VIA Times – September 2014 Issue Vital News, Vibrant VIews for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
By: Joe Mauricio
With China’s territorial disputes against Asian neighbors Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and the Philippines, China places a charm offensive to smooth ties. A measure of China’s ambition for 2014 and beyond can be seen. Building crews are erecting luxury villas in a traditional courtyard style behind the imposing buildings, quite worthy of the Forbidden City. The site is where President Xi Jinping plans to host the Asia- Pacific leaders next month, the kind of event used in the past to impress domestic and global audiences about China’s rising status in the world. It comes after a bumpy frost year for Mr. Xi. In 2015, Beijing is offering to smooth the turbulence in most overseas’ ties inncluding the Philippines, while pursuing structural economic changes for the sake of longterm growth. A new security commission that Mr. Xi is expected to lead is taked with managing unrest at home and friction abroad. Critics have called it combination domestic suppression and economic liberalization, politically left and economically right. Mr. Xi has proposed offering more economic inducement to Southeast Asian neighbors (Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore), many of which were unnerved by China’s muscular claim to contested South China Sea islets. Beijing also aims to manage tensions with all Asian neighbors and the United States after Chinese naval ship cut off the US cruiser U.S.S. Cowpens. With all these acts of diplomatic rhetorics, Japan is an exception to neighborly outreach because Japan controls East China Sea islands that China claims. Mr. Xi has given Japanes Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cold shoulder and increased marine patrols around the islands. Mr. Abe, in turm, disregarded China’s sensitivities by visiting a Tokyo shrine that honors war dead including convicted war criminals. This conflict will last, and Beijing and Tokyo will set a channel to arrange the crises. One possible bright spot at the Asia Pacific summit…Mr. Abe and Mr. Xi can hold a bilateral meeting or at least meet in the corridor. Also a chance for Philippine President Aquinot to talk to Mr. Xi on same level, or maybe in China’s luxurious courtyard.
Having fun doing selfies at the CPRTV studio are guests Skippy Mesirow & Craig Colt (producer & director “Gone Gonzo” documentary), middle, Ben Benito, Nina Purugganan & Bob Bayona from Ayaland Philippines, with CPRTV executive producer Veronica Leighton (extreme left).
