East Asia - Who is Ruling the Sea ?

A Chinese website in the frame of People's Network is dealing with the subject of Japan and America striving for hegemony in the East China Sea. This site is referring to joint manoeuvres of Japanese and U.S. naval units from August 21 until September 26, 2012. It is maintained by two reporters of China's People's Daily. One of them is reporting from the U.S.A. and the other from Japan.

Title of Website:

夺岛作战—日美联合军演

Fighting to Seize Islands - Joint Manoeuvres of Japan and the U.S.

Title of the above picture:

美日举行首次护岛军演 假设解放军攻占钓鱼岛

The first military exercise for the "protection of islands" staged by Japan and the U.S. and assumed to liberate Diaoyu Island from military occupation.

This website is including different articles. The main article on August 21 has been checked and partly translated:

人民日报：美日夺岛作战演习是张废牌

People's Daily: The U.S.-Japanese fighting to seize islands is putting on display a used brand.

明知是一张“废牌”，却打得热火朝天，这究竟是意在激怒中国的战术小聪明，还是战略上的不自信？日美两国想必心知肚明。

[While they are] fully aware of that "used brand", yet being on terms of intimacy and buzzing with activity, should all that what actually happens [only] be meant to excite China's tactical cleverness and [its] missing strategic self-confidence ? Japan and the U.S., both, are most probably knowing [the answer] in their innards !

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North Korea immediately reacted on the joint manoeuvres of Japan, South Korea and the U.S., renouncing the military drill near its territory.

According to NHK World in Japan, North Korean TV said:

" The drill is the most serious act of destruction of the armistice of the Korean War. We are ready to use force and take physical counteraction to safeguard our sovereignty. "

Only some days ago, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un had visited an island disputed between North and South Korea (photo below). [Source: Japan's NHK World TV on August 21, 2012]

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On August 20, Al-Jazeera reported the death of a Japanese journalist:

مراسل الجزيرة: مقتل صحفية يابانية في قصف مدفعي على حي سليمان في حلب

A reporter of Al-Jazeera [says] that a female Japanese journalist died during the artillery shelling of Saliman neighbourhood in Aleppo.

The following day, August 21, Japan's NHK World TV identified her as Mika Yamamoto, a 45 year old journalist working for an independent Japanese news agency. Her father said she was there to report on women and children in need in the combat zones of Syria.

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Footnote on Syria: Assad's Chemical Weapons

Today, U.S. President Obama directed a severe warning towards Syria that any use or relocation of chemical weapons would cause an adequate reaction of the United States. Such is the U.S. reaction on Assad's decision to apply such weapons in case of any interference of foreign troops in his country. As to the chemical agent Sarin, probably used in Syrian grenades and missiles, an earlier blogspot of mine has already dealt with that subject.

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Another "Postcard" from Washington D.C.:

Syria - Sad Ending of Ramadan - UPDATE

Updates for August 19 / 20 further down!

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Latest UPDATE of the day (August 18):
According to the rebels, Syria's vice-president should have defected. [Source: CNN]
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الشبكة السورية: 134 قتيلا اليوم معظمهم في جمشق و ريفها و حلب و دير الزور

According to Syrian networks 134 [persons] died today, most of them in Damascus, Rifa, Aleppo and Dir al-Sur [Derisur].

Damaged building in Dir al-Sur (Derisur) on August 18, 2012 (above).
View of Aleppo township (below).

Seven [persons] died and some tens were wounded during the shelling of [a village] in Aleppo province.

Refugee camp at the Jordanian border (above) and the Turkish border (below).

لاجئون سوريون يستعدون للاحتفال بعيد آخر في ظل المعاناة و عدم الاستقرار في بلادهم

Syrians are not inspired to prepare for the celebrations of ending [the period of fasting] in the shadow of being tried [by desaster] and the absence of stability in their country.

Calligraphy depicting the holy month of Ramadan that is ending today (above).

