MANILA: Malacañang yesterday brushed aside the call made by a US general for Asian leaders to modulate their comments regarding China’s territorial aggression.
Gen Herbert Carlisle, commander of the US Air Forces in the Pacific, has urged countries involved in the maritime disputes with China to “try and defuse tensions.” This is after President Benigno Aquino III and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe likened China’s maritime assertiveness to events prior to World War II.
Carlisle said such remarks were “not helpful.” But he added that a possible move by China to extend its air defence identification zone would also be “very provocative.”
Presidential Communications Operations Office Sec Sonny Coloma said Carlisle is a military commander and “his view of the world is different from the view of the world taken on by heads of state” like President Aquino. The President said like the Czech land, the Philippines now needs more support from foreign powers. Malacañang had denied that the President intended to offend China.
“He was stating the principled position of the Philippines that there is need for international solidarity to uphold the rule of law in defending our claims,” Coloma said.
Japan army role alarms S Korea
Seoul: South Korea called on Japan yesterday to stop making “regressive” remarks on its past wrongdoings and refrain from causing regional instability by pushing for its collective self-defence amid lingering suspicions.
Japan’s move to expand its military role has won support from the United States, but caused alarm in South Korea and some other Asian nations where it is viewed as remilitarization.
“A country has the right to decide on its self-defence,” defence ministry Kim Min-seok said in a briefing. “Due to Japan’s past wrongdoings in the Northeast Asia region, however, neighbouring countries still have suspicions over its intention.”
Kim urged Tokyo to stop making “regressive” remarks and clear lingering concerns before pushing to revise the interpretation of its constitution.
Myanmar riots worry Germany
Yangon: German President Joachim Gauck yesterday raised concerns over clashes between Myanmar’s majority Buddhist and minority Muslim communities, especially the Rohingyas, the (DPA) reported.
“I am concerned, as are so many others, when I hear of the ongoing violence between Buddhists and Muslims in your country,” Gauck said in a speech at Yangon University in Myanmar. At least 167 people died in the 2012 clashes, and 120,000 were made homeless, most of them Rohingyas.
“Just like other minorities, the Rohingyas belong to Myanmar,” the DPA quoted Gauck as saying. Agencies
