Daily Lessons from Life 11-12 May 2012 - China denies preparing for war over South China Sea

"China denies preparing for war over South China Sea - AFP 12 May 2012

BEIJING: China has denied it is increasing combat readiness in response to a tense territorial row with the Philippines in the South China Sea which has dragged on for more than a month.

The stand-off erupted last month after Philippine authorities detected Chinese ships fishing near the Scarborough Shoal.

They tried to arrest the crew, but were blocked by Chinese surveillance vessels deployed to the tiny rocky outcrop in the South China Sea about 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the Philippines' main island of Luzon.

The two nations have stationed non-military vessels at the shoal since April 8 in an effort to assert their sovereignty over the area.

But China's defence ministry denied military units were getting ready for war, despite warnings in state media that China is prepared to fight to end the stand-off.

On Friday, around 300 protestors demonstrated outside the Chinese embassy in the Philippines to denounce "bullying" by Beijing.

Chinese citizens responded by holding far smaller protests outside the Philippine embassy in Beijing on Friday and Saturday, but police have not allowed sustained demonstrations.

China worries protests could spark wider social unrest.

Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia also claim parts of the sea. The rival claims have for decades made the waters one of Asia's potential military flashpoints.

The official Xinhua news agency late Friday urged the Philippines to negotiate a diplomatic solution to the dispute."

Well, some people simply cannot enjoy peace can't they?

Lessons for me are:

1. when human being are classified by country, it can be a disaster as someone who are used to be 'The Boss' cannot stand being challenged by upcoming 'newbies'!;

2. do we really need a super power or a BOSS dictating to the rest of the world what should and should not be done? Of course there are universal values and principles that human being all across the globe embrace like: right to clear air, food, drink and cloth, right to express oneself responsibly without trespassing on others' basic human rights, etc. BUT to dictate this country should embrace the values of the BOSS without question is simply un-democratic. USA still wants to be THE BOSS when its way, especially the special position and prestige accorded to the financial world, is simply WRONG headed!;

3. when peace is loved by everyone on earth, the BOSS like to so-called keep its power in OTHER REGIONS of the world by creating conflicts to hold back the so-called challengers. Is China really going to have war with the Philippines and rest of Asean countries? Of course NOT. Should the territorial dispute be referred and settled under the International Court of Laws? OF COURSE. That should be the only valid way to settle such disputes. The question becomes: is the International Court of Laws being perceived as free and independent and NOT influenced by the BOSS?

I hope this dispute get settle soon. If not, it could well be another 'pawn battle field' for the USA to have a 'counter-balance' in the Asia Pacific region - with nothing good for the Asians!