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Further News on Syria:

Al-Arabiya reported on August 17, 2012, the arrest of a leading personality of the pan-Arabic Ba'ath Party that once came to power in Syria and Iraq and was later abolished in Syria by Hafiz al-Assad, the father and predecessor in power of Bashir al-Assad.

النظام السوري يعتقل الرجل الثاني في حزب البعث

The Syrian regime arrested the Ba'ath Party's No.2.

فرع الحزب في اليمن دعا الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد إلى التنحي

The party's Yemenite branch called Syrian president Bashir al-Assad to resign.

Could it be that Bashir al-Assad is still in fear of the Ba'ath movement that was founded in 1947 in Syria ? Ba'athism originally calls for the renaissance or resurrection and unification of the Arab world into a single state. Its motto, "Unity, Liberty, Socialism", refers to Arab unity, and freedom from non-Arab control and interference. As a political orientation for the post-Assad era, the principles of Ba'athism might become interesting again for some of those who are now engaged in the revolutionary process of the Arab Spring, not only in Syria....

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On August 19, 2012, the Lebanese daily Ya Libnan once again referred to the case of Michel Samaha, a former Lebanese minister and friend of Bashir al-Assad with a pro-Syrian attitude:

Lebanon President Michel Suleiman said on Saturday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should call him and explain the transfer of weapons from Syria to Lebanon in the car of former Information Minister Michel Samaha.

“ The Lebanese judiciary accused a Syrian official of sending weapons to Lebanon, and I expect the Syrian president to call me and explain the incident. I hope this call will take place,” National News Agency quoted Suleiman as saying.

Earlier this month, Lebanese security forces arrested Samaha in a case linked to a bombing plan aimed to create a strife in Lebanon.

Background information on that subject in my August 11 blogspot Syria - Days of Decisive Battles and in the August 9 Update of my blogspot: Syria - Increased Activity.

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Due to increasing mistrust between Lebanese and Syrian citizens in the frame of alleged plans of the Assad regime to destabilize Lebanon, kidnappings of Syrians by Lebanese groups and vice versa have occurred in recent days. [Source: Al-Jazeera, August 20, 2012]

عشيرة آل المقداد تطلق سراح مواطن سوري كانت قد اختطفته يوم الجمعة الماضي في بيروت

The tribe [Aal al-Maqdad] released a Syrian citizen after his kidnapping last Friday in Beirut.

لجنة دعم المعتقلين و المفقودين اللبنانيين تطالب بوقف مسلسل الخطف المتبادل بين اللبنانيين و السوريين

The committee for the assistance of Lebanese prisoners and disappeared [persons] demands to put an end to the chain of [futile] kidnappings between Lebanese and Syrian [citizens].

As to Syria, things cannot be expected to ameliorate after the international mission ended without result:

أعضاء بعثة المراقبين الدوليين في سوريا يغادرون دمشق بعد يوم من انتهاء مهمتهم رسميا

Members of the international observers mission in Syria are leaving Damascus after the day their official mission expired.

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A list of visitors to "blueprint news" coming from Lebanon (August 11-19):

China vs Japan - Modern Imperialism - UPDATE

- Developing Story on Multilateral Dispute -
UPDATE for August 17 / 18 / 19 further down !

After renewed territorial claims of the Japanese government regarding some islands in the East China Sea, China is now teasing Japan by sending some "inofficial" personnel from Hongkong to land on disputed Diaoyu Island.

民间保钓人士计划今登钓鱼岛 日方称此举系非法入侵

"Nongovernmental personnel for the protection of fishing" is planning to set foot on Diaoyu Island, today. - Japan is calling this act an illegal intrusion.

香港保钓行动委员会成员将中国国旗插在船上

A member of the Hongkong [based] "committee for operations to protect fishing" is plugging in China's national flag on board of [their] ship.

