupy one of these South China Sea islets claimed by China after an
independence declaration.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/May2004/Maavak0531.htm
"Global demand for oil is currently insatiable and China's expanding
economy needs a lot of it. Whoever controls the oil supply to China,
controls its economy, and the extent of its growth rate."
"If things get worse, it might be interesting to see how the oil-rich
Spratly Islands in South East Asia is played up. Many ASEAN nations
are laying claim to all or parts of it, with a greater degree of
validity than China. The UN's Law of the Seas conventions only allows
a 200-nautical mile limit to maintain Exclusive Economic Zones, and
not something approaching 800 miles or beyond."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/06/02/2003157898
Cabinet bill aims to spell out national boundaries
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004,Page 1
Advertising The nation's territory should cover the islands of
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and the more controversial Pratas,
Spratly and Diaoyu islands, according to the Cabinet.
Dubbed the "constitution of the land," the draft national land
planning law would, for the first time, specify the Republic of
China's (ROC) territory, specifying land, coastal and sea areas.
The Constitution does not clearly define the "existing national
boundaries" and an interpretation by the Council of Grand Justices in
1993 failed to resolve the politically sensitive issue.
The ROC Territorial Waters and Neighboring Areas Law
(中華民國領海及鄰接區法) declares that the ROC's territorial waters
are those 12 nautical miles (22km) from shore.
The Taiwan Strait is only 200km wide, making a clear delineation
between China and Taiwan difficult.
The Pratas Islands are 440km southwest of Kaohsiung and 260km south of
China's Guangdong Province. The Spratly Islands are 70km north of Hong
Kong. The eight uninhabited Diaoyu Islands are 220km northwest of
Taiwan.
Besides Taiwan, the Philippines, China and Indonesia claim the Spratly
Islands. The Pratas Islands are claimed by China, Brunei, Malaysia,
the Philippines and Vietnam.
Only Taiwan, however, has personnel -- armed coast guards, who
recently replaced a marine garrison -- stationed on the Spratly and
the Pratas Islands.
Arguments have also been going on between Taiwan, China and Japan
since 1971 over the Diaoyutais.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=5/28/2004§ion_id=4&newsid=11000&spcl=no
Asia's surging energy demand
The quest for oil has been suggested as an-explanation for Bush's
obsession with Iraq, for Japan's military presence there as a US ally,
and for China's interest in the disputed Spratly islands of the South
China Sea, thought to possess substantial natural resources. The
tightness of energy supplies in Asia has raised concerns about a
possible Islamist terrorist threat to shipping in the narrow Strait of
Malacca and the port of Singapore.
Already there are visible tensions among east Asian nations over
competition for oil and gas, and between the US and Asian governments
over the political credentials of Iran (suspected of plans to build
nuclear weapons) as a source of additional oil.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/newstories/RANewsStories_1112760.htm
Philippines calls for restraint in disputed Spratly Islands
The Philippines has called on Vietnam and other claimants to the
Spratly Islands to exercise restraint after Hanoi began building an
airstrip in the disputed area.
Most of the Spratlys - believed to be rich in oil and natural gas -
are claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia,
Vietnam and the Philippines.
All except Brunei have a military presence there.
The Philippine foreign secretary, Delia Albert, says the six claimants
should adhere to a regional agreement about the islands that bans
construction and occupation.
Vietnam last week started building a small airport on one of the
islands as part of plans to boost tourism to the Spratlys.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3714627.stm
Vietnam re-builds Spratly airport
The Spratlys are claimed by six nations
Vietnam has started renovating an old airport on the highly-disputed
Spratly islands, it said on Friday.
Vietnam recently started sending small groups of tourists to the
archipelago, and said the airport would enable it to fly more visitors
in.
The tourism plans provoked protests from some of the five other
countries that claim the South China Sea islands.
The archipelago straddles vital shipping lanes and is believed to
contain vast oil and gas reserves.
Commercial flights
Vietnam has begun work to bring a disused 600m (2,000-foot) runway on
Truong Sa Lon (Big Spratly) island back into working order.
"It is a small airport that was used by South Vietnamese forces during
the Vietnam War and was captured in 1975," said Duong Xuan Hoi, of
Vietnam's tourist ministry.
"The Army Air Force is now renovating it for tourism purposes. When it
is finished small aircraft will be able to land there," he said.
Tourist officials said the development could open the way for Vietnam
Airlines to run commercial flights to the Spratlys.
SPRATLY ISLANDS
100 tiny atolls
Spread over 410,000 sq km
Believed rich in oil & gas
Disputed sovereignty
The islands, which amount to less than 5 sq km (2 sq miles) of land,
lie 450km (280 miles) off Vietnam's south-eastern coast and have no
indigenous inhabitants.
Besides Vietnam, some or all of the islands are claimed by China,
Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei.
The Asean group of South-East Asian Nations has committed to try to
work out the sovereignty of the islands, but some of the countries
have been staking their own claims.
Taiwan has constructed a house raised on stilts on one of the islands,
the Philippines has held military exercises nearby, and China has been
erecting markers in the area.
All except Brunei have military personnel on some of the 100 islets,
reefs and atolls, which include Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef and
Flat Island.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5292889§ion=news
Internet to play role in islands spat
[Comment: Globalization knows no bounds!]
Sat 29 May, 2004 11:51
HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam plans to provide Internet access to its
soldiers on the Spratly islands by the end of this year.
Most of the Spratly islands -- a cluster of rocks and reefs in the
South China Sea believed to be rich in oil and natural gas -- are
claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia,
Vietnam and the Philippines.
State-run Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, the
country's top telecoms firm, would use a satellite link to provide the
service, the Vietnam News daily said on Saturday.
Vietnam maintains a military and civilian presence on the Spratlys and
has been building a small airport there.
The Philippines, China and Taiwan protested last month when Hanoi sent
its first group of local tourists to the Spratlys.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200405/200405190005.html
China Accuses Vietnam for Violating Chinese Sovereignty
China has condemned Vietnam's latest actions on the disputed Spratly
Islands, saying they violate Chinese sovereignty.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Liu Jianchao, says Vietnam's
recent activities in the Spratlys are illegal and only complicate the
situation there.
Last week, Vietnam announced it was building an airport on the
Spratlys, and hoped to make it operational by the end of this year. It
has also launched public boat tours of the region.
The Spratlys, located in the South China Sea, are made up of dozens of
atolls, islets and reefs in an area believed to be rich in oil and
natural gas. Vietnam, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and
Brunei all have territorial claims on the Spratlys.
.
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
