China says will protect South China Sea sovereignty

By Ben Blanchard and David Brunnstrom

ReutersJanuary 24, 2017

ricky l

13 seconds ago

Trump is just using South China Sea as a pawn to reinforce its interest - to negotiate with China for more gain.

Once Trump got it, he will not push his agenda on South China Sea.

Now the claimants are quietly negotiating, consulting and striking out economic deals in conjunction with the island claims.

There is no need for Trump to barge into the South China Sea - to mess it up for its self own interest.

Trump should leave Asia alone and Trump has not much interest in Asia Pacific.

Why come to Asia and try to mess it up like what it did in Middle East?

• 

  ricky l

  51 seconds ago

  Trump initially want to use Taiwan as a pawn - to gain the leverage against China.
  
  But after discovering Trump got no support Worldwide, Trump now turn to South China Sea ---- in the hope that Trump will gain support from ASEAN claimants to forward Trump's interest.
  
  ASEAN community need to close rank to prevent from being exploited and let US start a proxy war or as a pawn for Trump - to advance his own interest - while make South China Sea ---- the Aleppo of the East.
• • 

    ricky l

    11 seconds ago

    Because whatever Trump do, it will be "America First".
    
    ASEAN need to be mindful that it will not be "ASEAN First".
    
    In advancing Trump's "America First", ASEAN is the pawn that can be sacrificed, even to the extend of turning the disputed islands into a "Sea of flame" --- the Aleppo of the East.
    
    So ASEAN claimants, be very careful.
  • • 

      ricky l

      12 seconds ago

      Iraq's oil is the property of Iraqis, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday, in reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump who argued that the United States should have taken possession of the nation's crude reserves.
      In a speech to CIA officials on Saturday, Trump suggested the United States should have taken Iraq's oil in reimbursement for the 2003 invasion that put an end to Saddam Hussein's rule.
      Trump also suggested that taking Iraq's oil would have prevented Islamic State from rising up, by removing a source of the group's funding, according to a Huffington Post report of the encounter.
      ---
      
      ASEAN members, pse look at the above statement carefully.
      
      Trump will always be "American first".
      
      Trump will not make it "Iraq first".
      
      Trump will also not make it "Asean first".
      
      Iraq will just be a pawn.
      
      ASEAN will just be a pawn.
      
      Be warned.
  • • 

      ricky l

      21 seconds ago

      Remember Trump lump "China trade and South China Sea" together.
      
      China trade is Trump target - because there is alot of money there, South China Sea is just the pawn.
      
      Note that Trump did not say "Trade and Crimea" or "Trade and Aleppo" - because not much money there for US.
    • • 

        ricky l

        1 second ago

        When Trump got what he want from "China trade", be sure Trump will dump his agenda in "South China Sea".
        
        And if ASEAN claimants thought that Trump will support them all the way, the moment Trump dump South China Sea like he dump TPP ---- ASEAN claimants will be in trouble with China ---- and their participation in RCEP, FTAAP, One Belt One Road will be in trouble.
      • 

        Ossam

        4 hours ago
        China did not respect the decision of the International court. China is in violation and needs to be put in place. China is destabilizing South East Asia by bullying the smaller countries.
        
        US is only stepping in to stop the bullying!!! Do we need another war??? Its now up to China!!
        • 

          LOL everyone

          2 hours ago

          Communists don't respect international laws. All communists are serving their own interests only and are all highly corrupted to the core
        • 

          ricky l

          1 second ago

          Trump also don't respect International Agreement started and coined by US.
          
          Trump can cancel a signed International Agreement - TPP any oh how.
        • • 

            ricky l

            11 seconds ago

            Trump also cancel the contribution of green energy to Countries under the Paris Climate - International agreement.
            
            Trump did not respect International agreement signed.
            
            So what moral right does Trump has in imposing on other Countries - when Trump did not respect International Agreement albeit International Law?
          • • 

              ricky l

              1 second ago

              If Trump want to be champion of moral right of not bullying others, Trump has bullied all the TPP members, and all the Countries of green energy in which US is committed to fulfill - but now go back on its words.
              