[Source: People's Network, Beijing, on August 15, 2012]

For further information on that subject click to the following link:
Japan - Territorial Claims

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UPDATE for August 17, 2012:

Two days later on August 17, CNN reported the arrest of 14 Chinese citizens from Hongkong trying to land on Diaoyu Island and plant there a Chinese and a Taiwanese flag. The arrest was executed by Okinawa police and the Japanese coast guard. Some time later, all of the Chinese were sent back to Hongkong without further criminal charges by Japanese authorities.

The same day, August 17, chinanews.com published a series of five articles in Chinese on the subject of disputed Pacific islands, thus showing the significance of that matter in times when offshore oil and fishing grounds become more and more important.

Here are some stances from these articles, partly referring to academic analysis done at a center for studies of foreign relations at China's University of the People:

专家析日本钓鱼岛问题背后战略为遏制中国崛起

Professional analysts [say] Japan's strategy behind the subject of Diaoyu Island is to keep China's ascent [as a political force] within limits.

Referring to Japan's three-sided quarrel with China, South Korea and Russia over territorial claims in the Pacific Ocean:

专家：日“三面争岛”反映其在本地区相对

Experts [say] Japan's "Three-sided island dispute" is reflecting its relative isolation in that region.

专家：日本与俄争岛是欲为历史翻案俄不会让步

Experts [say] the island dispute between Japan and Russia is [based on Japan's] wish to reverse a historic verdict which Russia is unable to [accept].

While dealing with a struggle for islands it makes sense for the quoted Chinese source to hint at Japan's navy, decided to further increase its power. At least, that's why a member of Japan's general staff is visiting the U.S. in order to test a brandnew and highly sophisticated MV-22 transport plane "Fish Hawk" (pictures below) for possible use in his navy. - Fish again !

日本军方高官将访美国欲试乖“鱼鹰”运输机

A high-ranking Japanese general is visiting the U.S. where he likes to test their [smart] "fish hawk" cargo plane.

Regarding the quarrel between Japan and South Korea after South Korean president Lee Myung-bak's unexpected visit to one of the disputed islands, there is another Chinese article on the island subject in the same August 17 edition of "chinanews.com":

韩国军警将多方阻止日本右翼登“独岛”意图

South Korea's military and police are taking manifold measures to prevent Japanese right-wing members from landing on "Solitary Island".

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UPDATE for August 18, 2012:

As a warning to South Korea, the North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un has just visited an island that is being disputed between both countries. [Source: CNN on August 18, 2012]

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UPDATE for August 19

Proceedings of an operation led by Japanese nationalists:

9名日本右翼人士登上钓鱼岛 包括日本国会议员

Nine Japanese right-wing members landed on Diaoyu Island, including [a] member of Japan's parliament.

According to People's Network, Beijing, 21 boats carrying 150 Japanese nationalists headed for Diaoyu Island on August 18. The group who call themselves "Troop for Relieving the Spirit 慰灵团" included eight members of Japan's parliament. On August 19, nine rightists finally landed on that island which was claimed by Hongkong activists only some days ago. The "inofficial" Chinese operation has raised diplomatic turmoil between both countries and triggered off the actual operation by Japanese nationalists.

Pictures below: Part of the flotilla and the group of successful "invaders".
[Source: People's Network on August 19]

China's official response after the landing of Japanese rightists on Diaoyu Island on August 19, 2012, has been made known by a spokesman of the foreign affairs ministry at a press conference in Beijing on the same day:

日本右翼分子的非法行径侵犯了中国领土主权。外交部负责人已向日本驻华大使提出严正交涉，表示强烈抗议，敦促日方停止损害中国领土主权的行动。

The illegal [act] of Japanese rightists is violating China's territorial sovereignty. A leading official from the ministry of foreign affairs has already undertaken a stern approach towards Japan's ambassador to China and [delivered] a strong protest, urging the Japanese side to stop [any] actions damaging China's territorial sovereignty.

