Tag: superpowers

Is the Philippines becoming a US ‘proxy’ against Beijing in the South China Sea?

Ms. Cat

Is the Philippines becoming a US ‘proxy’ against Beijing in the South China Sea?

‘The ants that get trampled on’

Not everyone agrees with drawing closer to the US, however, and they warn about the Philippines turning into a “proxy” for American interests. The president’s own sister Imee, a senator, told ANC Digital earlier this month that “China will always be our neighbour, we have no fight with them, let’s not get dragged into a fight that’s not our own.”

Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, director of the pro-China Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, wrote in the Manila Times on February 10 that “agreements such as the EDCA, the VFA and the Mutual Defence Treaty have not only cemented the US military presence and influence in the Philippines but also, most importantly, exemplified the Philippines’ dependence on the US in the military and defence sector.”

Teresita Ang See, former president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies and currently part of its advisory council, told This Week in Asia: “Filipinos in general condemn China’s action. But many also understand that China’s assertiveness is in response to US, Japanese and Australian provocations and increasing military presence in the Philippines.”

She warned that “we are fighting a proxy war between the US and China and in the end we will be the ants that get trampled upon”.

H/T: Johnsonwkchoi

Related:

Responding to the Catholic Bishops

Philippines counts the cost of tough South China Sea stance against Beijing

Indonesia’s feared ex-general Prabowo claims victory in presidential election + Notes

Ms. Cat

Indonesia’s feared ex-general Prabowo claims victory in presidential election

But the likely victory of Prabowo — an ex-general who was kicked out from the army and subjected to a two-decade ban from the U.S. over human rights violations — raises fears of the world’s third-largest democracy sliding backward into authoritarian rule.

Related:

3 things you should know about Indonesia’s presidential elections

Continuity and its risks


Prabowo is expected to largely continue the policies of President Widodo, or “Jokowi,” as Indonesians call him. President Widodo is not up for reelection as he’s serving his final term.

Through his two five-year terms, Indonesia’s economy — Southeast Asia’s largest — has grown at about 5% a year. His infrastructure building, cash and food assistance to the poor and health and education policies have been popular.

Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, used in making electric vehicle batteries, and Jokowi has barred the export of raw nickel, to help Indonesia move up the value chain from mining to manufacturing.

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Prabowo is Suharto’s son-in-law. He received training in the 1980s from the U.S. military at Fort Benning, Ga. (now Fort Moore) and Fort Bragg, N.C. (now Fort Liberty).

Indonesia’s presidential election emerges as key battleground in US-China rivalry

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Vietnam overtakes China as the Top Exporter to the US of Products made with Forced Uyghur Labor

Ms. Cat

Vietnam overtakes China as the Top Exporter to the US of Products made with Forced Uyghur Labor

Attention, Vietnam: According to the Voice of America (VOA), a News Organization that is owned by the United States (US) Government, you are now the top Exporter to the US of Products made using forced Uyghur Labor.

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This is again a Case of the US interfering with the Affairs of another Country, something that China almost never does. And this is why Relations between Vietnam and the US will never be really that comfortable since the US will always set Conditions when dealing with them.

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For the Record, China has consistently denied that they are exploiting the Uyghurs, this is just another of the US’ Propaganda to demonize China as China has been slowly but surely overtaking them as the main Superpower in the World.

Ukraine War Awareness: Cope Cages, etc

Ms. Cat2 Comments

So, it’s very ironic that, when Israel, one of the most powerful militaries in the world, and definitely a regional super power, puts Anti-Drone Grenade Cages on their Merkava IV Tanks, I don’t see anybody on Twitter laughing.. And yet, the Israeli Armor still gets damaged, by tiny home-made quadrocopter drones.

So, why isn’t anyone from NAFO calling Israel “Cope Cages”? Israel is failing with Tanks against a much weaker opponent than Russian Tanks did in the first initial invasion wave in February 2022, so where’s the laughter on X, Reddit, and Twitter? Because it’s Anti-Russian BIAS for the SAKE of Anti-Russian Bias…

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The West Is Incentivizing Russia To Hit Back

Ms. Cat

Well the omnicidal war sluts won the debate over sending tanks to Ukraine, so now it’s time to start arguing for sending F-16s.

The West Is Incentivizing Russia To Hit Back

It’s going to be the last dumb thing that he’s ever done! 👇

Hypersonic Avanguards and Sarmats are already targeting this part of the mainland. They won’t have time to be scared when the USA disappears. – Der Friedensstifter

– Source (links added by me)

NATO Chief Voices Fear Of War With Russia While US Greenlights Drone Strikes On Russian Territory

Ms. Cat

In what Antiwar’s Dave DeCamp describes as “a rare acknowledgment of the dangers of backing Ukraine,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged a fear of something going “horribly wrong” and leading to a hot war between the nuclear-armed alliance and Russia.

NATO Chief Voices Fear Of War With Russia While US Greenlights Drone Strikes On Russian Territory

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You (and Almost Everyone You Know) Owe Your Life to This Man.