              US credibility is at stake.
            • • 

                ricky l

                1 second ago

                In other words, who want a bully - to tell others they are bully - when Trump lose the moral right to do so?
              • • 

                  ricky l

                  1 second ago

                  Where we all know that Trump intend to come to Asia to cause trouble - and turn it from an "Oasis of Peace" into a place of war and destruction?
                  
                  Then why let Trump do it?
                • • 

                    ricky l

                    1 second ago

                    Just be careful, Trump can trigger a World War 3 in the Asia Pacific - if Asian Countries let Trump in - to create trouble - when he pulled out Economic benefits from the region.
                  • • 

                      ricky l

                      1 second ago

                      Reading his mind in verbatim .......
                    • • 

                        ricky l

                        1 second ago

                        Having say so, China has to be very cautious - in response to US challenge.
                        
                        China needs to work closely with ASEAN to provide a unified response - that is non-confrontational, negotiable, consultable, sweeten with Economic deals --- to resolve the island dispute ----- so that Trump has no excuse to exploit the South China Sea dispute to trigger a naval battle --- that have the potential to derail Asia Pacific trade ---- and in worst case --- a World War 3.
                        
                        Be warned......
                      • • 

                          ricky l

                          3 minutes ago

                          我佛慈悲。
                          人世间已到达
                          颠倒是非，贪嗔痴凝聚， 因果总计的时刻。
                          人类是否能逃过此灾难？。。。。。。

                        • In message to Trump, EU says will remain top investor against climate change

                          • Posted 24 Jan 2017 20:40
                          

                          Trump holds a roundtable meeting with labor leaders at the White House in Washington

                          • ENLARGE
                          • CAPTION 
                          • 0
                           
                           
                           
                          •  Email
                          •  More

                           
                          • • A
                             
                            • A
                           
                          BRUSSELS: The European Investment Bank, the EU's lending institution, will maintain a target of investing around 20 billion dollars a year to fight climate change over the next five years, it said on Tuesday, sending a warning to climate sceptics.

                          Climate investment is already about a quarter of EIB total loans. Last year the bank lent 83.8 billion euros (US$90 billion), of which 19 billion went to projects to counter climate change.

                          "We, Europeans, must lead the free world against climate sceptics," the EIB president Werner Hoyer said at a news conference in Brussels.

                          While he did not mention Donald Trump directly, the new U.S. president has promised to bolster the U.S. oil, gas and coal industries, in part by undoing federal regulations curbing carbon dioxide emissions. He has also suggested pulling out of a global climate change pact signed in Paris in 2015, calling it expensive for U.S. industry.

                          World temperatures hit a record high for the third year in a row in 2016, the World Meteorological Organisation said last week.

                          Hoyer said the bank would maintain ambitious targets against global warming. "We aim to provide US$100 billion for climate action over the next five years, the largest contribution of any single multilateral institution," he said.

                          Britain's decision to leave the European Union is adding to EIB's concerns, as it is one of the four main shareholders of the bank, holding about 16 percent of its shares.

                          Only EU member states can be EIB shareholders. Hoyer said the Brexit impact on the bank "is completely unclear" but he did not rule out the possibility of changing rules to allow Britain to remain a shareholder even after Brexit - an option that would need approval from London and the other 27 EU capitals.

                          Hoyer said in the two years of Brexit negotiations, expected to start in March, the bank will remain in "limbo".

                          "We will be missed in the UK if we had to reduce our business there or disappear completely," Hoyer added. Last year, the bank lent to Britain more than 7 billion euros.

                          He said that, contrary to other large EU states, Britain has no national promotional bank and "relies heavily" on EIB funding for certain investments in infrastructure and other projects.

                          The EIB already now invests outside the EU, but its lending is mostly concentrated on Europe. Hoyer said Britain could remain a recipient of EIB lending after leaving the EU, but "it is a question of dimension".

                          He urged negotiators to be constructive and avoid "further damage" to existing projects funded by the bank in Britain.

                          (US$1 = 0.9312 euros)

                          (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Alison Williams)
                          
                          
                          - Reuters