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Snapshots from Japan's NHK World boadcast on August 19:

Japanese activists climbing about Diaoyu Island which they know by its Japanese name Senkaku. It is the biggest one among some other maritime rocks which they call Senkaku Islands:

Anti-Japanese protest rising in Hongkong and China (above):
Chinese protesters carrying a portrait of Mao Tse Tung. Furious Chinese demonstrators in front of Japan's Guangzhou consulate toppling a police car. Rather quiet protest in front of Japan's Beijing embassy.

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Visitor access points to "blueprint news" from South East Asia and East Asia (August 7-19, 2012):

A rare visitor to "blueprint news" from the oil producing Emirate of Brunei in North Borneo that is bordering the South China Sea:

A "splendid mixture" of identified visitors to "blueprint news" on August 17, 2012:

Syria - Bombing the General Staff - New Massacre

Latest UPDATE on August 16 further down !

Al-Arabiya's Report on August 15, 2012:

الجيش الحر يتبنى تفجير رئاسة الأركان في دمشق

The Free Army took responsibility for detonating [the seat of] the general staff in Damascus.

دمشق تعلن عن انفجار قرب فندق يقيم فيه المراقبون الدوليون

Damascus reporting an explosion from the neighbourhood of a hotel considered to host the National Surveillance.

تبنى الجيش السوري الحر تفجيراً استهدف صباح الأربعاء مقر الأركان العامة وسط العاصمة السورية دمشق

The Free Syrian Army [took responsibility] for the explosion on Wednesday morning at the seat of the People's General Staff in the center of Syria's capital Damascus.

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The following day, August 16, Al-Arabiya reported another massacre in the northern border region of Syria:

مجزرة جديدة يرتكبها النظام السوري بإعزاز الحدودية

A new massacre committed by the Syrian regime at [the frontier municipality of Azaz]

أكد طبيب سوري في مستشفى محلي أن غارة جوية شنتها طائرة سورية في بلدة أعزاز (شمالي البلاد)، أمس الأربعاء، أدت إلى مقتل 100 شخص، وإصابة 150 آخرين

A Syrian doctor in a local hospital confirmed an air raid by a Syrian plane in the municipality of Azaz in the northern part of the country, yesterday Wednesday [August 15], [leaving] a death toll of 100 persons and another 150 wounded.

Editor's Note: Later that day, CNN reported the air raid was directed against a nearby makeshift camp of reporters. As I followed earlier CNN footage of developments at the Syrian-Turkish border, it came to me without surprise that a camp of reporters (most probably from CNN) might exist on the Syrian side of the border after the Free Syrian Army recently took over control of that region. Now, the air raid is showing how dangerous any reporting from a battle-field can be. Only to remember that Al-Jazeera recently lost a reporter who died facing the camera, his bulletproof vest being blasted by a projectile for which it was not intended. Seconds later, his report was continued by a colleague. And that victim of war is not the only one among those who care for our "entertainment" far away from the battle-fields.

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In their special feature "Revolution Talk" on August 16, Al-Jazeera, Arabic TV, discussed latest developments of the day, including the difficulty to come to terms with China and Russia on the Syrian subject. Local news from Syria are as follows:

مواجهات بين الجيش السوري الحر و الجيش النظامي في مناطق بالعاصمة السورية دمشق

Confrontations between the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and troops of the regime in the outskirts of Syria's capital Damascus.

On August 13, the English service of Al-Jazeera had already reported about the Free Army's intention to block the main road from Damascus to Aleppo, thus keeping the seaports of Latakia and Tartus out of reach for government troops.

Egypt - Morsy Treating the Military - Sinai War

UPDATE on Sinai War further down !

مرسي: لا بد من الوفاء لمن كانوا أوفياء
Morsy: It is the inevitable compensation for those [named as being loyal].

Yesterday evening, the Arabic service of Al-Jazeera made a life transmission of a speech held by Egypt's President Morsy on Tahrir Square in Kairo. In that speech Mohammad Morsy announced decisions that are unspokenly designed to reduce the Military Council's power and get other institutions of state under control.

مصر: قرارات رئاسية مفاجئة
Egypt: Surprising Presidential Decisions

إلغاء الإعلان الدستوري المكمل

Invalidation of the proclamation of a constitutional supplement.

إحالة المشير طنطاوي للتقاعد, و تعيينه مستشارا للرئيس

Designation of Marshal Tantawi to take his retreat and his appointment as a presidential councillor.

إحالة سامي عنان للتقاعد و تعيينه مستشارا للرئيس

Designation of Sami Anan to take his retreat and his appointment as a presidential councillor.
[Sami Anan is another high-ranking officer.]

تعيين عبد الفتاح السيسي وزيرا للدفاع و الانتاج الحربي

Appointment of Abdelfatah al-Siasi as a minister of defence and [arms production].

New Defence Minister

تعيين المستشار محمود محمد مكي نائب لرئيس الجمهورية

Appointment of councillor Mahmud Mohammad Maki as a vice-president of the republic.

تعيين صدقي صبحي رئيسا لأركان الجيش المصري

Appointment of Sadiqi Sabahi as a [chairman] of the general staff for the Egyptian forces.

تعيين اللواء محمد العصار مساعدا لوزير الدفاع

Appointment of brigadier Mohammad al-Azar as a [vice-minister] of defence.

تعيين مهاب مميش رئيسا منتدبا لهيئة قناة السويس

Appointment of Mahab Mumish as a [chairman] of delegates in the Suez Canal committee.

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The actual development reported above might be influenced by what is happening now on Sinai peninsula:

For the first time since the 1979 peace treaty with Israel: Shooting again on Sinai. However, this time it is triggered off by militant Islamist groups who are trying to bring under their control that region which is bordering the Palestinian territory of Gaza. As free traffic to and from Egypt is not yet guaranteed to Palestinian citizens who are being pressurized by Israeli boycott and military incursions, some kind of underground war at the border has been kept running for years while, even worse, military access for Egyptian troops to the border region has been restricted as a consequence of the 1979 treaty.

Now, a certain amount of troops is being allowed into that quasi-demilitarized zone and, what is even more important, local Bedouins are willing to support them in order to get rid of the militant strangers. [Source: BBC, August 10]

This might be due to the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood standing behind their new president. An increase of power for Mohammad Morsy might therefore be part of a deal with the military.

السلطات المصرية ترسل تعزيزات عسكرية إلى العريش في شمال سيناء

Egyptian authorities are sending military reinforcement to Al-Arish in the northern part of Sinai.

مراسل الجزيرة في القاهرة: الرئيس المصري محمد مرسي يلتقي وزير الدفاع لبحث مستجدات الأوضاع في سيناء

According to Al-Jazeera's reporter in Kairo, the Egyptian President Mohammad Morsy meets with the minister of defence in order to examine new conditions for Sinai.

[Source: Al-Jazeera, August 9]

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UPDATE on August 16, 2012

As to a recent attack on the pipeline providing natural gas to Israel, Al-Arabiya reported the standpoint of Egyptian army commanders on that subject. [Al-Arabiya, August 16, 2012]

الجبهة السلفية بسيناء تتبنى ضرب خطوط الغاز

The "Salafist Front of Sinai" take responsibility for hitting the gas [pipe]line.

ناشدت قادة الجيش حقن الدماء معتبرة أنهم يجرونها إلى معركة

Army commanders, intending to avoid an expected bloodshed, demanded to risk an [open] battle.

أحقنوا الدماء التي تسيل وستسيل إذا استمر هذا العدوان فأنتم تجروننا إلى معركة

Avoid the shedding of [your] blood that is flowing and will flow as long as that hostility is continuing, [rather than will be flowing in a battle].

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A distinguished visitor to "blueprint news" from the United Arab Emirates: